You know that feeling when you’re stuffed after your main course, but you could still squeeze in a slice of something sweet? That’s your dessert-belly talking. It sits separately from your actual belly, reminding you that there’s always room for pudding. And who are we to deny science*?!
(*may not be actual science.)
Biology lesson over, let’s skip to the good stuff. Dessert is the best course of every meal (and if you don’t think so, well… you’re wrong). Living in London, we’re surrounded by some of the world’s best restaurants, so logic would suggest we’re surrounded by the world’s best desserts, too. From art-on-a-plate to tiny edible replicas of The Shard, here are some of the London restaurants we love, serving up 16 mouth-watering desserts to add to your must-try list. You’re welcome.
Sky Garden
Once you’ve had dessert in a garden in the sky, looking out over the city of London, it’s kind of hard for life to get any better. And by trying one of Fenchurch Restaurant at the Sky Garden’s desserts, you’ll see why.
Choose from the likes of Pink Lady “tart tatin” with British blackberries, clotted cream and shiso; Fenchurch chocolate bar with salted almond and buttermilk ice cream; and Honey semifreddo with whipped yeast caramel and grapefruit. YUM.
Where: 1 Sky Garden Walk, London EC3M 8AF
Website: www.skygarden.london
Eastway Brasserie
Our dessert pick at Eastway Brasserie is not only picture perfect, it tastes pretty darn good too.
Their Lemon & White Chocolate, combines lemon gel, white chocolate mousse and micro sponge for a beautiful-to-look-at-but-even-better-to-eat serving of sweetness.
Not only picture perfect; it tastes pretty darn good too.
Where: 40 Liverpool St, London EC2M 7QN
Website: www.eastwaybrasserie.com
Aqua Shard
Perhaps the most iconic dessert in all of London, Aqua Shard’s signature Shard trifle means you can eat The Shard whilst sitting inside The Shard – and we think that’s some pretty epic dessert inception.
Alongside this mind-bending trifle with coconut, sponge, Chantilly and blood orange, you can enjoy ever-changing views of the London skyline from sunrise to sunset.
Where: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY
Website: www.aquashard.co.uk
The Last Talisman
Taking the humble cheesecake to new heights, our pick at The Last Talisman is their Yuzu Meringue Cheesecake. Not only is it beautiful to look at, but a delicious mix of sweet and sour to finish your meal.
A crunchy vanilla meringue disk is balanced with a rich cheesecake filling, burnt butter oat biscuits and dotted with tangy yuzu gel and refreshing sansho pepper. A properly indulgent choice for those with a sweet tooth.
Taking the humble cheesecake to new heights.
Where: 171-173 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UW
Website: www.thelasttalisman.com
The Game Bird at The Stafford
The Game Bird’s menu is overflowing with an innovative combination of familiar favourites and delicious surprises, and their Bramley Apple mousse is no exception.
To make this delightful dessert, a Bramley apple puree centre is sprayed with green chocolate, and served with oat granola and a salted toffee sauce. I mean, just look at it! Almost too beautiful to eat (…almost).
Almost too beautiful to eat.
Where: The Stafford, 16-18, St James’s Pl, St. James’s, London SW1A 1NJ
Website: www.thestaffordlondon.com
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The Montagu Kitchen
Time to share the nation’s favourite sweet treat: Sticky Toffee Pudding. Has there ever been a more iconic dessert? We think not – and luckily, our friends at The Churchill agree.
Dripping with toffee sauce, just how we like it, theirs is one of the most mouth-watering in town.
Where: 30 Portman Square, London W1H 7BH
Website: www.themontagurestaurant.co.uk
Aqua Nueva
What do we love just as much as dessert? Bottomless brunch, of course. And luckily for us Aqua Nueva are lovely enough to give us both of our favourite things at once!
Kick-start your weekend with their bottomless La Fiesta brunch and indulge in their show-stopping chocolate churros with candied orange to finish. This is the definition of indulgence.
This is the definition of indulgence.
Where: 5th Floor 240 Regent Street, (Entrance 30 Argyll St) W1F 7EB, London W1B 3BR
Website: www.aquanueva.co.uk
Ormer Mayfair by Sofian
If you’ve ever been to Fleming’s Mayfair, you’ll know it’s a pretty special place. But the real showstopper at resident restaurant Ormer is their Albinao and tapioca tart – the kind of refined sweetness that’s a rare find on London menus these days.
Smooth tapioca piping make up the topping of the tart, and on the side? Pedro Ximénez Sherry and salted milk sorbet that tastes as good as it looks.
Where: Flemings Mayfair, 7-12 Half Moon St, London W1J 7BH
Website: www.flemings-mayfair.co.uk
TING Restaurant
Located in The Shard, TING is unashamedly luxurious with epic skyline views. But the luxury doesn’t stop there because their new dessert menu is really something special too.
Think crunchy cocoa nib, chocolate mousse, salted toffee crémeux, gold chocolate and miso ice cream; Hazelnut sponde, pecan & hazelnut ganache, yuzu curd and yuzu & Prosecco granita; Raspberry & Lychee Pavlova with raspberry crunchy meringue, vanilla custard, lychee panna cotta and raspberry sorbet; and pineapple crémeux, vanilla chantilly, tropical fruit and coconut & lime sorbet.
Tempted to tick off all 4 delectable dessert options at once? To be honest, we don’t really blame you.
Where: 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9QU
Website: www.ting-shangri-la.com
Dipna Anand At Somerset House
Okay so, this one’s a dessert made entirely of carrots, but HEAR ME OUT. I have never been one to promote vegetables for pudding (nor do I think I’ve ever known this to even be an option). But their Gajar ka halwa (carrot pudding) takes grated carrot and immerses it in simmering condensed milk, allowing London’s dessert-aholics to get their next sweet fix without any of the guilt.
If you’re anything like me, your senses will be confused at first, but by the time you’ve licked the plate clean you’ll be Googling how to make this yourself at home. So good.
Where: South Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
Website: www.dipnasomersethouse.co.uk
W/A Restuarant
A hidden gem on the streets of Kensington, W/A Restaurant and Bar’s new menu conjures up all the Belgian-inspired food you could ever desire. And what’s more Belgian than a sweet waffle?
Choose yours from a selection of toppings including vanilla ice-cream, chocolate sauce and Chantilly cream; raspberry ice-cream, mixed berries and Chantilly cream; and chocolate ice-cream and salted caramel sauce. (Can we have all three please??)
Where: 100 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5AG
Website: www.100queensgate.com
The English Grill at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel
An all-time favourite dessert at The Rubens at the Palace Hotel is their Vanilla cheesecake. A classic crowd-pleaser, it’s simple but seriously delicious.
We have it on good authority that Red Carnation Hotels founder Bea Tollman spent years getting the recipe just right. That’s some serious dessert dedication worth trying (it wouldn’t do us any harm having two whole slices just to check, right?!)
Where: 39 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS
Website: www.rubenshotel.com
Meraki
Brought to you by Fitzrovia restaurant and bar, Meraki, this is one dessert you’ll want to leave room for. Our eyes were drawn immediately to their signature Bougatsa, a traditional crispy filo pie with semolina custard and milk chocolate caramel.
Even better, it’ll be sliced and served in front of your eyes at the table, for an extra touch of Meraki magic.
Where: 80-82 Great Titchfield St., London W1W 7QT
Website: www.meraki-restaurant.com
Bbar
Honeycomb and ice-cream is always a flavour combination made in heaven, but Bbar have it down to an art with their signature take on it.
The honeycomb is crunchy yet delicate, the ice-cream deliciously silky, making it the perfect balance of texture. Our only regret? Not ordering a second serving.
Our only regret? Not ordering a second serving.
Where: 43 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PP
Website: www.bbarlondon.com
Terra at Eataly
If you thought the theatre stopped at the grill at Terra, then you should check our their dessert trolley! Here, desserts are given a flamboyant Italian flair with a Gorgonzola cheese cart accompanied by a choice of dried fruits, mostarda, honey, nuts, bread, and crostini to be finished off with balsamic vinegar.
Looking for something sweet? A Maritozzi cart of homemade sweet and buttery sourdough brioche cakes, will be served to you with whipped cream and a choice of pistachio and hazelnut cream, amarena cherries, pistachio, hazelnut and amaretti crumbs. Yum!
Where: 135 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3YD
Website: www.eataly.co.uk
London Cabaret Club
Like your desserts with a side of entertainment? Then you’ll want to make your way to London Cabaret Club at your earliest possible convenience. If anything’s going to draw your eye away from the top-class performances momentarily, it’s their dark chocolate crème caramel. We can’t get enough of it.
Where: Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London WC1B 4DA
Website: www.thelondoncabaretclub.com
