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Restaurants

Best Restaurants in London

The best restaurants in London, from three-Michelin-star tables to fish-and-chips icons, rooftop views, romantic date spots, and buzzy new openings by neighbourhood.

Finding the best restaurants in London means embracing a city that treats dining as both high art and everyday ritual.

In a single day you can eat crisp battered fish and chips by the river for lunch, chase it with a three-Michelin-star tasting menu at night, and end at a Soho pub for a pint and a Scotch egg.

London's food identity is built on waves of immigration, market halls like Borough and Brixton, and a fiercely competitive fine-dining scene that has produced some of the world's most influential chefs.

At a glance

The top pick in each category, at a glance.

CategoryOur pick
Best overallThe LedburyReserve
By CuisineDishoomReserve
Fine Dining & Michelin-Starred RestaurantsCORE by Clare SmythReserve
Most Romantic RestaurantsClos MaggioreReserve
Rooftop & View RestaurantsDuck & WaffleReserve
Vegetarian & Vegan RestaurantsGauthier SohoReserve
Pie, Mash & Iconic London EatsPoppies Fish & ChipsReserve
New & Trendy Restaurant OpeningsMountainReserve

Top Picks

🍽️GetYourGuide food & wine tours, taste the best of London on a food tour. Affiliate slot (stub).

📍 Notting Hill

The Ledbury

Modern European$$$$· Special occasion

Brett Graham's two-Michelin-star flagship is widely regarded as one of the finest restaurants in Britain, and its return after a long closure was among London's most anticipated reopenings. The tasting menu is precise and produce-driven, with a celebrated way with game and vegetables from dedicated growers. Service is warm yet flawless, and the room feels quietly luxurious rather than showy. If you want to understand why London sits near the summit of modern European fine dining, this is the essential pilgrimage.

What to order: Seasonal tasting menu

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Smithfield

St. John

Modern British$$$· Casual & lively

Fergus Henderson's spare, whitewashed dining room near Smithfield Market helped define modern British cooking and the whole nose-to-tail movement. The menu is honest and uncompromising, celebrating offal, seasonal produce, and the famous roast bone marrow with parsley salad. Freshly baked bread, madeleines to order, and a smart, unfussy wine list round it out. It is a loud, joyful, deeply London institution and a required stop for anyone serious about British food.

What to order: Roast bone marrow

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Covent Garden / Multiple

Dishoom

Indian$$· Bustling & atmospheric

For many visitors, Dishoom is the introduction to London's love affair with Indian food, an homage to the old Irani cafes of Bombay. The house black daal, bacon naan roll, and chai draw hours-long queues across its branches, and the atmospheric rooms are a joy in themselves. Dependable, generous, and reasonably priced, it is deeply woven into the city's dining identity. Come off-peak or put your name down early and lean into the breakfast menu.

What to order: House black daal

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Soho

Kiln

Thai$$· Casual counter

Kiln is a narrow, counter-focused Soho favorite serving fiery northern Thai and Southeast Asian dishes cooked over live fire and in clay pots. Sit at the counter to watch the wood grill and woks in action while ingredients from British farms meet Thai technique. The clay-pot glass noodles with Tamworth pork and brown crab meat is the signature. Loud, affordable, and thrilling, it captures the energy that makes Soho eating special. Expect a wait at peak times.

What to order: Clay-pot glass noodles

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Mayfair

Gymkhana

Indian$$$· Refined & clubby

Gymkhana channels the colonial-era gymkhana clubs of India into a Michelin-starred Mayfair room of dark wood, ceiling fans, and marble. The kitchen turns out refined, spice-layered dishes from the tandoor and hearth, with game specialities that set it apart. The wild muntjac biryani and kid goat methi keema are standouts, backed by an inventive cocktail list. It is polished but genuinely fun, and one of the best tables in London for high-end Indian cooking.

What to order: Wild muntjac biryani

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Shoreditch

Brat

Basque grill$$$· Casual & lively

Tomos Parry's Michelin-starred Shoreditch restaurant takes its name from an old word for turbot, and its wood-fired Basque-inspired grilling is a wonder. The whole roast turbot, cooked in a cage over embers, is the dish to order, alongside grilled bread, anchovies, and seasonal vegetables. The buzzy upstairs room and open fire give it real warmth and theatre. It is a defining table of east London dining and worth booking well ahead for a group feast.

What to order: Whole roast turbot

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Soho

Barrafina

Spanish$$$· Counter & convivial

A no-reservations Spanish tapas bar modelled on Barcelona's finest, Barrafina serves everything from a marble counter where you watch the chefs work the plancha. The tortilla, gambas, and daily-changing seafood specials are impeccable, and the sherry and Spanish wine list is a treat. Perch on a stool, order as you go, and let the meal build. Bustling and convivial, it is one of the best ways to eat brilliantly in the heart of the West End.

What to order: Spanish tortilla

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Shoreditch

The Clove Club

Modern British$$$$· Refined tasting menu

Set inside Shoreditch Town Hall, The Clove Club is a Michelin-starred tasting-menu destination that put east London's fine dining on the world map. The cooking is precise and produce-forward, moving from delicate raw dishes to bold, smoky fire cookery, with the buttermilk fried chicken and flamed mackerel among its calling cards. The tiled, blue-hued room is elegant but relaxed. For a refined, personal tasting experience away from Mayfair formality, it is among the city's very best.

What to order: Buttermilk fried chicken

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Soho

Hoppers

Sri Lankan$$· Snug & buzzing

Hoppers brings the flavors of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Nadu coast to a snug, buzzing Soho room. The namesake hoppers, bowl-shaped fermented rice-and-coconut pancakes, arrive with a runny egg and fiery sambols, while the kari dishes and dosas reward grazing. Warm, affordable, and genuinely exciting, it captures the neighborhood energy that makes London dining special. Book ahead where you can, and order the bone marrow varuval alongside a fresh hopper.

What to order: Egg hoppers

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Borough

Padella

Italian$$· Casual & handmade

Padella is the pasta bar beside Borough Market that locals queue around the block for, and with good reason. Handmade pasta is rolled daily and served in generous, affordable portions from a lively counter, with the pici cacio e pepe and pappardelle with beef shin ragu as legendary standouts. The room is small, loud, and joyful, ideal for a quick, delicious meal. Join the digital queue early, then explore the market while you wait.

What to order: Pici cacio e pepe

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Notting Hill

Core by Clare Smyth

Modern British$$$$· Special occasion

Clare Smyth's three-Michelin-star Notting Hill restaurant is a benchmark for luxurious yet grounded fine dining in London. The menu elevates humble British produce to extraordinary heights, and the potato and roe, a single dressed new potato, has become a modern classic. The dining room is calm, elegant, and impeccably run, a counterpoint to the city's louder rooms. Ticketed far in advance, it is a splurge that rewards anyone seeking Britain's finest cooking.

What to order: Potato and roe

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Soho

Bao

Taiwanese$$· Fast-casual icon

Bao turned the Taiwanese steamed bun into a London obsession, starting as a market stall before opening its tiny, minimalist Soho shopfront. The pillowy classic bao filled with braised pork and the fried chicken bao are essential, alongside small plates and Taiwanese beer. It is quick, affordable, and endlessly satisfying, a fun stop between West End wanderings. Expect a short wait at the counter and order a couple of buns plus the trotter nuggets.

What to order: Classic pork bao

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Covent Garden

Rules

British$$$· Historic & clubby

Founded in 1798, Rules is London's oldest restaurant, a plush Covent Garden institution of red velvet, oil paintings, and proper British cooking. It specializes in game from its own estate, so autumn brings grouse, partridge, and venison at their best, alongside classics like steak and kidney pudding. The clubby, theatrical dining rooms make any meal feel like an occasion. It is a time capsule worth visiting for tradition, history, and genuinely excellent British fare.

What to order: Seasonal game

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Mayfair

Sabor

Spanish$$$· Warm & celebratory

Nieves Barragan Mohacho's Michelin-starred Sabor takes diners on a journey through Spain, from a bustling ground-floor tapas bar to the upstairs Asador of Galician grills and Castilian roasts. The whole suckling pig, roasted in a wood oven and served with a flourish, is the destination dish. The atmosphere is warm, loud, and celebratory, exactly the kind of place that defines great Spanish eating in London. Book the Asador counter well ahead for the full experience.

What to order: Roast suckling pig

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Euston

Roti King

Malaysian$· Cash-only canteen

Tucked in a basement near Euston, Roti King is a beloved, no-frills canteen serving some of the best Malaysian and Singaporean food in the city. The flaky, freshly griddled roti canai with rich curry sauce is the star, alongside steaming bowls of laksa and mee goreng. Cheap, generous, and always packed, it is more experience than fine dining, with a queue that snakes down the stairs. Bring patience and cash, and order the roti canai first.

What to order: Roti canai

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Shoreditch

Lyle's

Modern British$$$· Bright & minimalist

James Lowe's pared-back Shoreditch dining room offers a short, daily-changing set menu of ingredient-driven modern British cooking that feels effortless and soulful. Housed in a former tea warehouse, the bright, minimalist space lets impeccable produce and precise fire cookery speak for themselves. It earned a Michelin star while keeping prices and pretension refreshingly low. It is a must for anyone who wants to taste the confident, seasonal heart of London's new-wave restaurant scene.

What to order: Daily set menu

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Mayfair

The Wolseley

European$$$· Grand all-day cafe

A grand European-style cafe in a former car showroom on Piccadilly, The Wolseley is London's great all-day dining room, from power breakfasts to genteel afternoon tea. The soaring pillars, marble, and monochrome floors evoke a Viennese grand cafe, and the menu spans eggs Benedict, schnitzel, and towering seafood plateaux. It is a see-and-be-seen classic that never feels stuffy. For a taste of elegant, timeless London glamour without a tasting-menu commitment, it is hard to beat.

What to order: Wiener schnitzel

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

📍 Mayfair

Sketch

Modern European$$$$· Playful & opulent

Sketch is a surreal, art-filled Mayfair destination best known for The Gallery, its blush-pink dining room hung with David Shrigley drawings and famed for its egg-shaped loos. Beyond the Instagram spectacle sits serious cooking and one of London's most theatrical afternoon teas. The rooms shift in mood from playful to opulent, making it a memorable special-occasion spot. Come for the design and the tea, and book well ahead for one of the city's most photographed tables.

What to order: Afternoon tea

📍 View on Google Maps →Reserve

Best Restaurants in London by Cuisine

London's centuries of immigration make it one of the world's great cuisine cities, where a short Tube ride can carry you from Punjabi lamb chops in Whitechapel to Vietnamese pho along Kingsland Road and Turkish ocakbasi grills in Dalston.

The best restaurants in London by cuisine reward exploration beyond the West End: neighbourhood specialists often outshine flashier destinations.

Whether you crave hand-pulled noodles, nose-to-tail British cooking, Levantine mezze, or steamed Taiwanese bao, the city delivers depth and authenticity across price points.

This roundup highlights standout picks spanning the culinary map, from long-running institutions to modern reinventions, so you can build a week of eating that circles the globe without leaving the city limits.

  • Dishoom

    Bombay Irani $$

    Inspired by the old Irani cafés of Bombay, Dishoom has become a London institution with branches from Shoreditch to Covent Garden and King's Cross. The house black daal simmers for hours, the bacon naan roll draws breakfast queues, and the room hums with vintage charm. It taught London to take Indian café culture seriously as an all-day experience.

    What to order: House black daal; bacon naan roll; chai

    Reserve

  • Tayyabs

    Pakistani $$

    A Whitechapel institution specialising in sizzling Punjabi grills sold to packed, buzzing tables. The marinated lamb chops arrive spitting on hot plates, backed by dry meat curries, karahi, and fresh naan from the tandoor. It is unfussy, deeply satisfying, and a must for understanding London's Pakistani food culture beyond the curry house.

    What to order: Sizzling lamb chops; dry meat karahi

    Reserve

  • Song Que Café

    Vietnamese $

    A reliable, no-frills stop on Kingsland Road's Vietnamese corridor for steaming bowls of pho and vermicelli plates. The broth is fragrant and the portions generous, and the surrounding stretch of Shoreditch offers banh mi, bubble tea, and grocery exploration. It anchors one of the city's best strips for Southeast Asian eating.

    What to order: Pho bo tai; bun cha

    Reserve

  • Brick Lane / Banglatown

    Bangladeshi/Indian $$

    Brick Lane is London's Bangladeshi and curry-house heart, packed with restaurants, sweet shops, and grocers beneath the old Truman Brewery. Come hungry for biryani, tandoori mixed grills, and endless mishti. A stroll and graze along the strip is the best way to experience the neighbourhood's vibrant, spice-scented energy.

    What to order: Biryani; tandoori mixed grill

    Reserve

  • Kiln

    Northern Thai $$

    This Michelin-starred Soho counter reimagines Northern Thai cooking over live fire and in bubbling clay pots. Diners perch at the bar watching woks flare, with the clay pot glass noodles a signature and the menu balancing fierce heat with genuine craft. It is a modern standout that put regional Thai cooking on London's map.

    What to order: Clay pot glass noodles with crab

    Reserve

  • Xi'an Impression

    Chinese (Xi'an) $

    A tiny, family-run temple to Xinjiang and Shaanxi cooking beside the Emirates Stadium in Highbury, serving hand-pulled biang biang noodles and cumin-spiced lamb skewers. Simple, focused, and beloved, it draws diners from across the city. This is destination eating for anyone chasing the best hand-pulled noodles London has to offer.

    What to order: Biang biang noodles; cumin lamb

    Reserve

  • St. John

    Modern British $$$

    Fergus Henderson's Smithfield landmark remains the benchmark for British nose-to-tail cooking, all whitewashed walls and quiet confidence. The roast bone marrow with parsley salad is a signature, and the bakery turns out some of the city's best bread and doughnuts. It helped teach London to celebrate offal and seasonal British produce as fine dining.

    What to order: Roast bone marrow with parsley salad

    Reserve

  • Mangal Ocakbasi

    Turkish $$

    A family-run Turkish grill in Dalston famous for its charcoal ocakbasi, where skewers of adana and lamb are cooked over glowing coals in front of you. The convivial, generous style makes it perfect for groups. It is a beloved anchor of London's Turkish dining scene and a reliable celebration spot.

    What to order: Adana kebab; mixed charcoal grill

    Reserve

  • The Palomar

    Levantine $$$

    A modern Levantine restaurant off Soho's Rupert Street serving Jerusalem-inspired plates from a lively open kitchen counter. Bright, warm, and generous, the pillowy kubaneh bread and polenta Jerusalem-style bring fresh energy to Middle Eastern cooking. It is a strong pick for solo perching at the bar or shared small plates with friends.

    What to order: Kubaneh bread; polenta Jerusalem-style

    Reserve

  • Bao

    Taiwanese $$

    This creative Taiwanese group began as a market stall and now runs counters across Soho and Borough, fusing fluffy steamed buns with careful Taiwanese technique. The result is playful, personal, and precise, from the classic braised pork bao to xiao chi small eats. It reflects London's talent for turning a single idea into something genuinely refined.

    What to order: Classic braised pork bao

    Reserve

  • Padella

    Italian $$

    A perpetually queued Borough Market favourite specialising in handmade pasta rolled fresh each day and served at a lively counter. The pici cacio e pepe and pappardelle with beef shin ragù are benchmarks, and the pricing keeps it accessible. It is the kind of focused, high-quality Italian cooking that rewards a short wait in line.

    What to order: Pici cacio e pepe; pappardelle beef shin ragù

    Reserve

Best Fine Dining & Michelin-Starred Restaurants in London

London is one of the world's great fine-dining capitals, with more Michelin stars than any other British city and a cluster of coveted three-star tables.

The best fine dining restaurants in London range from precise, produce-driven modern British cooking to Parisian grandeur, boundary-pushing tasting menus, and refined takes on Chinese, West African, and Mexican cuisine.

Expect seasonal menus, thoughtful wine and non-alcoholic pairings, and dining rooms that reward a sense of occasion. These are the rooms for milestone celebrations and once-in-a-trip splurges.

Book weeks or months ahead, arrive curious, and let the kitchen lead; London's top tables reward diners who surrender to the experience.

  • CORE by Clare Smyth

    Modern British $$$$

    Clare Smyth's three-Michelin-star Notting Hill flagship elevates humble British ingredients into something extraordinary. The elegant, understated room lets the cooking speak, with dishes that are technically flawless yet deeply comforting. It is a bucket-list pilgrimage for serious food lovers and a benchmark for modern British fine dining.

    What to order: Potato and roe; Isle of Mull scallop

    Reserve

  • Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

    French $$$$

    London's longest-standing three-Michelin-star restaurant, a refined Chelsea institution on Royal Hospital Road led by head chef Matt Abe. The classic French tasting menus are impeccable, and the polished service is among the city's finest. It remains a definitive fine-dining destination for special occasions.

    What to order: Seasonal tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Sketch (The Lecture Room & Library)

    French $$$$

    Pierre Gagnaire's three-Michelin-star room sits above the theatrical pink dining rooms of Mayfair's Sketch. The cooking is inventive and luxurious, arriving in constellations of small, precise plates. It pairs avant-garde French ambition with one of London's most striking settings.

    What to order: Multi-plate tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Helene Darroze at The Connaught

    French $$$$

    A three-Michelin-star Mayfair room where Helene Darroze channels her southwest French and Basque heritage through pristine seasonal produce. The service is warm and generous, the plating refined. It is a graceful, luxurious choice for anniversaries and milestone celebrations.

    What to order: Seasonal tasting menu

    Reserve

  • The Ledbury

    Modern British $$$$

    Brett Graham's two-Michelin-star Notting Hill destination is a masterclass in ingredient-led modern British cooking, with an eye for game and produce. Refined yet warm, it reopened to acclaim and quickly reclaimed its place among London's elite. A favourite for celebrations without excess spectacle.

    What to order: Hand-dived scallop; Cornish turbot

    Reserve

  • A. Wong

    Chinese $$$

    The two-Michelin-star Victoria restaurant that redefined Chinese fine dining in London. Andrew Wong's menus travel across China's regions with technical precision and serious depth, from delicate dim sum to ambitious tasting journeys. It is one of the city's most exciting and distinctive tables.

    What to order: Dim sum; Taste of China menu

    Reserve

  • Ikoyi

    Contemporary $$$$

    A two-Michelin-star restaurant on the Strand where Jeremy Chan builds a singular cuisine around West African flavours, spice, and British produce. Bold, precise, and unlike anywhere else in the city, it delivers a fresh angle on modern fine dining. One of London's most original tasting-menu experiences.

    What to order: Plantain and smoked scotch bonnet; tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Kitchen Table

    Modern British $$$$

    James Knappett's two-Michelin-star counter tucked behind a Fitzrovia bar seats a handful of guests around the open kitchen. The chefs cook and serve, talking diners through a produce-driven menu shaped by the day's best ingredients. Intimate, personal, and hard to book, it is fine dining at its most immersive.

    What to order: Chef's counter tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Story

    Modern British $$$$

    Tom Sellers' two-Michelin-star restaurant near Tower Bridge weaves narrative and nostalgia through an inventive modern British tasting menu. Playful yet precise, it moves between comfort and refinement with confidence. Its signature opener has become one of London's most talked-about dishes.

    What to order: Bread and dripping; tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Kol

    Mexican $$$

    Santiago Lastra's one-Michelin-star Marylebone room reimagines Mexican cooking entirely through British ingredients and native produce. The results are vivid and original, from smoky langoustine tacos to inventive mezcal pairings. It brings genuine warmth and daring to the London fine-dining scene.

    What to order: Langoustine taco; seasonal tasting

    Reserve

  • Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

    British $$$$

    A one-Michelin-star Knightsbridge dining room that mines centuries of British culinary history for playful, meticulously researched dishes. With views over Hyde Park and theatrical signature plates, it balances spectacle and substance. A refined choice for a memorable London occasion.

    What to order: Meat Fruit; Tipsy Cake

    Reserve

Most Romantic Restaurants in London

For date nights, anniversaries, and proposals, the most romantic restaurants in London pair intimate lighting and gracious service with food worth lingering over.

The city offers everything from candlelit French dining rooms and blossom-filled conservatories to cosy Soho townhouses and dizzying skyline tables.

Romance here is less about stiff formality and more about atmosphere: a moody bar, a shared bottle of wine, and a room that makes time slow down. Whether you want West End glamour or a tucked-away corner in a Georgian townhouse, these picks set the mood.

Reserve ahead, request a quiet table if you can, and plan a leisurely, unhurried evening.

  • Clos Maggiore

    French $$$$

    Often called London's most romantic restaurant, this Covent Garden hideaway is famous for its blossom-draped conservatory and roaring fireplace. Candlelight, a vast wine list, and refined Provencal-inspired cooking make it a perennial proposal favourite.

    What to order: Provencal tasting menu; sommelier wine list

    Reserve

  • Galvin La Chapelle

    French $$$$

    Set in a soaring former chapel in Spitalfields, this Michelin-starred room brings grandeur without stiffness. High arches, marble columns, and warm lighting frame classic French cooking, ideal for a special-occasion dinner for two.

    What to order: Refined French tasting; strong wine list

    Reserve

  • Bob Bob Ricard

    British-European $$$

    Opulent and playful in equal measure, this Soho jewel box seats couples in private booths with a button that reads Press for Champagne. Art Deco glamour and rich British-European plates make dinner feel like a celebration.

    What to order: Beef Wellington; press for Champagne

    Reserve

  • Locanda Locatelli

    Italian $$$$

    For a refined Italian date, this elegant Marylebone room delivers plush banquettes, impeccable service, and some of the city's best handmade pasta. A superb wine list and quietly luxurious mood make for a classic, unhurried romantic evening.

    What to order: Handmade pasta; regional Italian classics

    Reserve

  • Bocca di Lupo

    Italian $$

    A warm, buzzy Soho favourite serving regional Italian small plates from across the peninsula. Sit at the marble counter or a tucked-away table, share plates family-style, and pair them with wine for a relaxed, affordable date night.

    What to order: Regional small plates; house pasta

    Reserve

  • Hutong

    Chinese $$$$

    Perched high in The Shard, this dramatic northern Chinese room pairs sweeping skyline views with lantern-lit interiors. Share aromatic red lantern soft-shell crab and Peking duck as the city glitters below for an unforgettable evening.

    What to order: Peking duck; skyline views

    Reserve

  • Andrew Edmunds

    Modern European $$

    This candlelit Soho townhouse feels wonderfully timeless, with creaky floors, close-set tables, and an outstanding, fairly priced wine list. Seasonal modern European plates and low lighting make it an intimate, unpretentious date favourite.

    What to order: Seasonal plates; remarkable wine list

    Reserve

  • Rules

    British $$$

    London's oldest restaurant, this Covent Garden institution oozes clubby charm with red banquettes, oil paintings, and old-world service. British game and classic puddings suit couples wanting a celebratory, timeless dinner before or after a show.

    What to order: Seasonal game; classic puddings

    Reserve

  • Sketch (The Gallery)

    Modern European $$$$

    The blush-pink dining room in Mayfair is one of London's most photographed spaces, complete with egg-shaped loos and whimsical art. Beyond the looks, expect polished French-inflected cooking that makes for a glamorous, memorable date.

    What to order: Modern French plates; afternoon tea

    Reserve

  • Coya

    Peruvian $$$

    A sultry, dimly lit Peruvian spot in Mayfair with a lively pisco bar and warm, sceney energy. Share ceviche and grilled anticuchos over cocktails for a sexy, celebratory evening that leans festive rather than formal.

    What to order: Ceviche; anticuchos and pisco sours

    Reserve

Best Rooftop & View Restaurants in London

Few cities reward dining with a view like London, where the Thames, the City skyline, and centuries-old landmarks create dramatic backdrops through the warmer months.

The best rooftop and view restaurants in London range from sky-high lounges atop City towers to riverside terraces and hotel roofs perfect for golden hour.

Late spring through early autumn is peak season, when rooftops fill quickly and reservations or early arrivals become essential. Many focus as much on the setting and drinks as the food, so calibrate expectations accordingly.

Whether you want a cocktail 40 floors up or a laid-back terrace with river views, these spots deliver London's most photogenic dining.

  • Duck & Waffle

    British $$$

    On the 40th floor of Heron Tower in the City, this all-day British spot serves its namesake dish of confit duck leg, a fried egg, and mustard maple syrup over a waffle. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping views, and it stays open around the clock.

    What to order: Duck and waffle; skyline views

    Reserve

  • Sushisamba

    Japanese-Brazilian $$$

    Perched across the 38th and 39th floors of Heron Tower, Sushisamba blends Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian flavours with panoramic terraces high above the City. The outdoor decks and colourful robata dishes make it a prime golden-hour destination.

    What to order: Robata; sushi; terrace views

    Reserve

  • Aqua Shard

    British $$$

    Set on level 31 of The Shard, this triple-height atrium restaurant offers modern British cooking with dramatic views west across London. Come for the vantage over the river and City, whether for a cocktail at the bar or a full meal.

    What to order: Modern British plates with city views

    Reserve

  • Oblix

    American Grill $$$

    On level 32 of The Shard, Oblix is a New York-style grill split between an east side for dining and a west side for cocktails and small plates. Rotisserie meats and floor-to-ceiling windows make it a striking spot above the Thames.

    What to order: Rotisserie meats; cocktails; skyline

    Reserve

  • Darwin Brasserie at Sky Garden

    British $$$

    At the top of 20 Fenchurch Street, the Walkie Talkie, this brasserie sits beside London's highest public garden. Lush landscaped terraces and open-air viewing decks deliver 360-degree views over the City and river.

    What to order: British brasserie fare; garden views

    Reserve

  • Seabird

    Seafood $$$

    On the rooftop of The Hoxton in Southwark, Seabird pairs a coastal Mediterranean seafood menu with one of London's longest oyster lists. The terrace looks across to St Paul's and the City, making it a favourite for warm-weather lunches.

    What to order: Oysters; seafood; St Paul's views

    Reserve

  • Madison

    British $$$

    Atop One New Change beside St Paul's Cathedral, Madison offers a rooftop bar and restaurant with close-up views of the dome and the City skyline. It is a popular spot for cocktails and British plates at sunset.

    What to order: Cocktails; grill plates; cathedral views

    Reserve

  • Radio Rooftop

    International $$$

    Atop the ME London hotel on the Strand, Radio Rooftop is a lively bar and lounge with views over the Thames, the London Eye, and St Paul's. Its DJ-driven evenings and photogenic vantage points draw a stylish crowd.

    What to order: Cocktails; small plates; river views

    Reserve

  • Coq d'Argent

    French $$$

    Set above No 1 Poultry in the heart of the City, this French restaurant is wrapped by landscaped rooftop gardens and terraces. The greenery and skyline views make it a leafy escape for lunch or an after-work drink.

    What to order: French classics; rooftop gardens

    Reserve

  • Bokan

    British $$

    Across the upper floors of the Novotel Canary Wharf, Bokan pairs a 37th-floor restaurant with a 39th-floor bar and terrace. The elevated setting delivers expansive views over the Docklands, the river, and the eastern skyline.

    What to order: Cocktails; British plates; Docklands views

    Reserve

Best Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in London

London's plant-based scene has grown from a niche into a genuine strength, with dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurants alongside omnivore kitchens that treat vegetables as headliners.

The best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in London span comfort-food diners, refined tasting menus, and globally inspired spots serving everything from vegan fried seitan to plant-based Ethiopian and Neapolitan pizza.

Many of the city's produce-driven chefs lean on seasonal British veg and clever fermentation, so vegetable dishes here are anything but an afterthought.

Whether you are fully vegan, vegetarian, or simply eating lighter, these picks prove that meat-free dining in London can be creative, satisfying, and celebratory rather than restrictive.

  • Gauthier Soho

    Vegan Fine Dining $$$

    Alexis Gauthier's elegant Soho townhouse turned fully plant-based, serving a refined multi-course tasting menu that reimagines classical French technique without any animal products. It shows how far London's meat-free dining has come, with polished plates and a serious wine list appealing to vegans and omnivores alike.

    What to order: Vegan French tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Mildreds

    Vegetarian $$

    A pioneering vegetarian institution running since 1988, with buzzy branches in Soho, Camden, and Dalston. The globally roaming menu of curries, burritos, and mezze, much of it vegan, remains a reliable, generous go-to for hearty meat-free eating.

    What to order: Global veg plates; vegan options

    Reserve

  • The Gate

    Vegetarian $$

    A long-running vegetarian restaurant founded in Hammersmith in 1989, now also in Islington and Marylebone. Its inventive, Indian and Middle Eastern inflected cooking treats vegetables with real finesse, making it a refined choice for a meat-free celebration.

    What to order: Vegetable-forward mains; aubergine dishes

    Reserve

  • Unity Diner

    Vegan Diner $$

    A vegan diner in Shoreditch founded by activist Ed Winters, run as a not-for-profit supporting animal welfare. Casual and welcoming, it serves plant-based comfort classics like loaded burgers, hot dogs, and shakes that convert sceptics with ease.

    What to order: Vegan burgers; shakes

    Reserve

  • Purezza

    Vegan Pizza $$

    Britain's original vegan pizzeria, with a lively Camden branch serving Neapolitan-style sourdough pizzas topped with house-made plant cheeses. Playful, satisfying, and consistently good, it proves meat-free pizza can rival the traditional article.

    What to order: Neapolitan vegan pizza

    Reserve

  • Andu Cafe

    Vegan Ethiopian $

    A tiny, much-loved Ethiopian vegan spot in Dalston serving a single set beyaynetu: a communal platter of spiced lentils, greens, and stews scooped up with injera. Its wholesome, generous cooking and unbeatable value have earned a devoted following.

    What to order: Beyaynetu veggie platter on injera

    Reserve

  • Farmacy

    Plant-based $$$

    A stylish plant-based restaurant in Notting Hill serving organic, biodynamic dishes and a popular weekend brunch. Its bright, health-focused menu and elegant setting make it a strong choice for polished, feel-good meat-free dining.

    What to order: Plant-based brunch; earth bowls

    Reserve

  • Temple of Seitan

    Vegan $

    A cult vegan fast-food spot in Hackney and Camden famous for its house-made seitan fried chicken. Casual and craveable, it delivers crispy burgers, wings, and buckets that satisfy the deepest comfort-food urges without any meat.

    What to order: Seitan fried chicken; burgers

    Reserve

  • Cafe Van Gogh

    Vegan $$

    A community-minded vegan cafe and social enterprise in Brixton serving hearty plant-based plates, brunch, and a Sunday roast. Its warm ethos and satisfying, affordable cooking make it a welcoming stop beyond the usual central hotspots.

    What to order: Vegan Sunday roast; brunch

    Reserve

  • Rovi

    Vegetable-forward $$$

    While not exclusively vegetarian, Yotam Ottolenghi's Fitzrovia restaurant puts vegetables and fermentation front and centre with standout plant-led plates. Its bold, produce-driven cookery makes it a great option for flexitarians dining with meat-eaters.

    What to order: Fermented vegetable plates; celeriac shawarma

    Reserve

Best Pie, Mash & Iconic London Eats

You cannot claim to know the best restaurants in London without tucking into the city's iconic hometown foods: fish and chips, pie and mash with liquor, jellied eels, salt beef beigels, and a full English fry-up.

Fish and chips is the headline act, a golden, batter-crisp fillet with thick-cut chips that Londoners have queued for since Victorian times, while pie and mash is the everyday East End staple locals have eaten for generations.

Beyond those, the salt beef beigel, the Sunday roast, and a proper builder's breakfast are essential rites of passage. These dishes are affordable, unpretentious, and deeply tied to London's working-class roots.

Come hungry, embrace the vinegar and gravy, and taste the foods that define the capital's culinary identity worldwide.

  • Poppies Fish & Chips

    Fish & Chips $$

    A retro, 1950s-styled chippy in Spitalfields serving freshly battered cod and haddock with proper chips and mushy peas. Dependable, cheerful, and quintessentially London, it is a reliable introduction to the national dish.

    What to order: Battered cod and chips with mushy peas

    Reserve

  • The Golden Hind

    Fish & Chips $$

    A cherished Marylebone institution frying fish since 1914, with a choice of battered or steamed fillets in a plain, unfussy dining room. A historic stop for chip-shop pilgrims who want the classic done right.

    What to order: Battered or steamed cod with chips

    Reserve

  • M. Manze

    Pie & Mash $

    The oldest pie and mash shop in London, trading on Tower Bridge Road since 1902 with marble counters and green liquor. A proper East End time capsule serving minced-beef pies and mash to loyal regulars.

    What to order: Minced-beef pie, mash, and liquor

    Reserve

  • F. Cooke

    Pie & Mash $

    A family-run Hoxton stalwart famous for its jellied eels and traditional pie and mash. The tiled interior and eel-stocked counter make it a genuinely old-school, only-in-London experience.

    What to order: Jellied eels; pie, mash, and liquor

    Reserve

  • Beigel Bake

    Bakery $

    The 24-hour Brick Lane bakery beloved for its hand-rolled salt beef beigels stuffed with mustard and pickle. Cheap, boiled-then-baked, and endlessly busy, it is a late-night East End rite of passage.

    What to order: Salt beef beigel with mustard

    Reserve

  • E. Pellicci

    Cafe $

    A Grade II listed Italian caff in Bethnal Green, run by the same family since 1900 and famous for its full English breakfast. The wood-panelled Deco interior and warm banter are as celebrated as the fry-up itself.

    What to order: Full English breakfast

    Reserve

  • Regency Cafe

    Cafe $

    A classic 1946 Pimlico greasy spoon with a black-tiled facade and cash-only counter, serving heaped fry-ups called out by name. An unpretentious, only-in-London breakfast where the queue moves fast and the portions are generous.

    What to order: Full English with fried bread

    Reserve

  • Roast

    British $$$

    A grand dining room above Borough Market specialising in British roasts and produce sourced from the stalls below. The Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding and rich gravy is a celebratory take on a national ritual.

    What to order: Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding

    Reserve

  • Rules

    British $$$

    London's oldest restaurant, open in Covent Garden since 1798 and known for game, oysters, and classic British cooking. Plush and clubby, it is a historic destination for steak and kidney pie and seasonal grouse.

    What to order: Steak and kidney pie; game

    Reserve

  • Tayyabs

    Punjabi $$

    A raucous Punjabi institution in Whitechapel famous for its sizzling marinated lamb chops and BYOB tables. Cheap, packed, and endlessly queued, it captures London's essential curry-house tradition beyond the tourist trail.

    What to order: Grilled lamb chops; dry meat curry

    Reserve

Best Restaurants in London by Neighbourhood

London is a city of distinct neighbourhoods, and the best restaurants in London are scattered across them rather than clustered in a single dining district.

Soho and Fitzrovia form the buzzing central core, while Shoreditch and the East End reward those who venture into the independent, chef-driven scene. Peckham and Brixton offer vibrant south London eating, and King's Cross anchors a revitalised north.

Using neighbourhoods to plan your meals lets you pair dining with sightseeing, walkable strolls, and a genuine sense of local life. This roundup spotlights a signature restaurant in several key areas to help you eat your way across the city.

  • Shoreditch, Brat

    Basque $$$

    Tomos Parry's Michelin-starred Basque grill above a Redchurch Street pub, where whole turbot roasts over open flame. Shoreditch is east London's creative dining hub, and Brat is its most coveted table. Booking well ahead is essential.

    What to order: Whole roast turbot; grilled bread

    Reserve

  • Soho, Kiln

    Thai $$

    A cramped, brilliant Thai barbecue counter on Brewer Street where woks and clay pots blaze along an open kitchen. Grab a seat at the bar to watch the cooking and soak up Soho's restless energy.

    What to order: Clay pot glass noodles; Thai grill

    Reserve

  • King's Cross, Barrafina

    Spanish $$$

    A marble-topped Spanish tapas counter at Coal Drops Yard, the canalside retail and dining quarter that reinvented King's Cross. Perch at the bar for jamón, tortilla, and plates of the day.

    What to order: Tortilla; jamón; seafood tapas

    Reserve

  • Peckham, Kudu

    South African $$$

    A South African-inspired restaurant that helped put fast-changing Peckham on London's food map. Wood-fired cooking and warm hospitality make it the reason to explore this creative south-east London neighbourhood.

    What to order: Wood-fired flatbread; braaied meats

    Reserve

  • Brixton, Franco Manca

    Pizza $

    The original branch of the sourdough pizza phenomenon, born in the covered arcades of Brixton Market. Pair a visit with the market's Caribbean stalls and independent shops for a full afternoon.

    What to order: Slow-risen sourdough pizza

    Reserve

  • Marylebone, Trishna

    Indian $$$

    A Michelin-starred, seafood-focused Indian restaurant on a genteel Marylebone corner. Refined coastal cooking and gracious service make it the essential reason to plan a meal around this village-like district.

    What to order: Dorset brown crab; seafood curries

    Reserve

  • Fitzrovia, Berners Tavern

    British $$$

    Jason Atherton's grand, gilded dining room inside The London EDITION hotel, all soaring ceilings and gallery-hung walls. It captures Fitzrovia's blend of media buzz and old-world glamour.

    What to order: British classics; grand-room dining

    Reserve

  • Mayfair, Sketch

    French $$$$

    The pink, art-filled Gallery and Michelin-starred Lecture Room make this Conduit Street institution Mayfair's most theatrical dining address. Come for afternoon tea or a full tasting menu.

    What to order: Afternoon tea; tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Chinatown, Four Seasons

    Cantonese $$

    London's Chinatown, tucked between Soho and Leicester Square, is famous for Cantonese roast meats, and Four Seasons' glistening duck leads the pack. A roast-and-dim-sum crawl through the streets is a rewarding, affordable outing.

    What to order: Cantonese roast duck

    Reserve

  • Bermondsey, José

    Spanish $$

    A tiny, always-buzzing sherry and tapas bar on Bermondsey Street from chef José Pizarro. Standing-room plates and a great wine list make it a highlight of this walkable neighbourhood near Borough Market.

    What to order: Croquetas; sherry; tapas

    Reserve

Best New & Trendy Restaurant Openings in London

London's dining scene never stands still, and the best new and trendy restaurant openings in London keep the city on the global radar year after year.

Recent momentum has centred on live-fire cooking, ambitious neighbourhood debuts, and chefs branching out from acclaimed flagships to launch second and third concepts. New openings tend to book up fast on buzz alone, so flexibility with dates and early or late seatings helps.

Because the freshest spots evolve quickly, it is always worth checking current local coverage before you go. These picks highlight recently opened and buzzy restaurants that capture where London dining is heading right now.

  • Mountain

    Live-Fire $$$

    Tomos Parry's Soho follow-up to Brat brings Basque-influenced, wood-fired cooking to a buzzy Beak Street room. Whole-animal grilling and superb seafood over open flame made it one of the most talked-about openings in the city.

    What to order: Wood-fired meats and seafood

    Reserve

  • Manteca

    Italian $$$

    A Shoreditch favourite championing nose-to-tail Italian cooking with house-cured salumi and handmade pasta. Its snout-to-tail ethos, focaccia, and lively room have kept it firmly in the conversation as a modern favourite.

    What to order: House-cured salumi; handmade pasta

    Reserve

  • Kol

    Mexican $$$$

    Santiago Lastra's Marylebone restaurant reimagines Mexican cooking through British produce, earning a Michelin star. Its inventive tacos and mezcal-led bar make it a landmark of the new wave.

    What to order: British-produce tacos; mezcal bar

    Reserve

  • Akoko

    West African $$$

    A Fitzrovia restaurant serving refined West African tasting menus, part of a movement redefining the cuisine's profile in London. Its Michelin star confirmed the ambition behind live-fire grains, stews, and layered spice.

    What to order: West African tasting menu

    Reserve

  • Speedboat Bar

    Thai-Chinese $$

    A JKS ode to Bangkok's boat-racing bars, serving fiery Thai-Chinese food in the heart of Chinatown. Its wok-charred dishes, cold beer, and playful energy pack the room nightly.

    What to order: Wok-fried Thai-Chinese plates

    Reserve

  • Bouchon Racine

    French Bistro $$$

    Henry Harris's first-floor Farringdon bistro delivers unapologetically rich French classics above a Clerkenwell pub. Its rustic cooking and warm, buzzy room made it an instant critical darling.

    What to order: Rich French classics

    Reserve

  • Bibi

    Indian $$$

    A modern Indian restaurant in Mayfair from the JKS group, showcasing regional Indian cooking with British ingredients. Its refined small plates and design-forward room keep it firmly in demand.

    What to order: Regional Indian small plates

    Reserve

  • Oma

    Greek $$$$

    David Carter's Borough Market restaurant channels the eastern Mediterranean with wood-fired seafood and mezze, with casual sibling Agora below. Its lively shared plates made it one of the year's standout openings.

    What to order: Wood-fired seafood; mezze

    Reserve

  • Donia / Filipino newcomers

    Filipino $$

    A rising wave of Filipino restaurants, led by Donia in Kingly Court, has brought the cuisine new prominence with everything from casual eateries to ambitious concepts. It reflects one of London's most exciting current culinary movements.

    What to order: Casual to ambitious Filipino plates

    Reserve

  • Arcade Food Hall / food halls

    Food Hall $$

    Curated food halls such as Arcade at Centre Point gather standout local vendors under one roof, offering an easy way to sample multiple buzzy kitchens and cuisines in a single, casual visit.

    What to order: Multiple local vendors under one roof

    Reserve

Frequently Asked Questions

What food is London most famous for?

London is most famous for fish and chips. Locals also love the Sunday roast, a full English breakfast, and curry houses along Brick Lane, plus fine dining like three-Michelin-star Core by Clare Smyth.

Where can I get the best fish and chips in London?

Top fish-and-chips spots include Poppies in Spitalfields, The Golden Chippy in Greenwich, and Sutton and Sons for sustainable fish. The Mayfair Chippy is a smarter sit-down option. Try more than one.

Do I need reservations for top London restaurants?

Yes. Michelin-starred spots like Core by Clare Smyth, The Ledbury, and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay need reservations released weeks ahead. Blacklock and Bao are walk-in friendly. Book early or sit at the bar.

Which London neighbourhoods are best for dining?

Soho and Shoreditch are the buzziest hubs. Mayfair and Marylebone have chef-driven and Michelin spots, Peckham and Brixton offer affordable global cuisine, and Borough Market is unbeatable for grazing.

How expensive is fine dining in London?

London's top tasting menus are a splurge, typically £££££ per person before pairings. Neighbourhood restaurants, curry houses, and spots like Franco Manca offer great value. Check current menus.

Are there good vegetarian and vegan options in London?

Yes. Vegan and vegetarian spots include Mildreds, Tofu Vegan, and Purezza for pizza. Many fine-dining kitchens accommodate vegan menus with notice, and Gauthier Soho offers a full plant-based tasting menu.