34 Best Restaurants in London, England

One of London's favorite Spanish tapas bars, modeled after the tiny Cal Pep tapas spot in Barcelona, has only a few raised bar stools within the open-counter kitchen south of Trafalgar Square. Lunchtime lines form from noon daily for a top-quality succession of impeccably sourced small plates, ranging from giant Spanish carabineros red prawns and Iberian pork cheeks to black squid ink risotto with cuttlefish. There's a thoughtful selection of Spanish reds, whites, sherries, and sparkling white cava, and be sure to leave room for noted desserts like the almond-based Santiago tart.

Punchy black-and-white photos of legendary regulars like postwar painters Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud beam down at this disarmingly charming old-school hangout that was once the unofficial London HQ for the Free French in exile and Charles de Gaulle during World War II. Set on the first floor of the eponymous pub downstairs and run by an eccentric 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.

You'll land some of the best fish-and-chips in town at this British chippy in a retro 1914 Art Deco café. Marylebone locals and satisfied tourists alike hunker down for the neatly prepared and decidedly nongreasy deep-fried or steamed battered cod, haddock, and plaice; the classic hand-cut Maris Piper chips; and the traditional mushy peas and homemade tartar sauce. Homemade cod fishcakes, skate wings, feta cheese fritters, and breaded scampi tails are on the menu, too.

Eschew the myriad copy-and-paste curry houses of Brick Lane and opt instead for this broom cupboard–size Spitalfields restaurant serving flawless small-plate Indian cuisine. The charming waitstaff is happy to offer guidance when it comes to the menu, with its highly original takes on authentic flavor combinations from the subcontinent.

Run by the same Greek-Cypriot family since 1966, this friendly taverna is a local institution and is considered by many to be the best Greek restaurant in the whole country. With its rustic interior and a mouthwatering menu of Greek culinary classics, it's the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch or a memorable evening out. The grilled meats are a must, as is the extensive selection of cold and warm mezze.

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.

Windswept lines wait patiently outside on Frith Street, and inside there may only be 25 counter seats, but everyone's still smitten with the steaming bowls of hot broth and house-made udon noodles at this quirky but consistently brilliant walk-ins only Japanese joint in the heart of Soho. Favorite udon combos like cured cod with wakame seaweed duke it out with sweet tofu, pork miso, and lamb mince and cumin alternatives, all vying for the affections of regulars and slurpy udon aficionados alike. Check, too, the cult English breakfast udon, which famously comes topped with a fried egg, bacon, and marinated mushrooms. 

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. 

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 miso cod 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. 

London's top contemporary Sri Lankan spot dazzles with Ceylonese spiced prawns, Brixham crab kiri hodi, 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 tropical brutalism, with its polished concrete walls, brown-leather cushions, stainless steel counters, and hand-thrown Tamil and Sinhalese typography clay tableware. Paradise's Sri Lankan--born founder and owner, Dom Fernando, can almost always be found somewhere on-site. 

Established in 1952, this East London staple strikes a balance between a 1950s American-style diner and a traditional British fish-and-chip shop, with a bright, vibrant retro interior and efficient service. There's a wide variety of fish suppers on the menu, including whole lemon sole, all caught daily and arriving via the City's Billingsgate fish market. If fish-and-chips isn't your thing, try the free-range rotisserie chicken, served with chips and gravy, for a traditional British twist.

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.

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 bar in their 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. The Cockatoo is the downstairs performance space, serving up the same menu as the main restaurant along with cabaret. 

Set in a former basement brothel, this Soho meatopia cranks out £26 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 Cornish 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 zippy '80s tunes, wine on tap, and a hearty tableside serving of white chocolate cheesecake for dessert. 

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.

Set in a corner of what was once a vast Victorian warehouse, this airy eatery is open from early morning to late at night, serving great food and freshly roasted coffee (you’ll pass by the giant coffee roaster en route to the bathroom). The focus is on world cuisine (the jalapeño cornbread is a perennial favorite), and the all-day menu features shared plates as well as sourdough pizzas. There are excellent cocktails, too.

Tucked away down a pedestrianized back street, this casual French bistro is a favorite haunt for politicians based in and around the nearby Palace of Westminster. Open all day, one can only imagine the political intrigues being discussed over Gallic classics such as coq au vin or snails in garlic butter, all washed down with wines from the surprisingly extensive list.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This most traditional of old English tearooms is named for a kind of cheese tart invented near here in Tudor times. Legend has it that Henry VIII loved them so much he had the recipe kept under armed guard; this place has specialized in the authentic royal recipe for more than 120 years now and still bakes the maids by hand on the premises. Full afternoon tea is served all day. During busy periods, the tearoom may impose a minimum spend per person. 

Stroll west along the Thames, past the interesting architectural remnants of the Greenwich Steam Ferry, to this bright, friendly, waterside pub. Downstairs, you'll find upmarket pub fare—think fish pie with lobster or artichoke and mushroom hotpot with hispi cabbage—while there's a fancier, fine-dining menu upstairs.

This lively Israeli-Levantine restaurant offers excellent tapas with Mediterranean influences from North Africa up through the Middle East and Turkey at relatively friendly (by Kensington standards) prices. Start with fluffy Yemeni challah bread and move onto beetroot crème brûlée with grilled asparagus, prawns in a white chocolate and lemon sauce, sea bass with a pistachio crust, or a mushroom and chicken hearts polenta. This is the kind of place where you're expected to share plates and eat with your fingers, and if you have something dribbling down your chin, no one will mind. Service can occasionally be a bit brusque.

A laid-back, airy, Art Deco--inspired gastropub serving up quality Modern British food, The Prince Bonaparte offers a fine selection of ales and carefully chosen wines. A stone's throw from Portobello Market, it's the perfect place for a drink or a bite to eat.