The Best Restaurants In London To Book Now
We’ve written a lot of guides over the years, from the best Omakase and Chinese restaurants to underrated gems and best Thai spots, but we’ve never done an overall best restaurant piece – that is until now. Compiling this list is simultaneously the easiest and hardest job – on the one hand, we’re completely spoilt for choice, on the other hand, there are many many amazing restaurants that don’t appear on this list.
Starting with the most expensive, once-in-a-lifetime tasting menus and working all the way down to a range of price points, we’ve collated what is, in our opinion, 30 of the absolute best in London dining.
Very Expensive (£££)
Core by Clare Smyth
One of the most recognised female chefs in the industry, Clare Smyth was the first UK-based female chef to win three Michelin stars. Core is her multi-award-winning restaurant in Notting Hill, where the fine dining menu is as elegant as it is photogenic. With beautifully crafted dishes with an emphasis on natural, sustainable, artisanal food, it’s a must-visit for anyone who appreciates exciting, delicious, and impeccably crafted food.
Where: 92 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2PN
Website: www.corebyclaresmyth.com
Endo at The Rotunda
The immersive omakase menu at Endo at The Rotunda is priced at £225, and you’ll be guided through more than 20 courses of elegant, seasonal dishes from third-generation sushi master Endo Kazutosh, who rather impressively won a Michelin star within six months of opening. Located on the 8th floor of the Television Centre, its tagline is ‘Sushi in the clouds’ – but you’ll need to join the waiting list to book one of the coveted seats at this sushi-in-the-sky restaurant, however, the price tag is more than worth it for this kind of unmatched skill and artistry.
Where: 8th Floor, The Helios, Television Centre, 101 Wood Ln, London W12 7FR
Website:www.endoatrotunda.com
Akoko
For a tasting menu, you won’t forget anytime soon, head to the sleek restaurant Akoko in Fitzrovia to experience the sumptuous flavours of West Africa, across Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria. The menu is influenced by recipes passed down through generations, as well as forward-thinking fine-dining dishes. The most affordable option is the shorter lunch tasting menu for £55, however, the full tasting menu at £120 is our favoured way to take a journey through West African cuisine.
Where: 21 Berners St, W1T 3LP
Website: www.akoko.co.uk
The Ledbury
The Notting Hill restaurant, headed up by Brett Gellman was named as the best restaurant in the UK by the National Restaurant Awards and currently holds three Michelin stars – so a pretty good resume.
The restaurant shut briefly in 2020 due to Covid but reopened in 2022 and has since gone from strength to strength, becoming the premiere dining destination.
where: 127 Ledbury Rd, London W11 2AQ
website: theledbury.com
Cornus
A new addition to the London food scene, opening its doors in August, Cornus is a must-try for foodies with a soft spot for seafood. The a la carte menu is a great place to start, but for the full experience, you can’t go wrong with the tasting menu (with the wine pairing add-on, for an extra special touch). The staff are incredibly welcoming and friendly, which means you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a gourmet meal to remember for years to come.
where: 27c Eccleston Pl, London SW1W 9NF
website: www.cornusrestaurant.co.uk
La Dame De Pic
Located inside the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge, La Dame de Pic boasts two Michelin stars and serves contemporary French cuisine from Anne-Sophie Pic – the most decorated female Michelin chef in the world. Drawing on Pic’s French culinary heritage from four generations of chefs, there are four tasting menus on offer, all of which can be paired with wine, as well as an a la carte menu.
When it comes to ordering, make sure you try Pic’s signature dishes: Les Berlingots ASP (pasta parcels filled with Blackmount Cheese, heritage green tomato, mace and Tonka), along with the White Millefeuille (featuring Tahitian vanilla, jasmine jelly, and a Voatsiperifery pepper cloud).
where: Four Seasons Hotel London at tower bridge, 10 Trinity Square EC3N 4AJ
website: www.ladamedepiclondon.co.uk
Ikoyi
There’s no à la carte menu at Ikoyi, nor does there need to be, as this two-Michelin star restaurant serves up the tasting menu of culinary dreams, oozing with innovation and rich in global influence with a West African twist. The menu is ever-changing, but expect to enjoy dishes like mussel and saffron crème caramel; smoked jollof rice with grilled lobster and lobster custard; and husk cherry and rum cake.
Where: 180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA
Website:www.ikoyilondon.com
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
The flagship restaurant of Britain’s most recognisable chef – Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is the ultimate venue for fine dining in London. Established in 1998, it quickly gained recognition and earned three Michelin stars in 2001, a distinction it still holds today.
Combining elegant modern French cuisine with impeccable service, under the leadership of Chef Patron Matt Abé features an ever-changing menu that is at the forefront of both innovation and tradition.
where: 68 Royal Hospital Rd, London SW3 4HP
website: www.gordonramsayrestaurants.co.uk
Restaurant Story
Two-Michelin Restaurant Story someone thought there was more to offer, and so undertook a £2.5 million refurbishment, opening again in January earlier this year. It serves a tasting menu of delicate dishes inspired and led by the British seasons and the very best produce available, in an intimate, 10-seater restaurant. Each course tells a story: it could be inspired by a moment in Tom’s life or the provenance of an ingredient. The menu is known for breaking convention with some unique flair – such as an edible candle made from beef tallow that melts to be eaten with bread.
where: 199 Tooley St, London SE1 2JX
website: www.restaurantstory.co.uk
The Ritz
A place that quite literally needs no introduction, The Ritz has essentially become shorthand in London for upscale dining. First opening in 1906, it quickly became known as London’s most prestigious hotel and has played host to everyone from Anna Pavlova to Charles de Gaulle – most icons of the 20th Century, in fact.
The restaurant offers a Michelin-star menu in its iconic dining room from Chef John Williams, focusing on the very best British ingredients and always seasonal.
where: 150 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9BR
website: www.theritz.com
Slightly Less Expensive (££)
Dear Jackie
The kitchen is led by esteemed Head Chef, Harry Faddy, formerly of The River Cafe and Aquavit London, who has designed a luxe, modern Italian menu that spotlights an array of exceptional pasta dishes and reimagined classics. Starters are traditionally light, with a focus on seafood and raw dishes, such as Seared Hand Dived Scallop with Champagne with trout toe and finger lime; Seabass Crudo with fennel and blood orange; and Hereford Beef Crudo with Imperial Oscietra Caviar and agretti. Pasta dishes change by the season and focus on quality produce and simple flavours with maximum impact.
where: Lower Ground, 20 Broadwick St, London W1F 9NE
website: www.broadwicksoho.co.uk
Gymkhana
A restaurant to grace many a London foodie’s bucket list (and the only of London’s Indian restaurants to earn two Michelin stars), Gymkhana is the place to go for classic and contemporary Indian cuisine that truly lives up to the hype.
Try their Goan cafreal salmon tikka with tomato chutney, or the Gilafi quail seekh kebab with mustard and mint chutney. For dessert, go for the cardamom and basmati rice kheer with fresh figs, or the rasgulla tiramisu.
Where: 42 Albemarle St, London W1S 4JH
Website: www.gymkhanalondon.com
St John
The restaurant that made bone marrow the chicest thing you can eat in London in 2024. They now have our restaurants in their ranks – including Bread and Wine, Marleybone, and Fortnum and Mason – but the most famous is the original pioneering Smithfield venue. Headed by Chef Fergus Henderson, it sparked a resurgence in forgotten ingredients and meats – such as the aforementioned bone marrow and offal – through his menus.
Now its white facade is one of the most instantly recognisable in the city and is still trendier and just as delicious as ever.
where: 6 St John St, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY
website: www.stjohnrestaurants.com
Donia
We love restaurants that let us explore under-appreciated cuisines in an innovative and delicious way, and Donia does exactly that. A modern Filipino restaurant that aims to reimagine Filipino flavours with seasonal ingredients and culinary techniques, it has become one of Soho’s hottest tables.
The food is stunning – from Chicken Inasal, perfectly chargrilled corn-fed chicken, marinated for 48 hours in lemongrass, coconut vinegar, calamansi, garlic and annatto oil, to grilled black tiger prawns and fermented plum broth.
where: Top Floor, Kingly Ct, Carnaby St, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW
website: www.doniarestaurant.co.uk
Ognisko
On Exhibition Road in the stunning Victorian home of Ognisko Polskie, Ognisko might just be a contender for the best restaurant in London. Celebrating the cuisine of Eastern and Central Europe, think pork schnitzel, Polish sausage, pierogis, and smoked eel on pumpernickel.
Also a must try are their house-infused flavoured vodkas, best enjoyed on the terrace overlooking communal gardens.
where: 55 Exhibition Rd, London SW7 2PG
website: www.ogniskorestaurant.co.uk
Chishuru
Chishuru stands among the very best restaurants in London full stop. Originally a supper club, Chishuru first became a permanent fixture in Brixton, and then moved to Fitzrovia in 2023, boasting a modern menu that blends age-old recipes with modern flavour.
It received its first Michelin Star earlier this year, with chef Adejoké Bakare making history in 2024 when she became the UK’s first Black woman to receive the accolade.
where: 3 Great Titchfield St, W1W 8AX
website: chishuru.com
Brat
Brat summer might be over, but there are still more than enough reasons to head to this lovely restaurant perched on the first floor of a pub. Don’t judge it by its discreet location – led by Chef Tomos Parry, Brat got itself a Michelin star within six months of opening. Inspired by the cooking techniques of the Basque country, your visit might just be a slightly smokey one with chefs cooking over fire here. Meat eaters and seafood lovers will love this one, and the menu takes you from the affordable (lamb ribs for £11) to the steep (a whole turbot fish for £185).
Where: 4 Redchurch Street, Hackney, E1 6JL
Website:www.bratrestaurant.com
Bouchon Racine
This is one for the traditionalists, the one who believes French cuisine is still the pinnacle of what fine dining should look like. Get whisked away to the bouchons and bistros of France and dig into apéritifs and digéstifs at Bouchon Racine, a classic bistro that serves masterfully created dishes. Classic pot-au-feu, boudin blanc, white asparagus Périgord truffle, brill steak with wild garlic and green peppercorn sauce, grilled veal chops…these are just a few of the delights one the changing menu. And, of course, the desserts taste like you’ve died and gone to heaven.
where: 66 Cowcross Street EC1M 6BP
website: www.bouchonracine.com
Kol
For a long time, London was maligned for the quality of its Mexican restaurants – but that’s changing, and Kol is at the forefront of a host of spots bringing genuine representation to the city. The restaurant reimagines the flavours and culture of its homeland and brings it to life through local, British ingredients – and was named the 17th best restaurant in the world but the World Restaurant Awards, and the best in the UK.
Chef Santiago Lastra’s dishes include tacos with langoustines, smoked chilli and sea buckthorn; confit whole cod carnitas with black beans, woodruff and sugar kelp; and buñuelos with Tunworth ice cream, sea buckthorn and ancho chilli.
where: 9 Seymour Street, Marylebone, W1H 7BA
website: WWW.kolrestaurant.com
Oma
Arguably the best new opening of 2024 thus far, Oma brings the flavours of the sun-soaked shores of the Greek Isles to London. Located in Borough Market, OMA draws its name from the Greek word for ‘raw’, featuring both a crudo bar and an open-plan, live-fire kitchen.
Jorge Paredes, formerly executive chef of Sabor, is leading the kitchen alongside David Carter (Founder of SMOKESTAK). The menu is a haven for sharing, with options including reimagined Aegean dishes like squid ink giouvetsi, charred lamb belly with hummus, shallot and mint salata, and seabass crudo with jalepeño, lime and ginger.
where: 3 Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
website: www.oma.com
Barrafina
Barrafina does dining a little differently. Home to five locations spread across the city, the restaurant boasts an intimate number of red leather stools and a marble-topped bar, allowing guests to peek into kitchen life and watch the chefs at work. The restaurant specialises in modern Spanish tapas, filled with favourites including prawn and piquillo pepper tortilla; cured monkfish; chicken thigh with romesco; and patatas bravísimas.
where: Various Locations
website: www.barrafina.co.uk
Quo Vadis
A Soho staple that embraces the colourful history of the area and the building that it occupies. Formerly a brothel and a home to Karl Marx – though not at the same time, rest assured – now it is one of the most unmissable of London bucket list restaurants.
Chef Jeremy Lee conjures up imaginative British fare with his team, picking up where Marco Pierre White left off. If you go make sure to try the smoked eel sandwich, one of the most famous dishes in all of London.
where: 26-29 Dean St, London W1D 3LL
website: www.quovadissoho.co.uk
Kiln
One of the city’s best Thai restaurants – a dense field in 2024 – Kiln is known for its trademark open kitchen, wood burning, and noodles.
The menu is regularly on the move, but the Thai barbecue concept remains ever-present. Their curries are outstanding, including braised beef shin curry, jungle curry with smoked kippers, and Chak Som sour curry with grey mullet. The dining area is small, and the counter runs on a walk-in, first come first serve basis, so be speedy.
where: 58 Brewer St, London W1F 9TL
website: www.kilnsoho.com
Bibi
Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, Bibi Mayfair serves an exceptional a la carte and tasting menu, plus a tasting menu for dinner. It ranked #35 in the National Restaurant Awards this year, this is the third year of the restaurant has celebrated a Top 100 spot so you can expect some great things here. There’s an incredible achari wagyu beef sirloin on the menu and their iconic Lahori butter chicken, plus the buffalo milk paneer and black truffle are great options for vegetarians.
where: 42 North Audley Street, Mayfair, London W1K 6ZP
website: www.bibirestaurants.com
Bentley’s
Oysters are a bit like marmite, aren’t they? If you can’t get enough of the little suckers, a booking at a stalwart of the London food scene, Bentley’s, should be top of your list. Bentley’s has been providing the best oysters and Champagne to bougie Londoners since 1916 and it’s still one of the finest seafood restaurants in the city.
Tuck into oysters from Dorset or Jersey, Galway to Vietnam, as well as decadent lobster Thermidor and Dover sole.
where: 11-15 Swallow Street, London W1B 4DG
website: www.bentleys.org
Trullo
A local favourite since opening its doors in 2010, Trullo might very well be the best pasta in London. With dishes changing daily, the menu always boasts something new, different and vibrant, and the pasta is always homemade, and the ingredients as fresh as possible.
Located in Highbury East, Trullo’s interiors are simple, with a mix of industrial thrown-in. Handmade fresh pasta is a menu staple, whatever the season, alongside heroes changing dishes freshly prepared from their very own charcoal grill.
where: 300-302 St Paul’s Road, Highbury East, N1 2LH
website: www.trullorestaurant.com
Some Would Say Affordable (£)
Mambow
A true labour of love: Mambow has gone from Peckham pop-up to a permanent East-London restaurant thanks to a fiercely loyal fanbase and incredible food from Chef Abby Lee. Based on the Malaysian cuisine of Lee’s childhood, it has become one of London’s most talked about and coveted spots.
The menu changes regularly with chalkboard-written specials but favourites like umai (Sarawak-style ceviche), black pepper curry chicken and red curry prawn toast are staples. A must-visit.
where: 78 LOWER CLAPTON RD, LOWER CLAPTON, LONDON E5 0RN
website: wwwMAMBOW.CO.UK
Akub
Adding a modern, refined approach to the country’s culinary offerings, the menu at Akub showcases the best of Palestinian produce while incorporating quality British seasonal ingredients. Centred around small and larger plates, akub’s menu is designed to be shared – Palestinian hospitality is best experienced around an abundant tawla, a dining table with sharing plates offering the flavours and fragrances of the coast, the olives and figs of the Mediterranean terroir and the preservation methods of the desert.
Think labneh rolled in sumac, zaatar, turmeric and Aleppo pepper; crunchy mansaf featuring rice, pulled lamb shoulder, laban jameed, shrak and garlic; and Dead Sea chocolate cake with tahini ice cream.
where: 27 Uxbridge Street, Notting Hill, W8 7TQ
website: www.akub-restaurant.com
Singburi
A local phenom that punches way above its weight. Relatively inexpensive, BYOB and unremarkable from the outside, what lies inside is one of London’s best-hidden gems – and the hardest table to secure. The family-run restaurant helmed by chef Sirichai Kularbwong has made Leytonstone London’s most unlikely foodie destination through a menu filled with vibrant, fiery and fresh dishes.
The menu is written on a blackboard and features traditional Thai dishes you won’t get anywhere else in the country – anything from Kua kling pla (Chopped swordfish stir-fried with curry paste) to green mango nam prik with smoked prawns. It placed 71st in the 2024 National Restaurant Awards, undoubtedly one of the cheapest venues on the list, and they only take bookings by phone.
where: 593 High Rd Leytonstone, London E11 4PA
Rochelle Canteen
This restaurant, situated in the converted bike shed of a school turned arts and media complex, is strictly on a need-to-know basis. Entry is difficult – you have to find the unmarked door on a garden wall and ring the buzzer – but once inside you’ll be treated to a delicious fusion of classic British and modern European cooking.
With dishes like monkfish with cime di rapa and chilli and a guineafowl, bacon, and wild garlic pie, there’s a reason this place has only gone from strength to strength since opening in 2004.
where: 16 Playground Gardens, London E2 7FA
website: www.rochellecanteen.com
Crisp Pizza
Crisp has managed to do what few have before: make people queue for pizza. What makes this such a difficult task is that bad pizza is still pretty good food, so why give up half an hour of your life for what is, ultimately, a marginal game? Not with Crisp. Do you know how good you have to be to be almost universally acclaimed as London’s best?
Nestled in Hammersmith pub, The Chancellors, queues have been rumoured to snake all the way to Putney Bridge. They are media-savvy here (one pizza is named ‘The Vecna’ after the Stranger Things villain) but also smart enough to know that to sustain past the hype, the quality needs to match – and it does.
where: 25 Crisp Rd, London W6 9RL
