French

2-3 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AA

Camille comes from Clare Lattin and Tom Hill, the people behind Ducksoup. For this restaurant, they've taken a French bistro approach both for food and wine. The former can be seen in a menu of provincial French cuisine while the latter comes across in a wine list focusing on small French producers, with a focus on low-intervention wines.

315 Fulham Road, London SW10 9QH

Claude Bosi's Chelsea restaurant sees him teaming up with his wife Lucy for a classic French neighbourhood bistro. Named after Bosi's grandmother, the menu is full of French bistro classics and Lyonnaise specialities, with even frog's legs making it onto the menu. it also brings the classic offering of Bouchon-style metre wine to London.

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, Euston Rd, London NW1 2AR

Taking over the old Gilbert Scott space, this sees Allegra chef Patrick Powell in charge of the main restaurant at the St Pancras Renaissance hotel. There's a decadent French menu on offer here (expect lots of rich sauces) in a drop-dead gorgeous room that's also paired with one of the best cocktail bars in the King's Cross area.

17 Neal's Yard, Seven Dials, London WC2H 9DP

Story Cellar is a spin-off from Tom Sellers' Story restaurant. It's a smaller-scale affair, billed as a "Parisienne-influenced" restaurant. Food-wise, the rotisserie chicken is a centrepiece alongside plenty of riffs on French cuisine (like snail bolognese) and a strong wine list.

74 Luke Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 4PY

This is a French-style bistro in the heart of Shoreditch that comes from the same people behind Crispin and Bar Crispin. Here, they're serving up their own take on bistro-style dishes, backed up by an all-French wine list.

16 Henrietta St, Covent Garden London WC2E 8QH

Launched by the same folk who run the popular Frenchie restaurants in Paris, their London restaurant has a French/British twist to many of the dishes - all with British sourced ingredients. Look out for excellent cocktails too.

231 Ebury Street, London SW1W 8UT

The word classic was invented for this longstanding French restaurant which has been serving up dishes like coq au vin alongside onion soup and escargots since the Sixties.

36 Duke Street, St James's, London SW1Y 6DF

Paying homage to the grand brasseries of Paris and Lyon, Maison Francois quickly made a name for itself in St James when it opened in 2020. Downstairs there’s a huge wine cellar that’s a perfect private dining room and the basement bar, Frank’s, is a handy spot for a glass of wine post-work.

64 Goodge St, London W1T 4NF

64 Goodge Street is a French bistro in Fitzrovia that comes from the same people behind nearby Clipston and Portland. Here they're approaching the French menu from "an outsider's perspective" so you can expect some twists on classically french dishes in a compact but friendly space.

Four seasons, Hamilton Pl, London W1J 7DR

This sees top French chef Yannick Alleno (who has many Michelin stars to his name) in charge of the main restaurant and bar at The Four Seasons on Park Lane. This iteration of the restaurant has a huge counter dining space where you can see the chefs putting the finishing touches to Alleno's haute cuisine up close. The bar space also features a separate menu of sushi and more.

1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ

This elegant French restaurant offers slick rooftop dining that’s popular with the working-lunch set, and is especially busy in summer for its garden with sublime views. There are set menus, including one featuring the ‘classiques’, such as escargots de Bourgogne.

Level 3, 122 Leadenhall St, London EC3V 4AB

Infamous for its ‘press for Champagne’ button at every table, this London institution is great for groups (the largest booth size seats eight but up to 18 can dine comfortably in their private dining rooms). Menu-wise, expect reinventions of classic European dishes.

South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, London EC2M 2AF

With spectacular views from the 7th floor of the South Place Hotel, Angler presents Michelin-starred dining with a special focus on seafood. Enjoy a tasting menu, lunch or à la carte meals from the rooftop terrace, with the likes of sea bass tartare with oyster cream, green apple and shiso on offer.

48 Gresham St, London EC2V 7AY

Cabotte is a restaurant founded by two Master Sommeliers. So while the menu is classic French, really the key thing here is the wine list that accompanies it. A good wine for bringing any really keen wine drinkers.

35 Spital Square, London, E1 6DY

Set within the astoundingly opulent Grade-II-listed St Botolph’s Hall, with its high stone ceilings and large arched windows, Galvin La Chapelle is fine French dining indeed. Holding a Michelin star since 2011, this 110-seater restaurant is the place for dishes such as barbecued Bresse pigeon, celeriac, Yorkshire rhubarb and dark chocolate. There are vegetarian and vegan menus too.

Pancras Rd, London N1C 4TB

Formerly Plum + Spilt Milk, this restaurant and bar on the first floor of the Great Northern Hotel has been completely made over. It now combines the best of French and British influences in its menu and the cross-Channel sourced cheese trolley is a must.

279 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X 8QF

They describe themselves as a "rustic French bakery" selling some of the very best French loaves in the King's Cross area. Also, it’s ideal if you need an impressive cake to mark a special occasion and we are addicted to their Croque Monsieur.

41 S Audley St, London W1K 2PS

Socca is a French bistro from Claude Bosi (best known for his two-Michelin-starred restaurant at Bibendum) and Samyukta Nair (Koyn, MiMi MeiFair and Jamavar). Their joint restaurant takes inspiration from the French Riviera - it's a culinary love story to the food you'll find in the coastal towns of Marseilles, Cannes and Nice. The room looks spectacular too.

114A, 116 Fortess Rd, London NW5 2HL

French restaurant and bar, Authentique draws its offering inspiration from 12 French-speaking regions, such as Jura and Savoie (between Switzerland and Burgundy) which rotate monthly. There's a huge array of interesting wines served by the glass, while the well-stocked wine shop has around 700 wines and 75 beers.

26 Fortess Rd, London NW5 2HB

From owners Tanzi Ellison and Jean-Francois Pioc – who previously set up Café Gourmand in Soho – Patron brings a slice of French brasserie dining to Kentish Town. Expect classics like countryside terrine and slow-cooked confit duck on the menu. It recently acquired next door and extended its dining room and added a Parisian speakeasy-style spirit lounge, plus a terrace at the back.

66 Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BP

Bouchon Racine sees Henry Harris back with his classic French restaurant, this time above The Three Compasses pub in Farringdon. Here you can expect an 'unashamedly French' menu that changes daily, written only on a blackboard.

82 Duke Street, London W1K 6JG

This Mayfair pub is now owened by the Cubitt House group who have given it a complete makeover, as well as completely relaunching the restaurant upstairs (which has been designed with a Mayfair clubby vibe). In charge of the food is chef Ben Tich and the menu here "takes its inspiration from Britain with a little bit of France."

68 Regent St, Soho, London W1B 4DY

Alex Dilling (previously at The Greenhouse) is in charge of the main restaurant at Hotel Cafe Royal. He's only serving 34 diners and they're getting an exemplary tasting menu that's all based around a contemporary take on French cuisine. This gives the hotel the destination restaurant that such an iconic London building truly deserved.

158a Blackstock Rd, London N5 1HA

[Currently closed for refurbishment] The sister restaurant to Patron in Kentish Town, the Finsbury Park/Highbury outpost occupies a lovely corner spot on Blackstock Road where the tables outside are always filled for happy hour. Inside expect to find a range of classic French dishes on offer along with an exemplary French wine list.

The Savoy, Strand, London WC2R 0EU

This is Gordon's third restaurant at The Savoy - he already runs The Savoy Grill andThe River Room. It's a bijoux little restaurant (with room for just 26 diners) that pays homage to the iconic chef Georges Auguste Escoffier who came to work for The Savoy in - you guessed it - 1890.

50-52 Sloane Square, Chelsea, London SW1W 8AX

Opened by Corbin & King and now part of The Wolseley Hospitality Group, this all day cafe restaurant on Sloane Square was inspired by some of the best Parisian grand cafes. The all day menu is a love letter to French classics from onion soup to Sole Meunière.

8-9 Blacklands Terrace, London SW3 2SP

This fine dining restaurant in Chelsea has racked up some serious accolades, led by Chef Patron Taylor Bonnyman and Head Chef Marguerite Keogh. Produce-driven (they have their own kitchen garden to supply much of what they cook), the 40-seater restaurant has a team with a huge amount of experience at the top end of British, European and American dining.

22 Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6DX

If you're searching for old school French cuisine, then look no further than this longstanding restaurant. It's a great spot for a long, liquid lunch but even better for a romantic dinner with all that warm brick and candlelight.

Bleeding Heart Yard, 19 Greville Street, London EC1N 8SJ

Bleeding Heart is a London institution. Come here for classic French food with a modern touch and a vast amount of wine supplied by their wine cellar. There's also a wine bar and grill off this historic courtyard for more casual fare.

182 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8EW

Want to be looked after to within an inch of your life? Well, this is the restaurant you come to. Properly old-school French, Otto's has carved out a niche for itself because of a serious bit of kit called the duck press and its fans are legion.