156 Best Restaurants in London, England

This successful chain serves up delicious juices and smoothies, as well as sandwiches, soups, and wraps.

Everyone feels a zillion times more glamorous just stepping inside this candlelit restaurant attached to the swank Georgian-era hotel of the same name. Straightforward but endlessly fun retro British favorites include classic English pea and ham soup, primary school-style mince and potatoes, smoked haddock soufflé, and sticky toffee pudding. You'll also find quaint English scones and crumpets for afternoon tea and nostalgic 1970s-style fish finger sandwiches for traditional early evening high tea.

Medieval English cuisine meets molecular gastronomy in this reassuringly luxurious Blumenthal flagship, with two Michelin stars, within the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Try the signature "Meat Fruit" appetizer (last popular in the 16th century, it's a ball of ultrasmooth chicken liver parfait encased in a citrus-flavored gel "peel") or the much-more-appetizing-than-it-sounds "Rice and Flesh," a 15th-century dish of yellow saffron rice with beef cheeks and red wine. For dessert, don't miss the signature Tipsy Cake (circa 1810)—brioche soaked in Sauternes, brandy, and vanilla cream, with slices of pineapple slowly roasted on the restaurant's open-fire spit. A three-course set lunch (£59) offers good value, relatively speaking.

Being a hotel restaurant, Dovetale provides a whole-day experience worth sampling at any hour. The modern European, produce-led menu delivers on every level, with langoustine and your pick of steak cut from the Josper grill as two of the highlights. The breakfast is a big favorite with the Mayfair-based hedge fund crowd, who dress noticeably sharply for the first meal of the day, possibly enjoying the spiced-oat porridge. The dinner service retains a cozy yet elegant ambiance, with the low lighting perfectly suited to the lounge-like space where booths and banquettes rule.

Chef Philip Howard is committed to seasonality, bringing together well-matched ingredients in this relaxed, loftlike space that leans toward the modernist and minimalist. The deeply flavored, accomplished dishes have earned the restaurant a Michelin star (their vegetarian game is especially strong).

It almost feels like Sigmund Freud or Gustav Klimt might doff their Homburg hats and shuffle into a dark leather banquette at this evocative, early-20th-century–style Viennese neighborhood café on Marylebone High Street. Savor the antique light fittings and distressed wallpaper before diving into a rye brötchen (bread roll) sandwich with chopped chicken livers and dill. Expect top service from staff in natty Trachten-style Tyrolean green waistcoats and dark green ties. The all-day restaurant opens early on weekdays (7:30 am) and semi-early on weekends (9 am) so you can head here for a unique Austrian-theme breakfast. 

Though it now has branches in Chinatown and elsewhere in the capital (and throughout the U.K.), this celebrated purveyor of Cantonese cuisine first got its start here in Queensway over 30 years ago. The modest surroundings ensure the focus is on the food: from pitch-perfect salt-and-pepper squid and the dangerously more-ish char siu (barbecued pork) to the famous crispy duck that's considered to be the best in London, your tastebuds will be eternally grateful you stopped here.

Family-friendly and tucked away on a pretty mews, Ginger & White is a delightful fusion of a continental-style café and traditional British "caff"—all bound up with a modern, sophisticated Hampstead vibe. Specialties include homemade peanut butter, cakes, buns, all-day breakfasts with farm-sourced free-range eggs, salads and sandwiches, and specialty espresso. It can get crowded on weekends. There's another branch in Belsize Park.

This Manhattan-theme, Russian-owned swanky steak house, named after Chicago jazz legend Benny Goodman, has everyone in agreement: these truly are some of the best steaks in town. USDA-certified, 150-day corn-fed, and on-site dry-aged Black Angus T-bones, rib eye, porterhouse, and New York bone-in sirloins compete for taste and tenderness with heavily marbled grass-fed prime cuts from Scotland and the Lake District. There's also grilled cauliflower steaks, tuna tartare, and a superb burger, but everyone at this sultry mecca has only one thing on their minds: the sizzling 250 g–400 g steaks chargrilled on the premium Mibrasa range, which come with truffle chips and creamed spinach, plus Béarnaise, pepper, or Stilton sauce.

This informal eatery close to the Russell Square tube station serves scrumptious Asian fast food in generous portions at reasonable prices. Popular with students from the many nearby universities, the accent is on freshly prepared, flavorful fare—from sushi and ramen to tempura and delicious noodle and rice dishes.

Despite a Michelin star and a co-owner who's also the chef at one of Britain's (and indeed the world's) top restaurants, this is a relaxed neighborhood gastropub with an unusually fine kitchen. It specializes in British produce, wild food, and especially game, with dishes like roast monkfish cheek with butternut squash or venison in an ale and prune sauce, all served via set menus only (£50 for two courses, £65 for three). Sunday roasts are especially popular.

Mayfair is home to more than its share of fussy fine-dining restaurants, so HIDE is a welcome alternative, charming with experimental dishes that make the new-Nordic, produce-focused modern European menu shine. Look out for artlike dishes strewn with wildflowers on the seasonal eight-course tasting menus served in a fairy-tale setting. There's also an in-house bakery, and a menu that includes breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and cocktails; be sure to explore the 6,500-bottle strong wine list, one of London's finest. Set lunch and dinner menus are great value.

This acclaimed Israeli eatery goes from strength to strength in its airy home on Bloomsbury's most fashionable foodie thoroughfare. Whether you feel like sharing mezze such as aubergine rolls stuffed with pistachios and caramelized onions or are in the mood for mains like the utterly sublime fish siniya (sea bass baked with harissa and tahini), be sure to leave space for their legendary cheesecake. Booking ahead is advised, although window counter stools are reserved for walk-ins.

This pint-size eatery, which specializes in vegetarian Indian street food, is one of the very few independents in a neighborhood dominated by pubs and chain restaurants. Start with crisp samosas before indulging in a creamy dal or curry. The mouthwatering mango lassis are also made fresh.

Diners flock to chef Miller Prada's Humo to enjoy the full-on experience provided by the chefs cooking on open wood fires in clear sight of tables. The 4-meter-long grill pit is the kind of flourish that lives long in the memory but is no mere interior design statement, it is the fuel that powers the entire kitchen: electricity and gas are removed from the equation and it is left up to flame, smoke, and ember to cook the likes of Jerusalem artichoke with roasted chestnut and aged Brixham turbot.

The area between Victoria and Westminster is something of a wasteland in terms of independent quick-bite eateries, but this minimalist café serves excellent coffee, salads, wraps, and more. Peak office lunchtimes can get pretty busy, so aim to avoid the rush if you want to dine in.

There is no finer fish dish in town than the Malai stone bass tikka at this upmarket Indian restaurant. The food and spices here are so authentic that it regularly buzzes with Bollywood stars, wealthy Mayfair moguls, and the entire well-heeled Indian diaspora. Inspired by the Viceroy's House in New Delhi and oozing with Lutyens-style furniture, this spot is perfect for luxuriating in mini dosas, coconut spiced lobster, or Old Delhi butter chicken.

The first London restaurant from two Michelin-starred chef Henrique Sá Pessoa offers views over the landmark Battersea Power Station from its 15th floor perch and explores the flavors of his native Portugal with excursions farther afield into Catalonia. Unsurprisingly, tapas like patatas bravas, Iberico croquetas, or a hand-dived scallop with chorizo, fennel, and celeriac puree feature prominently, while big plates like suckling pig and arroz de marisco come from the Josper oven. You pay for the glamorous art deco atmosphere and the views, but a three-course set menu on weekends (£45) offers better value. 

Renowned chef José Pizarro has managed to re-create an authentic, slightly rustic Spanish tapas-and-sherry bar. With just 30 seats and no reservations, it's always packed after 6 pm, but it's worth the wait for remarkably fresh, perfectly prepared, classic tapas plates like patatas bravas, croquetas, skewered prawns with lemon and garlic, and clams with fino sherry. Everything's impeccably sourced, from the peppery Marqués de Valdueza olive oil to the top-flight acorn-fed Ibérico ham; you'll also find more than 50 Spanish wines and sherries.

Tom Kerridge made his name earning Michelin stars at rural gastropubs, and there's still a sense of pub grub about the menu here, at his first London restaurant, despite the glamorous high-ceilinged dining room, flawless service, and rather steep prices. That's no bad thing, however, when you've got a chef as skilled as Kerridge—think rich, meat-focused dishes served alongside unusual twists, such as gherkin ketchup or black cabbage purée.

Named after an infamous 18th-century courtesan, Kitty Fisher's is situated in a tiny, creaky Georgian town house in Mayfair’s Shepherd Market. Crammed with antique prints, portraits, and silver candelabras, here you can sample some of the finest wood-grill and smokehouse fare around. Options on the changing menu include to-die-for Highland beef and luxurious Wagyu steaks.

Having established itself as a wine lodge in 1942 before shifting gears and morphing into a Polish-Mexican restaurant in the 1970s, L'Autre is a bona fide Mayfair icon. Polish-Mexican fusion is undoubtedly rare on London's restaurant scene but L'Autre pulls it off; expect to find Polish classics (the pierogi are excellent) alongside Mexican favorites like enchiladas in a setting that would stand out anywhere, but certainly in the heart of Mayfair.

With the legend Tous Célèbres Ici ("All Famous Here") boldly etched on the front doors, the delightful LPM boasts an impressively well-sourced and balanced French Mediterranean, Ligurian, and Provençal menu based on the relaxed Riviera style of the original La Petite Maison in Nice. Try the soft Burrata cheese with a sweet Datterini tomato–and–basil spread or aromatic baked turbot with artichokes, chorizo, five spices, and white wine sauce. Dishes come to the table as soon as they're ready, and the très jolie and informal waitstaff make for a convivial rosé party vibe.

This addition to the National Theatre's restaurant roster (it's named after the building's architect) puts the emphasis on fresh British ingredients, whether Dorset crab on a warm saffron bun or Carlingford oysters from the seafood bar, a Tamworth pork and guinea fowl terrine with burnt pear chutney, or a grilled whole plaice for sharing (the brown butter honey custard tart is much in demand for dessert). Theatergoers will appreciate the two-course (£40) or three-course (£45) pretheater menu.

This long-standing favorite specializes in French haute cuisine done right, with an emphasis on luxurious dishes like caviar, oysters, lobster, and Dover sole (served meunière) along with bistro classics like rabbit with mustard and steak frites. Standards, like the prices, remain high, and the swanky dining room takes inspiration from the art deco liner SS Normandie. Weather permitting, grab a table on the terrace to make the most of the wonderful views of the Thames, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London. A weekday lunch/early-bird dinner set menu (two courses for £30; three courses for £35) lets you sample this expense-account favorite with minimal damage to your wallet.

This consistently popular, family-run, taverna-style restaurant has been serving local families and celebrities alike in its large, vine-decked premises for more than 40 years. Besides a large selection of Greek Cypriot small-dish meze dips, hot breads, and starters, there are rustic mains like moussaka or slow-baked kleftiko lamb in lemon as well as assorted grilled fish. Expect friendly Greek service and hospitality, plus an airy atrium in the back. Generous meze menus for two or more people are £36.75, and bargain weekday set lunches are £18.50.

Dazzling classic French dishes mark out Les 110 de Taillevent as the city's top French brasserie de luxe. Housed in a chic former Coutts bank on Cavendish Square, diners and oenophiles delight in the exquisite cuisine and accompanying master list of 110 fine wines by the glass. Indulge from Château Latour to rarely seen Rieslings, and be sure to pair wisely with the restaurant's flawless desserts. The six-course-tasting menu is relatively good value at £125 per person, with an option to add wine pairings. 

Part of Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton's dining dynasty, Little Social backs its elegant, modernist dining room with a menu of adventurous dishes celebrating the joy of British produce. Expect to find a range of prime cuts straight from the Josper grill, and pay special attention to the maple-glazed pork rib eye with charred cabbage and pomme puree.

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.