The restaurant scene in London is packed full of the best chefs producing excellent dishes of national and international cuisine. Every part of London has a culinary destination so this list is difficult to keep short. Here we list established best London Restaurants that have stood the test of time:
Barrafina
54 Frith Street, London W1D 4SL
Some of the Spanish tapas in London. It’s a small space, but worth the wait. The croquetas and tortilla are fabulous, but you must try at least a couple of their specials.
Dabbous
39 Whitfield Street, London W1T 2SF
Once having a reputation as one of London’s most difficult restaurants to get into, the waiting lists are not so long now. The evening tasting menu is changes with the seasons and is always good value though a few menu mainstays include coddled egg. There is also the basement bar which has its own menu and is worth a visit.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
Listed as one of the London restaurants on the World’s 50 Best list, Heston’s only London base remains extremely popular. The original dishes of Meat Fruit (chicken liver parfait shaped like a mandarin) and the Tipsy Cake are still on the menu and deserve to be your first order.
Fera at Claridge’s
49 Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR
Taking over from Gordon Ramsay, Simon Rogan has become a successful chef at one of London’s most prestigious hotels. A must eat menu item is L’Enclume.
Le Gavroche
43 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7QR
This is one of London’s classic restaurants, lead by Michel Roux Jr. The set lunch is often booked up well in advance, likely due to the value it offers, but it’s worth the wait for excellent food and service.
Gymkhana
42 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4JH
Gymkhana’s Karam Sethi opened his second restaurant Gymkhana in 2013 that won him well deserved multiple awards. Easily one of the best Indian restaurants (if not the best) in London today.
Honey & Co
25a Warren Street, London W1T 5LZ
This small restaurant has a deceptively simple Middle-Eastern menu and a reputation for being one of the friendliest restaurants in London, with a relaxed neighbourhood feel, as well as a leader in Levantine inspired food. Run by Itmar and Sarit Packer who remain at the forefront of the Levantine cooking trend.
Hunan
51 Pimlico Road, London SW1W 8NE
The no-nonsense approach of owner Mr Peng who decides what you’re going to eat and what you’re going to pay in this amazing little Taiwanese restaurant in London, is one that most want to keep a secret it’s so good and the amount of food on offers means you should arrive hungry.
The Ledbury
127 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AQ
One of the best London restaurants, included in the top 10 of the World’s 50 Best, this venue is fronted by Brett Graham who mixes high-end Michelin starred food with a relaxed service, while still keeping the locals happy too.
Marcus
The Berkeley, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RL
This two Michelin starred restaurant in Knightsbridge is the flagship home of Marcus Wareing in London. The menus are seasonal, Wareing is in the kitchen and the service is excellent.
Murano
20 Queen Street, London, W1J 5PR
With the look of an ultra wealthy diner, Angela Hartnett’s kitchen offers some amazing dishes for you to enjoy in the calm of the dining room. The perfect venue for wine buffs, as the list is exciting, and the sommelier is on hand to advise.
River Café
Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA
With gardens stretching down to the Thames, the River Café turns out beautiful Italian food with the best produce. Though the prices are steep, you get what you pay for.
Story
201 Tooley Street, London SE1 2UE
Behind Tower Bridge and in the shadow of The Shard, Tom Sellers’ literary-themed restaurant is a must-visit. Story got its first Michelin star mere months after opening and is working to collect a second. The set lunch is great value, but the legendary beef dripping candle is on the half or full tasting menu.