It might not always have been the case, but with 6,000 licensed restaurants (over 20% of all restaurants in Britain), London is currently one of the most exciting dining destinations in the world, rivalled only by New York in terms of the number of internationally acclaimed chefs it attracts, and the sheer diversity of cuisines on offer (70 countries and regions in total).
The restaurants below have been grouped alphabetically within four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over £70)
$$$ (£45 to £70)
$$ (£20 to £45)
$ (up to £20)
These prices are
for a three-course meal for one, including tax but not drinks.
A service charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill in most restaurants. This is technically an optional charge but it would be very unusual to ask for it to be removed. Where ‘Service is not included', a tip of at least 10% is expected, although 12-15% is becoming more common. Diners should check the bill thoroughly, as tipping is not required on top of a service charge.
GourmetGordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital RoadStill the only London restaurant with three Michelin stars, this remains the best place to experience Gordon Ramsay's cooking. In a comfortable but fairly neutral room, the focus is entirely on the food. All dishes are superb and might include the starter of pan-fried Scottish sea scallops with parmesan velouté and truffle smarties, followed by roasted Barbary duck breast. Reservations essential. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
68 Royal Hospital Road, SW3
Tel: (020) 7352 4441.
Website:
www.gordonramsay.comPrice: $$$$
Le GavrocheSince its opening in 1967 by brothers Albert and Michel Roux, the smart, formal, dark and classically French Le Gavroche, with two Michelin stars, has been setting the culinary benchmark for the British restaurant scene. Highly praised dishes include loin of venison with peppery sauce and cranberries, and seared foie gras with a duck-flavored and cinnamon pancake. Reservations essential. No lunch Saturday. Closed Sunday.
43 Upper Brook Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7408 0881.
Website:
www.le-gavroche.co.uk Price: $$$$
Lindsay HouseIrish-born chef Richard Corrigan has made this Soho townhouse his home and gained a Michelin star in the process. The 1740s building exudes a subtle charm, while guests pad up carpeted stairs to a small, elegant but simple dining room, with white walls, oil paintings, a grand fireplace and comfortable chairs. The menu changes daily (Richard Corrigan tries to source all his ingredients from small suppliers). Every dish is well presented and beautifully cooked. No lunch Saturday. Closed Sunday.
21 Romilly Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7439 0450.
Website:
www.lindsayhouse.co.uk Price: $$$
Locanda LocatelliThe excellent Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli serves up delectable Italian dishes in sleek surroundings with a glamorous 1970s feel. Four courses are recommended, so diners are able to enjoy both an antipasto and a pasta dish. Mains include a decent number of fish and meat dishes, served simply with one or two other ingredients, such as roast monkfish with walnut and caper sauce. Desserts should not be missed. Reservations well in advance are essential.
8 Seymour Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7935 9088.
Website:
www.locandalocatelli.comPrice: $$$
TextureThe brainchild of Agnar Sverrisson and Xavier Rousset, who met whilst working under Raymond Blanc, Texture merges food and wine to create a unique gastronomic experience. Modern European food is served up in sleek surrounds, with signature dishes including char-grilled Anjou pigeon served with moreish bacon popcorn and a hint of red wine. Every dish is masterfully created and the tasting menu allows diners to sample Texture's best along with the perfect wine accompaniment as recommended by the expert sommelier.
34 Portman Street
Tel: (020) 7224 0028.
Website:
www.texture-restaurant.co.ukPrice: $$$
UmuThis sleek restaurant, which won a Michelin star within one year of opening, is a real connoisseur destination, as the many Japanese diners here testify. Kyoto style food is the main draw, especially the much praised
Kaiseki, although the delicate sushi and sashimi are just as popular. Other highlights on the menu include the Wagyu beef, and the delicious soups. There is a good selection of sakes.
14-16 Bruton Place, W1
Tel: (020) 7499 8881.
Website:
www.umurestaurant.com Price: $$$$
BusinessIncognitoNico Ladenis' unfussy West End restaurant provides the best-value set menu in London. For under £20 diners can enjoy a well-composed three-course meal, with a choice of two dishes per course. Dishes might include a brandade of salt cod in crispy pastry, followed by pork belly with fresh sauerkraut and Madeira sauce. The interior is cosy and uncluttered but the service can be patchy. Closed Sunday.
117 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2
Tel: (020) 7836 8866.
Price: $$-$$$
JaanJaan is a peaceful haven looking out to a lush rear terraced garden, and an ideal place to do lunch al fresco in the summer. French cooking is enhanced by delicate South-East Asian influences. There are some interesting offerings on the menu, from starters like the pan-fried foie gras with caramelized banana, pineapple and coconut to green tea flavored creme brûlée with passion fruit and hibiscus.
Swissôtel the Howard, Temple Place, WC2
Tel: (020) 7836 3555.
Website:
www.london.swissotel.com Price: $$-$$$
Matsuri High HolbornAlthough Matsuri High Holborn features the obligatory sushi bar, the real action takes place downstairs in the Teppan-Yaki room, where expert chefs prepare flavorsome dishes on a hot plate right in front of customers. The entertainment factor is huge, and the set-up makes for convivial eating. It's hard to single out individual dishes for praise, but various set menus are a good choice for those wishing to sample a variety of Japanese specialties.
71 High Holborn, WC1
Tel: (020) 7430 1970.
Website:
www.matsuri-restaurant.com Price: $$-$$$
Oxo Tower Restaurant,
Bar and BrasserieFor panoramic views of London, there is no better place to eat than the restaurant at the top of the Thameside Oxo Tower. In good weather, diners can eat on the terrace; otherwise they take a seat in the stylish minimalist interior. At lunchtime, the place is a favorite venue for business meetings. In the evenings, the place takes on a more festive mood, serving modern European food against the stunning London nightscape.
Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, SE1
Tel: (020) 7803 3888.
Website:
www.harveynichols.com Price: $$$-$$$$
Theo Randall at the InterContinental
Theo Randall specializes in modern, Italian gourmet cuisine, and the food, along with the service, the wine selection and the sommelier's advice, is rarely less than excellent. Some of the dishes, like the pan-fried squid with borlotti beans, or the Scottish scallops with lentils, are superb.
InterContinental Hotel, 1 Hamilton Place, Park Lane, W1
Tel: (020) 7318 8747.
Website:
www.theorandall.comPrice: $$$$
TrendyGaucho GrillThe flagship Piccadilly branch remains the epitome of steakhouse chic and still attracts the city cool set with its romantic low-lighting and cowhide wallpaper. Mouth-watering slabs of Argentine steak are the star of the show, although the traditional gambas and outstanding seafood ceviche selections give them a run for their money. As well as having great wines, Gaucho knows how to serve up a mean cocktail and prides itself on its Americas-inspired offerings. Gaucho has recently overhauled the menu, adding some new highlights such as the white chocolate panna cotta.
25 Swallow Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7734 4040.
Website:
www.gauchorestaurants.co.ukPrice: $$$
Other locations:
2 More London Riverside, SE1
Tel: (020) 7407 2220.
125 Chancery Lane, WC2
Tel: (020) 7242 7727.
HakkasanThis chic restaurant is situated down an alley in central London, which deters passing trade and helps heighten Hakkasan's sense of exclusivity. Once down the smart slate steps and past reception, the blue glass doors open on to a stunning, dimly lit room, where a beautiful latticework screen encases the dining area. This is one of only five Chinese restaurants with a Michelin star and the lunchtime dim sum is so good that it is difficult to single out any one dish.
8 Hanway Place, W1
Tel: (020) 7927 7000.
Price: $$$
The IvyThe restaurant of choice of many a celebrity, The Ivy is notoriously difficult to get into without a famous name or advance booking of at least six weeks. Once inside, the comfortable décor suggests a gentleman's club with dark wooden panelling and diamond-patterned stained-glass windows. The food is simple but of high quality and includes traditional British favorites, such as bangers and mash, potted shrimps or braised beef in stout.
1 West Street, WC2
Tel: (020) 7836 4751.
Website:
www.the-ivy.co.uk Price: $$$
SketchFrench chef Pierre Gagnaire's first venture in London, this enormous 18th-century house has been divided into four different culinary experiences, all extravagantly designed by Mourad Mazouz. Though the décor may stray into the realms of pretention, the attentive staff and excellent food do not. The light inventive dishes, touched by Asian influences, are a joy.
9 Conduit Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7659 4500.
Website:
www.sketch.uk.comPrice: $$$-$$$$
St JohnThis restaurant, an old smokehouse, is notorious for being carnivores' heaven, where no bit of the animal is left off the menu. But it also happens to be home to one of the loveliest dining rooms in London. The restaurant serves up old-fashioned British classics with absolute panache - boiled ham and parsley sauce, rabbit saddle, roast beef with a stunning horseradish sauce, Eccles cakes with Lancashire cheese for dessert.
26 St John Street, EC1
Tel: (020) 7251 0848.
Website:
www.stjohnrestaurant.co.ukPrice: $$
BudgetCafé EmmThis brasserie serves some of the best-value food in Soho, so its no-booking policy means that a queue is inevitable. As well as various starters and snacks, there is a selection of main courses under £10, including Cajun-style chicken with potato skins, or home-made salmon fish cakes. The dark-wood interior is packed with candle-lit tables and the service is brisk but not rushed.
17 Frith Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7437 0723.
Website:
www.cafeemm.comPrice: $
The DinerThis retro American diner in the heart of Soho has become a mainstay for local office workers and kitsch-appreciators. The traditional American fare doesn't fail to impress, with juicy burgers and glorious eggs Benedict being popular choices. After dark, the restaurant takes on a bar vibe with shakes going 'hard', with a dash of booze, and the Mojitos free-flowing.
18 Ganton Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7287 8962.
Website:
www.thedinersoho.comPrice: $-$$
Duke of YorkA quirky little gastropub in a quiet Bloomsbury street, the Duke of York is a relaxed yet vibrant place to spend an evening. Unlike most gastropubs, it is not overly trendy, overly crowded or overly priced. The tasty dishes range from British classics like Cumberland sausage and mash to more unusual daily specials, such as sea bream tempura with stir-fried noodles. Reservations recommended for dining area.
7 Roger Street, WC1
Tel: (020) 7242 7230.
Website:
www.dukepub.co.uk Price: $
Golden Dragon
One of Chinatown's best restaurants, the Golden Dragon is bedecked in red and gold and has a noisy, bustling atmosphere. In the daytime (1200-1700), the dim sum selection, brought to the table in a never-ending parade of bamboo steamers, is of exemplary quality. Main dishes, available both night and day, are excellent value and come in generously sized portions.
28-29 Gerrard Street, W1
Tel: (020) 7734 2763.
Price: $-$$
Rock and Sole PlaiceFish and chips are a British institution and there are few places better to indulge than this, London's oldest surviving chippie. It serves up all the basic fish (cod, rock, haddock, plaice, skate and scampi) and more specialties (halibut, lemon sole, Dover sole, trout, salmon, sardines and mackerel), depending on market availability, as well as other chip-shop standards like pasties and pies.
47 Endell Street, WC2
Tel: (020) 7836 3785.
Price: $
Personal RecommendationsLa TrompetteDespite being situated in a quiet street in Chiswick, La Trompette has quickly established itself as one of London's favorite French restaurants. The menu, of Gallic inspiration, changes daily, but always features the freshest ingredients cooked with flair and inspiration. The chic modern interior has a buzz but never becomes too noisy, while most conversations seem to be dominated by discussions about the quality of the food at this fantastic-value restaurant.
5-7 Devonshire Road, W4
Tel: (020) 8747 1836.
Website:
www.latrompette.co.ukPrice: $$
One-O-OneThe refurbished One-O-One is a restaurant no self-respecting fish enthusiast can afford to ignore. Pascal Proyart's little gem has won countless awards, and it is plain to see why. The menu features mouth-watering offerings, the dishes are all expertly executed, and the service, friendly yet unobtrusive, is smooth as silk.
101 Knightsbridge, SW1
Tel: (020) 7290 7101.
Website:
www.oneoonerestaurant.comPrice: $$$-$$$$
Pearl RestaurantPearl is a thrilling addition to the London dining scene, and no doubt one that will become a firm favorite with foodies in the capital. The recipe? Start with glamorous décor, add excellent modern French cuisine and an award-winning wine list with over 50 wines by the glass, and finish with live piano music and attentive yet not overzealous service. The result? You are onto a winner.
252 High Holborn, WC1V
Tel: (020) 7829 7000.
Website:
www.pearl-restaurant.comPrice: $$$
VeeraswamyBoth exotic and luxurious, with dark wood and silver screens perfectly offset by Indian colored glass shades, the interior and the lighting are spot on, and ideal for a perfect romantic evening. The food is a blend of traditional favorites and more modern concoctions, and includes traditional regal recipes but also jazzed up versions of more modest (but just as tasty) Indian street food.
Victory House, 99 Regent Street (entrance on Swallow Street), W1
Tel: (020) 7734 1401.
Website:
www.veeraswamy.com Price: $$$
Nightlife:London has everything from some of Europe’s liveliest nightclubs right through to stylish design bars and traditional old London pubs. You can find night-time hotspots across the capital, although there is a particular concentration in the West End, where Soho remains one of the coolest places to drink, although it’s still seedy along the edges. Soho is also the best place for gay bars and clubs. Out west, the perennially cool Notting Hill/Ladbroke Grove areas are still a draw, while the Old Street/Shoreditch area in the east offers a hip alternative to town. Many local areas, such as Camden and Angel in the north, Brixton and Clapham in the south, have great pubs and bars and a character all their own.
The legal drinking age is 18 years and most clubs exact an admission price (often increasing after 2300 or 2400), which can be high, particularly in the West End. England’s much debated new licensing laws came into force in November 2005. Even though in theory there are no longer any fixed closing times and a number of venues have applied for extended or 24-hour licenses, in practice most pubs and bars still close at 2300 Monday to Saturday and at 2230 on Sunday. Clubs usually open at 2200, fill up by 2400, and stay open until 0200/0300 during the week and usually around 0500 at weekends, although often later. Drink prices are exorbitant in London and can vary from pub to pub and club to club.
Few venues can be defined by their music, featuring different styles on different nights, with regular sets by guest DJs. The best way to keep abreast of goings-on is to check out the listings in the weekly
Time Out magazine (website:
www.timeout.com).
Note that a total ban on smoking inside pubs, restaurants and other enclosed public spaces is now enforced throughout England.
Bars: If a traditional English pub is what you are after, try the 17th-century
George Inn, 77 Borough High Street, SE1 - the only surviving example of a galleried coaching inn in London. In the West End, the hugely popular 17th-century
Lamb and Flag, 33 Rose Street, WC2, offers two floors connected by a rickety staircase and an outdoor area in summer. For ornate Victorian interiors,
The Salisbury, 90 St Martins Lane, WC2, with its gin palace atmosphere, is unbeatable. No less popular is the
Lamb, 94 Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1, and the
Jerusalem Tavern, Britton Street, EC1, a cosy pub serving fine ales in the trendy Clerkenwell area.
As for stylish, hugely busy, trendy bars that stay open past 2300 and do not require a membership card,
Amber, 6 Poland Street, W1, is one of the nicest, while
Akbar, 77 Dean Street, has a touch of exotic décor. The beautiful people go to
The West Bar at Sketch, 9 Conduit Street, W1 (see
Restaurants). Multi-award-winning
Rockwell, on the ground floor of the Trafalgar Hotel, Trafalgar Square, WC2, is one of the city’s coolest meeting places, with its sumptuous (but pricey) cocktails and chic décor. Another fashionable and expensive hotel bar is
The Blue Bar at the Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place SW1, a good place to spot a celebrity or two.
For gay men in Soho, there is only one street in which to pose. Almost all of the Old Compton Street pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants are gay or very gay-friendly. A popular one is
G.A.Y. Bar, 30 Old Compton Street, W1, run by the unstoppable club night,
G.A.Y. (see
Clubs below). Off Old Compton Street,
The Edge, 11 Soho Square, W1, is a well-established male favorite, while the best by far for women is
The Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, W1.
Further west, in Notting Hill, one of the best bars in the area is
Under the Westway, Westbourne Studios, 242 Acklam Road, W10. This bar is set out on the vast open ground floor of a studio/office space; the ceiling of the bar area is actually the concrete flyover known as the Westway. Unpretentious favorite
Portobello Gold, 95-97 Portobello Road, W11, and one of the trendiest pubs in the area
The Westbourne, 101 Westbourne Park Villas, W2, are two more worth checking out.
Heading east,
Vertigo, Level 42, Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, EC2, at 180m (590ft) above the ground, is one of the UK’s highest bars and boasts stunning views across the city and sky-high prices to match. It‘s worth it for the experience though. For a dance,
Favela Chic, 91-93 Great Eastern Street, EC2, a Latin-themed bar with eclectic music, is a good option, as is
Bar Music Hall, 134 Curtain Road, EC2. For a traditional East End boozer made-good, try the refurbished
Carpenters Arms, 73 Cheshire Street, formerly owned by Cockney villains, the Kray twins and now home to harmless arty types and classy continental lagers.
Clubs: A variety of musical styles pervades clubs throughout the capital. The world-famous super-club
Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 (website:
www.ministryofsound.com), is still going strong 17 years on, with its stunning sound system pumping out popular house and garage. Its big rivals today are the more underground
Fabric, 77A Charterhouse Street, EC1 (website:
www.fabriclondon.com),
Pacha, Terminus Place, Victoria, SW1 (website:
www.pachalondon.com), which has brought a touch of Balearic glamour to Victoria, and
The End, an ultra-stylish club at 18A West Central Street, WC1 (website:
www.endclub.com).
However, despite some big players, the club scene today is probably swinging more towards smaller clubs and DJ-bars, especially in the East End where much of the action is now centered. Small-scale clubs are springing up around the now well-established grand-dame of the scene,
333, at 333 Old Street, EC1 (website:
www.333mother.com) in Shoreditch.
Plastic People, 147-149 Curtain Road, EC2 (website:
www.plasticpeople.co.uk),
Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, EC2 (website:
www.cargo-london.com),
Herbal, 12-14 Kingsland Road, E2 (website:
www.herbaluk.com) (house, breakbeats, hip hop and drum ’n’ bass), and slightly further away,
93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane, E1 (website:
www.93feeteast.co.uk) (hip hop, deep house and Latin nights) are all worth a punt.
East Village, 89 Great Eastern Street, with its plush décor and superb sound system, is a recent addition. More central DJ-bars playing various different tunes on most nights of the week include the hugely popular
Market Place, 1 Market Place, W1 (website:
www.marketplace-london.com), and
The Social, 5 Little Portland Street, W1 (website:
www.thesocial.com), an industrial cellar bar/club just north of Oxford Circus.
Although the east is running away with things at the moment, the west’s
Notting Hill Arts Club, 21 Notting Hill Gate, W11 (website:
www.nottinghillartsclub.com) is always worth checking out, for its eclectic nights (famous for Latin nights and increasingly its fun/silly craft evenings). South of the river, Brixton’s reputation for nightlife remains unscathed with
The Fridge, Town Hall Parade, SW2 (website:
www.fridgelondon.com), and New Cross’s
Amersham Arms, 338 New Cross Road, SE14 (website:
www.amersham-arms.co.uk) is one of London’s hottest new venues. The most popular gay night is back in Soho,
G.A.Y. at The Astoria, 157 Charing Cross Road, WC2.
Comedy: The Comedy Store, Haymarket House, 1A Oxendon Street, SW1 (website:
www.thecomedystore.co.uk), still offers the best comedy in town.
Jongleurs comedy and cabaret clubs are based in Battersea, Camden and Bow (website:
www.jongleurs.com).
Live Music: International acts play at
Earl’s Court Exhibition Center, Warwick Road, Earl’s Court, SW5 (website:
www.eco.co.uk), as well as the sizeable
O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, SE10 (website:
www.theo2.co.uk) and
Wembley Arena, Lakeside Way, Wembley, HA9 (website:
www.whatsonwembley.com). Next door,
Wembley Stadium (website:
www.wembleystadium.com) is a newly re-built vast auditorium for massive stars. For a more unique atmosphere, try
The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 (website:
www.roundhouse.org.uk), or the
Brixton Academy, 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 (website:
www.brixton-academy.co.uk).
The Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Shepherds Bush Green, W12 (website:
www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk), and the
Forum, 9-17 Highgate Road, NW5 (website:
www.meanfiddler.com), draw medium-sized acts.
New and exciting indie acts usually play the
Barfly Camden, 49 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 (website:
www.barflyclub.com) and
The Luminaire, 311 High Road, NW6 (website:
www.theluminaire.co.uk), while pubs with regular, often unsigned live music include the
Hope and Anchor, 207 Upper Street, N1 and Camden’s famous
Dublin Castle, 94 Parkway, NW1. For jazz and reggae, head to the
Jazz Café, 5 Parkway, NW1 (website:
www.meanfiddler.com) or to
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, 47 Frith Street, W1 (website:
www.ronniescotts.co.uk), a legendary venue in the heart of Soho.
Tickets for most gigs and concerts are available from
Ticketmaster (tel: 0870 534 4444, website:
www.ticketmaster.co.uk), or contact the venues direct.
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