The 50 best restaurants in London right now
Choosing a restaurant to dine at in a city like London can be daunting. There are so many choices when it comes to the best restaurants in London, so many incredible chefs and often, some rather long waiting lists. So, to help narrow down the options in the capital, we've whittled them down to a list of the 50 best restaurants in London. All the restaurants have been tried and tested by our most discerning food fans. So, whether you’re looking for an extended tasting menu, a quick bite or sharing plates, these are the restaurants not to miss in the capital, in no particular order. Scroll on for the 50 best restaurants in London right now.
There are always new openings in London (and sadly, closures too). In August, we added Westbourne Park's new Canal to our 50 best restaurants list. The modern European restaurant is the first west London openings from the folks behind Bistro Freddie (one of our favourites in Shoreditch) and Bar Crispin. We also raved about Cafe Kitsune new Covent Garden outpost, which is a great new place for matcha in the city. New openings we'll be looking out for this month include Legado, a new Spanish restaurant in Shoreditch from wildly popular Sabor's Nieves Barragán. Middle Eastern-influenced steakhouse, Black Cow is also set to open in Shoreditch.
Looking for something different? Consult our list of best brunches in London if you're looking to indulge in a long and languorous breakfast. When the weather allows and you fancy some terrace dining, consult our list of outdoor restaurants and book a lovely meal in well-curated surroundings. Or try one of our neighbourhood guides, whether that's the best restaurants in Notting Hill, Shoreditch & Hackney, Covent Garden, Borough Market, Mayfair or Soho
The 50 best restaurants in London
1/50Canal, Westbourne Park
Calling the location of Canal ‘Notting Hill’ might be a bit of a stretch, as it's situated slightly north of Westbourne Park tube station, in that indeterminate area on the Grand Union Canal that is almost Maida Vale but not quite. This location does have its advantages, however – it's well off the beaten track for tourists, and is right on the edge of the canal, as the name suggests, with a suntrap of a waterside terrace for warm days. The delightful servers call this the ‘West London Riviera’, and it certainly has an, um, urban charm. The restaurant was set up by Dominic Hamdy, who is the man behind stylish London openings Bar Crispin and Bistro Freddie, and is a collaboration between his group and the coliving space Mason & Fifth, which occupies the rest of the building. Canal has impeccable credentials at every level: chef Adrian Hernandez Farina, comes with experience from Humo, Lchuca and Coal Rooms among others, the grown-up cocktails on tap were designed by East London's A Bar with Shapes for a Name, and the staff outfits were created by fashion designer Nicholas Daley.
The menu revolves around seasonal sharing plates: on our visit we enjoyed a moreish plate of Mangalitza sausage with pickled chilli, a sea bream crudo swimming in cherries and oil, which demanded to be mopped up with sourdough. The ‘table cheeseburger’ is a must – a heavenly little slider that has all the addictive qualities of a McDonalds but with a lot more sophistication. Succulent monkfish in a tomato and caper sauce and tortelli filled with ricotta completed a very satisfying meal.
– Virginia Clark
Neighbourhood: Westbourne Park
Cuisine: Modern European
Address: Canal, 11b Woodfield Road, Westbourne Park, London W9 2BA
What to order: The ‘table cheeseburger’ is a must – a heavenly little slider that has all the addictive qualities of a McDonalds but with a lot more sophistication.
2/50Singburi, Shoreditch
Children taking over a family-run restaurant is a tale as old as time, but not many have made our ears (and appetites) prick as much as cult-favourite Thai restaurant Singburi’s second coming. The original Singburi opened in east London’s Leytonstone around 25 years ago, keeping its humble roots and cementing itself as one of London’s most-loved Thai restaurants known for its bright, adventurous flavours and homey vibes – and quickly becoming one of London’s hardest reservations to score. Now, after his parents retired and closed shop, Sirichai Kularbwong has brought a refreshed, shinier Singburi to Shoreditch, teaming up with kitchen heavy hitters including chef Nick Molyviatis, the former head chef at London's Kiln in Soho and Oma as well as highly-loved Thai spots Plaza Khao Gaeng and Speedboat Bar.
Thankfully, and in a surprise to no one, Singburi 2.0 is a smash and I’m already keeping my eyes peeled on Opentable for another reservation. The new industrial space is certainly shinier and more modern, with terrazzo tiles and pastel pink and blue plates – and an online booking system (though there’s no promise for an easier reservation). There are also nods to Singburi’s past including the same blackboard at the front door, the original bright yellow signage now above the bar and a couple of Thai tourism posters of Mangosteen.
The food is also a perfect mix of old and new. The menu is sensationally edited for a “we’ll have one of everything” if you’re here as a table of four and includes a few old favourites like the stir-fried cabbage (and the Moo Krob is promised to return soon too) as well as brilliant new dishes. The fiery watermelon & strawberry salad is an absolute must-order, as is a more-ish radish, kohlrabi & chilli jam salad (it’s also one of the least spicy things on the menu for those wanting a respite). A tiger prawn cucumber curry, dill and lemongrass herbal sausage and beef mince ka prow were gobbled down speedily by me and my group. Paired with another new feature of the menu – wine and cocktails. Think: funky natural wines and Thai-inspired cocktails like lemongrass-infused palomas.
– Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: Shoreditch
Cuisine: Fiery Thai
Address: Unit 7, Montacute Yards, 185‑186 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6HU
What to order: You can't go wrong with ordering everything of this well-edited menu but don't skip the watermelon & strawberry salad, the radish, kohlrabi & chilli jam salad and the tiger prawn cucumber currysingburi.london or @singburi_E1 on Instagram
3/50Story Cellar, Covent Garden
This Covent Garden gem is brought to us by chef Tom Sellers, who has masterfully managed to combine the essence of a traditional French bistro with an English sensibility. That being said, when sitting in the window seats gazing onto the cobbled streets and red-brick former warehouses opposite, you'd also be forgiven for thinking that you have found yourself in New York's West Village. The decoration is comfortable and elegant – the kind of place you want to settle into. Rotisserie chicken is the favourite here, though the menu also boasts a number of French delights: snail bolognese on toast, double baked Gruyere soufflé and mussels in cider among them. Much like the atmosphere here, the food is relaxed, unpretentious and absolutely brilliant. Finish it off with a bread and butter pudding, washed down with any number of sensational fine wines (the restaurant uses the Coravin system, meaning tipples normally only available by the bottle can be sold as glasses). Whether before a show or simply as a wonderful evening in the heart of London, this is a true gem.
— Christabel Chubb
Neighbourhood: Covent Garden
Cuisine: Modern French
Address: 17 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP
What to order: Keep it simple with rotisserie chicken, fries and salad. And of course, bread and butter pudding.storycellar.co.uk or @story_cellar on Instagram
Ben Broomfield4/50AngloThai, Marylebone
After a popular summer-long residency at Outcrop, husband and wife duo John and Desiree Chantarasak finally went permanent with their elegant and creative Thai-inspired restaurant AngloThai – which within less than six months has already got its first Michelin star. Hidden away on a charming road on Marylebone's Seymour Place, the highly anticipated restaurant more than delivers with its creative dishes and unique cocktails using Thai flavours with British ingredients. On our visit in January for example, the Margarita was made using the English tart berry, Sea Buckthorn, instead of limes. It's not the in-your-face fiery flavours you can expect to find at some other new Thai eateries in the capital like Speedboat Bar and Kohlae, but a twist on Thai cuisine. We particularly loved the Hebridean hogget, massaman curry & quince. Another standout dish was beautifully intricate Brixham crab, Exmoor caviar & coconut ash cracker. The interiors feel like a luxury British beach shack with white wood cladding and beautiful Thai-made ceramic artwork and textiles.
– Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: Marylebone
Cuisine: British-Thai (it's in the name)
Address: 22-24 Seymour Pl, London W1H 7NL
What to order: The bright orange Carlingford oysters, sea buckthorn & fermented chilli and grilled wild-farmed bread are a must (or opt for one of the tasting menus)anglothai.co.uk or @anglothai on Instagram
READ MORE: The best restaurants in Marylebone
- Don't Tell Dad</a>, Queen's Park","brand":{"name":""},"id":"67b74e3711b13e8ae3fdf630","index":4,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
5/50Don't Tell Dad, Queen's Park
Don’t Tell Dad, the brainchild of Coco di Mama co-founder Daniel Land, is a new kid on the block, having opened in January of this year. The restaurant is filled with a warm glow from the retro wall lights and has been smartly kitted out with green cord banquettes, parquet flooring and uneven Moroccan zellige tiles, resulting in a welcoming yet stylish space to enjoy the exceptionally executed food by head chef Luke Frankie, previously of Noble Rot.
Highlights on the menu include the truffle and cheddar beignet appetiser (a moreish, umami mouthful of carb and cheese) and the tea-smoked trout starter served with zingy horseradish and pickles. The elevated homeliness of the food has a distinct, but not at all unwelcome, echo of St. John about it, down to the freshly baked madeleines, which take 15 minutes to prepare and are served warm with orange and cream.
- Tilly Wheeler
Neighbourhood: Queen's Park
Cuisine: modern British
What to order: rhubarb and almond sour, truffle and cheddar beignet, lamb
Address: 10-14 Lonsdale Rd, London NW6 6RDVisit their website or follow them on Instagram @donttelldad_qp
(C) Blake Ezra Photography 2024 Not to be reproduced without written permission.6/50Cinder, St. John's Wood and Belsize Park
Nestled on the charming high street in St John’s Wood, Cinder is a cosy little eatery serving up fresh, modern Mediterranean cuisine cooked on the flames of their Josper oven, hence the restaurant’s name. The other outpost in Belsize Park was the first, opening in 2021; the NW8 location subsequently opened in 2022. Head chef and owner Jake Finn and his team serve up a seasonally changing selection of small and larger plates (you can roughly work out which is which by price) out of the open kitchen at the back of the restaurant. Mouth-watering smells wafting past us to the other tables made it very tough to narrow down our order.
The menu style means that it is easy to share a variety of dishes, or go down the traditional three course route. Everything we ordered was exceptional; even the bread we started with was interesting and memorable, paired with garlic tahini and burnt tomato salsa. But the the two large plates were the stars of the evening; we tried the smoky and succulent cedar plank salmon served with pickled cucumber and shallots, and the duck breast with fragrant satay sauce from the specials board - if it returns, don’t hesitate to order it! Make sure to save room for the warm cookies with cream for dessert, an indulgent bowl of gooey goodness delightfully topped with rainbow sprinkles.
- Tilly Wheeler
Neighbourhood: Two locations, St. John's Wood and Belsize Park
Cuisine: modern European
What to order: burnt leeks with pecorino and hazelnuts, cedar plank salmon, baked vanilla cheesecake
Address: 5 St John's Wood High Street, London NW8 7NG / 66 Belsize Lane, London NW3 5BJVisit their website or follow them on Instagram @cinder_london
- Quo Vadis</a>, Soho","brand":{"name":""},"id":"618949a6fd526e0f5307fbb4","index":6,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
7/50Quo Vadis, Soho
This long-standing Soho institution houses a members club and restaurant, with Scottish chef Jeremy Lee at the stoves. His effervescent energy fills the whole restaurant and it truly is one of the jolliest places to find yourself in London. Comfort and good taste exudes from the leather banquettes, crisp linen and floral displays, as well as the cooking. Jeremy achieves a rare combination of hearty and delicate British food with the skill of French technique – the smoked eel sandwich and his meringue tumbles have both become house specialities.
– Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Soho
Cuisine: British
What to order: smoked eel sandwich, baked salsify with parmesan
Address: 26-29 Dean Street, London W1D 3LLVisit their website or follow them on Instagram @quovadissoho
- The Ledbury</a>, Notting Hill","brand":{"name":""},"id":"62616da6a930117841d84bc9","index":7,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
Nacho Rivera8/50The Ledbury, Notting Hill
Brett Graham has consistently maintained the highest levels of fine dining in this light, modern Notting Hill dining room and it has become legendary around the world for having one of the best fine dining tasting menus. The interior has a cool formality that suits the menu but allows for a much more relaxed atmosphere – there is no pomp and circumstance here but a mix of tactile, soft materials that allow you to ease into your surroundings. Everything feeds back to Brett's philosophy to food and as a man obsessed with mushrooms and truffles (you can expect a lot of truffle shavings on your dishes), there are mycellium fittings throughout.
The menu changes all the time to suit the ingredients Brett and his team think look to be their absolute best from their suppliers. There are things that will never change though; it will be inventive, yet thoughtful and familiar; mushrooms will most certainly appear, and seeing as they take centre stage on any trip to the bathrooms (I'll say no more and let you enjoy the surprise), they are all the more delightful for it; truffle is king when in season and you will be treated to it on more than one dish; all the senses are taken into account for every plate, and every plate is impeccable.
– Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Notting Hill
Cuisine: British
What to order: the tasting menu
Address: 127 Ledbury Rd, London W11 2AQ
- Lita, Marylebone","brand":{"name":""},"id":"664f24abedd75283822cf76d","index":8,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
9/50Lita, Marylebone
‘Produce driven’, ‘fire grill’, ‘open kitchen’ ‘sharing concept’, you might be mistaken for thinking Lita, short for ‘abuelita’ is just another trendy London restaurant but this Mediterranean modern bistro is anything but. Chef Luke Ahearne (previously Corrigan's and Luca) and the team behind The Wild Tavern in Chelsea have created an incredible special-occasion space that's also managed to retain a charming and warm neighbourhood restaurant feel. The rustic dining room with wooden ceiling beams and reclaimed terracotta tile herringbone floor is split into various cosy zones. On the mid-week evening that we visited, we opted for the bar stools in front of the open kitchen where we saw chefs making possibly hundreds of one of the star dishes of the evening: a tiny but mighty pan con tomate drizzled with oil and topped with two chunky Cantabrian anchovies and chives. The starters on the menu are a pescatarian's dream: hand-dived Orkney scallops, Smoked Basque sardines, caviar and a delightful Fuentes Bluefin tuna carpaccio.
Lita restaurant prides itself on local produce and that can be seen on its meat dishes too: a comforting Aylesbury duck ragu strozzapreti, Peak District T-Bone, Norfolk quail and Yorkshire pork chop. It's also one of the few places that serves Cull Yaw mutton which comes served with carrots, turnips and Swiss chard. A fennel-crumbed lemon meringue and blood-orange sorbet later, my diner and I knew we had to plan our return here immediately.
– Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: Marylebone
Cuisine: Mediterranean
What to order: the Pan con Tomate with Cantabrian Anchovies and the Amalfi Lemon Meringue Pie
Address: 7-9 Paddington St, W1U 5QHVisit their website or follow them on Instagram @litamarylebone
Jean Cazals10/50The Clove Club, Shoreditch
Named after the supper club that brought its three founders – Daniel Willis, Isaac Mchale and Johnny Smith – together, this modern British restaurant has been serving arguably the best tasting menu in London since 2013. Seasonal ingredients sing in the Shoreditch dining room, and service is so impeccable that The Clove Club is more than deserving of its Michelin star. It’s one for a special occasion, rather than a midweek meal. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Shoreditch
Address: Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, Hackney, London EC1V 9LT
What to order: the tasting menuVisit their website or follow their Instagram @thecloveclub
- Oma, Borough Market","brand":{"name":""},"id":"665990fded793e99afc3f6e7","index":10,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
11/50Oma, Borough Market
After launching two successful Shoreditch restaurants Manteca and Smokestak, Barbadian restaurateur David Carter is back with a double whammy in Borough Market. Overlooking the market itself, the two-story space that was once Hotel Chocolat's restaurant Rabot is now two different restaurants - and both are quickly proving to be hot ticket tables. Downstairs is the more casual Agora, inspired by the streets and markets of Athens. Things are buzzing down here. Tables are walk-in only and the heart of the restaurant is the wood-fired oven and charcoal rotisserie firing out flatbreads, ‘souvla’ and skewers.
Follow your nose upstairs, and you'll reach the tranquil Oma (the Greek word for “raw”). Inspired by the Greek isles and general flavours of the levant, things are a little more upscale but with a huge dollop of heart and vibe. We started the evening with all three options in the ‘bread etc’ section and would highly recommend doing the same on your visit. The grilled, warm and soft Laffa bread and bagel-like Açma Verde went beautifully with the silky hummus with zhoug and the salt cod xo labneh. A punchy Yellowfin tuna ceviche swimming in clementine ponzu gave us energy for the next course after the carbs we just imbibed: a gloriously indulgent spanakopita gratin malawach – a must must order. And then came the clay pot with oxtail giouvetsi, bone marrow and beef fat pangrattato – a classic risotto-like Greek dish served in a rustic clay pot and topped with bread crumbs. Dessert was shared after the savoury indulgence, a soft olive oil gelato topped with fennel pollen and more olive oil for good measure.
– Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: Borough Market
Cuisine: Greek with a modern twist
What to order: spanakopita gratin malawach
Address: 3 Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @oma.london - Sessions Arts Club</a>, Clerkenwell","brand":{"name":""},"id":"618947148373470f8394e2a5","index":11,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
12/50Sessions Arts Club, Clerkenwell
Sessions Arts Club manages to perfectly balance simplicity and decadence, and offer an experience at once pared back but heady. A light touch on ingredients makes way for an expert hand at seasoning, so every sauce is as flavourful as it should be and every finished plate leaves you clamouring for more. It's not easy to bring the interiors, atmosphere, wine list and food together seamlessly in a restaurant but the team at Sessions Arts Club has managed it with such ease, it makes you wonder how others miss the mark. There are many components to the instant success that Sessions Arts Club has enjoyed and the setting is vital. An inconspicuous red door to the side of the building, with an iron arch above it, makes you feel like you're in on a secret as you buzz to gain entry. Once inside, it's up in the lift to the fourth floor, past a heavy red velvet curtain and into the restaurant. Layers of coloured, peeling plaster on the walls find their foil in sumptuous textiles; a bar at one end twinkles in a tempting manner and a soft glow of candlelight flickering from the tables makes the room feel even more like a wonderful secret than the entrance might have done. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Clerkenwell
Address: 24 Clerkenwell Grn, London EC1R 0NA
What to order: Clams, coco de Bretagne & BorettaneVisit their website or follow their Instagram @sessionsartsclub.
- The Dover,</a> Mayfair","brand":{"name":""},"id":"665dc46dc24e19c3e26f8fd0","index":12,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
13/50The Dover, Mayfair
Like a combination of a super-exclusive members club in New York, a carriage on the Orient Express and a very glam 1950s cruise ship, The Dover isn't lacking in decorative interest and atmosphere. It's no wonder that the Dover Street hotspot has become a regular haunt for intimate celebrity dinners.
It's the new brainchild Martin Kuczmarski, one of the minds behind Soho House, and has some recognisable tropes and creature comforts from the franchise. But it also feels like an instant classic, a place for old Londoners or visitors looking for a great night out. Though I enjoyed a fantastic negroni sbagliato, you get the sense that you're in the right place for a whopping dirty martini.
Many of the highlights from my visit are from the ‘snacks’ section of the menu, from perfectly crisp potato cakes topped with caviar, to lobster rolls and even mini hot dogs: all a perfect combination of kitsch and classic. You also can't go wrong with their spaghetti with meatballs.
While it was enveloping and transportive in the summer, I get the sense that The Dover will be even more charming and cosy as the days get shorter and colder in London. – Eve Delaney
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Address: 33 Dover St, London W1S 4NF
What to order: You can't go wrong with a burger, but the lobster rolls and crispy potato cakes with caviar are very popular.Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @thedoverrestaurant
- Mountain, Soho","brand":{"name":""},"id":"6548bc34b5dd50e7dfb417f5","index":13,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
Benjamin McMahon14/50Mountain, Soho
If there's a name you know you can trust when it comes to devising restaurants that people will simply love for all the right seasons, it's Welsh-born Tomos Parry. The British chef is the mastermind behind beloved Brat and in 2023, he brought the taste of the mountainous Basque region to Soho with his new venture: Mountain. It's a simple formula for success: a great, open interior where you can watch every chef at work and feel a little like you're at a very large dinner party; a menu of dishes to share – or not, should you choose – that are so tempting, you know you'll be back for any that you missed; and a top-notch wine list. It's been almost impossible to get a booking since it opened and once you manage to get a table, you'll know why. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Soho
Address: 16-18 Beak St, London W1F 9RD
What to order: red mullet, mutton chops and smoked potatoesVisit their website or follow them on Instagram @mountain.restaurant
15/50Plaza Khao Gaeng & Arcade Food Hall, Tottenham Court Road
Arcade Food Hall, an exciting dining concept on New Oxford Street housing a collection of chef led restaurants under one roof offers “eight open kitchens and a mezzanine restaurant that travels the world, from Thai curries to Middle Eastern shawarma.” The spacious ground floor has small tables, communal benches and areas for large groups where guests order from a single menu that includes banh mi sandwiches from Vietpopulare, for a taste of Hanoi cafe culture, or Tipan Tapan’s Nepali street food from ex-Berejak chef Arjun Gurung, to a sushi kitchen or omakase experience from Sushi Kamon and Omakase by the founders of Japanese restaurant Yashin.
On the mezzanine level, the 45 seater flagship is southern Thai Plaza Khao Gaeng, operating as the only individual restaurant. Designed to feel like you’re eating at a market stall in Thailand, the small tables are covered in 70’s style bright patterned vinyl tablecloths, there’s a busy open kitchen in the brightly lit space filled with steam and the scent of Thai spices. Pik Gai Tord Khamin Deeplee aka chicken wings with turmeric and long pepper are crispy, unctuous and golden with spice, Miang Phuket - a mound of coconut, cashew and single estate palm sugar is served with a pile of betel leaves for scooping it up. An intensely fragrant shrimp paste relish comes with fresh vegetables including squash and a mound of Thai basil. Authenticity is key for chef Luke Farrell who sources curry paste from Bang Rauk market in Thailand and grows spices in his Dorset greenhouse. The addictive flavour combination of spicy, sweet, sour and hot explode in the tastes of these dishes, subdued only by pots of steamed new season jasmine rice and crisp salad leaves. – Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Soho
Address: Arcade Food Hall, 103-105 New Oxford St, London WC1A 1DB
What to order: Pik Gai Tord Khamin Deeplee and Miang PhuketVisit their website or follow them on Instagram @plazakhaogaeng.
16/50KOL & KOL Mezcaleria, Marylebone
Santiago Lastra's KOL is a vibrant expression of his Mexican heritage. Every aspect of the restaurant is infused with warmth; the terracotta, wood and ceramic interiors, the incredibly elegant open kitchen and the sunny disposition of the staff. The menu is a tasting one; choose seis or nueve for either a six or nine course spin around the complex cooking that Santiago and his team so deftly put together in the open kitchen. Every plate is so alive with flavour, texture and levels of heat that work together in a kind of alchemy. It's a restaurant you won't forget in a hurry. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
If you can’t get a table, try the buzzy Mezcaleria downstairs for antojitos, or small plates and superb cocktails. I loved their ‘no avo’ creamy pistachio guacamole served with salty fresh tortilla chips and the pork belly empanada with achiote and rhubarb salsa. A range of mezcals are mixed into cocktails you could drink all night, including a sour made with tangy sorrel and hops – Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Marylebone
Address: 9 Seymour St, London W1H 7BA
What to order: the tasting menuVisit their website or follow their Instagram @kol.restaurant.
- St Barts</a>, Smithfield","brand":{"name":""},"id":"63899926ef6226d00e7b0c70","index":16,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
17/50St Barts, Smithfield
Pulling open the curtains and entering the calm candle-lit bar at St Barts is an instant delight. Taking inspiration from the natural materials used to create the more historic buildings nearby (the restaurant backs onto London’s oldest church, the cloisters of St. Bartholomew The Great), culinary trio Johnnie Crowe, Luke Wasserman and Toby Neill have created a sanctuary of a space using raw materials like stone, wood and soft, fluffy fabrics throughout. It’s a dinner of two halves, with the first half of the tasting menu starting at the lounge bar with drinks and snacks before guests are guided to the dining room for the second half of the tasting menu journey where London’s oldest church comes into full view with floor to ceiling windows. A wax-sealed brown envelope is placed on the table at the start of the night featuring that evening's menu; you can either open it or keep the next few hours a surprise. It's as impressive an experience as they come. – Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: Smithfield
Address: 63 Bartholomew Cl, London, EC1A 7BG
What to order: the tasting menuVisit their website or follow them on Instagram @restaurantstbarts.
- Brutto, Clerkenwell","brand":{"name":""},"id":"622b6f6ee50690a2c5743955","index":17,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
18/50Brutto, Clerkenwell
Inspired by the Florentine Trattorias, this Clerkenwell venue has been a hit since it opened in 2021. Casual, fun and full of atmosphere, this is where to go for anything from a negroni and a plate of crostini with chicken livers, to a full feast of penne con vodka, bistecca alla Fiorentina and finish with decadent tiramisu. Russell Norman has channelled everything we love about Florentine dishes and delivered it to us in London - Blanche Vaughan.
Neighbourhood: Clerkenwell
Cuisine: Florentine Italian
What to order: They served up 35,000 Brutto negronis over the last year, so join the crowd then enjoy the seasonal pasta dishes, from mushroom tortellini in brodo, to lasagna al forno.
Address: 35-37 Greenhill Rents, London, EC1M 6BNFollow them on Instagram @bru.tto or check out a recipe from their cookbook.
LANGLEY19/50Sune, London Fields
There's a lot of top competition when it comes to Broadway Market restaurants, which stretches from London Fields to the Regent's Canal. But newly opened Sune (pronounced Soon-er) is quickly making a name for itself as a leader of the pack. Opened by one of our favourite sommeliers Honey Spencer and her Noma alumni partner Charlie Sims, Sune is everything that you want from a neighbourhood joint. It's stylish without the pomp with a big focus on hospitality. Of course brilliant food is its biggest draw. Ex-Pidgin head chef Michael Robins (who's also cooked at Acme Fire Cult and Akoko) is at the helm of the kitchen and brings seasonal British food with a global twist; think smoked eel Caesar salad and homemade linguine vongole pasta with fried garlic and bottarga.
My meal began with Carlingford oysters topped with koji mignonette and a must-order crispy potato cake topped with very Hackney-esque guindilla peppers and anchovies. A delicious seabass crudo came out looking like a nineties lava lamp with a bright red borscht and dill reduction but it was the beef tartare & Croque Monsieur dish that made me want to immediately plan my next return. If you only order one thing make it this dish. The unexpected combination is favoured as a late-night snack by chefs in Montreal. The grilled pork chop with prawn and lemongrass sauce was cooked perfectly and dessert was a fragrant and warming pear tarte tatin.– Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: London Fields (just off Broadway Market)
Address: 129A Pritchard's Rd, London E2 9AP
What to order: Carnivores should not leave without ordering the beef tartare & croque monsieur and crispy potato cake with guindilla peppers and anchovies.- Bouchon Racine</a>, Farringdon","brand":{"name":""},"id":"67a4d58fad92a0c5cb29e612","index":19,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
20/50Bouchon Racine, Farringdon
Inspired by the ‘bouchons’ (a hearty, family-run restaurant) of Lyon and the bistros of Paris, Bouchon Racine serves classic bistro fare in a warm, lively setting above the Three Compasses pub in the heart of Farringdon. Chef Henry Harris, renowned for his culinary prowess on the London food scene, has crafted a menu that is both an homage to the classics and a testament to his sense of the zeitgeist (nose-to-tale eating really is back). The chalkboard menu is full of an unending rotation of seasonal food, best enjoyed on a bracing winter's evening with a glass of robust red wine. - Evie Delaney
Neighbourhood: Farringdon
Cuisine: Hearty French food
What to order: All the classics, like chicken liver pâté, cote de boeuf and wonderfully umami escargots.
Address: Upstairs, 66 Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BPVisit their website or follow their Instagram @bouchonracine.
- Apricity, Mayfair","brand":{"name":""},"id":"6548bac4ae920bdd9a97b4d2","index":20,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
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Ben Carpenter21/50Apricity, Mayfair
Headed up by chef Chantelle Nicholson, Apricity has a zero-waste, sustainable ethos at its core. Dishes use byproducts of others on the menu – so extra chickpeas from one dish might become a doughnut amuse bouche or part of a ‘wasted dip’ in a snack – and the ingredients are as local as you can get for the quality needed, with tomatoes from Sutton Community Farm and mushrooms grown in north London. The seasonal menu features a lot of plant-based dishes too, adding to the low impact on the environment and it changes all the time to reflect not only the seasons, but the best of what their growers and suppliers have to offer day to day.
Address: 68 Duke St, London W1K 6JU
What to order: Black pearl, maitake & oyster mushrooms, 'XO' sauce, watercressVisit their website or follow them on Instagram @apricityrestaurant
22/50St John, Clerkenwell
As a long term devotee of St John, I am delighted they have opened another branch in Marylebone, a short walk from the Conde Nast office and an excuse to wander past the tempting shops on charming back street, Marylebone Lane. With a simpler menu than their original Smithfield restaurant, this still serves the superb and deceptively simple dishes that made it the holy grail of good English food. There’s devilled crab, game birds (in season), braised rabbit and a new version of anchovies on toast - fillets of salted anchovy served in a tangle of parsley and shallot on crisp croutons. Chopped beetroot salad is dressed with pickled walnuts, a seldom used great British accompaniment and their new deep fried Welsh Rarebit has sent restaurant critics into paroxysms of pleasure. Desserts are hearty or light, depending on your appetite, rice pudding comes with rum soaked raisins, Madeleines are cooked to order or have their famous combination of Eccles cakes with a wedge of crumbly Lancashire cheese. The ground floor dining room is perfect for tables of two, or downstairs there’s room for larger groups. But book in advance, this place is already attracting a crowd – Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Barbican & Marylebone
Address:
26 St John St, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY
98 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2QA
What to order: deep fried Welsh Rarebit and madeleinesVisit their website or follow their Instagram @st.john.restaurant.
- Dorian, Notting Hill","brand":{"name":""},"id":"639c4b4088e2d802928c60a0","index":22,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
Ed Scholfield23/50Dorian, Notting Hill
We know by now everyone is rather sick of hearing the virtues of Notting Hill’s new food wave extolled but, forgive us, we just want to rehash it one more time. It's true that the last few months have seen a wealth of talented chefs set up shop in Notting Hill. From Golborne Road’s Caia, to Instagram hotspot Straker’s, Miznon, Kuro Eatery… we could go on. However, if you’re only going to pick one, it’s got to be Dorian. Dorian is headed up by Chris D’Sylva, owner of the much adored Notting Hill Fish Shop and Supermarket of Dreams (there’s no one who knew what Notting Hill actually needed quite like Chris). The kitchen is headed up by Max Coen, formerly of Kitchen Table, Frantzén and Ikoyi, who has put together a menu that highlights the best of seasonal produce – Arabella Bowes
Neighbourhood: Notting Hill
Address: 105, 107 Talbot Rd, London W11 2ATVisit their website or follow their Instagram @dorian.nottinghill.
- Arlington, St James's","brand":{"name":""},"id":"67ac8d2dc4c58aaf6fb95298","index":23,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
24/50Arlington, St James's
The long-awaited spin-off Le Caprice (the 1990s cornerstone of the British social and culinary scene and regular haunt of Princess Diana, Mick Jagger et al.) is finally back with a bang. Arlington is similarly, and satisfyingly, ‘restaurant-y.’ It delivers everything your parents would want from a West End dining experience - white tablecloths, people-spotting, a muslin-wrapped lemon wedge for your fishcake - plus a reliably delicious menu and some classic, chic design choices. As with all of Jeremy King's brainchildren, Arlington's the kind of restaurant to reach for when you're showing a friend around London or celebrating something special. - Evie Delaney
Neighbourhood: Marylebone
Cuisine: Modern European
What to order: A caesar salad and a martini
Address: 20 Arlington St, London SW1A 1RGVisit their website or follow them on Instagram @arlingtonrestaurant
25/50Cavita, Marylebone
Terracotta tiles, crumbling exposed brick and plenty of pathos plants dangling overhead, you'd hardly remember you're in Marylebone after stepping into the charming and relaxed space that's now Mexican restaurant Cavita. That's exactly how chef Adriana Cavita wants you to feel, taking diners on a journey to her two hometowns; Mexico City and the village of San Felipe Ixtacuixtla. Luckily for us, the finished result is an incredibly ambitious yet relaxed, colourful and memorable culinary journey with home at the heart of the experience. – Tal Dekel-Daks
Neighbourhood: Marylebone
Address: 56-60 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2RZ
What to order: smoked beef shin quesabirriaVisit their website or follow their Instagram @cavita.restaurante.
- Jikoni, Marylebone","brand":{"name":""},"id":"6604392d2304bd4923bf5078","index":25,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
26/50Jikoni, Marylebone
Ravinder Bhogal's Jikoni is a favourite haunt of pretty much everyone in the food industry – and many more people beyond that. She operates it as ‘a kitchen without borders’, bringing in flavours, ingredients and spices from every corner and the globe and blending them into something truly magical. From South East Asia to the Middle East, via Britain, East Africa and beyond, the menu at Jikoni offers an ever-changing array of delights that enliven the palette and the interiors are just as bright, bold and memorable. They are pretty, full of pattern and – like the food – draw influence from all over. There's something for every part of the palette at Jikoni and it is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the tummy.
Neighbourhood: Marylebone
Cuisine: An ‘immigrant kitchen’ inspired by South Asia & the Far East, the Middle East, East Africa and Britain.
What to order: The prawn toast scotch egg with banana ketchup to start, followed by the saffron fish pie, with pomegranate negroni
Address: 19-21 Blandford St, London W1U 3DHVisit their website or follow them on Instagram @jikonilondon.
Maureen M Evans27/50Cafe Cecilia, Hackney
At Cafe Cecilia, Max Rocha’s Hackney restaurant overlooking the canal near Broadway market, fashion meets food in this modern, light space. Max’s River Cafe and St John training speaks of delicious simplicity: the sage and anchovy fritti was as light and crisp as popcorn, pork and apricot terrine was perfection, and the stuffed mussels a revelation of juicy freshness with a crunchy bite. The Guinness bread (a recipe from his mother) is recycled into brown bread ice cream on the dessert menu, although the current instagram sensation is the deep fried bread and butter pudding with cold custard. Need I say more. – Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Hackney
Address: 32 Andrews Rd, London E8 4FX
What to order: The deep fried bread and butter pudding with cold custardVisit their website or follow their Instagram @cafececilialondon.
28/50Fallow, Mayfair
Formerly of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Will Murray and Jack Croft are the dynamic duo in the kitchen at Fallow, bringing their 'creative cooking, sustainable thinking' ethos to the stoves. They follow the Fergus Henderson model of nose-to-tail eating, adding to that root-to-stem, having met while working the veg section at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. It was a standout opening last year and their corn ribs are a cult dish. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Address: 2 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4RP
What to order: corn ribs, mushroom parfait and cod's head with sriracha butter sauceVisit their website or follow their Instagram @fallowrestaurant.
29/50The French House, Soho
Neil Borthwick is the latest chef to make his mark on the upstairs dining room of this archetypal Soho pub. His short, daily changing menu celebrates the French classics in a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere. Neil’s execution of oysters mignonette or lamb navarin, madeleines and Paris-Brest show superlative skill, with no fuss or pomp, just Proustian recollections of pure enjoyment. - BV
Neighbourhood: Soho
Address: 49 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 5BGVisit their website or follow their Instagram @frenchhousesoho.
30/50Luca, Farringdon
On one relatively quiet street in EC1, you'll find two of the best restaurants in London just a few doors from each other. Luca is neighbours with St John, and while it also puts British produce front and centre, it does it with a very Italian sensibility. The interiors are sleek and warm, making it a wonderfully romantic restaurant, the wine list is a tour de force of Italian greats and the food is outstanding. Opt for the chef's menu and let them choose your courses for you – you won't regret it and are in extremely safe hands. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Farringdon
Cuisine: Modern Italian
Address: 88 St John St, London EC1M 4EH
What to order: roast Orkney scallops, rigatoni with pork sausage ragù and tiramisùVisit their website or follow their Instagram @luca.restaurant.
- Trivet, London Bridge","brand":{"name":""},"id":"622748dde50690a2c57434c2","index":30,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
31/50Trivet, London Bridge
Since it opened in 2019, Trivet has quietly been growing a loyal fanbase for its refined, inventive cooking and unparalleled wine list. On the night I visited, it had just (very deservedly) been awarded its first Michelin star and Isa Bal–the sommelier and one of the two founders alongside chef Jonny Lake–had been awarded the title of the best sommelier in the world. It's one of the most peaceful and relaxing rooms in which to enjoy this calibre of service, with plaster walls and wooden accents, an open kitchen that is the epitome and calm and controlled and menus that come in the form of very stylish tomes for your table. There's nothing to fault and it's well worth a trip to London Bridge to try the incredible dishes and wines on offer.
Neighbourhood: London Bridge
Address: 36 Snowsfields, London, SE1 3SU
What to order: ‘Hokkaido potato’Visit their website or follow their Instagram @trivetrestaurant.
32/50BiBi, Mayfair
There are two sides to BiBi, the new Mayfair restaurant by Chet Sharma; sit on a table or banquette and it's a warm, welcoming atmosphere or sit at the bar and you can delight in watching the chefs expertly cook and plate the array of Indian dishes on offer. The service stands out for a light, modern touch and the food is impeccable – it's balanced, full of bold flavours and always with a textural note to give it another level. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Address: 42 North Audley Street, Mayfair, London W1K 6ZP
What to order: Wookey-hole cheese papad, dahi aubergine and lamb shoulder galouti
33/50Brat, Hackney
Since Brat opened in 2018, Tomos Parry’s whole grilled turbot and Basque-inspired dishes (the burnt cheesecake is legendary) have put this Shoreditch restaurant firmly on the foodie map. Meat, fish and game are cooked over fire, and you will find plenty of seaweed, samphire and laverbread, too – a nod to Tomos’s Welsh roots. The first-floor dining room is large and busy, but fortunately you can book ahead. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Hackney
Address: 4 Redchurch St, Hackney, London E1 6JL
What to order: spider crab toast, John Dory and burnt cheesecakeFollow their Instagram @bratrestaurant.
34/50Rochelle Canteen (and ICA), Shoreditch and St James's
The modern British dishes created by Melanie Arnold and Margot Henderson (wife of St John’s Fergus Henderson) embrace the trend for minimalism. Short descriptions and few ingredients, expertly prepared, reflect thoughtful sourcing and seasonality. Arnold & Henderson’s two restaurants, Rochelle Canteen and Rochelle ICA, housed in a converted Victorian school in east London and an art gallery on the Mall respectively, attract an art and fashion crowd who feast on straightforward dishes such as radishes and cod’s roe or quail with harissa. The simple white interiors, wooden tables and chairs keep the mood informal and the prices low. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhoods: Shoreditch and St James's
Address:
16 Playground Gardens, Shoreditch, London E2 7FA
The Mall, St. James's, London SW1Y 5AHVisit their website or follow their Instagram @rochellecanteen.
35/50Hunan, Belgravia
Since opening in Pimlico in the early Eighties, Hunan has been a favourite of those in the know. A daily set menu of frequently changing dishes shows both Hunanese and Taiwanese influences – braised pork, spicy aubergine or the renowned broth with pork, Chinese mushroom and ginger. Wine lovers will appreciate the well chosen list, with a focus on Bordeaux and Burgundy. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Belgravia
Address: 51 Pimlico Rd, Belgravia, London SW1W 8NEVisit their website or follow their Instagram @hunanlondon.
36/50Silo, Hackney Wick
Doug McMaster’s zero-waste restaurant concept Silo, where he served food on plates made from unrecyclable plastic bags, was so popular in Brighton that, last year, he moved it to Hackney Wick. Every aspect of sustainability has been thought through on the £50 a head tasting menu, which focuses on fermentation and cooking over fire. The team is keen to explain the concept and dishes to diners, giving a full understanding of the ethos. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Hackney Wick
Address: The White Building 1st Floor, Unit 7 c/o CRATE Bar, Queen's Yard, London E9 5ENVisit their website or follow their Instagram @silolondon.
37/50The Wolseley, St James's
Perhaps the most famous of The Wolseley Hospitality Group's empire, The Wolseley is an art deco building just next to The Ritz. The interior is glitzy, with soaring ceilings and marble columns. This London institution serves excellent bistro classics in style; think schnitzel, juicy steaks and chopped salads. It is as good for breakfast, cocktails or afternoon tea as it is for lunch or dinner and is always great for celebrity spotting. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: St James's
Address: 160 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9EBVisit their website or follow their Instagram @thewolseley.
38/50Spring, Covent Garden
The Australian chef Skye Gyngell has brought her feminine touch and elegant seasonal cooking to a wing of Somerset House, a huge neo-classical building south of The Strand. Her sister Briony Fitzgerald has converted the 19th-century drawing room into a light-filled space where guests can enjoy Skye’s meticulously seasonal cooking in comfortable, modern surroundings. The menu includes dishes such as guinea fowl with grilled fennel, citrus and aïoli or ginger cake with meyer lemon cream and blood oranges; the plates are colourful and fresh and reflect Skye’s light touch. - Blanche Vaughan
Neighbourhood: Temple
Address: Somerset House, Lancaster Pl, London WC2R 1LAVisit their website or follow their Instagram @spring_ldn.
39/50River Cafe, Hammersmith
For over 30 years, A-listers have flocked to this Thameside location in Hammersmith location for (the late) Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers’ inspired Italian cooking. The daily changing menu and superior sourcing keep the chefs perfectly in line with the seasons, and dishes such as ravioli with buffalo ricotta and garden herbs or oven-roasted turbot keep the customers coming. The interior is modern and minimal with bursts of colour, including a shocking pink wood-fired oven, which forms part of the open kitchen. Prices may be steep, but the experience, attentive staff and quality of food make it worth every penny. - BV
Neighbourhood: Hammersmith
Address: Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, Hammersmith, London W6 9HAVisit their website or follow their Instagram @therivercafelondon.
40/50Decimo, King's Cross
On the 10th floor of The Standard hotel, with Kings Cross glittering beneath you, Decimo is resplendent in red leather, tactile furnishings, polished wood, glazed tiles, macramé and greenery, creating a cocooning atmosphere that makes you feel part of a vibrant club. The food is Mexican and Spanish, with sharing plates and stiff cocktails to steer you through an evening of tiny tacos, Mexteca-glazed monkfish and a not-to-be-missed mushroom bomba rice. It’s on the pricier side, but worth it for when you want to splash out. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: King's Cross
Address: 10th Floor, 10 Argyle St, London WC1H 8EGVisit their website or follow their Instagram @decimo.london.
41/50Gymkhana, Mayfair
Having had a fire in the building, Gymkhana reopened its (refurbished and extremely stylish) doors to clamouring diners earlier this year, only to have to shut again for the pandemic. This Michelin-starred Indian restaurant celebrates the very best of Asian cooking, with richly spiced dishes, impeccable service and an impressive wine list. The food can be fiery and a starter of IndoChinese halibut is not for the faint-hearted, while the Aloo Chaat is the best you'll ever try. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Address: 42 Albemarle St, Mayfair, London W1S 4JHVisit their website or follow their Instagram @gymkhanalondon.
42/50The Delaunay, Holborn
The brief for the design of The Delaunay was ‘Where would a 1940s woman carrying a hat box and leaving New York by train eat beforehand?’ The elegant interior features white tablecloths and dark-wood accents to highlight the mittel-European food at this Corbin & King classic. Think goulash, tarte flambée and, of course, oysters. When you need a break from The Wolseley, this alternative is a delight at any time of day. - Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
Neighbourhood: Holborn
Address: 55 Aldwych, Holborn, London WC2B 4BBVisit their website or follow their Instagram @thedelaunay.
43/50Ikoyi, St James's
Chef Jeremy Chan heads up the team at Ikoyi, which he co-owns with Iré Hassan-Odukale. It’s refreshingly modern – the team simply serves what it is cooking that day, at Michelin star level. Jeremy takes the best British ingredients, pairs them with sub-Saharan West African spices and, in doing so, creates a vibrant, exciting and ever-changing experience. The dining room is decked in earthy tones, which have a warm and stylish feel. - CMH
Neighbourhood: St James's
Address: 1 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4AHVisit their website or follow their Instagram @ikoyi_london.
44/50Noble Rot, Holborn
A Bloomsbury institution on Lamb’s Conduit Street, Noble Rot leads with wine and follows with food. The sommelier’s list of bottles is endless and the team’s knowledge is unimpeachable. Start with oysters and a glass of muscadet before exploring the continental fare on offer, making sure you match your dishes to your wine choice. It is so popular, the team is opening a new location in Soho later this year. Stay tuned. - CMH
Neighbourhood: Holborn
Address: 51 Lamb's Conduit St, Holborn, London WC1N 3NBVisit their website or follow their Instagram @noblerotbar.
45/50A. Wong, Pimlico
This Pimlico Chinese, inspired by Andrew Wong’s travels around China, offers the best of the country’s varied regional cuisines. For those intimidated by a multi-choice menu, A Wong will create a bespoke selection of dishes for sharing at your table, such as Chengdu tofu with soy chilli and preserved vegetables or baskets of steamed dim sum. Seats at the bar offer diners the theatre of the kitchen and the chance to try the chef’s newest dishes. But whatever you choose, don’t leave without trying the desserts – his coconut water ice with dried mulberries is sublime. - BV
Address: 70 Wilton Rd, Pimlico, London SW1V 1DE
Visit their website or follow their Instagram @awong_london.
46/50Riva, Barnes
If you can’t get into the River Café, Riva is a smaller, more neighbourly eatery with the same cooking ethos. Though Barnes is out of the way for some, Riva is always busy, perhaps in part due to its celebrity fans (namely, the Beckhams). It cooks classic Italian dishes exceptionally well – we recommend spaghetti alla vongole or deep-fried courgette flowers, which are brought to your table by long-serving staff. - CMH
Neighbourhood: Barnes
Address: 169 Church Rd, Barnes, London SW13 9HR; 020 8748 0434Visit their website.
47/50Barrafina, locations across London
The atmosphere at Barrafina – of which there are four restaurants across central London – is best described as buzzy. With a strict no-booking policy, the marble-clad tapas bars are busy, noisy in the best way, and queues are to be expected. Nab a stool at the bar for the best tortilla and griddled prawns this side of Spain. - CMH
Addresses: 10 Adelaide St, Charing Cross, London WC2N 4HZ
26-27 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 3LL
43 Drury Ln, Covent Garden, London WC2B 5AJ
Stable St, Kings Cross, London N1C 4ABVisit their website or follow their Instagram @barrafinalondon.
John Carey48/50Brawn, Columbia Road
Brawn is celebrating a decade of serving Columbia Road locals a seasonal menu that reflects the produce and traditional recipes of Europe. Think grilled calçots with ajo blanco and chopped egg, crab bisque and wood pigeon with lentils and walnuts. Classic flavours are paired beautifully in a rustic and informal setting that fits perfectly in its east London surroundings. - CMH
Address: 49 Columbia Rd, London E2 7RG
Visit their website.
49/50Trullo, Islington
This Islington neighbourhood restaurant has a reputation that reaches far beyond its borough. Owners Jordan Frieda and Tim Siadatan met while working at the River Café and the Italian menu keenly reflects those roots. Trullo is best described as a contemporary trattoria, with small, white-clothed tables, industrial-style hanging lamps and white walls. The cooking is robust and excels in hearty meat and pasta dishes. - BV
Address: 300-302 St Paul's Rd, Highbury East, London N1 2LH
Visit their website or follow their Instagram @trullo_restaurant.
Stephen Joyce50/50Moro, Clerkenwell
Moro takes its inspiration from the exotic and vibrant dishes of southern Spain and North Africa. It was one of London’s first kitchens to cook over fire, and to produce home-made sourdough cooked in the wood-burning oven. Husband-and-wife team Sam and Samantha Clark have introduced London to the flavours of rose water, cardamom, fragrant herbs and pistachio sauces at their Clerkenwell restaurant for over 20 years and it still remains as good as when it opened. - BV
Address: 34-36 Exmouth Market, Farringdon, London EC1R 4QE
Visit their website or follow their Instagram @restaurantmoro.
