17 Best Restaurants in London You Need to Try
Eating out in London can sometimes feel like a gamble, but it doesn’t have to be. The city’s dining options stretch far beyond the usual chains and tourist traps.
If you’re ready to try something new, these 17 best places to eat in London are exactly where you need to be.
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1. Evelyn’s Table
Hidden in the old beer cellar of an 18th-century pub, Evelyn’s Table serves up modern European fine dining in an intimate space.
The menu shifts with the seasons, spotlighting creative European dishes and lesser-known wines that’ll surprise you. Dinner is a five-course tasting menu, while Friday and Saturday lunch is a four-course affair.
You’ll need to pre-pay and snag a reservation well in advance, so don’t sleep on it if you’re keen on eating here.
Location: 28 Rupert St, London W1D 6DJ, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
2. Padella
Padella is a bit of a legend on the London pasta scene, and those ever-present lines outside say it all. The vibe is modern Italian, with hand-rolled pasta made fresh every day and a menu that keeps things simple and spot-on.
You’ll see classics like pici cacio e pepe and beef shin ragu; comfort food that would make any nonna proud. Generous portions, honest prices, and ingredients that taste like someone really cares. Quick lunch or long dinner, it’s hard to go wrong here.
Location: Borough Market, Padella, 6 Southwark St, London SE1 1TQ, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
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3. Bouchon Racine
Above the Three Compasses pub on Cowcross Street, Bouchon Racine is where French food gets real. Chef Henry Harris channels the spirit of Lyon’s bouchons and Parisian bistros, serving up classic French dishes the old-school way.
It’s all honest French food, focused on skill and tradition, not flashy plating. The wine list is French and proud of it, matching whatever’s on the menu that day.
It’s a small, family-run scene, so expect a personal touch. Reservations open 30 days out, and tables cap at six, so call early.
Location: Upstairs, 66 Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BP
Website: Visit Website
4. Circolo Popolare
Circolo Popolare brings a bit of Italian theater to the West End, with 20,000 bottles dangling from the ceiling and a menu that’s pure comfort.
Part of the Big Mamma Group, this trattoria is famous for Neapolitan pizzas, crispy arancini, and deep-fried Puglian burrata that disappears fast.
Walk-ins are welcome but it gets packed, so booking ahead is smart; reservations open a month in advance for groups up to eight.
Location: 40-41 Rathbone Pl, London W1T 1HX
Website: Visit Website
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5. Mount St. Restaurant
Mount St. Restaurant sits above the bustle of Mayfair, inside The Audley, a historic spot that’s been given a seriously chic upgrade.
The dining room is an art gallery, with works from Warhol, Matisse, and Freud, plus a mosaic floor by Rashid Johnson that you’ll want to photograph.
The kitchen puts a modern twist on British classics, and Executive Chef Jamie Shears sources ingredients straight from UK farms, including their own in Somerset. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there’s always something interesting on offer.
Location: First Floor, 41-43 Mount St, London W1K 2RX
Website: Visit Website
6. Blacklock Soho
Down in a Soho basement, Blacklock is a meat-lover’s dream. Chops are grilled over charcoal and served on big platters, family-style. It’s straightforward: order by the cut or go “All In” and try everything. The meat is British, and the prices are surprisingly fair for central London.
The space has a bit of a storied past; it used to be a lap dancing club, and before that, a 1950s brothel. Now, it’s all low ceilings, dark corners, and a cozy, slightly cheeky vibe. Cocktail trolleys snake between tables, and the energy’s always high.
Location: 24 Great Windmill St, London W1D 7LG
Website: Visit Website
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7. Riviera
Riviera feels like a quick trip to the South of France, right in the middle of St James’s. It’s Mediterranean flavors with a creative edge; the kitchen riffs on Côte d’Azur traditions but isn’t afraid to play around.
The dining room is lively and a bit artsy, with wines chosen to match the food and cocktails that are more thoughtful than flashy.
Sometimes there’s live art, which adds a little extra something to the experience. It’s elegant but not uptight—just a nice spot to relax into the evening.
Location: 23 St James’s St, London SW1A 1HA, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
8. Sabor
Sabor whisks you straight into Spain’s many culinary corners, all without leaving central London. Michelin gave it a star in 2018, the very year it opened its doors.
The menu roams all over the country—Andalucían tapas, Castilian asadores, Galician seafood—so you’re never stuck with just one region.
The place sprawls across two floors with four distinct dining spaces; ground level has La Mesa, the Counter, and the Bar, while El Asador is tucked upstairs. There’s an outdoor terrace for those rare sunny London days when you want to eat al fresco on Heddon Street.
Location: 35-37 Heddon St, London W1B 4BR, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
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9. Fallow
Fallow shakes up St James’s with modern British cooking, zero-waste ambition, and a playful attitude toward ingredients. Michelin’s noticed the kitchen’s knack for balancing flavor and sustainability—no small feat in a city packed with competition.
Plates here are creative and built around carefully sourced British produce. The kitchen’s on a mission to reduce waste, turning things like Cod’s Head with Sriracha Butter Sauce into signature dishes. It’s a little indulgent, a little responsible, and a lot of fun.
Location: 52 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RP, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
10. Tattu London
Living inside The Now Building, Tattu London has made its mark with contemporary Cantonese food served high above the city in Central London’s Outernet.
The menu offers sophisticated contemporary Chinese dishes, with new-school spins and a little drama on the plate. The Phoenix Bar gives you a place to linger over cocktails and stretch out the evening.
They’ve even teamed up with The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical at the Dominion Theatre for pre-show dining deals.
Location: The Now Building Rooftop, Outernet, Denmark St, London WC2H 0LA
Website: Visit Website
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11. The Clove Club
The Clove Club is tucked inside Shoreditch Town Hall and has carved out a spot among London’s fine dining heavyweights. The kitchen puts a creative spin on British ingredients, often taking the overlooked and turning it into something unexpectedly elegant.
The Modern European menu shifts with the seasons and whatever’s freshest from local suppliers. Chefs here seem fearless about pushing boundaries, but there’s still a deep respect for classic flavors.
Location: Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, London EC1V 9LT, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
12. Scully
Ramael Scully’s spot is a wild blend of his Malaysian-Chinese-Indian-Irish roots, with flavors bouncing from Australia to Asia to Europe.
Tucked inside St James’s Market, the wood-paneled room feels cozy but sharp. Scully’s time at Ottolenghi’s NOPI shines through in the way he mashes up bold flavors and unexpected combinations.
The menu shifts with the seasons; you can pick from tasting menus or prix fixe. Vegetarian and vegan options aren’t an afterthought—there’s real care in how they’re crafted, and many can be tweaked for different diets.
Location: 4 St James’s Market, London SW1Y 4AH, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
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13. Ekstedt At The Yard
Chef Niklas Ekstedt brought his Stockholm fire-cooking magic to Westminster, and London’s all the better for it. This is Scandinavian food with everything cooked over open flames: wood-fired ovens, fire pits, and plenty of smoke.
The menu offers seasonal British ingredients, but the vibe is pure Nordic tradition. Dishes taste like they could’ve been made centuries ago, but there’s always a modern edge.
If you’re after a front-row seat, there’s a Chef’s Table for seven. Special wine dinners and collaborative events pop up throughout the year, and since the menu depends on the season, every visit brings something new.
Location: 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2HN, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
14. OXO Restaurant
Way up on the eighth floor of the iconic OXO Tower, you get Thames views that make you want to linger. St Paul’s Cathedral sits just across the river, and it’s hard not to stare.
The space is split into three: the Restaurant side is all about fine British ingredients and offers a six-course tasting menu; the Brasserie keeps things casual with sharing platters, Sunday roasts, and comfort food; and the Bar is where the cocktails have kept people coming back for over two decades.
Pop in for anything from a quick coffee to a full afternoon tea. The menu is a mash-up of British classics and global flavors, so you can go light or go all out. The terrace is a bonus when the weather’s actually decent.
Location: Barge House St, London SE1 9PH, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
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15. Bob Bob Ricard Soho
Bob Bob Ricard Soho fuses British and French classics inside one of London’s flashiest dining rooms. Designed by David Collins, it channels the Orient Express with art deco details and plush booths at every table. The “Press for Champagne” button is real, and it’s as fun as it sounds.
The menu is upscale comfort food, with Beef Wellington, Chicken Kyiv, and caviar, plus the newer Diner Deluxe concept, so you can have Eggs Royale with a martini at breakfast or lobster mayo whenever you feel like it.
The wine list is refreshingly fair, with bottles and champagnes priced with mark-ups that are lower than most London fine-dining spots. There’s an elegant dress code, but don’t worry, ties aren’t a must. Just a heads up: guests need to be 15 or older.
Location: 1 Upper James St, London W1F 9DF, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
16. Luca
Luca serves up elevated Italian cooking in Clerkenwell, tucked inside a brick-lined space that feels both vintage and a bit unexpected.
The kitchen gets playful with Italian classics, pushing beyond pasta and pizza, using seasonal ingredients and dishes where you can actually taste what’s in season.
The old-school brickwork adds charm without being fussy, and if you’re lucky enough to grab a terrace spot, that fireplace really seals the deal.
Booking online is straightforward for groups up to six. There’s also a Bar Express menu at lunch for smaller parties, but only in the bar area.
Location: 88 St John St, London EC1M 4EH, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
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17. Bao Soho
BAO Soho drops a bold slice of Taiwanese street food right into the buzz of London’s Carnaby district. Tucked inside a cozy, wood-paneled space, it’s all pillowy steamed milk buns and playful Taiwanese small plates.
The menu here isn’t a copy-paste job from their other spots. You’ll spot things like 40-day aged beef rump with 33-month aged white soy, straight from Taiwan.
Or maybe you’re feeling adventurous? Pig blood cake with soy-cured egg yolk has a loyal following. The trotter nuggets—pork trotters, panko-crusted, and dunked in smoky green chilli sauce—are the kind of thing you remember weeks later.
Location: 53 Lexington St, Carnaby, London W1F 9AS, United Kingdom
Website: Visit Website
