152 Best Restaurants in London, England

Lords, ladies, and other assorted aristocrats blow the family bank at this Edwardian bastion of traditional English fine dining on Jermyn Street (the place first opened near the Haymarket as a shellfish stall in 1742). Posh patrons tend to order half a dozen oysters, followed by grilled Dover sole, Blythburgh pork from the carving trolley, or fabulous native game, such as roast partridge, grouse, or teal. There is also soft herring roe on toast, plus pleasing desserts like Peach Melba or sherry trifle.

Here at one of London's top Japanese restaurants, head chef and cofounder Yasuhiro Mineno creates fresh, colorful, and exquisite sushi, sashimi, salads, and carpaccios. Tofu foam-topped miso cappuccino comes in a Victorian cup and saucer, while nigiri might include signature flourishes such as truffle shavings on fatty tuna. But there's a lot more than sushi here, including sensational small plates such as Robata-grilled black cod marinated in soy sauce. The £16 salmon nigiri set lunch is a relatively affordable way to sample Yashin's below-the-radar brilliance.