Parents In London For The Weekend? These Are The Best Restaurants To Take Them To
If you’re a non-native Londoner, having your parents visit for the weekend offers a chance to view the city through new eyes. It also means, more than likely, you have to do the restaurant planning – and you really have to plan it. In my experience, trying to wander into places on the fly doesn’t really work.
We’ve selected 12 restaurants perfect for any occasion, whether you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser, something to impress your foodie parents or to experience some of London’s most iconic spots.
Langan’s
Best for: Luxe location
We’re starting strong with Langan’s in Mayfair – a fail-safe spot to take your family to. The location is easy to get to, the decor is top-notch (with every wall plastered with chic artwork), and the food is great quality – tick, tick & tick. Plus, if your parents seem to mention the acoustics of whatever restaurant you’re in, this is just the ticket – it’s spacious and has a relaxed, laid-back vibe (no thumpingly loud music), making it perfect for quality catch-ups.
Where: Stratton St, London W1J 8LB
Website: www.langansbrasserie.com
TīNG
Best for: Spectacular views
Set within the Shangri-La Hotel up the Shard, TĪNG offers unbeatable views across the city and some excellent food to match. Gaze out over Tower Bridge, St. Paul’s and other famous landmarks while enjoying a blend of modern Asian cuisine. Think Vietnamese mango salad, char siu pork belly and mapo tofu.
Where: Level 35, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9QU
Website: www.ting-shangri-la.com
St. John
Best for: A bucket list restaurant
A pioneering restaurant from renowned Chef Fergus Henderson, who sparked a resurgence in forgotten ingredients and meats like offal through his menus, and remains to this day one of the most influential restaurants in London. For a tour through London’s modern culinary history, there’s no place better.
They have four restaurants in their ranks – including Bread and Wine, Marleybone, and Fortnum and Mason – but the most famous is the original Smithfield venue.
where: 6 St John St, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY
website: www.stjohnrestaurants.com
Oma
Best for: Foodie parents
Oma is on the lips of every foodie right now, set inside the beloved Borough Market. It received its first Michelin star earlier this year but remains one of the most affordable in the city, and is one of the best new openings in years.
The menu and vibe are inspired by the Greek Isles, so expect fresh seafood, plus clay pot and grilled meats, all promising to deliver bold flavours. Standout dishes include sea bass crudo with jalapeño granita, lobster bisque börek and octopus skewers.
where: 2 – 4 Bedale Street5, se1 9al
website: www.oma.london
José
Best for: A crowd pleaser
The ultimate crowd-pleaser, of course, is Tapas. What is a better environment to hear about the neighbourhood council drama and your dad’s grand plan for the garden shed than over a mix of Spanish favourites and quality wine?
José in Bermondsey is a classic, serving a daily changing menu written on the blackboards along with 50 Spanish wines and sherries served by the glass. Think croquetas de jamón Iberico; pan con tomate – toasted bread with garlic, Catalan tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil; Pulpo a la plancha con crema de patata y pimentón – grilled octopus with creamy potato, egg white caviar and paprika; and chorizo al vino – slow cooked chorizo in red wine with quince.
where: 104 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UB
website: www.josepizarro.co.uk
The Lanesborough
Best for: Sunday roast
Home to executive chef Shay Cooper, The Lanesborough Grill is the perfect spot for Sunday lunching in London. Focusing on the best seasonal modern British dishes, expect their Sunday roast to be quite the theatrical performance – think centrepiece roasts that steal the show.
Expect their Sunday roast to be quite the theatrical performance
Opt for the roast sirloin of Hereford beef with horseradish and apple cream, Yorkshire pudding, and roast potatoes or the equally indulgent beef Wellington, prepared skilfully at the table – you won’t regret it.
where: Hyde Park Corner, London SW1X 7TA
website: www.oetkercollection.com
Brasserie Zedel
Best for: A pre-theatre fix
If your parents are in town, especially if it’s their first time visiting you, there’s a 90% chance you’ll be heading to the West End for a show. If so, you’re going to be in need of somewhere to eat before, and thankfully London has a host of pre-theatre deals ready for you to explore some of the best restaurants at a cut price.
Our pick is Brasserie Zedel, a grand and bustling Parisian brasserie – and one of the best deals in town. The Prix-Fixe menu is an ideal option for those after a quick pre- or post-theatre dinner. Priced at just £16.95 for two courses and £19.75 for three courses. Dishes include creamed French onion soup, chopped steak Americain, and a chocolate and caramel tart.
WHERE: 20 Sherwood St, London W1F 7ED
WEBSITE: brasseriezedel.com
Fortnum & Mason
Best for: Afternoon tea
Fortnum & Mason are renowned for their quintessential English afternoon tea, and where better to experience it than the grand surroundings of The Royal Exchange? In true tradition, guests can expect delicious savoury sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and afternoon tea cakes, accompanied by a pot of Fortnum’s famous teas – from Fresh Mint and Earl Grey Classic to a special Royal Exchange Blend. Add a flute of Fortnum’s Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru or Fortnum’s Brut Rosé and you’ve got yourself an iconic spread.
In true tradition, guests can expect delicious savoury sandwiches and freshly baked scones
Where: The Courtyard, The, Royal Exchange, London EC3V 3LR
Website: www.theroyalexchange.co.uk
The Devonshire
Best for: London’s hottest booking
Rarely has a place opened to such a fever pitch as The Devonshire did late last year. My parents, who couldn’t be further out of the loop of the London culinary scene, even suggested we go to The Devonshire when they next visit.
Focusing on British produce, the Ember Grill restaurant serves Scottish beef, dry-aged and butchered on-site, creel-caught langoustines from Oban and fresh day boat fish, lobster, and hand-dived scallops from Devon. There are also classic desserts, including sticky toffee and bread and butter puddings. And then there’s the Guinness, which is an absolute must.
where: 17 Denman St, London W1D 7HW
website: www.devonshiresoho.co.uk
Mimi Mei Fair
Best for: A stylish night out
Sometimes you just need somewhere fancy to go, and MiMi Mei Fair is as decadent as they come. From Samyukta Nair, the restauranteur behind Jamavar and Bombay Bustle, it is located in an unassuming Georgian townhouse, where the interiors have been transformed into the secret London residence of Empress MiMi, transporting guests to old-world China.
The menu leans on traditional techniques to create contemporary Chinese dishes, including plates from Canadian scallop dumplings with bamboo shoots, prawn and asparagus, to their Sichuan Suffolk corn-fed chicken and cashew nuts with dried chilli and spring onion.
Where: 55 Curzon St, London W1J 8PG
Website: www.mimimeifair.com
Dishoom
Best for: A London institution
Two things can be true about Dishoom. Yes, London is a city blessed by many great Indian restaurants, some of which might even be better than Dishoom (we’re particularly partial to Gymkhana and Sheba). But on the other hand, Dishoom is absolutely as good as the hype suggests and well worth the hour-long queue it usually takes to get inside, as well as being a true London institution.
Dishoom is absolutely as good as the hype suggests
From Ruby chicken and black dahl to their legendary breakfast, this homage to the Irani cafes of Bombay has never, ever, let anyone down.
where: Across London
website: www.dishoom.com
Caravel
Best for: A unique experience
One of London’s most unique dining settings is set on a barge. Originally converted to create extra dining space during Covid, it is now the permanent location of the restaurant from the Spiteri brothers. Moored along their pontoon, they have turned this Dutch barge into a 40-seater dining room with an open kitchen and bar. With a modern European and classic British menu, expect dishes like fresh pasta and hearty braises and an experience you won’t forget.
where: 172 Shepherdess Walk, N1 7JL
website: www.Thestudiokitchen.co.uk
