If you're craving steak. nothing else quite cuts it. Scratch the itch at one of these top steak restaurants London is known for, each boasting top quality meat cooked to perfection alongside drool-worthy sides.
Whether you're taking a date, a mate or simply treating yourself – discover the best steakhouses in London.
1. The Quality Chop House
The clues in the name at this beloved London institution, which has been serving up best-in-class British fare for more than 150 years. Renowned for its perfectly cooked prime cuts, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu at The Quality Chop House. That being said, you must order a side of the confit potatoes and finish with the Cappezzana olive oil ice cream. Even the furniture is Grade II-listed...
Best for: High-quality prime cuts and olive oil ice cream.
Where: Farringdon (92-94 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3EA)
2. Le Relais de Venise l'Entrecote
Few do it quite as consistently as Le Relais de Venise l'Entrecote, a French bistro serving up only one thing, steak and frites. Give the traditionally dressed waiters your steak doneness and drinks order before starting on your Dijon mustard-dressed salad. Your steak follows with a generous portion of skinny fries served from a silver platter with a good lashing of house sauce. Save some room as everyone is offered a second portion!
Best for: A traditional French experience and big portions.
Where: City of London (5 Throgmorton St, EC2N 2AD) and Marylebone (120 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2QG)
3. Blacklock
Inspired by the traditional chophouse, Blacklock has made a name for itself as one of the best steaks in London. Choose from almost any cut, with the bone on of course for extra flavour. Served on vintage crockery with sides served family-style, the restaurant prides itself on serving a roast "almost as good as mum's", and it surely delivers. Everyone has to share the all in roast once in their life, which comes with a plate piled high with beef, lamb and pork.
Best for: Meat-eaters galore with an award-winning Sunday roast.
Where: Soho (24 Great Windmill Street, W1D 7LG), City of London (13 Philpot Lane, EC3M 8AA), Shoreditch (28-30 Rivington Street, EC2A 3DZ), Covent Garden (16A Bedford Street, WC2E 9HE) and Canary Wharf (5 Frobisher Passage, E14 4EE)
4. Goodman
Enjoy prime meat at Goodman’s London steak restaurants in Mayfair and the City. The chefs here dry-age the beef on site and select the best from the special ageing room each day, in what they call "The Cut" – whatever makes the cut finds its way onto the menu for the day. Thanks to its raging charcoal ovens, Goodman's meat has a smoky flavour that makes it stand out from your average steakhouse.
Best for: Perfectly cooked steak with a great wine list in a classy setting.
Where: Mayfair (24-26 Maddox St, W1S 1QH) and City of London (11 Old Jewry, EC2R 8DU)
5. Fazenda
Steak is served the Rodizio way at Fazenda, a Brazilian steakhouse that specialises in succulent grilled meats. Indulge in the "full churrasco" menu, which includes a continuous serving of prime beef picanha, sirloin, fillet, ribeye as well as lamb, pork and chicken, carved at your table. It's a great family-friendly option too, as children aged eight years old and under can enjoy the all-you-can-eat menu for free!
Best for: An authentic Brazilian steakhouse experience.
Where: City of London (100 Bishopsgate, EC2M 1GT)
6. Flat Iron
Looking for a great value, no-frills steak? With locations across the capital, you'll never be too far from a trusty Flat Iron. It has just one regular main course: flat iron steak, sprinkled with salt and served to your desired doneness for just £15. Pair with mouthwatering sides, including bone marrow garlic mash, truffled macaroni cheese and roasted aubergine. Just be sure to leave room for your free soft serve after you've paid up!
Best for: Speed, ease and price without sacrificing quality and flavour.
Where: Covent Garden (17-18 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8QH), Kensington (9 Young Street, W8 5EH), Victoria (22 Terminus Place, SW1V 1JR), London Bridge (), Soho (17 Beak Street, W1F 9RW), Shoreditch (77 Curtain Road, EC2A 3BS) and more
7. Smith & Wollensky
You've heard about the cow that jumped over the moon, but how about the steakhouse that jumped over "The Pond"? American favourite Smith & Wollensky has opened its first foreign outpost, just off The Strand, and brings with it USDA Prime steaks that are butchered on site and dry-aged for 28 days. It's also kept its classic sides on the menu, such as hash browns, buttermilk onion rings and truffled macaroni cheese.
Best for: USDA Prime beef and classic American sides.
Where: Covent Garden (1-11 John Adam Street, WC2N 6HT)
8. Santa Maria del Sur
This convivial Argentinean steakhouse in Battersea is a little off the beaten track, but it's well worth the effort. The menu at Santa Maria del Sur is full of authentic flavours from the South American country, with empanadas, chorizo and dulce de leche desserts all featuring. But it's the steak that has made even Gordon Ramsey sit up and take note over the past 10 years – choose from single cuts or go for an authentic parrillada mixed grill.
Best for: Argentinian steak with a local, neighbourhood feel.
Where: Battersea (129 Queenstown Rd, SW8 3RH)
9. Savoy Grill
Set in one of London's most iconic hotels, this restaurant has a host of steak options, each cooked to perfection in the wood charcoal oven. With art deco surroundings that exude elegance and a menu to match, Savoy Grill is a great option for a special occasion. You may even spot the odd celebrity, given that it's one of London's celebrity chef restaurants.
Best for: Fine-dining from Gordon Ramsay, known for its beef wellington.
Where: Covent Garden (100 Strand, WC2R 0EZ)
10. Steak & Lobster
When it comes to steak, everyone has different preferences. Following this ethos, Steak & Lobster has options for cooking level, sauce and salad dressing to ensure a bespoke steak experience. It comes oozing with garlic and parsley butter, plus paprika fries, onion rings, corn on the cob and salad. This steak restaurant is the perfect refuelling stop after time exploring the nearby British Museum.
Best for: Steak exactly how you like it... even with lobster.
Where: Warren Street (6-7 Warren St, W1T 5AY) and Marble Arch (19-25 Granville Place, W1H 6PA)
11. Hawksmoor
Fusing elegant 1930s-inspired interiors, classic cocktails and a low-lit ambience, Hawksmoor gives a sense of decorum to the caveman-like art of tucking into a hunk of beef. Dry-aged beef is the norm here, sourced from traditionally-reared, grass-fed cattle from small British farms. Try the famous Sunday roast which comes with a whole rump of 35-day dry-aged beef, crispy beef dripping potatoes, bone marrow gravy and all the trimmings.
Best for: 30-day dry-aged beef and a 10/10 Sunday roast.
Where: Piccadilly Circus (5A Air Street, W1J 0AD), Borough (16 Winchester Walk, SE1 9AQ), Guildhall (10 Basinghall Street, EC2V 5BQ), Knightsbridge (3 Yeomans Row, SW3 2AL), Seven Dials (11 Langley Street, WC2H 9JG), Spitalfields (157a Commercial Street, E1 6BJ) and more
12. JW Steakhouse
It's all about bourbon and beef at JW Steakhouse off Park Lane. This American-style restaurant sears its cuts of USDA Prime Kansas beef and British Aberdeen Angus in a high temperature broiler to pack in extra flavour. Choose from the likes of a 32oz Tomahawk rib-eye or bone-in Kansas City strip combined with a choice of toppings and sauces. You can wash it down with a pick from the 160 different bourbon in its Bourbon Bar.
Best for: Top quality beef and a hefty selection of bourbon.
Where: Mayfair (86-90 Park Lane, W1K 7TN)
13. The Guinea
The Guinea knows a thing or two about a good steak, having served its grass-fed beef to politicians, film stars and VIPs over the past 60 years. A founding member of the Scotch Beef Club, this traditional Mayfair pub believes British is best when it comes to beef and relies on Aberdeen Angus from north of the border as well as the finest picks of English cattle. The meat is dry-aged by trusted family butchers and served to your liking in the cosy dining room.
Best for: Classic, no frills steak inside a traditional institution.
Where: 30 Bruton Pl, W1J 6NL
14. 34 Mayfair
This stylish meat-lover favourite, 34 Mayfair cooks British, USDA Prime and Wagyu beef on a parilla (grill) imported directly from Argentina. Whether you're in the mood for sharing a chateaubriand or a côte de boeuf, or simply want a steak frites or a fillet all to yourself, you can settle down in one of the restaurant's burnt orange banquettes and enjoy your feast as you take in the art deco interiors. Finish off with one of the long list of creative cocktails, including trusty classics and seasonal creations.
Best for: Seasonal ingredients, an imported Argentinian grill and art-deco surroundings.
Where: Mayfair (30 Bruton Place, W1J 6NL)
15. Gaucho
One of the more high-profile pioneers of Argentinean steak in London, Gaucho now has restaurants across the city; from Canary Wharf to Richmond. At its More London site you'll be treated to Thames vistas of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. Choose from popular cuts such as lomo (fillet), ancho (rib-eye), cuadril (rump) and chorizo (sirloin); or experiment with skirt or flank marinated in herbs and spices. If you're on a tighter budget, there's a reasonably priced set lunch to sink your teeth into.
Best for: Modern Argentinan and Latin American dining with a long wine list.
Where: Greenwich (Peninsula Square, SE10 0DX), Canary Wharf (29 Westferry Circus, E14 8RR), Soho (25 Swallow Street, W1B 4QR), Covent Garden (8-9 James Street, WC2E 8BT), Hampstead (64 Heath Street, NW3 1DN), Richmond (The Towpath, TW10 6UJ), Tower Bridge (2 More London Riverside, SE1 2AP) and more
Keep exploring the capital's food scene with the top burgers in London. Or, follow up your steak meal with a visit to one of London's top rooftop bars.
