The Best Restaurants in London
London is a city where knowing where to eat can be just as important as knowing what to order. A great restaurant in Soho can feel worlds away from one in Hampstead, while the City, Chelsea, Shoreditch and Brixton each have their own rhythm, crowd and approach to dining.
From long-established restaurants that have become part of London's fabric to newer openings giving neighbourhoods a fresh reason to visit, the capital's restaurant scene is constantly shifting. And while there are plenty of lists claiming to name the best restaurant in London, we prefer to think about it slightly differently: where is actually worth going for dinner, and what makes it worth the journey?
Our guide brings together some of the restaurants we think are worth knowing across Soho & Fitzrovia, Mayfair, Kensington & Chelsea, Marylebone, East London, the City of London, Hampstead, London Bridge, Knightsbridge, Brixton and Shoreditch. Some are destinations in their own right; others are the sort of places you might return to simply because the food, atmosphere or neighbourhood makes the evening work.
If you're exploring the capital beyond the restaurant table, our guide to Mayfair, and our Chelsea guide and other London neighbourhood guides are a good place to continue. We've also put together our guide to the best art galleries in London for those looking to combine lunch or dinner with a little culture.
So whether you're looking for a Japanese steakhouse in Soho, Turkish cooking in the City, Italian food in east London or somewhere special for dinner in Chelsea, these are some of the best restaurants in London to have on your radar.
Soho
Sucre
Sucre brings Argentine fire cooking to Soho, with a menu built around open-fire meats, seafood and bold Latin American flavours. Set in a striking former banking hall, it combines a lively atmosphere with cooking that makes it a strong choice for a longer dinner or night out.
Kanpai Classic
Kanpai Classic is Soho’s destination for Japanese Wagyu, with premium cuts cooked over charcoal at the table. Reviews regularly praise the quality of the beef and knowledgeable service, making it a particularly good choice for anyone looking to turn dinner into an experience. We visited Kanpai Classic ourselves, read our full review of the Soho restaurant.
Quo Vadis
A Soho institution, Quo Vadis has been serving the neighbourhood from Dean Street for decades, with chef Jeremy Lee's cooking centred on seasonal British ingredients and beautifully executed classics. It is the kind of restaurant that feels distinctly London, combining serious food with a relaxed, old-school atmosphere.
Koya
Koya keeps things simple, specialising in handmade Japanese udon served in broths, with dipping sauces or alongside seasonal toppings. Its informal counter setting and consistently praised noodles have made it one of Soho's most reliable spots for an unfussy lunch or dinner.
Grasso
Grasso takes inspiration from Italian-American restaurants, serving generous plates of pasta, pizza and red-sauce classics in a lively Soho setting. Reviews particularly praise its fun atmosphere and indulgent cooking, making it a good option when the priority is a relaxed meal with plenty to share.
Impala
From the team behind restaurants including Kiln and Brat, Impala takes a more eclectic approach, drawing on Egyptian, North African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. Its bold, highly seasoned dishes and distinctive atmosphere have made it one of Soho's more interesting newer openings.
Mayfair
74 Duke
74 Duke brings a modern European approach to Mayfair, with a menu that focuses on seasonal ingredients and refined, contemporary cooking. Its elegant setting and polished service make it particularly suited to a leisurely lunch, dinner or special occasion in the neighbourhood.
The Cocochine
The Cocochine is an intimate Mayfair restaurant combining contemporary European cooking with an Asian influence, particularly across its seafood and vegetable dishes. Reviews tend to highlight the quality of the ingredients, thoughtful presentation and attentive service, making it a more understated option for an occasion meal.
Dovetale
Dovetale, at The Maybourne Mayfair, is the London restaurant from chef Tom Sellers, known for his ingredient-led approach and modern British cooking. The menu focuses on seasonal produce and carefully considered dishes, while the sophisticated dining room makes it a natural choice for a more formal Mayfair dinner.
Kensington & Chelsea
Azzurra
Azzurra brings a distinctly Italian approach to Chelsea, with seafood at the heart of its menu and a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. The polished yet relaxed setting makes it a good choice for a long lunch or dinner, while reviews frequently praise the quality of the cooking and attentive service.
Daphne’s
A Chelsea classic, Daphne’s has been a local favourite for decades, serving Italian cooking in one of the neighbourhood’s most characterful dining rooms. Its menu leans towards traditional dishes, with fresh pasta, seafood and seasonal ingredients, while the terrace is particularly appealing when the weather is on your side.
Bottarga
Bottarga offers contemporary Mediterranean cooking in the heart of Chelsea, with seafood, pasta and seasonal produce featuring prominently on the menu. It has developed a following for its stylish setting and carefully executed dishes, making it a smart option when you want something polished without the formality of a fine-dining restaurant.
Marylebone
OPSO
OPSO brings contemporary Greek cooking to Marylebone, combining traditional flavours with a more modern, refined approach. The menu is designed for sharing, with dishes spanning seafood, grilled meats, vegetables and Greek-inspired small plates, while reviews regularly praise both the food and lively atmosphere.
Orrery by Pierre Minotti
Orrery by Pierre Minotti is a refined French restaurant overlooking Marylebone High Street, offering contemporary French cooking in an elegant setting. The menu focuses on seasonal ingredients and classic techniques, with reviews highlighting the polished service, sophisticated atmosphere and carefully executed dishes.
KOL
KOL brings Mexican cooking to Marylebone through a distinctly British lens, led by chef Santiago Lastra. The tasting menu combines Mexican flavours and techniques with British ingredients, and its Michelin-starred reputation reflects the precision and creativity of the cooking, making it one of the area's more ambitious dining experiences.
City of London
Leydi
Leydi brings modern Turkish and Anatolian cooking to the City, with a menu built around vibrant flavours, grilled meats, seafood and sharing plates. Set inside the new Canopy by Hilton London City, it has quickly become a destination beyond the traditional City lunch crowd. Read our full review of Leydi here.
Duck & Waffle
Open around the clock, Duck & Waffle is known for its playful take on British and European comfort food, with its signature duck and waffle combination at the centre of the menu. The 40th-floor setting overlooking London is a major part of the appeal, particularly for late-night meals or breakfast with a view.
Hawksmoor Guildhall
Hawksmoor Guildhall brings the group's well-established approach to steak and British cooking to the City, with dry-aged beef, seafood and classic sides at the centre of the menu. Housed in a former banking hall, it combines a grand setting with the relaxed, convivial atmosphere that has become synonymous with Hawksmoor.
Blacklock City
Blacklock City is the City outpost of the much-loved chop house, serving expertly cooked chops, steaks and Sunday roasts in a relaxed, distinctly British setting. Its focus is on good meat, generous portions and a lively atmosphere rather than fine-dining formality.
Restaurant St Barts
Restaurant St Barts offers a modern British tasting-menu experience in Smithfield, with the kitchen placing a strong emphasis on British produce and seasonality. The intimate restaurant has earned attention for its creative approach to familiar ingredients and highly polished cooking.
Brigadiers
Brigadiers takes inspiration from the Indian army mess and brings together Indian cooking, barbecue and a lively drinking culture in the City. Expect richly spiced dishes designed for sharing, alongside an extensive drinks list and a setting that feels more like a social club than a traditional Indian restaurant.
London Bridge
Pyro
Pyro brings open-fire cooking to Borough, with a menu centred around charcoal, grilled meats and seasonal ingredients. The restaurant has a lively, contemporary feel, while reviews praise its bold flavours and generous approach to cooking, making it a good choice for a relaxed dinner around Borough Market.
Trivet
Trivet is a modern European restaurant from chef Jonny Lake and sommelier Isa Bal, combining precise cooking with a particularly thoughtful wine programme. The menu draws on flavours and memories from across Europe, while its Michelin-starred kitchen makes it one of the more considered dining experiences around London Bridge.
Brother Marcus
Brother Marcus is known for its modern Mediterranean cooking, with dishes designed for sharing and a menu that moves between grilled meats, seafood, vegetables and dips. Its relaxed atmosphere and accessible style make it particularly suited to group dinners and long lunches around Borough.
Knightsbridge
Vatavaran
Vatavaran brings contemporary Indian cooking to Knightsbridge, with a menu that draws on India's regional cuisines and combines traditional techniques with a more modern presentation. Its elegant dining room and tasting-menu approach make it particularly suited to a special occasion.
CLAP
CLAP is a Japanese restaurant and late-night dining destination in Knightsbridge, combining sushi, robata cooking and a lively atmosphere. The extensive menu makes it well suited to groups, while the stylish setting and entertainment give it more of a night-out feel than a conventional Japanese restaurant.
Osteria Romana
Osteria Romana focuses on the cooking of Rome, serving traditional dishes such as cacio e pepe, carbonara and amatriciana alongside other regional Italian classics. Its straightforward approach and emphasis on authentic Roman flavours make it a good choice for comforting, unfussy Italian cooking in Knightsbridge.
Shoreditch
Counter 71
Counter 71 is an intimate tasting-menu restaurant in Shoreditch, where the open kitchen puts the focus firmly on the food and the interaction between chefs and diners. The menu changes with the seasons, with reviews praising its inventive cooking, quality ingredients and relaxed approach to fine dining.
Bar Valette
Bar Valette combines modern European cooking with a relaxed wine-bar atmosphere, making it an easy fit for Shoreditch's informal dining scene. The menu changes regularly with the seasons, while its natural-leaning wine list and intimate setting make it particularly good for a casual dinner or drinks with food.
Singburi
Singburi has long been regarded as one of east London's standout Thai restaurants, known for its intensely flavoured, traditional cooking and constantly changing specials. The small, unpretentious setting is part of the appeal, with the restaurant's reputation built largely through word of mouth and consistently praised food.