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$$ | Covent Garden |
Seemingly everyone involved in the West End theater world hangs out at this legendary subterranean spot for its ever-enchanting blend of New York comfort food, nightly jazz piano, and wall-to-wall signed theaterland memorabilia. Established in 1977, enduring classics include Joe's slow-braised smoked baby back ribs, New York strip steak, a not-so-secret off-menu hamburger, and a classic PB&J ice cream sandwich.
2 Burleigh St., London, Greater London, WC2E 7PX, England
Known For
- West End theaterland luminaries like Dame Judy Dench and Sir Ian McKellen
- Speakeasy cocktail bar vibe
- Nightly resident jazz pianists
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, No lunch Mon.
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$ | Soho |
Earthy northern Thai cuisine bursts out of the charcoal-fired kiln and hot clay pots at this barbecue-focused wonderland in Soho. Take in the fascinating tiny open kitchen and you'll see sizzling cumin-dusted hogget lamb skewers and chargrilled chicken thigh bites, along with other local Thai village-style dishes that show influences from Laos, Myanmar, and the Yunnan province of China. Pick up hints of Thai parsley and Burmese wild ginger in a slew of authentic dishes such as lime-bathed langoustines or claypot-baked glass noodles with Tamworth pork belly and brown crab meat.
58 Brewer St., London, Greater London, W1F 9TL, England
Known For
- Open-kitchen setup with charcoal grill and hot clay pots
- Plethora of Cornish-grown Thai, Burmese, and other Asian herbs and spices
- Heavenly cumin-dusted aged hogget lamb skewers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Covent Garden |
There's a decadent Roaring Twenties vibe here at celeb magnet Louie, set in a glamorous town house that hides a warren of beautifully stylish dining rooms, cocktail lounges, and conservatory terraces. Exceptional Mississippi-inspired Creole delights include seafood gumbo, turbot with beurre blanc, and barbecued New Orleans lobster with Creole-spiced butter, but it's the slick cocktails and hedonistic vibes that make Louie such a blast.
13–15 West St., London, Greater London, WC2H 9HE, England
Known For
- Louisiana and Deep South–inspired Creole dishes
- Very hip atmosphere
- Impossibly cool music and live jazz sets on Tuesdays
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Clerkenwell |
This winning mix of modern Italian classics is made from the very best in British seasonal produce. Add to that the super-chic setting—from the art deco--esque dining salon to the marble-top bar and the stunning glass-walled conservatory—and this popular Clerkenwell haunt is very much a case of both style and substance. Dishes include cappelletti of potato and sage with seasonal mushrooms and cannon of Hebridean lamb with tema artichokes and bagna cauda.
88 St. John St., London, Greater London, EC1M 4EH, England
Known For
- Edgy Italian pastas
- Cool and glamorously designed brasserie
- To-die-for fluffy Parmesan fries
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | East End |
Globally acclaimed Brit chef and co-owner James Lowe forsakes heavy sauces and sorcery at this stripped-back, informal British dining mecca in Shoreditch. Stark but highly inventive locally sourced dishes may include house-cured cod with radiant nasturtium flowers or 24-hour Cornish Helford Estuary monkfish with wood sorrel and pick-your-own East Sussex greengages. A firm slice of treacle tart comes with a blob of raw double cream. All the sourdough bread, butter, charcuterie, pickles, and preserves are made in-house. Look for the Neal's Yard cheese plates (try Tymsboro and Stichleton). Dinner is served as a six-course set menu, while lunch is an à la carte small plates affair.
56 Shoreditch High St., London, Greater London, E1 6JJ, England
Known For
- Highly modern and airy dining space
- Serious new-wave British neo-bistronomy
- Excellent cheese plates and wines by the glass
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. bank holidays, Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | Soho |
It's all beach coastal cool at this sleek Aussie stunner, tucked away in a modern courtyard enclave off Greek Street. The seafood- and vegetable-forward menu is inspired by the Sydney food scene and has wide-ranging hints of the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia, like a fine raw kingfish crudo bathed in macadamia milk or a crunchy gluten-free grilled aubergine karaage. At night, the lighting's low, the tunes are upbeat, and the fun and friendly service is relaxed but on point.
Manette St., London, Greater London, W1D 4AL, England
Known For
- Raw bar starters like Jersey rock oyster chased down with sake
- Chill, low-key vibes
- Beach-style eating in the outdoor courtyard
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Chelsea |
Here chef Anna Haugh showcases the produce and food of her native Ireland while elevating its traditional cuisine to the level of fine dining. The small selection of dishes includes black pudding rolls wrapped in crispy potato strings with Irish black butter pearls and pearl barley, pecan, and Bramley apple puree; pan-fried duck breast served with mushroom puree and a duck fat potato waffle; and Irish Carlingford oysters. Service is attentive and it is clear the staff really cares about the food.
1a Langton St., London, Greater London, SW10 OJL, England
Known For
- Dishes higher on quality than quantity
- Relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere
- Carefully sourced ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$$ | Bloomsbury |
There's an old Amsterdam coffeehouse vibe at this dark and creaky wine bar and restaurant on historic Lamb's Conduit Street in Bloomsbury. Run by two wine buffs and cult wine magazine publishers, you'll find deceptively simple ingredient-driven British dishes like roast Yorkshire pheasant with bread sauce and quince. There's an ever-changing French and British cheese plate menu, fantastic focaccia, sourdough, and soda bread, and an ambrosial wine list.
51 Lamb's Conduit St., London, Greater London, WC1N 3NB, England
Known For
- Paradise for oenophiles
- Unpretentious seasonal British and French wine-friendly fare
- Excellent value two- and three-course set lunch menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$$$ | Soho |
Fans of top French food and fine wine flock to this gorgeous wood-paneled Georgian town house for masterful dishes like roast chicken with morel mushrooms and creamy vin jaune sauce alongside a marvelous 28-page French-focused wine list. Dark oak floors, soft brass lights, and cut-crystal glass decanters help guests bliss out on one of London's finest and surprisingly most accessible wine lists, with numerous rare gems available by the glass.
2 Greek St., London, Greater London, W1D 4NB, England
Known For
- Incredible French-heavy wine list
- Highly convivial and boisterous atmosphere
- Bargain £18 two-course set lunches
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Covent Garden |
One of London's most spectacular dining rooms is set in a soaring glass-ceilinged conservatory at the chic NoMad London hotel, located opposite Covent Garden's famed Royal Opera House. Don't miss the signature Creedy Carver roast chicken with foie gras and black truffle or the leisurely weekend brunch where you can enjoy eggs Benedict or chili avocado toast.
28 Bow St., London, Greater London, WC2E 7AW, England
Known For
- Historic former Bow Street Magistrates' Court building from 1740
- Glamorous atmosphere
- Exclusive nightlife scene with great cocktails in the Side Hustle bar
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$ | Westminster |
Located next door to the London Coliseum (home of English National Opera), this hip café serves some of the best sandwiches, salads, and coffee in the neighborhood. In the evening (it’s open until 9 pm, Tuesday through Saturday), there’s more of a wine-bar vibe.
31 St. Martin's La., London, Greater London, WC2N 4ER, England
Known For
- Friendly staff that doesn't rush you
- Industrial chic decor
- Good-quality wines available by the glass
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$$ | Hampstead |
The "oak" in this all-day restaurant is a hand-crafted wooden "tree" that sits under a retractable roof that combines with blonde oak furnishings and pink walls to create a light, airy feel. The menu ranges from comfort food favorites like mac-and-cheese croquettes and mini-slider burgers to Asian-influenced dishes like duck bao buns or lime-glazed salmon with egg noodles, bok choy, and shiitake mushrooms to Mexican-influenced plates like fish tacos with pickled slaw and chipotle mayo or pulled-beef quesadillas. There are also inventive cocktails and indulgent brunch dishes like buttermilk pancakes with berries that have made the place a favorite with locals often accompanied by attendant children and dogs.
48 Rosslyn Hill, London, Greater London, NW3 1NH, England
Known For
- International comfort food dishes
- Creative cocktails
- Family- and dog-friendly despite chic atmosphere
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$ | Borough |
Sit at the galley kitchen counter and you can watch the chefs toss hot pans of authentic handmade (on-site) Italian pasta, generally considered among the best in London. The acclaimed but amazingly affordable small plates include ravioli with Neal's Yard ricotta and sage butter, burrata with Puglian olive oil, papardelle with a slow-cooked beef-shin ragù, and Dorset crab tagliarini with chili and lemon. An Italian cocktail favorite like a Negroni or Aperol Spritz (plus Italian wine on draft starts at £4.50) make the perfect accompaniment. Lone diners might get a stool at the counter overlooking the kitchen right away. Otherwise, leave your name at the door or join the "virtual queue" and they will message you when your table is ready, but the combination of high quality and low prices means you could be waiting an hour. The early bird catches the table.
6 Southwark St., London, Greater London, SE1 1TQ, England
Known For
- Low-priced, high-quality, handmade Italian pasta
- Papardelle with eight-hour beef-shin ragù
- No reservations and long waits
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No reservations
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$ | Soho |
London's top modern Sri Lankan spot dazzles with Ceylonese spiced prawns, Aylesbury duck leg rolls, authentic Sri Lankan egg hoppers, and fabulous char-smoked chicken curries. Located on Rupert Street in the heart of Soho, the diminutive space is a brilliant study in brutalist modernism, with its polished concrete walls, brown-leather cushions, stainless steel counters, and hand-thrown Tamil and Sinhalese typography clay tableware.
61 Rupert St., London, Greater London, W1D 7PW, England
Known For
- Punchy Colombo-style cocktails and house infusions
- Sri Lanka–sourced fruit, vegetables, and spices combined with top British produce
- Sri Lankan family recipes with Portuguese, Malay, South Indian, and Dutch influences
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Mon., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Fitzrovia |
Consistently brilliant modern European fare in a low-key setting characterizes this Michelin-starred restaurant located just northeast of Oxford Circus. Marvel at the chef's brigade in the open kitchen busily turning the inventive seasonal produce–driven menu into delicious reality. Dishes feature superior British produce such as succulent Cornish cod served with a smoked eel rosti or smoked celeriac and whipped ricotta with apple, capers, and almonds. Desserts are always worth a second look; try the dark chocolate device with poached pear, coffee, and cashew.
113 Great Portland St., London, Greater London, W1W 6QQ, England
Known For
- Unpretentious fine dining
- Excellent wine list
- Good-value set lunch and tasting menus
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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$$$ | Soho |
Co-owner Missy Flynn and chef Gabe Pryce bring a joyous and playful spirit to Modern American dining to this spot on Soho's gastro-central Lexington Street. Sit at cute raised tables or the red-leather booths and enjoy densely flavored Americana like hearty baby shrimp boil, spicy chicken wings, or corn-crusted turbot with macha pico salsa. The wines are all organic, low intervention, or biodynamic, and you can't go wrong by kicking off dinner with a gorgeous gilda martini.
49 Lexington St., London, Greater London, W1F 9AP, England
Known For
- Renowned cocktails and natural wine list
- Eclectic Modern American dishes like grilled lobster with drawn butter
- Malted milk pudding with poached blueberries for dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Sun., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Covent Garden |
Opened by Thomas Rule in 1798, London's oldest restaurant is still perhaps its most beautiful. The epitome of High Victorian design, overflowing with antique portraits, prints, cartoons, busts, and taxidermy, here you can indulge in traditional British fare like jugged hare, steak and kidney pie, or roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. For a taste of the 18th century, choose game from the restaurant's High Pennines estate, including roast grouse, mallard, or pheasant. Snag a table in one of the skylit rooms or the spot where the Victorian-era Prince of Wales had trysts with the famed beauty and actress Lillie Langtry.
35 Maiden La., London, Greater London, WC2E 7LB, England
Known For
- The oldest restaurant in London
- Traditional British game-based fare
- Famous diners from Charles Dickens to Evelyn Waugh
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, Closed Mon.
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$$ | Hackney |
If you've ever wondered what the future tastes like, it might just be the 11-course tasting menu here at Silo, a sleek zero-waste restaurant opened by pioneering chef Douglas McMaster in this on-trend area of East London. Clever use of techniques like smoking and dehydration will change how you think about everyday ingredients like carrots and potatoes, while the occasional meat dishes—game and offal feature often—are melt-in-the-mouth delectable (those not in the mood for the full 11 courses can go à la carte with the small plates menu). The local neighborhood may still be a bit rough around the edges, but Silo, with its beautiful high-ceilinged dining room, black-clad staff, and wow cooking, is one of the chicest dining experiences in town.
Unit 7 Queens Yard, London, Greater London, E9 5EN, England
Known For
- Atmospheric views of London Stadium and the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower
- Innovative design is full of surprises, including a bar made of recycled Italian shoe leather
- Ingredients like house-churned butter and house-rolled oats that typify the zero-waste philososphy
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.–Tues. No lunch Wed.–Fri.
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$$$ | Notting Hill |
The ultimate neighborhood restaurant in west London's wealthy Holland Park section draws diners with its brilliant-but-understated French and Mediterranean classics, relaxed service, and interesting, mainly French wines. Treat yourself to bouillabaisse Provençale or ox cheek bourguignon with button mushrooms and pearl onions. With only 36 seats and a teeny bar, this is an intimate affair, which is highlighted by the white paper tablecloths and bentwood chairs. Service is friendly but not overly familiar, while wines are grower, boutique, or biodynamic. Traditional roasts served on Sundays.
6 Portland Rd., London, Greater London, W11 4LA, England
Known For
- Good value three-course set menu running Monday to Saturday
- Unpretentious but pitch-perfect service
- Winning boutique wine list
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$$$$ | Covent Garden |
Trailblazing Australian chef Skye Gyngell worships the seasons at her pastel-hued dining destination in majestic Somerset House off the Strand. Housed in the building's 1865 neoclassical New Wing, Spring offers exquisite root-to-stem, produce-driven Italian dishes in an airy light-drenched dining salon. Expect everything from a tousled heap of biodynamic Fern Verrow Farm salad leaves to egg yolk–rich crab tagliolini. Free of single-use plastic, you'll find all the bread, butter, ice cream, cordials, vermouth, and tonics are made on-site. Also look for Spring's brilliant zero waste £30 "Scratch" menus, available in the early evening Tuesday through Saturday.
Lancaster Pl., London, Greater London, WC2R 1LA, England
Known For
- Highly seasonal, sustainable, and ingredient-driven dishes
- Eco-friendly and zero-waste ethos
- Biodynamic Fern Verrow Farm salads and ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Tues., Reservations essential
