London is an incredible city to visit for food. There’s no shortage of amazing restaurants with hundreds of different cuisines from around the world. But even with so many options, knowing where to go for a great experience can be hard. That’s why we’ve come up with our list of London’s top ten restaurants:
#1 The Goring
The Goring is an elegant Belgravia restaurant near Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park. It has been awarded a Michelin star and has received high rankings on TripAdvisor and Yelp. The restaurant’s chef is Gary Jones, who trained at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons under Raymond Blanc. He has also worked at the Dorchester Hotel and the Ritz in Paris.
The Goring’s menu changes daily depending on what ingredients are available locally; dishes may include Dover sole with seafood broth or Scottish scallop with langoustine ravioli (both of which have previously appeared on its menu). Scottish scallop is the very reason we are starting our London’s top ten restaurants list with this one!
#2 Heston Blumenthal at The Mandarin Oriental
Heston Blumenthal is a chef, restaurateur, and writer based in London. He has three restaurants in the capital: Dinner (in Bray), The Fat Duck (Faulkner Street), and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel). For our money, it’s worth making the trip to Knightsbridge to eat at his flagship restaurant. This is not just because of its Michelin star status or glowing reviews—which include a third Michelin star for 2016—but also because of what it offers as one of London’s most interesting dining experiences.
#3 The Ledbury
The Ledbury is a Michelin-starred restaurant that offers a modern interpretation of English cuisine. The address is 127 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AE.
If you’re planning to visit The Ledbury, you should know that it’s located in the Notting Hill area of London and can be easily accessed via public transportation. Specifically, the nearest tube station is Ladbroke Grove (Bakerloo line). There are several parking garages nearby if you’re driving or taking an Uber or Lyft.
The atmosphere at The Ledbury is warm and inviting: elegant without being stuffy; relaxed without feeling casual; comfortable without sacrificing style—a perfect combination for any occasion.
While the food at this restaurant changes seasonally based on what’s available locally and seasonally, seafood plays a large role in many dishes (eels being popular). Suppose you’re looking for more traditional London food than seafood on your plate (or want to try something different). In that case, there are also plenty of options like lamb chops or game pie made with rabbit—all cooked perfectly medium rare by chef Edward Witham, awarded Best New Talent at age 16 by The Good Food Guide! Don’t forget dessert because they have berries picked earlier that morning, just outside their front door! If that doesn’t make it one of London’s top ten restaurants, we don’t know what does.
#4 Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley
You can enjoy a well-done steak with chips and a glass of wine at Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley. The restaurant is located in Mayfair and has earned a Michelin star. It’s also well known for its extensive wine list, which many critics have praised.
It’s one of the best restaurants in London and has been named in The Good Food Guide for over 20 years. The seasonal menu changes every few months to reflect what’s available at its local farms.
#5 Quo Vadis
Quo Vadis is a Michelin-star restaurant located in the heart of Mayfair. It has been open since 1985 and is owned by Chris Corbin and Jeremy King. Quo Vadis is known for its French-inspired cuisine and elegant atmosphere. The menu changes weekly, but the Dover sole with brown butter sauce served with new potatoes, asparagus spears, and chanterelles have remained a staple over the years and granted this place a spot in London’s top ten restaurants list.
The restaurant seats only 40 people at any time, so make sure you book your table in advance to avoid disappointment!
#6 The Waterside Inn
The Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire, is a Michelin-starred restaurant with a secret garden and views of the Thames. In their beautiful dining room, you can enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace before or after your meal.
The cuisine at this London restaurant is traditional British with French influences, so expect to see seafood dishes such as seafood soup and lobster thermidor on their menu.
If you visit this top London restaurant, we recommend trying any dish that involves salmon—it’s one of their specialties!
#7 Sketch (The Lecture Room & Library)
The Lecture Room & Library is a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant located in the heart of Mayfair. The restaurant serves modern European cuisine, emphasizing local produce, homemade bread, and pastries. It has two Michelin stars: one for the Lecture Room and another for the Library.
#8 Nobu Berkeley Street
Nobu Berkeley Street is a Japanese restaurant in Mayfair and the first UK restaurant from Nobu Matsuhisa. The menu boasts signature dishes such as black cod marinated in miso and Nobu’s signature yellowtail jalapeño with garlic chips. There’s also an extensive selection of sashimi, sushi, and maki rolls, with some items prepared tableside by chefs.
The interior design is modern but relaxed, with wood paneling and stone walls that give it that traditional Japanese feel. There’s also an open kitchen where you can watch chefs prepare your meal right in front of you!
#9 Arbutus
Arbutus is located in the hipster-filled neighborhood of Shoreditch and has a very stylish interior. We recommend arriving early to take advantage of the cocktail list or trying one of their signature cocktails (the extensive wine list). If you’re hungry, start with some foie gras or oysters before deciding on your main course. Perhaps you’d like some white truffles in your pasta? Or maybe you’re craving seafood… Arbutus has it all!
When making a reservation, please note that this restaurant has no dress code—so come as you are! There’s also an open table option to get a last-minute booking without calling them directly.
#10 Hakkasan Hanway Place
Hakkasan Hanway Place is a fine-dining Chinese restaurant in London’s West End. It was opened in 2013 by the Hakkasan Group and has a Michelin star.
The original Hakkasan restaurant is located on Haymarket, but this one is more than twice the size, with seating for 180 people.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about London’s top ten restaurants and found some inspiration for your next trip to the city. Be sure to check out our other blog posts for more useful London and transportation info.
