Seafood Towers Are Trending, Here Are The Best In London
Seafood towers are having a serious moment. Once reserved for grand celebrations and white-tablecloth dining rooms, towering platters of oysters, lobster, crab and shellfish are popping up all over London, just in time for summer. And really, is there a better season for them?
Whether you’re perched on a rooftop with a glass of champagne, tucked away on a riverside terrace or settling in for a long Sunday lunch, seafood towers feel made for warm-weather dining. Designed for sharing and best enjoyed over a leisurely (luxury) afternoon, they’re one of the most indulgent ways to celebrate the season. From classic shellfish platters to extravagant seafood feasts, these are the best seafood towers to order in London.
Sea Containers x Grey Goose Summer Terrace
If you’re looking for maximum impact, the Sea Containers Reserve Tower more than delivers. Served on the Grey Goose Summer Terrace overlooking the Thames, it’s a lavish spread designed for sharing, featuring native lobster with Dijonnaise and lemon, loaded Devon crab, oysters with Grey Goose Le Citron mignonette, palourde clams, Porthilly mussels escabeche, whipped cod’s roe, sea bass ceviche, Grey Goose-cured salmon and a classic jumbo shrimp cocktail. For those feeling particularly indulgent, Exmoor Cornish caviar can be added to complete one of London’s most impressive seafood experiences.
Where: 20 Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PD
Website: www.seacontainerslondon.com
Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill
Bentley’s has long been one of London’s great seafood institutions, and the Royal Shellfish Platter is a fitting showcase of why. Arriving generously layered over ice, it features oysters, lobster, Richard Corrigan’s signature dressed crab, prawns, whelks and mussels, celebrating the very best seafood from around the British Isles. Pair it with a bottle recommended by the restaurant’s expert sommeliers and settle in for a long lunch.
Where: 11-15 Swallow St, Piccadilly, London W1B 4DG
Website: www.bentleys.org
The dressed crab at Bentley’s alone is one of London’s most standout dishes. Coupled with the famous oysters? This platter is a force to be reckoned with.
Mallory, Junior Food & Drink Editor
The Ned
Sunday lunch gets a seafood upgrade at Ned’s Feast. Served every Sunday across Millie’s Lounge and The Nickel Bar, the experience combines limitless lobster and oysters with traditional roasts, seasonal salads, desserts and all the trimmings. Whether you’re there for the shellfish or simply can’t resist an all-you-can-eat feast, it’s one of London’s most indulgent ways to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Where: 27 Poultry, London EC2R 8AJ
Website: www.thened.com
The Sheed
Notting Hill’s answer to a lazy summer lunch. The Shed does farm-to-fork brilliantly, and their new seafood platter is no exception: oysters, langoustine, crab, mussels and octopus, striking and satisfying in the middle of the bustling city. The scallop ceviche is the standout, fresh and bright, sitting wonderfully alongside the accompanying bottle of Nutbourne Pinot Gris – just £79 all in. The ideal place to put your phone on silent, join a good friend and gossip away an afternoon.
Where: 122 Palace Gardens Terrace
Website: www.theshed-restaurant.com
L’oscar London
L’oscar’s dramatic Crudo Platter is as theatrical as it is delicious. Fresh salmon and tuna sashimi, three tartares and oysters are presented over dry ice, sending clouds cascading across the table before revealing the seafood beneath. It’s designed for sharing and makes just as much of an impression visually as it does on the palate.
Where: 2-6 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AA
Website: www.loscarlondon.com
Blue Boar Pub
At Blue Boar, seafood takes on a more relaxed, pub-inspired form. The new Seafood & Spritz menu celebrates British coastal flavours through generous sharing plates, from Sussex cider mussels to haddock and sweetcorn fritters, alongside chilled or grilled seafood platters tailored to your preference. Pair everything with one of the seasonal spritzes for an easy-going summer feast just moments from St James’s Park.
Where: 45 Tothill St, London SW1H 9LQ
Website: www.blueboarlondon.com
Le Pont de la Tour
With Tower Bridge providing the backdrop, Le Pont de la Tour is perfectly placed for a leisurely seafood lunch. The menu champions generous seafood towers stacked with fresh shellfish, alongside oysters, salmon and classic French seafood dishes served either in the elegant dining room or out on the riverside terrace. Few places combine seafood and scenery quite so effortlessly.
Where: 36D Shad Thames, London SE1 2YE
Website: www.lepontdelatour.co.uk
Coq d’Argent
Perched high above the City, Coq d’Argent brings seafood to the rooftop. From abundant seafood buffet stations to elegant sharing platters, the menu spans oysters, ceviche, tartares, salmon, snails and seasonal shellfish, all designed for long lunches, celebratory dinners and Champagne-fuelled afternoons overlooking London’s skyline.
Where: 1 Poultry, London EC2R 8EJ
Website: www.coqdargent.co.uk
Wright Brothers
For a more relaxed take on the seafood tower, Wright Brothers has long been one of London’s go-to destinations for oysters and sustainably sourced shellfish. Its sharing platters showcase the best of the day’s catch, from oysters and crab to lobster, prawns and mussels, all served simply to let the quality of the seafood shine. Whether you’re visiting Borough Market, South Kensington or Battersea, it’s a dependable choice for a seafood feast.
Where: multiple locations
Website: www.thewrightbrothers.co.uk
Seabird
Perched on the 14th floor of The Hoxton, Southwark, Seabird is home to one of London’s most impressive oyster lists, making it a natural destination for seafood lovers. Alongside panoramic city views, the menu features towering shellfish platters piled with oysters, lobster, crab, prawns and other seasonal seafood, all designed for sharing. Add a chilled glass of Champagne or a martini, and you’ve got one of the capital’s great seafood experiences.
Where: 14th Floor, South Bank, 40 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 8NY
Website: www.seabirdlondon.com
Sale e Pepe Mare
Bringing a taste of the Italian Riviera to The Langham, Sale e Pepe Mare is one of London’s newest seafood destinations. Towering shellfish platters piled with oysters and langoustines sit alongside crudo, whole grilled fish and coastal Italian classics, all served with plenty of tableside theatre. If your idea of summer involves seafood and a crisp glass of white wine, this belongs firmly on your list.
Where: 1C Portland Pl, London W1B 1JA
Website: www.saleepepe.co.uk
Perhaps one of the most stunning dining rooms in the city, Sale E Pepe Mare pairs classic Italian dishes with a sophisticated dining experience that I am still dreaming about. From Seabass Crudo to Bluefin Tuna on Toast its seafood menu is a must-try.
Amelia, Culture & Lifestyle Writer/Creator
Lilibet’s
One of London’s newest seafood destinations also happens to serve one of its most beautiful platters. Lilibet’s signature seafood platter arrives on a custom-designed gold dish piled high with langoustines, lobster, Atlantic prawns, oysters and fresh tuna, all served over ice with classic accompaniments. Elegant, theatrical and unmistakably Mayfair, it’s made for lingering lunches and celebratory dinners.
Where: no. 17 bruton street, w1j 6qb
Website: www.lilibetsrestaurant.com
