The 50 best restaurants in London right now
When you're in London, you're never short of choice when it comes to eating out, but ascertaining what the best restaurants in London are is quite another matter. It both helps and hinders that the capital is home to many of the best chefs in the world, who have trained all over the world, bringing new flavours and ideas to the capital and in doing so, creating a diverse and ever-changing food scene. To help narrow down the choices, we've whittled them down to a list of the 50 best restaurants in London, compiled by House & Garden's food editor Blanche Vaughan and deputy digital editor Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes.
When choosing who should make the list, good food was paramount, but so too were atmosphere, service, wine list and overall experience. Whether you’re looking for fine dining or a quick bite, tasting menu or sharing plates, these are the restaurants not to miss in the capital, in no particular order. Try one of the best afternoon teas in the city, or consult our list of best brunches in London if you're looking to indulge in a long and languorous breakfast. When the weather allows and you fancy some terrace dining, consult our list of outdoor restaurants and book a lovely meal in well-curated surrounds.
This list, like the restaurant scene in London, is ever-changing and updated to reflect new openings that immediately grab us, so it's one to check back on every time you're wondering where to go. In April 2024, The Dover in Mayfair and The Devonshire continue to grow in popularity, while The Langham has opened a brand new on-site restaurant called Mimosa. Think the south of France and Italian Riviera in elegant hotel surrounds. Scroll on for the 50 best restaurants in London right now.
The 50 best restaurants in London
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1/50Bistro Freddie, Shoreditch
Hand-scrawled menus, white tablecloths, extra drippy white candles; Bistro Freddie very much feels like a classic French bistro – but don't be fooled. The new restaurant from the folks behind Crispin is currently one of London's most sought-after tables in town. With interiors designed by Jermaine Gallacher, the space half feels like stepping back into another decade in mittel Europe, and half too cool for school. The menu, devised by chef Anna Søgaard who grew up between the US and Denmark, uses British produce to create a unique take on classic bistro dishes, paired with French wines and digestifs.
On our Saturday lunch visit, we started with the house sausage with brown BF sauce which comes deceivingly plain-looking on a small plate, though was my fellow diner's highlight of the entire meal. My highlight – and one not to be missed – is the flatbread. The handwritten menu changes often and you'll find different toppings for the flatbread (like Dorset snails or Boullaibaise). On this occasion, it was mussels, lovage, garlic and Comté and it was a beautifully buttery, flavourful, colourful and comforting dish. For mains, a perfectly medium rare Bavette came plated on a sea of peppercorn sauce which gave you enough for dunking the house-cut chips into while my fellow diner tucked into the pork tenderloin with sweet Soubise sauce. The chicken pie is what the restaurant is also famous for and comes big enough for two to share. Dessert was a large and airy sticky toffee pudding and my only regret is not toasting the afternoon's line-up with a calvados digestif. All the more reason to return. – Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: Shoreditch
Address: 4 Luke St, Greater, London EC2A 4PY
What to order: Do not skip the flatbread
Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @bistro_freddie
Benjamin McMahon2/50Mountain, Soho
If there's a name you know you can trust when it comes to devising restaurants that people will simply love for all the right seasons, it's Welsh-born Tomos Parry. The British chef is the mastermind behind beloved Brat and in 2023, he brought the taste of the mountainous Basque region to Soho with his new venture: Mountain. It's a simple formula for success: a great, open interior where you can watch every chef at work and feel a little like you're at a very large dinner party; a menu of dishes to share – or not, should you choose – that are so tempting, you know you'll be back for any that you missed; and a top-notch wine list. It's been almost impossible to get a booking since it opened and once you manage to get a table, you'll know why. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Soho
Address: 16-18 Beak St, London W1F 9RD
What to order: red mullet, mutton chops and smoked potatoesMAY WE SUGGEST: The best restaurants in Soho
3/50St Barts, Smithfield
Pulling open the curtains and entering the calm candle-lit bar at St Barts is an instant delight. Taking inspiration from the natural materials used to create the more historic buildings nearby (the restaurant backs onto London’s oldest church, the cloisters of St. Bartholomew The Great), culinary trio Johnnie Crowe, Luke Wasserman and Toby Neill have created a sanctuary of a space using raw materials like stone, wood and soft, fluffy fabrics throughout. It’s a dinner of two halves, with the first half of the tasting menu starting at the lounge bar with drinks and snacks before guests are guided to the dining room for the second half of the tasting menu journey where London’s oldest church comes into full view with floor to ceiling windows. A wax-sealed brown envelope is placed on the table at the start of the night featuring that evening's menu; you can either open it or keep the next few hours a surprise. It's as impressive an experience as they come. – Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: Smithfield
Address: 63 Bartholomew Cl, London, EC1A 7BG
What to order: the tasting menu
LANGLEY4/50Sune, London Fields
There's a lot of top competition when it comes to Broadway Market restaurants, which stretches from London Fields to the Regent's Canal. But newly opened Sune (pronounced Soon-er) is quickly making a name for itself as a leader of the pack. Opened by one of our favourite sommeliers Honey Spencer and her Noma alumni partner Charlie Sims, Sune is everything that you want from a neighbourhood joint. It's stylish without the pomp with a big focus on hospitality. Of course brilliant food is its biggest draw. Ex-Pidgin head chef Michael Robins (who's also cooked at Acme Fire Cult and Akoko) is at the helm of the kitchen and brings seasonal British food with a global twist; think smoked eel Caesar salad and homemade linguine vongole pasta with fried garlic and bottarga.
My meal began with Carlingford oysters topped with koji mignonette and a must-order crispy potato cake topped with very Hackney-esque guindilla peppers and anchovies. A delicious seabass crudo came out looking like a nineties lava lamp with a bright red borscht and dill reduction but it was the beef tartare & Croque Monsieur dish that made me want to immediately plan my next return. If you only order one thing make it this dish. The unexpected combination is favoured as a late-night snack by chefs in Montreal. The grilled pork chop with prawn and lemongrass sauce was cooked perfectly and dessert was a fragrant and warming pear tarte tatin.– Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: London Fields (just off Broadway Market)
Address: 129A Pritchard's Rd, London E2 9AP
What to order: Carnivores should not leave without ordering the beef tartare & croque monsieur and crispy potato cake with guindilla peppers and anchovies.
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5/50Sessions Arts Club, Clerkenwell
Sessions Arts Club manages to perfectly balance simplicity and decadence, and offer an experience at once pared back but heady. A light touch on ingredients makes way for an expert hand at seasoning, so every sauce is as flavourful as it should be and every finished plate leaves you clamouring for more. It's not easy to bring the interiors, atmosphere, wine list and food together seamlessly in a restaurant but the team at Sessions Arts Club has managed it with such ease, it makes you wonder how others miss the mark. There are many components to the instant success that Sessions Arts Club has enjoyed and the setting is vital. An inconspicuous red door to the side of the building, with an iron arch above it, makes you feel like you're in on a secret as you buzz to gain entry. Once inside, it's up in the lift to the fourth floor, past a heavy red velvet curtain and into the restaurant. Layers of coloured, peeling plaster on the walls find their foil in sumptuous textiles; a bar at one end twinkles in a tempting manner and a soft glow of candlelight flickering from the tables makes the room feel even more like a wonderful secret than the entrance might have done. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Clerkenwell
Address: 24 Clerkenwell Grn, London EC1R 0NA
What to order: Clams, coco de Bretagne & Borettane.jpg)
Ben Carpenter6/50Apricity, Mayfair
Headed up by chef Chantelle Nicholson, Apricity has a zero-waste, sustainable ethos at its core. Dishes use byproducts of others on the menu – so extra chickpeas from one dish might become a doughnut amuse bouche or part of a ‘wasted dip’ in a snack – and the ingredients are as local as you can get for the quality needed, with tomatoes from Sutton Community Farm and mushrooms grown in north London. The seasonal menu features a lot of plant-based dishes too, adding to the low impact on the environment and it changes all the time to reflect not only the seasons, but the best of what their growers and suppliers have to offer day to day. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Address: 68 Duke St, London W1K 6JU
What to order: Black pearl, maitake & oyster mushrooms, 'XO' sauce, watercressMAY WE SUGGEST: The best restaurants in Mayfair
7/50St John, Clerkenwell
As a long term devotee of St John, I am delighted they have opened another branch in Marylebone, a short walk from the Conde Nast office and an excuse to wander past the tempting shops on charming back street, Marylebone Lane. With a simpler menu than their original Smithfield restaurant, this still serves the superb and deceptively simple dishes that made it the holy grail of good English food. There’s devilled crab, game birds (in season), braised rabbit and a new version of anchovies on toast - fillets of salted anchovy served in a tangle of parsley and shallot on crisp croutons. Chopped beetroot salad is dressed with pickled walnuts, a seldom used great British accompaniment and their new deep fried Welsh Rarebit has sent restaurant critics into paroxysms of pleasure. Desserts are hearty or light, depending on your appetite, rice pudding comes with rum soaked raisins, Madeleines are cooked to order or have their famous combination of Eccles cakes with a wedge of crumbly Lancashire cheese. The ground floor dining room is perfect for tables of two, or downstairs there’s room for larger groups. But book in advance, this place is already attracting a crowd – Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Barbican & Marylebone
Address:
26 St John St, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY
98 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2QA
What to order: deep fried Welsh Rarebit and madeleines
8/50Plaza Khao Gaeng & Arcade Food Hall, Tottenham Court Road
Arcade Food Hall, an exciting dining concept on New Oxford Street housing a collection of chef led restaurants under one roof offers “eight open kitchens and a mezzanine restaurant that travels the world, from Thai curries to Middle Eastern shawarma.” The spacious ground floor has small tables, communal benches and areas for large groups where guests order from a single menu that includes banh mi sandwiches from Vietpopulare, for a taste of Hanoi cafe culture, or Tipan Tapan’s Nepali street food from ex-Berejak chef Arjun Gurung, to a sushi kitchen or omakase experience from Sushi Kamon and Omakase by the founders of Japanese restaurant Yashin.
On the mezzanine level, the 45 seater flagship is southern Thai Plaza Khao Gaeng, operating as the only individual restaurant. Designed to feel like you’re eating at a market stall in Thailand, the small tables are covered in 70’s style bright patterned vinyl tablecloths, there’s a busy open kitchen in the brightly lit space filled with steam and the scent of Thai spices. Pik Gai Tord Khamin Deeplee aka chicken wings with turmeric and long pepper are crispy, unctuous and golden with spice, Miang Phuket - a mound of coconut, cashew and single estate palm sugar is served with a pile of betel leaves for scooping it up. An intensely fragrant shrimp paste relish comes with fresh vegetables including squash and a mound of Thai basil. Authenticity is key for chef Luke Farrell who sources curry paste from Bang Rauk market in Thailand and grows spices in his Dorset greenhouse. The addictive flavour combination of spicy, sweet, sour and hot explode in the tastes of these dishes, subdued only by pots of steamed new season jasmine rice and crisp salad leaves. – Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Soho
Address: Arcade Food Hall, 103-105 New Oxford St, London WC1A 1DB
What to order: Pik Gai Tord Khamin Deeplee and Miang Phuket
Ed Scholfield9/50Dorian, Notting Hill
We know by now everyone is rather sick of hearing the virtues of Notting Hill’s new food wave extolled but, forgive us, we just want to rehash it one more time. It's true that the last few months have seen a wealth of talented chefs set up shop in Notting Hill. From Golborne Road’s Caia, to Instagram hotspot Straker’s, Miznon, Kuro Eatery… we could go on. However, if you’re only going to pick one, it’s got to be Dorian. Dorian is headed up by Chris D’Sylva, owner of the much adored Notting Hill Fish Shop and Supermarket of Dreams (there’s no one who knew what Notting Hill actually needed quite like Chris). The kitchen is headed up by Max Coen, formerly of Kitchen Table, Frantzén and Ikoyi, who has put together a menu that highlights the best of seasonal produce – Arabella Bowes
Neighbourhood: Notting Hill
Address: 105, 107 Talbot Rd, London W11 2AT
10/50Cavita, Marylebone
Terracotta tiles, crumbling exposed brick and plenty of pathos plants dangling overhead, you'd hardly remember you're in Marylebone after stepping into the charming and relaxed space that's now Mexican restaurant Cavita. That's exactly how chef Adriana Cavita wants you to feel, taking diners on a journey to her two hometowns; Mexico City and the village of San Felipe Ixtacuixtla. Luckily for us, the finished result is an incredibly ambitious yet relaxed, colourful and memorable culinary journey with home at the heart of the experience. – Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: Marylebone
Address: 56-60 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2RZ
What to order: smoked beef shin quesabirria
Milo Brown11/50Lisboeta, Fitzrovia
There's no mistaking that this is an homage to Portugal: everything from the gallery wall of prints celebrating the country to the menus themselves proclaim it. The wine list is a tour de force of Portuguese grapes, while the cocktails too sing the country's praises. The menu is split into three sections, starting with snacks, charcuterie and cheese to whet the appetite. Small sharing plates called petiscos are next up, followed by the larger sharing dishes, tachos & travessas–that's pots and platters. As with any Nuno Mendes endeavour, every dish is spot on. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Fitzrovia
Address: 30 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NG
What to order: vindalho empada, bacalhau à Brás and arroz de Marisco
12/50KOL & KOL Mezcaleria, Marylebone
Santiago Lastra's KOL is a vibrant expression of his Mexican heritage. Every aspect of the restaurant is infused with warmth; the terracotta, wood and ceramic interiors, the incredibly elegant open kitchen and the sunny disposition of the staff. The menu is a tasting one; choose seis or nueve for either a six or nine course spin around the complex cooking that Santiago and his team so deftly put together in the open kitchen. Every plate is so alive with flavour, texture and levels of heat that work together in a kind of alchemy. It's a restaurant you won't forget in a hurry. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
If you can’t get a table, try the buzzy Mezcaleria downstairs for antojitos, or small plates and superb cocktails. I loved their ‘no avo’ creamy pistachio guacamole served with salty fresh tortilla chips and the pork belly empanada with achiote and rhubarb salsa. A range of mezcals are mixed into cocktails you could drink all night, including a sour made with tangy sorrel and hops – Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Marylebone
Address: 9 Seymour St, London W1H 7BA
What to order: the tasting menu
13/50Sumi Sushi, Notting Hill
Sublime sushi from little sister restaurant to Michelin-starred Endo at the Rotunda. High quality Japanese cooking in this relaxed neighbourhood venue on Westbourne Grove – Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Notting Hill
Address: 157 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RS
What to order: Order the Hotate Temaki - diced scallop with hanahojiso flowers, soy and salt, £9MAY WE SUGGEST: The best sushi restaurants in London
Jean Cazals14/50The Clove Club, Shoreditch
Named after the supper club that brought its three founders – Daniel Willis, Isaac Mchale and Johnny Smith – together, this modern British restaurant has been serving arguably the best tasting menu in London since 2013. Seasonal ingredients sing in the Shoreditch dining room, and service is so impeccable that The Clove Club is more than deserving of its Michelin star. It’s one for a special occasion, rather than a midweek meal. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Shoreditch
Address: Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, Hackney, London EC1V 9LT
What to order: the tasting menu
Maureen M Evans15/50Cafe Cecilia, Hackney
At Cafe Cecilia, Max Rocha’s Hackney restaurant overlooking the canal near Broadway market, fashion meets food in this modern, light space. Max’s River Cafe and St John training speaks of delicious simplicity: the sage and anchovy fritti was as light and crisp as popcorn, pork and apricot terrine was perfection, and the stuffed mussels a revelation of juicy freshness with a crunchy bite. The Guinness bread (a recipe from his mother) is recycled into brown bread ice cream on the dessert menu, although the current instagram sensation is the deep fried bread and butter pudding with cold custard. Need I say more. – Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Hackney
Address: 32 Andrews Rd, London E8 4FX
What to order: The deep fried bread and butter pudding with cold custard
16/50José Pizarro at the Royal Academy, Mayfair
On the first floor of the Royal Academy, there is a rather grand room with soaring ceilings, and intricate pink, blue and gold cornicing on the ceiling and walls. Within these lofty confines, Spanish chef José Pizarro and his team are dishing up the best tapas this side of Spain, with plate after plate of flavourful combinations that show an incredible attention to detail. It's the perfect combination of setting, service and dishes in one. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Address: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD
What to order: buñuelos de bacalao, ensaladilla rusa and langostinos al ajillo
17/50Fallow, Mayfair
Formerly of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Will Murray and Jack Croft are the dynamic duo in the kitchen at Fallow, bringing their 'creative cooking, sustainable thinking' ethos to the stoves. They follow the Fergus Henderson model of nose-to-tail eating, adding to that root-to-stem, having met while working the veg section at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. It was a standout opening last year and their corn ribs are a cult dish. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Address: 2 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4RP
What to order: corn ribs, mushroom parfait and cod's head with sriracha butter sauce
18/50The French House, Soho
Neil Borthwick is the latest chef to make his mark on the upstairs dining room of this archetypal Soho pub. His short, daily changing menu celebrates the French classics in a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. Neil’s execution of oysters mignonette or lamb navarin, madeleines and Paris-Brest show superlative skill, with no fuss or pomp, just Proustian recollections of pure enjoyment. - BV
Neighbourhood: Soho
Address: 49 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 5BG
19/50Luca, Farringdon
On one relatively quiet street in EC1, you'll find two of the best restaurants in London just a few doors from each other. Luca is neighbours with St John, and while it also puts British produce front and centre, it does it with a very Italian sensibility. The interiors are sleek and warm, making it a wonderfully romantic restaurant, the wine list is a tour de force of Italian greats and the food is outstanding. Opt for the chef's menu and let them choose your courses for you – you won't regret it and are in extremely safe hands. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Farringdon
Address: 88 St John St, London EC1M 4EH
What to order: roast Orkney scallops, rigatoni with pork sausage ragù and tiramisù
20/50Trivet, London Bridge
Since it opened in 2019, Trivet has quietly been growing a loyal fanbase for its refined, inventive cooking and unparalleled wine list. On the night I visited, it had just (very deservedly) been awarded its first Michelin star and Isa Bal–the sommelier and one of the two founders alongside chef Jonny Lake–had been awarded the title of the best sommelier in the world. It's one of the most peaceful and relaxing rooms in which to enjoy this calibre of service, with plaster walls and wooden accents, an open kitchen that is the epitome and calm and controlled and menus that come in the form of very stylish tomes for your table. There's nothing to fault and it's well worth a trip to London Bridge to try the incredible dishes and wines on offer.
Neighbourhood: London Bridge
Address: 36 Snowsfields, London, SE1 3SU
What to order: ‘Hokkaido potato’
21/50Bancone
While London has no shortage of excellent pasta bars these days, there’s something special about Bancone. Perhaps it’s the slightly more formal but cool atmosphere, or the smart interiors. Whatever the reason, it’s a restaurant to repeat-book for silky pasta and lashings of punchy sauce, not to mention lip-smackingly tasty small plates. A perennial favourite is 'silk handkerchiefs', a bowl of extra-wide pappardelle topped with walnut shavings, butter and an egg yolk. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Charing Cross or Soho
Address: 39 William IV St, Charing Cross, London WC2N 4DD | 8 Lower James St, Soho, London W1F 9EL
What to order: silk handkerchiefs, bucatini cacio e pepe and spicy pork ragù
22/50Claude Bosi at Bibendum
Claude Bosi has taken over the helm of the restaurant housed in South Kensington’s iconic Michelin building. Guests can enjoy his indulgent and sophisticated cooking in the decorous and spacious upstairs dining room. Expect an extravagant meal, either from the a la carte or set menu, with five star service. Dishes such as Goosnargh duck with cauliflower cous-cous à la Grecque, capers and raisins demonstrate Claude’s technical ability with modern touches. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Chelsea
Address: Michelin House, 81 Fulham Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 6RD
What to order: frog legs, Cornish turbot and French cherries “Burlat”
23/50The Ivy
The Ivy is a London institution that has stood the test of time in every way and the food is as good now as it ever was. The menu changes seasonally but always retains a balance between the Asian-inspired dishes and classics such as the Shepherd's Pie. For the next iteration of the menu, expect lighter, more modern dishes with the same impeccable, charming service and Martin Brudnizki-designed interiors. Don't dismiss it for cocktails either as there are many inventive recipes to try. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Covent Garden
Address: 1-5 West St, West End, London WC2H 9NQ
What to order: twice-baked cheese soufflé, shepherd's pie and iced berries with hot white chocolate sauce
24/50Leroy
When Ellory closed its doors in 2018, food fans across London wept in despair. That is, until former owners Jack Lewens and Ed Thaw announced that they were opening Leroy in Shoreditch. In their second iteration, the team is dishing up complex but comforting food that drops an umami bomb onto every plate. This is paired with an expertly curated list of low intervention, biodynamic and organic wines (and some ciders too). The team’s passion and knowledge are evident in every mouthful, and you will never leave Leroy without a full belly and an ear-to-ear grin. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Hackney
Address: 18 Phipp St, Hackney, London EC2A 4NU
What to order: raviolo of chicken, sweetcorn and girolles
25/50Elystan Street
Phil Howard made his name (and two Michelin stars) at The Square in Mayfair before opening Elystan Street in a quiet enclave of Chelsea in 2016. His impeccable standards have endured in this relaxed yet refined dining room. Phil’s contemporary European cooking is strong on technique as well as flavour, demonstrated in dishes such as Cornish cod with herb gnocchi and calçot onions. This is a place for both a special dinner as well as their excellent value set lunch. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Chelsea
Address: 43 Elystan St, Chelsea, London SW3 3NT
What to order: stuffed Provençal artichoke and Galician octopus
26/50BiBi
There are two sides to BiBi, the new Mayfair restaurant by Chet Sharma; sit on a table or banquette and it's a warm, welcoming atmosphere or sit at the bar and you can delight in watching the chefs expertly cook and plate the array of Indian dishes on offer. The service stands out for a light, modern touch and the food is impeccable – it's balanced, full of bold flavours and always with a textural note to give it another level. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Address: 42 North Audley Street, Mayfair, London W1K 6ZP
What to order: Wookey-hole cheese papad, dahi aubergine and lamb shoulder galouti
27/50Brat
Since Brat opened in 2018, Tomos Parry’s whole grilled turbot and Basque-inspired dishes (the burnt cheesecake is legendary) have put this Shoreditch restaurant firmly on the foodie map. Meat, fish and game are cooked over fire, and you will find plenty of seaweed, samphire and laverbread, too – a nod to Tomos’s Welsh roots. The first-floor dining room is large and busy, but fortunately you can book ahead. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Hackney
Address: 4 Redchurch St, Hackney, London E1 6JL
What to order: spider crab toast, John Dory and burnt cheesecake
28/50Rochelle Canteen (and ICA)
The modern British dishes created by Melanie Arnold and Margot Henderson (wife of St John’s Fergus Henderson) embrace the trend for minimalism. Short descriptions and few ingredients, expertly prepared, reflect thoughtful sourcing and seasonality. Arnold & Henderson’s two restaurants, Rochelle Canteen and Rochelle ICA, housed in a converted Victorian school in east London and an art gallery on the Mall respectively, attract an art and fashion crowd who feast on straightforward dishes such as radishes and cod’s roe or quail with harissa. The simple white interiors, wooden tables and chairs keep the mood informal and the prices low. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhoods: Shoreditch and St James's
Address:
16 Playground Gardens, Shoreditch, London E2 7FA
The Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5AH
29/50Hunan
Since opening in Pimlico in the early Eighties, Hunan has been a favourite of those in the know. A daily set menu of frequently changing dishes shows both Hunanese and Taiwanese influences – braised pork, spicy aubergine or the renowned broth with pork, Chinese mushroom and ginger. Wine lovers will appreciate the well chosen list, with a focus on Bordeaux and Burgundy. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Belgravia
Address: 51 Pimlico Rd, Belgravia, London SW1W 8NE
30/50Silo
Doug McMaster’s zero-waste restaurant concept Silo, where he served food on plates made from unrecyclable plastic bags, was so popular in Brighton that, last year, he moved it to Hackney Wick. Every aspect of sustainability has been thought through on the £50 a head tasting menu, which focuses on fermentation and cooking over fire. The team is keen to explain the concept and dishes to diners, giving a full understanding of the ethos. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Hackney Wick
Address: The White Building 1st Floor, Unit 7 c/o CRATE Bar, Queen's Yard, London E9 5EN
31/50The Wolseley
Perhaps the most famous of The Wolseley Hospitality Group's empire, The Wolseley is an art deco building just next to The Ritz. The interior is glitzy, with soaring ceilings and marble columns. This London institution serves excellent bistro classics in style; think schnitzel, juicy steaks and chopped salads. It is as good for breakfast, cocktails or afternoon tea as it is for lunch or dinner and is always great for celebrity spotting. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: St James's
Address: 160 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9EB
32/50Spring
The Australian chef Skye Gyngell has brought her feminine touch and elegant seasonal cooking to a wing of Somerset House, a huge neo-classical building south of The Strand. Her sister Briony Fitzgerald has converted the 19th-century drawing room into a light-filled space where guests can enjoy Skye’s meticulously seasonal cooking in comfortable, modern surroundings. The menu includes dishes such as guinea fowl with grilled fennel, citrus and aïoli or ginger cake with meyer lemon cream and blood oranges; the plates are colourful and fresh and reflect Skye’s light touch. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Temple
Address: Somerset House, Lancaster Pl, London WC2R 1LA
33/50River Cafe
For over 30 years, A-listers have flocked to this Thameside location in Hammersmith location for (the late) Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers’ inspired Italian cooking. The daily changing menu and superior sourcing keep the chefs perfectly in line with the seasons, and dishes such as ravioli with buffalo ricotta and garden herbs or oven-roasted turbot keep the customers coming. The interior is modern and minimal with bursts of colour, including a shocking pink wood-fired oven, which forms part of the open kitchen. Prices may be steep, but the experience, attentive staff and quality of food make it worth every penny. - BV
Neighbourhood: Hammersmith
Address: Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, Hammersmith, London W6 9HA
34/50Decimo
On the 10th floor of The Standard hotel, with Kings Cross glittering beneath you, Decimo is resplendent in red leather, tactile furnishings, polished wood, glazed tiles, macramé and greenery, creating a cocooning atmosphere that makes you feel part of a vibrant club. The food is Mexican and Spanish, with sharing plates and stiff cocktails to steer you through an evening of tiny tacos, Mexteca-glazed monkfish and a not-to-be-missed mushroom bomba rice. It’s on the pricier side, but worth it for when you want to splash out. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: King's Cross
Address: 10th Floor, 10 Argyle St, London WC1H 8EG
35/50Sabor
Ex Barrafina chef Nieves Barragan offers two restaurants in one in this two-storey site off Regent Street. The Counter downstairs has a daily changing menu of superlative fresh fish. Upstairs, El Asador has communal tables and a wood-fired oven for regional Spanish delicacies such as Segovian suckling pig. It is lively and busy, but there is no booking for The Counter – so be prepared to queue. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Address: 35-37 Heddon St, Mayfair, London W1B 4BR
36/50Gymkhana
Having had a fire in the building, Gymkhana reopened its (refurbished and extremely stylish) doors to clamouring diners earlier this year, only to have to shut again for the pandemic. This Michelin-starred Indian restaurant celebrates the very best of Asian cooking, with richly spiced dishes, impeccable service and an impressive wine list. The food can be fiery and a starter of IndoChinese halibut is not for the faint-hearted, while the Aloo Chaat is the best you'll ever try. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Address: 42 Albemarle St, Mayfair, London W1S 4JH
37/50The Delaunay
The brief for the design of The Delaunay was ‘Where would a 1940s woman carrying a hat box and leaving New York by train eat beforehand?’ The elegant interior features white tablecloths and dark-wood accents to highlight the mittel-European food at this Corbin & King classic. Think goulash, tarte flambée and, of course, oysters. When you need a break from The Wolseley, this alternative is a delight at any time of day. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Holborn
Address: 55 Aldwych, Holborn, London WC2B 4BB
38/50Berenjak
The family team at JKS (who own Bao, Gymkhana and Xu) have opened an Iranian kebab shop in Soho, with seats at the bar and a few tables in the back. It’s fancier than your average kebab house, both in atmosphere and interiors, and offers a well-curated menu of charcoal-cooked skewers of prawns, lamb and chicken, mezze dishes and punchy salads. Booking is advised as word has got out about these juicy, flavourful kebabs. - CMH
Neighbourhood: Soho
Address: 27 Romilly St, Soho, London W1D 5AL
39/50Ikoyi
Chef Jeremy Chan heads up the team at Ikoyi, which he co-owns with Iré Hassan-Odukale. It’s refreshingly modern – the team simply serves what it is cooking that day, at Michelin star level. Jeremy takes the best British ingredients, pairs them with sub-Saharan West African spices and, in doing so, creates a vibrant, exciting and ever-changing experience. The dining room is decked in earthy tones, which have a warm and stylish feel. - CMH
1 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4AH
40/50Noble Rot
A Bloomsbury institution on Lamb’s Conduit Street, Noble Rot leads with wine and follows with food. The sommelier’s list of bottles is endless and the team’s knowledge is unimpeachable. Start with oysters and a glass of muscadet before exploring the continental fare on offer, making sure you match your dishes to your wine choice. It is so popular, the team is opening a new location in Soho later this year. Stay tuned. - CMH
51 Lamb's Conduit St, Holborn, London WC1N 3NB
41/50Lorne
Lorne is the kind of restaurant everyone wishes was their local; it’s friendly, inviting and serves seasonal European and British fare that far exceeds expectation. By focusing on quality ingredients, treated with respect and paired in winning combinations, it has garnered a loyal following for its unfussy and utterly moreish food. When in season, the Yorkshire rhubarb tart is outstanding. - CMH
76 Wilton Rd, Pimlico, London SW1V 1DE
42/50A. Wong
This Pimlico Chinese, inspired by Andrew Wong’s travels around China, offers the the best of the country’s varied regional cuisines. For those intimidated by a multi-choice menu, A Wong will create a bespoke selection of dishes for sharing at your table, such as Chengdu tofu with soy chilli and preserved vegetables or baskets of steamed dim sum. Seats at the bar offer diners the theatre of the kitchen and the chance to try the chef’s newest dishes. But whatever you choose, don’t leave without trying the desserts – his coconut water ice with dried mulberries is sublime. - BV
70 Wilton Rd, Pimlico, London SW1V 1DE
43/50Riva
If you can’t get into the River Café, Riva is a smaller, more neighbourly eatery with the same cooking ethos. Though Barnes is out of the way for some, Riva is always busy, perhaps in part due to its celebrity fans (namely, the Beckhams). It cooks classic Italian dishes exceptionally well – we recommend spaghetti alla vongole or deep-fried courgette flowers, which are brought to your table by long-serving staff. - CMH
169 Church Rd, Barnes, London SW13 9HR; 020 8748 0434
44/50Barrafina
The atmosphere at Barrafina – of which there are four restaurants across central London – is best described as buzzy. With a strict no-booking policy, the marble-clad tapas bars are busy, noisy in the best way, and queues are to be expected. Nab a stool at the bar for the best tortilla and griddled prawns this side of Spain. - CMH
10 Adelaide St, Charing Cross, London WC2N 4HZ
26-27 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 3LL
43 Drury Ln, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5AJ
Stable St, Kings Cross, London N1C 4AB
John Carey45/50Brawn
Brawn is celebrating a decade of serving Columbia Road locals a seasonal menu that reflects the produce and traditional recipes of Europe. Think grilled calçots with ajo blanco and chopped egg, crab bisque and wood pigeon with lentils and walnuts. Classic flavours are paired beautifully in a rustic and informal setting that fits perfectly in its east London surroundings. - CMH
49 Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG
46/50Trullo
This Islington neighbourhood restaurant has a reputation that reaches far beyond its borough. Owners Jordan Frieda and Tim Siadatan met while working at the River Café and the Italian menu keenly reflects those roots. Trullo is best described as a contemporary trattoria, with small, white-clothed tables, industrial-style hanging lamps and white walls. The cooking is robust and excels in hearty meat and pasta dishes. - BV
300-302 St Paul's Rd, Highbury East, London N1 2LH
47/50Paradise
With pared-back cement interiors by Dan Preston, who had a hand in Brat and Kiln, the atmosphere at Paradise is informal and lively, helped by bar seating and a policy of bookings for parties of four or more. The vibrant sharing menu reflects the variety of influences on Sri Lankan cuisine; hints of Malay, Portuguese and Dutch flavours can all be found here in the delicately spiced and intensely flavourful dishes, of which yellow cod curry is a highlight. - CMH
61 Rupert St, Soho, London W1D 7PW
48/50Quo Vadis
This long-standing Soho institution houses a members club and restaurant, with Jeremy Lee at the stoves. Comfort and good taste exudes from the leather banquettes, crisp linen and floral displays, as well as the cooking. Jeremy achieves a rare combination of hearty and delicate British food with the skill of French technique – the baked salsify with parmesan and the smoked eel sandwich have both become house specialities. - BV
26-29 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 3LL
Stephen Joyce49/50Moro
Moro takes its inspiration from the exotic and vibrant dishes of southern Spain and North Africa. It was one of London’s first kitchens to cook over fire, and to produce home-made sourdough cooked in the wood-burning oven. Husband-and-wife team Sam and Samantha Clark have introduced London to the flavours of rose water, cardamom, fragrant herbs and pistachio sauces at their Clerkenwell restaurant for over 20 years and it still remains as good as when it opened. - BV
34-36 Exmouth Market, Farringdon, London EC1R 4QE
50/50Lyle's
Lyle’s offers innovative and experimental plates in the industrial space of Shoreditch’s Tea Building. James Lowe’s delicate and exacting cooking frequently features game and foraged ingredients, always expertly sourced. There is a set menu in the evening, with lunchtime à la carte options including dishes such as mussels with cider and alexanders or mutton cooked over beechwood charcoal. This sophisticated cooking has maintained Lyle’s credentials as a food-world favourite. - BV
Tea Bldg, 56 Shoreditch High St, Hackney, London E1
