We pick out some of our favourite spots in town to enjoy a platter of the briny bivalves, whether it's year-round rocks or natives you're after.
The Oystermen
Covent Garden - 32 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8NA
Friends Matt and Rob first came up with the idea for their seafood business when shucking oysters at Matt's wedding and their Covent Garden restaurant is one of the best places for Oysters in Covent Garden. Sit up at the counter and enjoy watching oysters being shucked in front of you. There are numerous ways to have them - including with champonzu, wasabi and shiso or cooked in a tempura batter with Champagne aioli and smoked herring caviar. If this is booked up, try their restaurant around the corner, Thirty7, where you can also get an oyster platter.
Pearly Queen
Shoreditch - 44 Commercial St, London E1 6LT
Oysters come one of four ways at chef Tom Brown's seafood spot in Shoreditch - raw, pickled, grilled and crispy. It's that latter option, the crispy buffalo oyster with ranch dressing that's the must-have. Happy Hour runs from 3-6pm when they pair half a dozen oysters with a glass of Champagne or Crémant.
J Sheekey
Covent Garden - 28-32 St Martin's Ct, London WC2N 4AL
Right in the heart of the West End, you can always rely on Sheekey's to shuck a decent oyster or two. Head for the main restaurant (and its terrace) where - in season - there's usually a choice between Lindisfarne, Carlingford and Jersey oysters. You can have them shucked in a platter, or served up with spicy boar sausage.
Mayfair - 11-15 Swallow St, London W1B 4DG
Ever the classic oyster venue choice, Bentley's boasts that it shucks more oysters than any other London restaurant - around 1000 a day on busy days. Perch yourself at the original marble oyster bar and choose from wild natives and rocks. Oysters come from all over the UK and Ireland. If you want to get more serious, then book a spot at one of their regular oyster masterclasses on a Saturday.
Chiltern Firehouse
Marylebone - 1 Chiltern St, London W1U 7PA
For nine years, Bobby Groves has been behind the stall shucking shellfish in the courtyard at Chiltern Firehouse. On the menu, you'll find oysters from Butley Creek in Suffolk to Gillardeau in France.
Faber
Hammersmith - Welbeck Mansions, 206 - 208 Hammersmith Rd, London W6 7DH
This newish seafood spot might be just off the Hammersmith flyover but its strong links with day boat fishermen and oyster producers mean they’re always switching the oyster offering up. Most recently they’ve been grilling them with a choice of sobrasada or garlic butter. There’s also an oyster ‘hour’ every day from 4-7pm.
The Cow
Notting Hill - 89 Westbourne Park Rd, London W2 5QH
Tom Conran's Westbourne Park Road gastropub has all the fripperies you could want from a place with such an obvious focus on beer and oysters. Match a creamy pint of Guinness with 6 rock oysters for a perfect night out. Oh and you might spot David Beckham having a pint in the corner as this is one of his locals.
Darby's
Vauxhall - 3 Viaduct Gardens, Nine Elms, London SW11 7AY
Robin Gill's restaurant right beside the American embassy bills itself as an oyster bar first and foremost. This is a great spot for trying super fresh oysters. Their regular oyster happy hour feature deals including a pint of Guinness or glass of Prosecco with half a dozen Jersey oysters.
Orasay
Notting Hill - 31 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2EU
Jackson Boxer's Notting Hill restaurant prides itself on its seafood - and there's usually oysters to enjoy on the menu. Recently they were serving Cooley oysters with smoked orange and sea wrack.
Prawn on the Lawn
Islington - 292 -294 St Paul's Rd, London N1 2LH
Prawn on the Lawn serves top-notch oysters alongside its larger menu. That menu changes depending on the season, but there are usually Jersey and Maldon rocks on there which you can also have deep-fried with garlic creme fraiche.
Randall & Aubin
Soho - 14 - 16 Brewer St, London W1F 0SG
There's nothing quite like the classic platter at this Soho stalwart. Choose between English or Irish rocks and if you're an absolute oyster nut you can order the XXL platter of 24 oysters to keep you going all night.
Lyon's Seafood Restaurant
Crouch End - 1 Park Rd, London N8 8TE
There are always oysters on at this North London seafood restaurant - both freshly shucked (most recently Carlingford and Lindisfarne) along with a dressed option like beetroot, horseradish, tarragon and creme fraiche. Better still pair them with their legendary oyster mary shots.
The Sea The Sea
Chelsea - 174 Pavilion Rd, London SW1X 0AW
This Pavilion Road spot describes itself as a "chef-led fish shop, deli and seafood bar" - so you can buy oysters to take home and shuck yourself, or order them to enjoy up at the counter or out on their terrace, dressed with kohlrabi vinaigrette by chef Leandro Carreira. You can also enjoy them along with a Bloody Mary.
Seabird
Southwark - 14th Floor, 40 Blackfriars Rd, South Bank, London SE1 8NY
This rooftop restaurant features what they boast to be London's longest oyster list - it's an entirely separate menu. So if you're looking for briney delights from Celine in Brittany, Louet Feisser in County Louth or nearby Maldon then you've come to the right place. Drop in on a Monday or Tuesday for oyster happy hour which sees oysters paired with martinis.
Sweetings
The City - 39 Queen Victoria St, London EC4N 4SF
The original Sweetings opened in Islington back in 1830 before eventually moving into Queen Victoria Street and it's been serving up shellfish to Londoners ever since. It helps to be living or working in the City to eat here - it's only open on weekdays for lunch.
Wiltons
St James
One of London's oldest restaurants (it's older than the USA basically), you can pop yourself up at the oyster bar and order half a dozen Jersey Rocks, West Mersea or Loch Ryan natives, when in season. Alternatively, you can have them done Rockefeller, Kilpatrick or Beau Brummell-style (the latter adds chilli sauce and has them fried in breadcrumbs). They also run shucking masterclasses.
Wright Brothers
Borough, Spitalfields, Battersea, Kensington
It's no surprise that the secret to a great spot to eat oysters is an impeccable source and the Wright Brothers' oysters are right up there. There's usually a wide selection including oysters from Carlingford Bay and Lindisfarne, and along with the usual freshly shucked options there are some dressed and cooked oysters
Other places to try oysters in London
Ham Yard (Soho) now has a new oyster cart Shucks stationed out i their courtyard selling oysters with interesting dressings. They also do half price shellfish from 5-6pm during ‘Oyster Hour’.
Oy Bar - this new Balham oyster bar offers up a load of oyster and wine bundles to entice you through the door or you could also opt for a Oy Shot which means your oyster comes with a shot of vodka or Bloody Mary.
Llama Inn (Shoreditch) - this rooftop spot in Shoreditch goes big on oysters as snacks - choose between Maldon or Jersey with a dressing of tomato, Worcestershire sauce and olive oil or the weekly special.
Sutton and Sons (Stoke Newington and Hackney) - This modern chipper offers one of the best oyster deals to be had in London starting at £1.85 a pop.
The Parakeet (Kentish Town) - check out the bar food menu where the mignonette for the freshly shucked oysters changes daily.
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