While it’s difficult to hone down the definition of ‘British cuisine’, there’s no denying that a certain combination of characteristics make up one brilliantly British restaurant. Meat, minimalism, seasonal ingredients (and probably gravy, if gravy was a category), plus an open mind when it comes to flavour and technique.
These brilliant restaurants represent what makes British cuisine so unique, combining back-to-basics-British (meat and two veg, please) with creative twists on comfort food. From delicious spots for Sunday roasts, to historic restaurants that have been feeding Londoners for hundreds of years, here are the best British restaurants to book a table at.
The Best British Restaurants In London
Quality Chop House
After over 150 years of a chop house standing on this Farringdon site, Quality Chop House honours its heritage with a contemporary and innovative menu that stays respectful to its past. And what a menu it is! From the a la carte, expect a huge selection of dishes including Cornish cod, sorrel butter sauce and Scottish girolles; Brixham turbot, lobster bisque, sea aster and lime mayonnaise; and Aberdeen Angus bone-in sirloin with a side of Confit potatoes. The interiors practically scream British too, featuring textured wallpaper, checkerboard floors, and wooden ‘church pew’ benches.
Where: 92-94 Farringdon Rd, London EC1R 3EA
Website: www.thequalitychophouse.com
Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar
It’s steaks a-go-go at this quintessentially British restaurant – with ingredients locally sourced from British farms. Think quintessential dishes like thyme and lemon roasted chicken with Cumberland Sausage; 880g tomahawk steaks; and surf ‘n’ turf complete with half a lobster.
They’re also famous for their gin bar, housing over 100 gins for the perfect G&T. And it’s not just the food and drink that’ll give you the full Brit experience. Just look out the window and you’ve got panoramic views of the London Eye, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. What could be more British than that?
Where: County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Website: www.gillrays.com
Corrigan’s
With Chef Patron Richard Corrigan at the helm, this attractive Mayfair spot deals in the kind of fine British and Irish dining that turns heads and commands conversations. Redefining the concept of quintessential British cuisine, each dish demonstrates Richard Corrigan’s unmistakable flair, with menus inspired by his humble, rural beginnings. The goal is to champion game in its simplest form (i.e. anything you can hunt, catch or forage) using only the freshest seasonal produce from carefully selected British suppliers.
British hits dominate the menu, including hand-dived Orkney scallop with cauliflower mushroom, coastal herbs, mushroom and dashi broth; salt-aged beef Wellington for two with foie gras, Australian winter truffle, pomme purée and red wine; and best end of Cornish lamb with glazed sweetbread, shoulder, and jus gras.
Where: 28 Upper Grosvenor St, London W1K 7EH
Website: www.corrigansmayfair.co.uk
The George
This historic pub (going back to the 18th century) made waves following its refurbishment in recent years, and its new look and feel set the mood for indulging in elevated British pub classics.
Quality desserts and an extensive selection of English sparkling wines earn bonus points.
Where: 55 Great Portland St, London W1W 7LQ
Website: www.thegeorge.london
Berners Tavern
This gastronomic gem feeds London diners with an all-day menu of seasonal, contemporary British cuisine.
To eat, expect top-notch British dishes like roasted lemon sole with royal blue prawns, crushed potato and parsley; and an iconic Sunday roast including roast chicken and slow-cooked pork belly served with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, buttered sugar snaps and baby Chantenay carrots.
Where: 10 Berners St, London W1T 3NP
Website: www.bernerstavern.com
Kerridge’s Bar & Grill
For his first restaurant in London, renowned Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge has created menus that hark back to classics and traditional techniques, showcasing his unique take on the UK’s most celebrated dishes. Expect a culinary experience that rivals Tom’s Michelin-starred establishments, all housed in a stunning space reimagined by The Studio.
Where: 10 Northumberland Ave, London WC2N 5AE
Website: www.kerridgesbarandgrill.co.uk
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Lyle’s
Dinner time is the real draw at Lyle’s as a six-course tasting menu. The menu changes regularly, but you can expect to tuck into the likes of Hereford forerib with summer beetroot and horseradish; and monkfish with cocoa beans and honeycomb tomatoes.
Lunch isn’t a time to be missed either. Revolving around small plates, expect British cuisine like smoked eel with beetroot and mustard leaves; and raw scallops with green strawberry and cucumber.
Expect to tuck into the likes of Hereford forerib with summer beetroot and horseradish.
Where: Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ
Website: www.lyleslondon.com
Core by Clare Smyth
No list of the best British restaurants is complete without a nod to Core by Clare Smyth. Every meal at Core is a celebration of British ingredients, from Isle of Harris scallops and Sharpham Park spelt to Rhug Estate venison and Porthilly oysters, the restaurant serves seasonal produce, sourced from sustainable producers.
No list of the best British restaurants is complete without a nod to Core by Clare Smyth.
Where: 92 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2PN
Website: www.corebyclaresmyth.com
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The English Grill at The Rubens at The Palace
Truly refined and stylish, The English Grill is set in opulently designed surroundings, serving the finest English produce from suppliers that serve the Queen’s kitchen. Murano chandeliers and a live-action kitchen make for a truly unique experience, whilst the menu offers signature classics, including steaks, plant-based dishes and desserts. All meats are grilled to perfection in their charcoal-fired Josper Grill.
Truly refined and stylish, The English Grill is set in opulently designed surroundings.
Where: 39 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PS
Website: www.rubenshotel.com
The Cadogan Arms
The Cadogan Arms is at the top of many people’s list for British pub classics in Chelsea, and for good reason. Georgian architectural details and ornate timber panelling are a nod to the pub’s heritage, spanning two centuries of serving the local community, and the ‘best of British’ menu stays true to its past.
Indulgent dishes like beef and Guinness pie with clotted cream mash; and ham, egg and chips with spiced pineapple ketchup make narrowing down your choice very difficult indeed.
Where: 298 King’s Rd, London SW3 5UG
Website: www.thecadoganarms.london
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St Pancras Brasserie by Searcys
A beautiful 1920s art-deco Brasserie inside St Pancras station, this restaurant champions seasonal, British produce.
Come here for exquisite seafood delights and seasonal salads, along with British classics with a contemporary twist. Try a glass of Searcys English Sparkling while you’re at it – you won’t regret it.
A beautiful 1920s art-deco Brasserie inside St Pancras station, this restaurant champions seasonal, British produce.
Where: St. Pancras, St Pancras International Station, London N1C 4QL
Website: www.stpancrasbysearcys.co.uk
Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill
Serving up Champagne and oysters to the masses since 1916, Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill is a true British institution. Headed up by Richard Corrigan since 2005, the team source the finest ingredients from local and artisan manufacturers who share Corrigan’s passion.
On the menu you will find their signature stamp on British staples, like a classically luxurious fish pie, an over-the-top prawn cocktail and traditional fish and chips.
Where: 11-15 Swallow St, London W1B 4DG
Website: www.bentleys.org
Rules
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This London treasure is the oldest restaurant in London, but that hasn’t stopped it from dishing out incredible British fare for over 220 years. Located in the heart of Covent Garden, Rules does a fine job of satisfying not only the older generations but also younger London foodies who are hungry for a slice of history. Inside, things are charming and quintessentially British with dark wood, red velvet seating, and walls covered in paintings. The menu deals in British seasonal fare – think classic game cookery and gigantic Sunday roasts that capture the heart and soul of British dining. If that’s not enough to sway you into booking a table, it’s also been featured in Downton Abbey quite a few times, so you can’t get much more British than that.
This London treasure is the oldest restaurant in London, but that hasn’t stopped it from dishing out incredible British fare for over 220 years.
Where: 34-35 Maiden Ln, London WC2E 7LB
Website: www.rules.co.uk
The Royal Exchange
Opened by none other than Queen Elizabeth I in 1571, The Royal Exchange offers the chance for diners to take in England’s heritage in all its architectural beauty.
The Fortnum’s Bar & Restaurant, sat in the middle of the venue’s neoclassical courtyard, promises a seasonal and contemporary British menu with a little bit of luxury. Try the traditional Scotch egg with piccalilli (invented by Fortnum & Mason in 1738), and the day boat fish and chips with tartare sauce.
Where: Royal Exchange, London EC3V 3LR
Website: www.theroyalexchange.co.uk
The Game Bird
Under the direction of celebrated Michelin-starred chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen, The Game Bird is inspired by seasonal, British produce and the bustle of historic St James’s. Mixing innovative comfort food with delicious surprises, expect dishes like The Game Bird duck pie, or stuffed home farm lamb loin with honey-glazed carrots and puffed grains.
Where: 16-18, St James’s Pl, St. James’s, London SW1A 1NJ
Website: www.thestaffordlondon.com
Indigo at One Aldywch
Indigo at One Aldwych is the British restaurant worth visiting for its new tasting menu, celebrating the bountiful seafood, organic produce and rich culinary heritage of Cornwall.
The six-course menu is packed with seafood – think seaweed baked monkfish and St Austell mussels – while Cornish classics are given a gentle touch of innovation with miniature pasties and a new take on a cream tea. Enjoy with a wine flight from Trevibban Mill Vineyard, a small, family-run vineyard near Padstow.
Where: 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ
Website: www.onealdwych.com
Blacklock
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A resounding hipster hit in Shoreditch, Blacklock was born from a love of the traditional London Chophouse so don’t be fooled by its trendy interior and clientele – this is everything true British food is all about in its most familiar and unpretentious form. Savoury dishes are true to the cause, so expect cull yaw crumpets with gravy, smoked bacon chops and rump cap steaks. Don’t miss the cocktail menu either – the ‘Usual Suspects’ with jalapeño tequila, Aperol, grapefruit and Prosecco is one of our favourites.
Where: 28-30 Rivington St, London EC2A 3DZ
Website: www.theblacklock.com
Pivot
Another of London’s most central British spots, Pivot Bar & Bistro serves quintessential British cuisine from a prime location overlooking the iconic Covent Garden piazza. Expect starters like Scottish smoked salmon served with capers and shallots; mains such as roasted ham, eggs and potatoes big enough to be shared by two people; and sticky toffee pudding and custard to finish. For those who prefer a savoury option, tuck into the English cheese selection, celebrating the very best of British.
Where: 3 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8LU
Website: www.pivotbarandbistro.com
Butler’s Restaurant at The Chesterfield Mayfair
Intimate and elegant, Butler’s serves up a collection of delicious dishes that make the most of organic, seasonal British ingredients – from salmon smoked by H.Forman & Son, London’s oldest smokery, and classics such as roasted Orkney scallops and venison Wellington. They’re also renowned for serving London’s best Dover sole, filleted right at your table.
Where: 35 Charles St, London W1J 5EB
Website: www.chesterfieldmayfair.com
Cheneston’s
Deriving its name from an early spelling of Kensington, Cheneston’s is the intimate and elegant fine dining restaurant at The Milestone Hotel, offering delicious British cuisine.
The hotel’s passion for comforting and creative cuisine comes to spectacular life in Cheneston’s, with Executive Chef Daniel Putz creating warming signature dishes served alongside a range of delicious British options, such as Scottish salmon, cured by H.Forman & Son, London’s oldest smokery, and carved right at your table; and delicious daily roasts presented on a silver trolley.
Where: 1-3 Kensington Ct, London W8 5DL
Website: www.milestonehotel.com
The Restaurant at Home House
A gorgeous members club in the heart of Marylebone, Home House’s restaurant celebrates the very best of seasonal British produce. Everything here is spot on – from the stunning Georgian-style interiors to a line-up of excellent fine wines by the glass.
On the menu you’ll find the likes of Wye Valley asparagus with poached egg, truffle hollandaise and radishes; and butterflied sea bass with garden peas, spring vegetables and citrus dressing.
Where: 20 Portman Square, London W1H 6LW
Website: www.homehouse.co.uk
190 Queens Gate
This restaurant is located inside a quintessentially British hotel, The Gore. A favourite place for celebrities, musicians, and artists to gather since the 1960s given its proximity to the Royal Albert Hall, the menu combines the British culinary tradition with contemporary flavours. Try the pre-theatre set menu to enjoy brilliant British cuisine from courgette fritters with goat cheese dressing, to roasted chalk stream trout.
Where: 190 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5EX
Website: www.collezione.starhotels.com
One Twenty One Two
A neighbour to Scotland Yard, with a name derived from the world-famous phone number – Whitehall 1212 – this restaurant serves classic dishes with a modern twist, along with an impressive selection of wines.
Artisanal ingredients are put to beautiful use on the menu, including dishes like double-cooked chicken Sspreme with whipped potato, braised leeks and carrots; or the chargrilled 10oz ribeye steak served with the classic side of triple-cooked chips.
Where: 2 Whitehall Ct, Whitehall Pl, London SW1A 2EJ
Website: www.guoman.com
