London Restaurants

British food hasn't always had the best reputation, but nowhere in the country is that reputation being completely upturned more than in London. The city has zoomed up the global gastro charts, and can now seriously compete with the world’s top culinary heavyweights. The truth is that no other city—barring New York—has the immense range of global cuisines that London has to offer. Standards have rocketed at all price points, and every year it seems like the London restaurant scene is better than ever.

Feel like eating the most-tender Kagoshima Wagyu beef on planet Earth? It can be yours for £150 at CUT at 45 Park Lane. Want to try old English gastronomy from the time of Henry VIII with an ultramodern twist? Ashley Palmer-Watts is your man at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. Do you only eat Sri Lankan hoppers? No worries, we’ve got just the thing: Hoppers in Soho will give you a taste of the Sri Lankan pancake, for £4.50 a pop. Can’t stand any more snobby culinary nonsense? The low-key British wild game is so good at The Harwood Arms in Fulham that they’ve earned London’s first gastro-pub-based Michelin star.

To appreciate how far London has risen in the food game, just look back to the days of Somerset Maugham, who was once justified in warning, "To eat well in England you should have breakfast three times a day." Change was slow after World War II, when it was understood that the British ate to live, while the French lived to eat. When people thought of British cuisine, fish-and-chips—a greasy grab-and-gulp dish that tasted best wrapped in yesterday's newspaper—first came to mind. Then there was always shepherd's pie, ubiquitously found in smoke-filled pubs, though not made, according to Sweeney Todd, "with real shepherd in it."

These days, standards are miles higher and shepherd’s pie has been largely replaced by the city's unofficial dish, Indian curry. London’s restaurant revolution is built on its extraordinary ethnic diversity, and you’ll find the quality of other global cuisines has grown immeasurably in recent years, with London becoming known for its Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Thai, Spanish, Italian, French, Peruvian, and west African restaurants. Thankfully, pride in the best of British food—local, seasonal, wild, and foraged—is enjoying quite the renaissance, too.

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  • 1. Core by Clare Smyth

    $$$$ | Notting Hill | Coffee

    Currently the only British female chef with three Michelin stars, Clare Smyth fuses her classical French culinary training with a devotion to quality British produce. Must-try plates include her to-die-for signature dish of a baked potato delicately filled with dulse beurre blanc, herring, and trout roe. Watch the kitchen at work through a floor-to-ceiling glass partition as they conjure up their magic.

    92 Kensington Park Rd., London, Greater London, W11 2PN, England
    020-3937–5086

    Known For

    • Brilliant vegetable and fish dishes elevated to the highest levels
    • Relaxed, smart, casual dining experience
    • Three-course à la carte or seven-course tasting menus

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 2. Six Portland Road

    $$$ | Notting Hill

    The ultimate neighborhood restaurant in west London's wealthy Holland Park section draws diners with its brilliant-but-understated French and Mediterranean classics, relaxed service, and interesting, mainly French wines. Treat yourself to bouillabaisse Provençale or ox cheek bourguignon with button mushrooms and pearl onions. With only 36 seats and a teeny bar, this is an intimate affair, which is highlighted by the white paper tablecloths and bentwood chairs. Service is friendly but not overly familiar, while wines are grower, boutique, or biodynamic. Traditional roasts served on Sundays.

    6 Portland Rd., London, Greater London, W11 4LA, England
    020-7229–3130

    Known For

    • Good value three-course set menu running Monday to Saturday
    • Unpretentious but pitch-perfect service
    • Winning boutique wine list
  • 3. The Ledbury

    $$$$ | Notting Hill | Coffee

    Acclaimed Aussie chef Brett Graham and his team are known for modern European cuisine at its finest, and the sheer inventiveness and quality of the food on offer make for a very special night out. This relaxed, intimate restaurant now serves a range of six- and eight-course tasting menus with seasonal produce very much dictating what ends up on the menu, although classic Graham game staples, such as Berkshire muntjac, often make an appearance. Advance booking is essential.

    127 Ledbury Rd., London, Greater London, W11 2AQ, England
    0207-7792–9090

    Known For

    • Creative vegetable dishes like white asparagus soup with lemon, grapes, and ricotta
    • Charcuterie that comes from Graham's very own pig farm
    • Signature brown sugar tart with stem ginger ice cream for dessert

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
  • 4. Lowry & Baker

    $ | Notting Hill | Coffee

    Located on the northern stretch of Portobello Road, this quintessential neighborhood café specializes in delicious coffee, cakes, breakfast, and brunch, all served up on classic English crockery. Grab one of the window seats and watch Notting Hill wander by.

    339 Portobello Rd., London, Greater London, W10 5SA, England
    020-8960–8534

    Known For

    • Chill, welcoming vibe
    • Great vegan and gluten-free options
    • Build-your-own breakfasts and brunches

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
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