London is a fantastic place to eat out, with countless options for every taste and budget, from award-winning world cuisines to traditional British grub. Check out our pick of the best restaurants in London to find your next dining spot in the capital.
Taste incredible dishes packed with flavour at the best restaurants in London, featuring venues with settings for every occasion, from swanky locations with astounding views perfect for a romantic meal to cosy family-friendly pubs and atmospheric wine bars.
Cheap and affordable restaurants in London
Visiting London on a budget? The British capital has plenty of affordable dining spots to tickle your fancy. Find great cheap restaurants in London for every taste, from fantastic Italian eateries and excellent Asian street food spots to affordable French brasseries and the best burger restaurants in the city.
- Tear into slices of Napoli-style pizza at Santa Maria Pizzeria in Ealing.
- Try the fluffy Taiwanese buns with delectable toppings at Bao.
- Head to Padella for bowls of homemade pasta from around £5.
- Treat yourself to a steak and salad at Flat Iron for a reasonable £10.
- Enjoy the glamorous surroundings at Brasserie Zédel, offering French food at affordable prices.
- Sink your teeth into one of the best burgers in London at Patty and Bun.
- Discover family-style Sri Lankan cooking at Hoppers Soho.
- Gorge on pork belly tacos at Breddos Tacos.
- Order generous amounts of Chinese fare at Xi’an Impression in Highbury.
Best small plates restaurants in London
If you’re looking for a cool dining spot to spend a fun evening with friends or family, discover the best small plate restaurants in London. These eateries are perfect for sharing, serving delicious small plates packed with big flavours. Take your pick from Spanish tapas, French treats, Asian fusion, South-American delicacies and more.
- Enjoy a blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian creations at Sushisamba on Covent Garden's Opera Terrace.
- Share delicious small plates of French cuisine at cosy Blanchette in Soho.
- Combine Mediterranean and Japanese flavours with cocktails and a gorgeous location at Bloomsbury Street Kitchen.
- Experience fine Spanish cuisine and hospitality at Sabor.
- Queue at Barrafina – the incredible tapas inside is well worth the wait.
- Savour the taste of the Mediterranean at The Ninth in Fitzrovia.
- Sample moreish Italian and Peruvian dishes at Monmouth Kitchen.
- Try one of the many excellent seafood dishes on the menu at Westerns Laundry.
Fun and trendy restaurants in London
London is also a great city to experience quirky dining venues serving creative dishes in colourful surroundings. From London institutions clad in lavish interiors to restaurants designed by award-winning artists, discover some of the most trendy and fun restaurants in London, perfectly combining top-notch food with inspiring decor.
- Push the “press for champagne” button at super-trendy Bob Bob Ricard.
- Eat wholesome food at Rochelle Canteen, located in a school’s old bike shed.
- Tuck into lunch, dinner or cocktails surrounded by an eclectic collection of antique treasures at Brunswick House in Vauxhall.
- Dine on haute French cuisine at Sketch and marvel at the quirky restaurant's interiors, including the egg-shaped loos.
Best London vegetarian and vegan restaurants
From veggie hot dogs and dairy-free banoffee pie to fine-dining vegan cuisine, there are plenty of tempting vegetarian and vegan options to choose from at the best vegetarian restaurants and top vegan restaurants in London.
- For vegan food that even non-vegetarians will love, go to fully plant-based and gluten-free Holy Carrot in Notting Hill.
- Enjoy tantalising Chinese dishes with a vegan twist at Tofu Vegan in Islington, Golders Green and Spitalfields.
- Soak up the cheery community atmosphere and enjoy a variety of cuisines from rotating chefs at Bonnington Cafe.
- Stuff your face with vegan burgers, ribs, fish and chips, hot dogs and more at much-loved non-profit Unity Diner in Spitalfields.
- Marvel at the gloriously pink room at Rasa N16 while tucking into sizzling Indian curries.
- Fill up on junk food at Temple of Seitan, London's famous vegan fried chicken joint.
- Sample vegan and vegetarian dishes from around the world at Mildreds, a Soho institution.
- Try creative dishes with matched wine pairings from the set vegan menu at Frog by Adam Handling in Covent Garden.
Best spots for brunch in London
Whether you’re looking for a boozy brunch, a late breakfast with friends or a healthy take on the mid-morning meal, treat yourself to a lie-in and indulge in a spot of brunch at one of the best brunch restaurants in London.
- Admire Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings' beautiful botanical spaces during a bottomless brunch.
- Indulge in pancakes or get your health kick from superfood salads at Christopher's, a glitzy American restaurant.
- Order the Jerusalem breakfast at The Good Egg in Soho for a Jewish-influenced brunch feast.
- Eat the signature duck and waffle dish in front of incredible views at Duck & Waffle.
- Enjoy every type of egg imaginable at Balthazar, a grand brasserie near Covent Garden.
- People-watch with a Bloody Mary outside Dean Street Townhouse, a not-to-be-missed brunch hotspot.
- Delve into the Bloody Mary beans or the Mistress Royale for a treat day at The Farmer's Mistress in Battersea.
- Rub shoulders with the stars as you munch on buttermilk pancakes at Chiltern Firehouse.
Best BBQs, grills and kilns in London
Calling all meat lovers and anyone who loves a good grill! From Asian BBQ and Turkish kebabs to grilled seafood and huge hunks of meat cooked over charcoal, settle down for an incredible meal at some of the best BBQ and grill restaurants in London.
- Watch meat roast on an open grill in the middle of Temper.
- Tuck into expertly grilled Churrasco meats and delicious Brazilian sides at Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill.
- Order the grilled octopus at The Barbary, a North African grill in pretty Neal’s Yard.
- Shake your head to rock music as you eat Turkish-inspired kebabs at F.K.A.B.A.M. (fomerly Black Axe Mangal).
- Fill up on plates of Thai food cooked over charcoal at Smoking Goat, inspired by late-night canteens in Bangkok.
- Chomp on hunks of meat from the grill and nibble on mezze at Berber & Q.
- Eat delicious Thai curries and noodles cooked in clay pots at Kiln.
Best Michelin-starred restaurants in London
For a meal to remember, splash out at one of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in London. Indulge in the finest award-winning cuisine the city has to offer, with world-renowned chefs such as Alain Ducasse, Hélène Darroze and the Galvin brothers, as well as promising newcomers making their mark.
- Delight in stunning French cuisine from two Michelin-starred chef Hélène Darroze at The Connaught.
- Experience incredible British food in relaxed surroundings at The Harwood Arms, the only Michelin-starred pub in London.
- Treat yourself to a royal experience at The Dining Room at The Goring, frequented by Kate Middleton.
- Delve back in time through the historically inspired menu at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal.
- Tuck into wild English game dishes at two Michelin-starred restaurant, The Ledbury.
- Take a trip to Chez Bruce by Wandsworth Common for high-end French cuisine and fantastic service.
- Choose from around 45 gourmet Indian dishes at Amaya, each prepared with its own special blend of spices.
- Sample incredible modern Chinese food at Hakkasan, a celebrity haunt in Mayfair.
- Dine on the best Italian food in London at The River Cafe, which serves hearty Italian classics made using the highest quality ingredients.
- Join the well-heeled Chelsea set at celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's flagship restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
- Admire the magnificent grade II-listed venue's high stone ceilings and arched windows, as you dine on impeccable French cuisine at Galvin La Chapelle in Spitalfields.
Best London wine bars with fantastic food
Tuck into scrumptious dishes paired with the perfect wine at one of the best wine bars in London with food. From quirky drinking spots to classy French bistros, discover plenty of fantastic locations across the city to sample hundreds of different types of wine, including naturally fermented, organic and bio-dynamic wines.
- Devour tempting Anglo-French fare paired with excellent wine at Noble Rot.
- Find your new favourite wine from the 10 bottles on rotation at The 10 Cases, with seasonal food to match.
- Soak up the warm ambience and Dickensian-style decor at Gordon's Wine Bar.
- Try natural wines and food from the charcoal grill at Naughty Piglets in Brixton.
- Head to buzzy 40 Maltby Street for natural wines and fresh produce from the tiny kitchen.
Best British restaurants
From historic restaurants serving up British classics to more recent eateries putting a new spin on age-old recipes, there are plenty of fantastic places to try the best traditional British food in the city. Book a table of one of the best British restaurants in London, including top fish and chip venues, pie shops and Sunday roast hotspots.
- Find a spot at Kitty Fisher’s for British fare with a Spanish twist.
- Spot famous actors during a post-theatre dinner at The Ivy.
- Settle down at a table in Quo Vadis for comforting British staples such as pie and mash.
- Be wowed by the tasting menu at The Clove Club, ranked one of the world’s best restaurants.
- Pop into Lyle's in trendy Shoreditch for a set menu that celebrates seasonal British ingredients.
- Eat elegant dishes at Core by Clare Smyth, the only female chef to have run a three Michelin-starred restaurant in the UK.
- Treat yourself to sensational British seafood or Scottish steaks at Berners Tavern.
- Feast on expertly cooked meats at Holborn Dining Room, a grand British brasserie.
Top restaurants in London for seasonal produce
For deliciously creative plates made with top-quality, locally sourced ingredients, head to one of the best restaurants for seasonal produce in London.
- Drink wine on tap and eat British ingredients cooked with global influences at Clipstone.
- Gaze out over the river Thames and enjoy a menu that celebrates seasonality at 12th Knot at Sea Containers London.
- Head to Eat 17 in Walthamstow for hearty plates made with locally sourced produce.
- Enjoy daily changing small plates, made with produce from the farm, locally foraged or freshly caught off the South Coast, at locals' favourite The Shed in Notting Hill.
- Dine with the East Dulwich locals at Franklins, where ingredients are largely sourced from their farm in Kent.
Luxury dining in London
Feast on exquisite creations and fine cuisine from around the world at some of the best luxury dining restaurants in London.
- Sample exquisite Japanese cuisine well worth the price tag at Roka Charlotte Street.
- Enjoy Michelin-starred dishes in a magnificent setting overlooking Green Park at iconic The Ritz Restaurant.
- Knock on the door of a Regency townhouse to be whisked into the intimate dining room at Gauthier Soho.
- Relish fine Chinese cuisine and fantastic views at Min Jiang at the Royal Garden Hotel.
- Dine on fine Mediterranean-inspired cuisine at Clos Maggiore, a must for romantics with its intimate open courtyard.
- Taste the famous black cod miso at Nobu Shoreditch.
Best steakhouses in London for meat lovers
Are you in search of the best steak in London? Whatever your favourite cut of beef, you’ll find it with our pick of the best steakhouse restaurants in London. Tear into prime meat and enjoy the best cuts from around the world with these top spots for meat lovers, including where to find the best Sunday roasts in the capital.
- Scoff one of the best Sunday roasts in London at Hawksmoor.
- Tuck into excellent steaks and admire the view of Parliament across the river at Gillray’s Steakhouse and bar.
- Make sure nothing goes to waste at St John, famous for its nose-to-tail eating philosophy.
- Enjoy the best cuts of meat from around the world, grilled to perfection at Omnino Leadenhall.
- Dig into the finest British meat handled with care at The Quality Chop House, featuring Grade II-listed Victorian decor.
- Tear into USDA prime steaks from American steakhouse Smith & Wollensky.
Best restaurants in London for international cuisine
Uncover culinary delights from around the world at London's best international restaurants. Get a taste of the capital’s eclectic food scene and enjoy delicious food from every continent, from Africa and Asia to America, Europe and more!
- Discover regional specialities from Thailand at Som Saa.
- Begin your day with an Indian-inspired breakfast at Dishoom.
- Have your taste buds tingle with the freshness of the ceviche at Lima Fitzrovia, a Michelin-starred Peruvian restaurant.
- Feast on vibrant curries and bowls of steaming rice at Thai eatery Farang.
- Take plenty of Instagram-worthy snaps while you enjoy creative international food at Hush Mayfair.
- Indulge in high-end Italian cuisine at sophisticated Il Pampero.
- Tuck into colourful plates of delicious Middle Eastern food at Honey & Co.
- Discover Eataly, the ultimate Italian food destination in London, featuring several restaurants, cooking classes and even a fresh produce market!
- Get your health kick the Californian way at Malibu Kitchen at The Ned, which serves superfood salads, juices and smoothies.
- Head to Westminster institution The Cinnamon Club for refined Indian food in a former Victorian library.
- Enjoy tasty Chinese cuisine at one of Chinatown's many culinary hotspots.
And now for dessert
Don't forget to leave some room for dessert! If you’re serious about chocolate, ice cream or cakes, check out some of these heavenly places where your sweet tooth will be sated in every possible way. These are some of the best restaurants for dessert in London.
- Treat yourself to a decadent dessert paired with a specially selected cocktail at Basement Sate.
- Pick from an eye-catching selection of mouthwatering cakes, brownies, biscuits and more at Cutter & Squidge.
- Try beautifully iced cupcakes, layered cakes and savoury treats at insta-famous Peggy Porschen.
- Thick and gooey cookies await you at Crème London in mouthwatering flavours including white chocolate miso and banana dark chocolate.
- Enjoy ice cream reimagined at Soft Serve Society with wild flavour combinations such as charcoal coconut and matcha.
Check out our food and drink guide for more inspiration, from Michelin-starred dining to top spots for cheese.