it's that time again! Here are the restaurants that did everything right according to Michelin's inspectors and were awarded with shiny stars. Do they matter still - we discuss that right over here. And to read how today's announcement went down, see our Michelin announcement story.
London's Michelin-starred restaurant winners for 2018
Mayfair
3 Michelin stars
Who's the chef? Mitsuhiro Araki
Why it's rated: Mitsuhiro Araki's Tokyo restaurant had three Michelin stars before he came to London and it's been one of London's hardest to get into restaurants even before this. The restaurant can take only nine people up at the dining counter and six in a private dining room - and now, as one of a very small number of restaurants with three stars in London, it's going to be even harder to get into...
How much is dinner? £300
Mayfair
2 Michelin stars
Who's the chef? Claude Bosi
Why it's rated: Claude Bosi held two stars at Hibiscus before it closed down last year, so all eyes were on him to get back those stars this year. His restaurant at Bibendum sees him both bringing back the classics and trying new things in true Michelin style. It doesn't hurt that it's in a pretty jaw-dropping room and hey, it's actually in the Michelin building too.
How much is dinner? £85 for three courses
Find out more about Claude Bosi at Bibendum
St James
1 Michelin star
Who's the chef? Henrik Ritzen
Why it's rated: Aquavit is already Michelin-starred in New York, and while this London version sees a more laid-back approach that still won the newcomer a star.
How much is dinner? Mains between £20 and 30
Victoria
1 Michelin star
Who's the chef? Andrew Wong
Why it's rated: One of the most popular restaurants in Victoria for some time now, and one of the best dim sum restaurants in London to boot, this is a long overdue Michelin star for A Wong. Expect a Chinese restaurant given a modern twist by its chef.
How much is dinner? Dim sum around £3 each, 10-course taste of China menu for £65.
The City
1 Michelin star
Who's the chef? Anne-Sophie Pic.
Why it's rated: Michelin does like to award stars to chefs who already hold them at other restaurants and, given that Anne-Sophie is currently the only female French chef to have the full compliment, it wasn't hard to imagine her London outpost getting due Michelin recognition. This restaurant is at the recently opened Four Seasons hotel in the City.
How much is dinner? £85 for three courses
Find out more about La Dame de Pic
Chelsea
1 Michelin star
Who's the chef? Phil Howard
Why it's rated: Phil Howard held two Michelin stars at The Square before moving onto pastures new with Elystan Street. It's a little pared back than before - not a tablecloth in sight - but the room has tremendous buzz.
How much is dinner? A la carte, circa £70-80 for three courses.
Find out more about Elystan Street
Mayfair
1 Michelin star
Who's the chef? Rohit Ghai
Why it's rated: This high-end Indian in Mayfair is greatly helped by having an ex Gymkhana chef, Rohit Ghai, in the kitchen. After a slew of restaurants coming and going in this Mount Street spot, this has been the one to be a big success. Expect traditional Indian dishes with a high-end approach.
How much is dinner? Main courses £20-30
Mayfair
1 Michelin star (regained)
Who's the chef? Clement Leroy
Why it's rated: The Square lost its Michelin star last year with the loss of Phil Howard (who got one for Elystan Street). They've now won it back just as they've embarked on a new renovation. Closed at the moment, it won't look like this picture and new chef Clement Leroy is in charge too. Despite the immediate change, it stays in the 2018 guide.
Find out more about The Square
Chelsea
1 Michelin star
Who is the chef? Vineet Bhatia
Why it's rated: This restaurant recently had a big refurbishment - with a strong focus on a single tasting menu. It's clearly paid off as he's won back this star he once had at Rasoi.
How much is dinner? £105
Find out more about Vineet Bhatia London
2018 Michelin Bib Gourmands in London
Michelin's Bib Gourmand awards go to restaurants 'offering good food at moderate prices'. In London 'moderate' translates to three course for £28 or less - so that's a pretty good deal for great food. This is also where Michelin gets the chance to reward more restaurants that aren't in the starched white tablecloth brigade. This year the new Bibs go to the following London spots:
- Cinnamon Bazaar
- Clipstone
- The Frog by Adam Handling
- Kiln
- Kricket
- Madame D
- Plaquemine Lock
- Popolo
- Smokestak
- Westerns Laundry
Special recognition awards
There are a few special awards given out on the day too. This year, it was...
For service and welcome: Sandia Chang and James Knappett from Bubbledogs and Kitchen Table.
Full list of London's Michelin-starred restaurants
Every listing on the Hot Dinners website will show you how many Michelin stars that restaurant has. For the full list, in descending star order, click here.
