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This is the restaurant guide you could give to anyone arriving in London to give them the perfect snapshot of how to explore the best of what London's restaurant scene has to offer.
The best restaurants
ChishuruFitzrovia - 3 Great Titchfield St., London W1W 8AX
Chef patron Adejoké Bakare's modern West African restaurant was an early supperclub success, as was her first restaurant in Brixton. The move to a larger location in the West End gave her the room to expand her offering and grow her fan base. Five short months after opening, Michelin awarded the restaurant a star making Joké the first black female Michelin-starred chef in the UK. There's a changing set menu, featuring her own modern take on West African cuisine.
The DevonshireSoho - 17 Denman Street, London W1D 7HW
If there were a fantasy restaurant league then the team behind Soho pub The Devonshire would probably be the perfect squad pick. Charlie Carroll, founder of Flatiron provides the meat expertise, Ashley Palmer Watts (ex-Dinner by Heston) is in charge of the menu and Oisin Rogers runs the pub with the biggest Guinness account in the world. The three floors of restaurant above the pub serve up a grill-led menu which on the surface looks a simple affair but under the hood has all the clever touches that a great restaurant should boast.
JosephineChelsea - 315 Fulham Road, London SW10 9QH
Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi teamed up with his wife Lucy for this family affair in Chelsea, a true neighbourhood French bistro, albeit one worth crossing town for. Locals have firmly taken this neighbourhood spot to their hearts and all the reviews at the launch were stellar. Go for classic French fare with dishes as varied as cheese soufflé or the very French frogs' legs and enjoy the wine priced by the metre. All that and it's an absolutely perfect spot for a long lunch.
Dim Sum & DuckKing's Cross - 124 King's Cross Rd, London WC1X 9DS
As the name suggests, roast duck and dim sum are the order of the day and with so many places in London vying for the title of best soup dumplings, this could very well be the top of the pile. There aren't many tables though and the queue is long, so try and time your visit accordingly.
The LedburyNotting Hill - 127 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AQ
A rocky post-Covid period saw Brett Graham's restaurant shut briefly before coming back better than ever. Buoyed with a new menu and new design, the restaurant quickly won a third Michelin star, earning it membership of a very select club in London. The menu takes culinary influences from around the world and applies them to the best local produce to be found in the UK.
Kitchen TableFitzrovia - 70 Charlotte St, London W1T 4QG
An all-chef's-table restaurant that already enjoys two Michelin stars and is definitely chasing its third, Kitchen Table is a serious foodie experience. Chef James Knappett and his team have developed a promenade experience that begins with snacks in the bar before progressing to lunch or dinner up at the counter. Expect culinary fireworks with you in the front row.
The Ritz RestaurantSt James - 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR
Unquestionably one of the great restaurant experiences in London, The Ritz has a refined menu that more than matches its gilded dining room. Executive Chef John Williams MBE, together with his team, serves up dishes that are hugely influenced by Escoffier. And if you're a fan of a bit of tableside theatre, there's a whole menu devoted to it here. This is a cast-iron choice for any big occasion meal where you want to really celebrate something special.
More about The Ritz Restaurant
DorianNotting Hill - 105-107 Talbot Road, London W11 2AT
Billed as 'a bistro for locals', for Dorian in high-end Notting Hill that translates to a restaurant that not only attracts other chefs but plenty of A-listers too. The Holstein crossbreed steak may be the go-to dish to try but a quick look at their Instagram feed reveals plenty more to entice on a menu that changes regularly. Wine buffs will want to roam the amazing wine list here, as long as they have deep pockets
Bouchon RacineClerkenwell - 66 Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BP
Bouchon Racine saw the resurrection of Henry Harris' classic French restaurant, this time above The Three Compasses pub in Farringdon. A huge hit from day one, they serve up an 'unashamedly French' menu that changes daily, written only on a blackboard. The creme caramel is unmissable if it's on and even if you can't get a table upstairs, the snacks in the pub downstairs are also well worth a look.
MountainSoho - 16-18 Beak St, London W1F 9RD
Tomos Parry's second restaurant, following on from Brat and its alfresco spin-off, has been a huge hit for him in Soho - perhaps even bigger than his debut restaurant. Here Parry takes his influences from both Spain and Wales, with a big eye on local sourcing and both cheese and bread made in-house. Expect top sharing plates like lobster caldereta, grilled meats and some excellent small plates too.
A WongVictoria - 70 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1DE
Legions of London foodies can't be wrong. Andrew Wong took over his parent's traditional Chinese restaurant in Victoria back in 2013 and proceeded to shake up the SW1 dining scene in no uncertain way, and it now has two Michelin stars. The tasting menu in the evening takes inspiration from Chinese history, but what you really want to do is come here for the lunchtime dim sum menu.
BruttoClerkenwell - 36-37 Greenhill Rents, Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BN
The late Russell Norman's return to the London restaurant scene remains a love letter to Florence, tucked down a side street a stone's throw from Smithfield Market. It's always hard to get a reservation but well worth it for a restaurant that is a testament to one of London's greatest-ever restaurateurs. And as great as dishes like penne with vodka and tomato or a truly excellent tiramisu are, it's also well worth popping in just to have a negroni at the bar.
Core by Clare SmythNotting Hill - 92 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2PN
One of London's rare three-Michelin-starred restaurants, Clare Smyth's Notting Hill restaurant is one of the very best in town. Expert superlative cooking in a more relaxed setting than the fine dining palaces of old. There are no starched tablecloths (or indeed any tablecloths at all) to be found here, just food that looks exquisite and tastes fantastic.
More about Core by Clare Smyth
St John
Smithfield - 26 St John Street, London EC1M 4AY
St John seems to be an unofficial finishing school for some of London's top chefs - so many of them have worked in the original or at Bread and Wine. But Fergus Henderson's original is seen by many as one of the very best restaurants in London and a perfect example of nose-to-tail British cuisine. It's also well worth popping into the bar for Eccles cakes and Madeira and to try some of the separate bar menu dishes if you want a taste of the place without paying the full price tag.
Also try: St John Bread and Wine is also a classic in the Shoreditch area
Otto'sHolborn - 182 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8EW
Want to be looked after within an inch of your life? 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. This dish sees the breast sliced, then the rest of the duck (bar the legs) pressed in the special screw press giving a juice to which Cognac and duck liver are added before it's poured over the rare slices which finish cooking in the sauce. Both very rich and quite pricey but like nothing else in town.
MantecaShoreditch - 49-51 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3PT
Manteca’s journey (two pop-up before a permanent restaurant) eventually saw them leap into the National Restaurant Awards top 100 list. The dream team behind it are Smokestak's David Carter and chef Chris Leach who have honed the perfect Shoreditch menu of fresh pasta, charcuterie made on-site and wood-roasted fish and meat.
KolMarylebone - 9 Seymour Street, London W1H 5BT
Inspired by Mexico but taking Britain’s geographical larder as its jumping-off point, Santiago Lastra’s Marylebone restaurant took Mexican cooking to the next level. South East cheesemakers supply his Oaxacan-style cheese while langoustine tacos come with foraged sea buckthorn. Save time for a trip downstairs to the amazing mezcaleria too, and with snacks available down there, it's a great option if you can't get a booking upstairs.
Bermondsey - 40 Maltby St London SE1 3PA
This restaurant on Maltby Street has been quietly turning out extraordinary dishes that have fellow chefs and restaurateurs regularly citing this as one of their favourite places in town. And it's not just the food that's good, given that it's owned by Gergovie Wines, you can expect a very decent wine list here too.
AkokoFitzrovia - 21 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3LP
This West African-inspired restaurant was opened by restaurateur Aji Akokomi in 2020 with head chef Ayo Adeyemi running the kitchen. Born in the UK and with Nigerian roots, Aji's taken the live-fire restaurant to new heights. Think the best of British produce with a strong African accent, so Lake District beef comes with jollof rice.
Also try - Akara, their newer, more casual restaurant in Borough Market
Chez BruceWandsworth - 2 Bellevue Road, Wandsworth Common, London SW17 7EG
Chez Bruce nears its 30th bithday and this longstanding restaurant is top of many a restaurant critic's all-time favourites list. Co-owner Bruce Poole and his head chef Matt Christmas set out their stall thus: "We are not particularly into gadgets and tricks in the kitchen and there are doubtless some who view our food as slightly old fashioned in this regard. We take this as a compliment!" Back when Marina O'Loughlin was at the Guardian she declared her meal there as one which "encourages you to wallow in sheer, sybaritic pleasure".
AllegraStratford - 20 International Way, London E20 1FD
Patrick Powell’s restaurant in the Manhattan Loft Gardens tower in Stratford has built a reputation that matches its high-rise status. Menus are regularly overhauled to make the most of seasonal bounties and the daily tasting menu is the preferred option if you want to see what this kitchen can really do.
Also try - Midland Grand Dining Room which the chef has opened in King's Cross
Mayfair - 11-15 Swallow St, London W1B 4DG
For over 100 years this Piccadilly institution has been serving oysters and other seafood to London's well-heeled clientele. Nowadays it's a more egalitarian establishment, presided over by chef-patron Richard Corrigan who has run things here for more than a decade. And while oysters are still very much the thing - with an annual shucking contest to mark the beginning of the natives season - everything else is given just as much care and attention. They even smoke their own salmon up on the rooftop.
Also try - Daffodil Mulligan the chef's restaurant near Old Street
FKA Black Axe MangalIslington - 156 Canonbury Road, London N1 2UP
The restaurant formerly known as Black Axe Mangal returned post-pandemic with a different format. They now offer a tasting menu-only approach that allows chef Lee Tiernan and his team to double down on the creative dishes they can turn out from a wood-fired oven and a teeny kitchen. The amazing squid ink flatbread still pops up from time to time though.
BibiMayfair - 42 North Audley Street, London W1K 6ZR
Chef Chet Sharma's journey to opening Bibi for the JKS group took him via Mugaritz and Moor Hall, so this contemporary Indian restaurant just off Oxford Street is a very modern affair. It draws influences from the chef's travels across India and his heritage while making the most of the UK's great produce - and you get this right from the get-go if you order the amazing Wookey Hole cheese papad.
BratShoreditch - 4 Redchurch St, London E1 6JL
Tomos Parry (also behind Mountain) is thre man behind this perennial Shoreditch hit. This upstairs dining room (you'll find it above Smoking Goat) looks like it's been on this spot since Dickensian London, but the vibe couldn't be more of the moment. The turbot is very much the signature dish, but expect to find all manner of meat too thrown on the wood-fired grill plus a top wine list from Noble Rot's Keeling Andrew & Co. Who needs a trip to Etxebarri when we have our own homegrown take on Basque food culture right here in London?
Also try: Brat x Climpsons Arch, their alfresco spinoff
Hackney - 49 Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG
Many people in the food world have a real fondness for Brawn. Food writer Diana Henry declared, "Brawn and (Quality Chop House). I'd eat in them both every week if I could." Owned and run by Ed Wilson, it's the archetypal neighbourhood restaurant, serving a super seasonal and regularly changing menu - their pasta is particularly great.
Darjeeling ExpressCarnaby - Top Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, London W1B 5PW
After a short stay in Covetn Garden, Asma Khan's restaurant returned to where it all began, in Carnaby's Kingly Court. Now settled into this permanent home, the restaurant is much more of an open affair, showcasing the kitchen and its all-female brigade. The menu still serves up some of the best Indian food in London, as well as their much-loved biryanis. it's also a great place for star spotting - Marvel actors in particular seem to have a love for the restaurant.
SingburiLeyton - 593 High Rd Leytonstone, London E11 4PA
How a small, family-run Thai spot in Leytonstone became one of the city's best restaurants is a great London story. Because people seriously love Singburi, from its regularly changing specials board and friendly, chaotic service to its legendarily-good moo krob. Genuinely worth crossing to the furthest regions of North East London from wherever you live.
Cafe CeciliaHackney - Canal Place, 32 Andrews Rd, London E8 4RL
Most Broadway Market spots don't get write-ups in Vogue and the New York Times, but Cafe Cecilia has been a mould-breaker since the day it opened. Chef Patron Max Rocha is a scion of the Rocha fashion family and that connecting thread is seen right through to the staff outfits his sister Simone has designed. "Simple but really interesting" is how Max describes his food - and that fits it perfectly.
Claude Bosi at BibendumKensington - Michelin House, 81 Fulham Rd, London SW3 6RD
Claude Bosi's two-Michelin-starred restaurant is in the actual Michelin building and certainly feels like it's at the pinnacle of fine dining in London. Expect the finest English and French produce to be given a dazzling twist by Bosi in this most beautiful of dining rooms.
More about Claude Bosi at Bibendum
Also try: The Oyster bar downstairs is a more affordable opportunity to try Bosi's food here.
The Clove ClubShoreditch - Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT
One of the best restaurants in town and one of the few to make it onto the World's 50 Best (as well as earn two Michelin stars), The Clove Club is now a London institution and on the must-try lists of all good gastro tourists. Head into the main restaurant for a regularly changing set menu which is at the heart of things here - or to the bar for excellent cocktails and small plates.
Also try: They also run the Italian restaurant Luca in Clerkenwell.
Da TerraBethnal Green - Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, London E2 9NF
Rafael Cagali runs this restaurant that showcases his Italian and Brazilian background on a menu that's also influenced by his work in the UK. It's the kind of international melting pot story that makes London's restaurant scene so great. Michelin clearly agrees - they gave it a star in its first year and a second two years later. There's a notably strong tasting menu here, making a trip to Bethnal Green to try Da Terra's inspired dishes a must.
Also try: In the same hotel, Cagali runs another restaurant, Elis.
FallowSt James - 2 St James’s Market, London SW1Y 4RP
As beloved by other chefs as it is by its legions of fans (it's even going great guns on TikTok) Fallow is the restaurant that seems to capture the essence of London right now. Sustainability has always been at its core - the move to St James allowed it to introduce elements like its mushroom wall. A regularly changing menu, focusing on excellent seasonal produce, with creative flourishes is what has propelled this restaurant to stardom.
Also try: The much larger Roe, by the same team in Canary Wharf
GymkhanaMayfair - 42 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4JH
The three-Michelin-starred Gymkhana is one of London's top (if not the top) Indian restaurants and has carved out quite a niche with the celebrity circuit too (Ed Sheeran and David Beckham are both huge fans). It looks set to continue to be a huge London hit for a long time yet (although it has become notably spendier of late). The kid goat methi keema and muntjac biryani are unmissable dishes.
Honey & CoBloomsbury - 54 Lamb’s Conduit Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1N 3LW
This restaurant is run by Itamar Srulovich and Sarit Packer (Sarit was previously at Nopi and Ottolenghi) and it still has the feel of a neighbourhood restaurant in the middle of London, even in its new larger location. It's much loved for its deceptively simple Middle-Eastern cooking and also for being one of the friendliest places to eat in London. This couple were at the forefront of Levantine cooking just as it became a trend and they continue to lead the field.
Also try: Honey and Smoke for the team's Middle Eastern grill as well as Honey & Co Daily in Bloomsbury.
IkoyiStrand - 180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA
This two-Michelin-starred and World's 50 Best restaurant by Iré Hassan-Odukale and Chef Jeremy Chan has settled into its new-ish Strand location and become bigger than ever. Expect a mix of seasonal British ingredients with a West African-inspired menu, creating something unique in London in the process. It's now a tasting menu-only affair, which will change regularly (although classics like their amazing jollof rice should make an appearance).
Soho - 58 Brewer St, London W1F 9TL
Kiln is from the same people behind The Smoking Goat and is focused around simple, yet sophisticated, Thai cooking. It's built up a devoted following, with a predominantly counter dining offering, and has topped the National Restaurant Awards top 100 list. It packs a big punch for its size and is one of the liveliest counter dining scenes in Soho.
Lyle'sShoreditch - Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ
In this ultra-pared-back Shoreditch restaurant, James Lowe has full rein to showcase his talents with a modern ever-changing menu. Come for lunch if you fancy dipping in for a plate off the a la carte or treat yourself at dinner to the full tasting menu experience.
PerillaStoke Newington - 1-3 Green Lanes, Newington Green, London N16 9BS
A perfect example of a neighbourhood restaurant that's 100% worth crossing town for. Running the kitchen are Ben Marks, who used to be at The Square, and Matt Emmerson, who's ex-Polpo. The dinner menu changes daily meaning there's always something to entice back locals or other regulars. Plant-led dishes are particularly inventive.
Also try: Their Mediterranean-focused Morchella in Clerkenwell.
Quality Chop HouseClerkenwell - 92–94 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3EA
Quality Chop House, which has been open since 1869, at one point looked in danger of disappearing forever before it was lovingly restored by co-owners Will Lander and Daniel Morgenthau. Now it's both a restaurant and wine bar featuring menus that are created in the morning based on what's been delivered. Come for the very best of British cooking, or just as easily pop in for charcuterie or wine or to pick something (like London's best-ever pork pies) up from the adjoining butcher and deli.
Also try: Quality Wines next door also comes in for very high praise.
The River CaféHammersmith - Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA
It may have originally been the canteen to Ruth Rogers' rather well-known architect husband's company, but this is now about as far from a works canteen as it's possible to get. Set down a leafy residential street, with gardens stretching down to the Thames, the River Cafe turns out beautiful Italian food with the best produce at an eye-watering price. You get what you pay for - it's just a question of whether you can afford the price tag.
Also try: The River Café Café next door lets you try the River Café experience at a lower entry fee.
Rochelle CanteenShoreditch - 16 Playground Gardens, London E2 7FA
Rochelle Canteen is in a converted bike shed, in the old playground of an East London school that only the committed foodie would ever find (look for the buzzer on the wall by the gate on Rochelle Street). But once in, particularly on a clement day when you can sit outside in the walled garden, Rochelle Canteen proves worthy of the quest. Margot Henderson (wife of St John's Fergus) owns the place with Melanie Arnold, and while the menu descriptions are sparing - e.g. Grilled Lamb, Swiss Chard & Turnips - the food that appears is generous and delicious.
Mayfair - 35 Heddon St, London W1B 4BP
Mere days after it opened on Heddon Street, it was clear that London was in possession of an instant classic. Run by the perfect double act of chef Nieves Barragán and GM Josè Etura it's the kind of restaurant everyone wants to try. It's a restaurant of two halves (if you ignore the stand-up bar section) with the (bookable) Asador on the upper level and counter dining by the open kitchen on the ground floor. Obviously, you're going to want the croquetas, but everything else will be great as well.
Sambal ShiokHolloway - 171 Holloway Rd, London N7 8LX
Mandy Yin’s Holloway Road restaurant showcases the chef/owner’s Malaysian roots - she grew up in KL and now delivers her own take on that cuisine to Londoners who love her laksas. There isn’t much that can’t be cured with a bowl of what she serves up here.
Smoking GoatShoreditch - 64 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ
This always-humming Shoreditch restaurant seems to have found the perfect combination to draw in Londoners - the city's love of Thai food and live fire cooking. Chef Albert Smith and his team draw inspiration from the late-night drinking and dining dens of Bangkok for a menu that hits all the right spots.
SOLASoho - 64 Dean Street, London W1D 4QQ
Chef patron Victor Garvey has found his true groove, celebrating Californian cuisine at his Michelin-starred Soho restaurant. There’s more inspiration derived from his time in Japan too and plenty of tableside service flourishes to make this a very special place to dine out.
SollipBorough - 8 Melior St, Bermondsey, London SE1 3QP
Husband and wife team Woongchul Park (ex-Ledbury) and Bomee Ki (former pastry chef at The Arts Club) turn out to be a dream restaurant duo at this, their first independent venture. We were blown away by the inventive food and warm service at this Bermondsey spot which has also won a Michelin star.
Sushi TetsuClerkenwell - 12 Jerusalem Passage, London EC1V 4JP
Hands-down one of London’s best places for sushi - if only you can get a reservation. The room may be tiny, but the talent is huge. Toru Takahashi and his wife, Harumi run the show and, obviously, counter dining is the best place to enjoy Toru’s food (and skills). It's quietly remained one of the very best sushi restaurants in London, with barely any press (or even a website!).
TrulloIslington - 300 - 302 St Paul's Road, London N1 2LH
The OG sibling to its pasta joint Padella, Trullo opened in 2010 with chef Tim Siadatan on the stove (it's now run by Chef Owner Conor Gadd). It quickly became an Islington institution, drawing folk from near and far for its 'Britalian' take on dishes. The beef shin ragu is legendary for a reason, so if it's on, be sure to order it.
Also try: Padella from the same team is one of the best fresh pasta restaurants in London
Westerns Laundry34 Drayton Park, London N5 1PB
With the bifold doors flung open and pre-dinner drinks out on the terrace, the team who also run Primeur and Jolene have turned this unlovely former laundry by the Emirates Stadium into a little slice of foodie paradise. Enjoy snacks and a glass of Vermouth under the olive tree and feel like you're far away from North London. It also happens to be one of Dua Lipa's favourite restaurants in London.
Also try: Either Jolene or Primeur from the same team in Stoke Newington
The best restaurant groups
London hosts some restaurant groups that started out as classic solo restaurants before branching out. But they've managed to keep something special about every venue they open. Here are some notable restaurants with a few locations that should be on your radar.
BAOSoho, Shoreditch, Marylebone, King's Cross, Borough, Battersea
Originally starting out as street food, Bao then hit Soho in a big way. A seat at the small restaurant quickly became - and remains - one of the best spots in town even though they've expanded elsewhere. Their signature bao buns are always good and each of their restaurants features unique specialisations, like noodles in Shoreditch or dumplings in Marylebone.
DishoomKing's Cross, Soho, Covent Garden, Knightsbridge, Canary Wharf
How to explain the very special place that Dishoom has in Londoners' hearts? Is it the deep-running passion for their bacon naan and black daal that made us form queues outside every one of their restaurants? Or the clever interior design that transports us to the cafes of Bombay? Or perhaps it's the way they make everyone in our city feel at home there.
HawksmoorSpitalfields, Borough, Seven Dials, Canary Wharf, Guildhall, Knightsbridge
While steak clearly is a BIG thing at Hawksmoor, in many respects eating at one of their restaurants is much more than a carnivore's delight. From the cocktails (the Full-Fat Old Fashioned is one of our favourites in London) to the steaks and some amazing desserts - the salted caramel "rolos" are unmissable - Hawksmoor is the very epitome of the excellent all-rounder. You can be sure of a good time at any of their London establishments (particularly the newest that's floating on water).
KoyaSoho, Bank, Hackney
It's hard to believe that Koya is over 10 years old. Head Chef and co-founder Shuko Oda has, together with John Devitt, created one of those pitch-perfect London restaurants. The cold udon noodle dishes are probably the biggest draw, but we have a special fondness for the onsen tamago.
Noble RotSoho, Holborn, Mayfair
Noble Rot now has three truly excellent restaurants to its name. The original is much beloved, the Soho restaurant revived the iconic Gay Hussar building and the newest Mayfair restaurant continues their success. The Sportsman's Stephen Harris consults on the menu and they've attracted some great chefs in to all of their restaurants. Their set menus are one of the great deals in London.
Roti KingFitzrovia, Battersea, Waterloo
The original Roti King doesn't do reservations, so to enjoy the best roti canai in London along with peerless laksa and next-level Nasi Goreng you're just going to have to queue along with everyone else. They now have shiny new places in Battersea and Waterloo but for longstanding fans, their other restaurant around the back of Euston station is the OG and the best.
4/12/23 - Added to the list: Mountain, Bouchon Racine
London's best restaurants, mapped
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