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$$$ | Holborn |
It's all fin de siècle Vienna at this evocative art deco–style grand café on Aldwych near Covent Garden. Dishes on the majestic Middle European menu would do the Austro-Hungarian Empire proud—think Wiener schnitzel, Hungarian goulash, beef Stroganoff, and wonderful würstchen (frankfurters and hot dogs) served with sauerkraut and onions. Savor other goodies like borscht, kedgeree and lamb shank sauerbraten, while desserts include a sinfully indulgent Sacher torte.
55 Aldwych, London, Greater London, WC2B 4BB, England
Known For
- Elegant old-world Austro-Hungarian vibe
- Proper Holstein schnitzel and frankfurters
- Excellent wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | Victoria |
Downton Abbey meets The Crown at this quintessentially English, old-school dining salon located within an Edwardian-era hotel down the road from Buckingham Palace. A favorite with royalty and courtiers, here you can enjoy daily specials like traditional beef Wellington or antediluvian quirks such as Eggs Drumkilbo (a hard-boiled egg/lobster seafood cocktail with caviar)—a onetime favorite of the late Queen Mother.
Beeston Pl., London, Greater London, SW1W 0JW, England
Known For
- Plush salon designed by Viscount David Linley
- Glazed lobster omelet with duck fat chips
- Royal history and pedigree
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Sat.
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$$$ | Soho |
Striking black-and-white photos of legendary regulars like artists Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud beam down at this disarmingly charming old-school hangout that was the former unofficial London headquarters for the Free French in exile during World War II. Set on the first floor of the famous pub of the same name and run by a former cabaret artist, you can sip Ricard pastis or bargains from the all-French wine list before embracing superb French bistro classics like salt cod beignets, calves brain with brown butter, or braised navarin of lamb with cheesy aligot mashed potato.
49 Dean St., London, Greater London, W1D 5BG, England
Known For
- Storied home to Soho's artists, writers, and bohemians
- French bistro classics like whole roast garlic bulb on toast
- No music, no phones, and no laptops policy
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No dinner Sat., Reservations essential
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$$$ | Covent Garden |
London's onetime most famous celebrity haunt and West End landmark is still so popular it receives more than a thousand calls a day. Established as an Italian café in 1917, today it's still a top destination to dine on deep-fried haddock and chips, Thai baked sea bass, and evergreen English classics like shepherd's pie and baked Alaska. Madonna famously once ate sticky toffee pudding with Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and British playwright Harold Pinter here back in the day. Perch at the coral onyx dining bar in pink mohair-backed seats, kick back with an Old Fashioned, and enjoy some of the best free theater and people-watching in town.
1–5 West St., London, Greater London, WC2H 9NQ, England
Known For
- Celebrity-filled history dating back to 1917
- Famed house staples like grilled calf's liver and Dover sole
- Charming service and wonderful West End people-watching
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$ | Covent Garden |
Scrub up like Eliza Doolittle and perch at the pewter bar sipping a My Fair Lady (with homemade gin and orange blossom) at this busy but laid-back little sister to the flagship The Ivy restaurant. You'll find bargains galore here on the something-for-everyone brasserie menu—from crispy duck salad and poached lobster cocktail to chicken Milanese and blackened cod. For dessert, be sure to try the chocolate bombe, a chocolatey mush of milk foam, vanilla ice cream, and gooey hot salted caramel sauce. The raucous salon atmosphere fits in perfectly with the green-leather banquettes, dark timber floors, and copious 19th-century brass lamps.
1a Henrietta St., London, Greater London, WC2E 8PS, England
Known For
- Vespar Martinis at the sizzling central bar
- Green leather booths and antique pics galore
- Popular brunch menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$$ | Notting Hill |
Acclaimed Aussie chef Brett Graham and his team are known for modern European cuisine at its finest, and the sheer inventiveness and quality of the food on offer make for a very special night out. This relaxed, intimate restaurant now serves a range of six- and eight-course tasting menus with seasonal produce very much dictating what ends up on the menu, although classic Graham game staples, such as Berkshire muntjac, often make an appearance. Advance booking is essential.
127 Ledbury Rd., London, Greater London, W11 2AQ, England
Known For
- Creative vegetable dishes like white asparagus soup with lemon, grapes, and ricotta
- Charcuterie that comes from Graham's very own pig farm
- Signature brown sugar tart with stem ginger ice cream for dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations essential
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$$ | Piccadilly |
It feels like a cinematic reinterpretation of 1930s Taipei at this glamorous jewel box on the edge of Chinatown. Peerless dishes like tomato and smoked eel cold soup and marinated Shou Pa chicken with rice, ginger, and white pepper are complemented by a tea kiosk, a tea master, railway clocks, two hidden mahjong rooms, and a collection of cute solo dining seats.
30 Rupert St., London, Greater London, W1D 6DL, England
Known For
- Taiwanese classics like Char Siu Iberico pork with grilled cucumber
- Sparkling Hong Yu cold brew tea
- Taiwanese whisky
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$$$$ | Mayfair |
A-listers head straight for 34, off Grosvenor Square in Mayfair, simply because all the other celebrities seem to hang out here, too. It must be the plush Edwardian and art deco dining salon, the neat fish, game, and steak-focused menu, and the smooth Upper Manhattan–style service. Appetizers like Devon crab and shrimp cocktail face off against chunkier delights from the Argentine parrilla charcoal grill—think 28-day Scottish Bridge of Allan rib eyes, USDA New York strips, and Japanese Wagyu fillets. Top crowd-pleasers include a luxurious surf and turf and truffled lobster macaroni. When done with mains one can opt to see the dessert menu or the cigar menu—or even both.
34 Grosvenor Sq., London, Greater London, W1K 2HD, England
Known For
- An endless procession of Hollywood stars
- Impressive global meats off an Argentine-inspired grill
- Live jazz
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$$$ | St. James's |
A sophisticated crowd enjoys the clubhouse vibe at this classic brasserie at the back of the royal grocer, Fortnum & Mason. An old-school trolley trundles up table-side to serve Siberian Sturgeon caviar with scrambled eggs, baked new potatoes, and blinis, while creamy beef Stroganoff and whole duck with elderberry sauce get the full table-side-flambé treatment. Truffles that are shaved at the table are another specialty. The popular Welsh rarebit toasty has a punchy mustard kick, while nostalgic desserts include a fleet of alcoholic ice-cream floats.
45 Jermyn St., London, Greater London, SW1Y 6DN, England
Known For
- Unique caviar trolley
- Glamorous decor
- Collection of boozy ice-cream floats
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
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$$$$ | Clerkenwell |
Mark Jarvis’s cool, unpretentious fine-dining establishment in the historic Hatton Garden jewelry quarter in Farringdon is focused on food that is both seasonal and ethically and locally produced. Five- or ten-course tasting menus are offered at lunch and dinner, with each dish as much a feast for your eyes as for your palate. Menu descriptions are kept consciously simple and understated but there's no disguising the symphony of flavors and textures that dishes deliver.
30 St. Cross St., London, Greater London, EC1N 8UH, England
Known For
- Well-priced tasting menus
- Signature beetroot-based desserts
- Cutting-edge inventive cuisine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$ | Soho |
Lines form daily to secure a prized seat, perch, or stool at this no-reservations 32-seater from a crack team of Taiwanese steamed bao bun specialists. The gloriously plump milk-based, rice flour bao buns—stuffed with organic Cornish braised pork, peanut powder, and fermented greens—are the undisputed stars of the show. These nifty bao buns also come with fried chicken, crumbed daikon, or lamb with soy-pickled chilis and garlicky mayo. Kick off with the silky scallops in yellow bean garlic sauce and finish with a fried bao bun stuffed with Horlicks ice cream for dessert.
53 Lexington St., London, Greater London, W1F 9AS, England
Known For
- Long lines for the steamed and stuffed Taiwanese bao buns
- Highly Instagramable pig's blood cake and soy-cured egg yolk
- Unusual fried bao bun with Horlicks ice cream for dessert
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Knightsbridge |
New York–based French superchef Daniel Boulud combines French brasserie classics like escargot, salade nicoise, and poule au pot with American-style gourmet burgers at this sophisticated but casual restaurant located within the Mandarin Oriental. The excellent grazing menu has something for everyone, and the professional but informal waitstaff enhances the convivial vibe. Platters of delicate charcuterie and luxury seafood compete with the signature foie gras/beef/short rib burgers on black onion or sesame-seed buns. The two-course prix-fixe deals from noon until 6:30 are good value.
66 Knightsbridge, London, Greater London, SW1X 7LA, England
020-7201–3899-for reservations only
Known For
- Excellent foie gras/beef/short rib burgers
- Affordable set meals from noon until 6:30
- Superb take on French brasserie classics
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential
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$$ | Clerkenwell |
Every night feels as bustling as downtown Tel Aviv at Exmouth Market's superb and hip shawarma bar. Enjoy challah toast with tahini-rich meze before delving into slow-cooked, harissa-heavy lamb shawarmas and the best mejadera (rice with lentils and onions) this side of the Middle East. Be sure to leave room for malabi, a delicious Israeli milk pudding, for dessert.
46 Exmouth Market, London, Greater London, EC1R 4QE, England
Known For
- Tel Aviv–style trendy hangout
- Wondrous chargrilled lamb and beef shawarmas
- Unmissable barbecued cauliflower shawarma
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$$ | Fitzrovia |
All the cool cats swing by this grand brasserie at Ian Schrager's insanely trendy London Edition hotel near Tottenham Court Road. Enter the monumental Edwardian dining salon, where you might swoon over a Herdwick lamb rump with mashed potatoes and white onion purée. Exquisitely appointed with framed pictures, paintings, and Grand Central Terminal-style bronze chandeliers, the sheer elegance of the place will soon have you feeling like a million dollars, too.
10 Berners St., London, Greater London, W1T 3NP, England
Known For
- Knockout dining salon
- Cool backlit cocktail bar
- Legendary Buccleuch Estate steaks
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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$$ | Bethnal Green |
You'll need some help finding this East End fashionista headquarters located down a side alley in happening Bethnal Green. Once inside, check out the striking loft dining space and the bar, Manchichi, in its postindustrial chic setting, before polishing off light French and English dishes. Choices range from steak tartare and Croque Madame to cod and clams and Longhorn beef with red wine sauce. Be sure to catch the resident pianist at weekend brunch, camping up everything from Katy Perry to Girls Aloud on the baby grand.
23–27 Wadeson St., London, Greater London, E2 9DR, England
Known For
- Classic choices like steak tartare and Croque Madame
- Weekend brunch with pancakes and maple syrup
- Resident pianist at brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed. No lunch Thurs. and Fri. No dinner Sun., Reservations essential
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$ | Soho |
Set in a former basement brothel, this Soho meatopia cranks out £24 platters of chargrilled beef, lamb, and pork skinny chops and juice-soaked flatbread, all served on antique pearlware. Supplied by Philip Warren butchers from the Cornwall moors, Blacklock's killer chops sizzle on the grill under heavy Blacklock cast irons from Tennessee. All-in platters include starters of crispbread topped with egg and anchovy and punchy sides like the 10-hour ash-roasted sweet potato. Enjoy catchy '80s tunes, wine on tap, and a hearty tableside serving of white chocolate cheesecake for dessert.
24 Great Windmill St., London, Greater London, W1D 7LG, England
Known For
- Young and bubbly service with bouncy '80s tunes
- Huge platters of skinny chargrilled chops and flatbread
- £24 Sunday roasts with all the trimmings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Reservations essential
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$$ | Soho |
French tapas may sound sacrilegious, but Gallic gem Blanchette hits the spot at this family-run hipster bistro where jazzy French sounds complement the charming bare-brick and oak table candlelit interior. Visually feast on the eclectic Paris flea market bric-a-brac and then order a host of smaller plates to share, like the crispy frogs' legs and truffle saucisson (sausage) or baked scallops with Café de Paris sauce. The cramped tables can be a touch intimate, but desserts like chocolate tart, tonka bean syrup, and macerated cherries are a fitting Left Bank finale.
9 D'Arblay St., London, Greater London, W1F 8DR, England
Known For
- Unusual French tapas-style dishes and shared plates
- Cool Soho crowd with romantic, jazzy soundtrack
- Roasted wild sea bass with sea herbs and langoustine butter
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential, Closed Sun.
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$$ | Mayfair | Burger
Don plastic bibs at this mobbed, limited-choice burger and lobster shack, where there are no reservations (apart from larger groups), no starters, and no printed menu—the blackboard says it all: "Burger or lobster or lobster roll. All with chips & salad. £22." Of the three choices available, the Nova Scotia lobster is the best value; it comes in a butter-soaked brioche bun, with truffle and tarragon mayo and a sturdy pot of fries. Sweet halved lobsters are served with lemon and garlic butter, while the Worcestershire sauce–seasoned burgers are a mix of Irish grass-fed beef and corn-fed cuts from Nebraska, with streaky bacon or Monterey Jack cheese on top.
29 Clarges St., London, Greater London, W1J 7EF, England
Known For
- Wonderfully simple menu of lobster, burgers and chips
- One-and-a-half pound jumbo Canadian lobster with salad
- Lively, fun-loving crowd
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$$$$ | Fitzrovia |
Variety is the spice of life, and it's also the modus operandi of this airy Charlotte Street eatery where an ever-changing roster of guest chefs from around the globe roll into town with their exquisite seven-course tasting menus. One week it might be Japanese trout roe with egg yolk and koshihikari rice, while the next week will feature skate wing bilbaina from the Basque country. Whatever the cuisine, the one constant is the sheer quality of the dishes on offer. Alternatively, there's also a wine bar that serves delicious tapas-style plates–don't miss the fried chicken with habanero and honey.
19–23 Charlotte St., London, Greater London, W1T 1RL, England
Known For
- Revolving door of guest chefs
- Impressive wine list
- Friendly, informal vibe
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$$ | Mayfair |
Revel with the A-listers in the glamorous buzz at this upscale Italian brasserie wedged between Cork Street, Savile Row, and the Royal Academy of Arts. It's perfect for a pit stop during a West End shopping spree or after browsing the nearby Mayfair galleries and auction houses, with diners spilling out onto pavement tables for breakfast, brunch, and cicchetti (Italian tapas)—and then returning later in the day for something more substantial. The luxe green-and-brown interior is a tony backdrop for classics like red mullet carpaccio, veal Milanese, and tagliatelle bolognese, and don't forget the pick-me-up tiramisù.
5A Burlington Gardens, London, Greater London, W1S 3EP, England
Known For
- Favorite of nearby Vogue House staff and Sotheby's clientele
- Popular veal Milanese
- All-day jet-setter hangout
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential