In a metropolis like London, with an eatery at every corner, the sheer number of restaurants can be overwhelming.
From Michelin-starred dining in Mayfair and Chelsea to tables with views overlooking The Shard, London Eye and the Thames, the capital is bursting with cuisines ready to tickle the tastebuds, provide some serious interiors inspiration and wet your whistle with its wide ranging menus of cocktails, apéritfs and sommelier-advised wines from around the globe.
Thankfully, we've been able to condense the options down to the very best, bringing you the only reservations you really need to make in 2025.
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From Italian feasts and Peruvian BBQs to innovative Japanese fusion, these are the best London restaurants, according to our extremely fussy team.
1) Toklas
Step inside Toklas and you’ll instantly feel transported to the Mediterranean—calm, sun-soaked, and effortlessly stylish. The space is stripped back yet full of character, with reclaimed parquet floors underfoot, vintage Scandinavian chairs, and rich green leather banquettes that give a cool, coastal vibe. An open kitchen brings the energy, while the bar, which features a collage of art posters spanning the last four decades, is the perfect touch.
Tucked between the Strand and the Thames, it’s a tucked-away escape. The food is an ode to the Mediterranean. With menus reflective of the seasons, you'll always be eating fresh at Toklas. Ingredient-led dishes such as slow-grilled carrots with labneh, black bream with Amalfi lemon, and tonnarelli with Portland crab to raw artichokes with mint and grilled lamb leg, this is the spot where you'll find us all summer.
Click here to find out more. Toklas terrace (open for bookings from Thursday, 1st of May) here!
Location: 1 Surrey Street, London, WC2R 2ND
2) Bar Crispin
Little sisters can be a pain in the artichoke. But Bar Crispin, younger sibling to the sleek, modern European restaurant Crispin in Spitalfields, is a delicious example of good culinary genes. On Soho’s Kingly Street, this wine bar-come-restaurant has a changing seasonal menu with big hitters including crispy polenta with aioli and parmesan, aged beef tartare crumpet and giant heirloom tomatoes swimming in a pool of melt-in-your-mouth burrata.
The wine list, low-intervention with a nice emphasis on organise and biodynamic producers in Europe, is very original and will have you trying something new, then immediately taking a picture of the label.
It goes without saying that we’d be happy for the Crispin family to keep multiplying.
Click here to find out more.
Location: 19 Kingly Street, W1B 5PY
3) Alex Dilling At Hotel Café Royal
Within the famous Hotel Café Royal, Alex Dilling at Café Royal is an intimate spot, perfect for those seeking indulgence in French gastronomic delights. Highlights from Dilling's menu include buttery wild John Dory paired with guanciale and smoked caviar and succulent Cornish squid 'A La Royale'. The Brittany pigeon, with morel farci and Alsace bacon, is a definite favourite. Save room for dessert: you won't regret the Gariguette strawberry with Tahitian vanilla.
Click here to find out more.
Location: 68 Regent Street, London W1B 4DY
4) Fallow
Before you even step foot in to Fallow on Haymarket, you may already be well acquainted with their hugely talented chef duo, Jack and Will who have a YouTube channel with over a million followers. And while the food, and insider glimpse of what goes on in the kitchen, might look tempting online, in real life it's out of this world.
Which is why Fallow is always busy. We would (and have) eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner here. Highlights include Fallow croissant royales (fillings, such as burrata and smoked sausage, sandwiched between a pastry bun) and crispy old spot pig's head served with spiced apple ketchup, cider and onion gravy. If that sounds too meat-heavy, go for the Hen of the wood burger or roasted miso aubergine and a scattering of sides including the grilled courgettes. For afters, the sweetcorn and brown butter soft serve and the famous Chelsea tart (pictured) will have you booking your next reservation on your way out.
Click here to find out more.
Location: 52 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RP
5) NIJŪ
One of the hottest new addresses in town, NIJŪ has already established itself as a Mecca for fans of high-end Japanese cuisine. It may be in the middle of Mayfair – with the well-heeled clientele, buzzy vibes and ultra-luxe ingredients to match – but you’d be forgiven for imagining you’re on the other side of the world as you step into the minimalist-chic interiors. The restaurant is set within a grand building (that used to house private members' club 20 Berkeley), spread across a number of floors and boasting a lovely little bar called Nipperkin downstairs to boot.
It's testament to the exceptional food that NIJŪ is packed practically every day of the week – though given the fact that legendary chef Endo Kazutoshi is the culinary director, this should come as little surprise. On the menu, you'll find all the classics you'd expect, albeit significantly more elevated than usual – think Otoro nigiri topped with a generous helping of caviar, and fresh sashimi arranged into an Instagram-worthy artistic platter – alongside meats cooked over charcoal and served on a traditional Konro grill. Speaking of which: the wagyu is a must, accompanied by the wild mushroom and truffle rice, and some tenderstem broccoli.
Click here to find out more.
Location: 20 Berkeley St, London W1J 8EE
6) The Parakeet
If you're looking for delicious small plates minus the faff or frippery, then The Parakeet, housed in an old pub but with an upgraded bottle green and plaster pink exterior, is the place for you.
Kick things off with sweet and tangy house pickles, the half loaf of potato bread and whipped smoked butter, and an oyster with pickled cucumber, because why not? Onto the main event and we'd advise sharing as many dishes from the chalkboard display as you can muster. When we went, the polenta, girolles and corn and braised leeks with pecorino (aka the best cheesy leeks you've ever eaten) sidled up nicely next to a hefty sliced steak served with the prettiest mash and onions we've seen.
Don't leave without tasting the almond granita with green cherries, and one of the best takes on a classic custard tart we've encountered. Oh, and a trip to the delightfully jazzy parakeet-printed toilets, of course.
Click here to find out more.
Location: 256 Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2AA
7) Zuma
With its glossy reputation and prime Knightsbridge location, there could well be the fear that Zuma wouldn't live up to the hype. Luckily, it does.
The modern Japanese eatery is vibey with a chic warehouse-style interior, bottles of sake lining the bar, chilled house music in the background and an open kitchen to watch the masters at work.
Start off with the Suzuki no sashimi aka thinly sliced seabass with yuzu, truffle oil and salmon roe (best paired with a Mai Tai in our opinion), plus the chef’s selection of sushi and the crispy fried squid.
Moving on to the mains, the marinated black cod wrapped in a hoba leaf is dreamy. And if you still have space for dessert, the Zuma-emblazoned chocolate cake is the perfect end to the five-star meal.
Click here to find out more.
Location: 5 Raphael St, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DL
8) Trishna
To walk past Trisha, located in the heart of London’s Marylebone Village, and not go in would be a big mistake. Awarded a Michelin Star in 2012, this southwest Indian eatery – opened by chef-proprietor Karam Sethi – has become an institution in the capital. Decorated with antique mirrors, marble table tops and wooden panelling, you'll find yourself slinking into one of the restaurant’s booths, ordering a glass of the Gran Reserva and preparing your taste buds (and belt notches) for a foodie offering like no other.
To start, we suggest tucking into the fresh Naryali Scallops, with its crunchy, coated coconut chips and vermicelli upma and mint-covered, oozing Bater Shami Kebab before cutting into the buttery, soft shell crab (Nandy Varuval) paired with a light tomato kachumber. Trust us, meat eaters won’t be able to get enough of the tantalising, smokey Tandoori Lamb Chop. Next up, we advise ordering the creamy Kozhikode Chicken Masala which consists of corn fed chicken in a blend of coconut, fennel and peppercorns, served with an additional four (yes, four) dishes – Makai Saag, Dal Panchmel, a bread basket and basmati rice.
The treats don’t stop there, though. Sharers be warned because just one bite of the rich chocolate mouse chikki (served with cardomom ice cream) will have you batting off your fellow diners. Meanwhile, the smoked Tandoori pineapple and coconut malai, coconut and lime sorbet is a much-needed palette cleanser.
Click here to find out more.
Location: 15-17 Blandford Street, London, W1U 3DG
9) Salt Yard
Spanish and Italian-style tapas dishes dominate the menu at the very buzzy Fitzrovia-based restaurant. Its extensive menu offers small-plate meat (the old spot pork belly is a must), cheese, fish and vegetable dishes, making it an ideal choice for any mood - and it has a potent cocktail menu to boot.
It also gets the thumbs up for its social conscience, as it's part of the Sustainable Restaurant Association's 'One Planet Plate' dish initiative: a movement focusing on sourcing locally, reducing waste and lowering carbon emissions.
We loved the 'slow cooked duck egg, torta de barrow cream, brassicas' and knowing that we were able to do our bit for the cause by choosing it, made it even more special.
If there's a little space left for dessert, then the lemon meringue tart is TDF.
Click here to find out more
Location: 54 Goodge St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 4NA
10) Lita
We can’t remember the last time a restaurant opening made us giddy with excitement as much as Lita’s has. Opened in April 2024, Irish chef Luke Ahearne (who previously ran the kitchen at Luca and was the former head chef at Corrigan’s) has treated London to one of the best openings - if not the best - of the year with a Marylebone restaurant that serves tasty and rich Mediterranean food that might as well have been whipped up by your grandma (fitting then that Lita is short for Abuelita, a Spanish nickname for grandma).
Not only are the interiors perfection - think neutral-hued plaster walls, net curtains on toilet door windows, Aesop toiletries, rust-coloured booths and marble tables – but so too are the friendly and welcoming staff, and buzzing atmosphere.
As for the menu, prepare for a hearty concoction of Spanish style favourites such as thick slices of pan con tomate with Cantabrian anchovies, smoked Basque sardines with shallots and parsley, and Fuentes Bluefin tuna swimming among corno peppers, coriander and capers. Finish your meal with Amalfi lemon meringue pie, and you’ll be wondering how you’ll ever be able to dine anywhere else.
Click here to find out more.
Location: 7-9 Paddington St, W1U 5QH
11) UKAI
If you're a fan of seriously good sushi, then Ukai should be next on your hit list.
Located on the Instagram-friendly Portobello Road (hi, pastel-coloured front doors), it's housed in what used to be an old British boozer and mixes Italian and Japanese cooking techniques. What that means in reality is tasty black cod gyozas, hearty ceviche (with tuna, butterfish, avocado and dragon fruit) and probably the most delicious broccoli we've ever tasted.
The 'Volcano' sushi rolls (complete with spicy mayo) will put your £3 Tesco lunchtime snack to shame, while the tuna tartare on a bed of raspberry sauce is well-worth the 'are you sure?' looks you'll get from your dinner date. Cocktails are also superb - we recommend the Mochi and Golden Geisha .
Click here to find out more.
Location: 240 Portobello Rd, London W11 1LL
12) Bar Douro
Adroitly placed between north and south London, near the foodie haven of Borough market lies Bar Douro, a seemingly low-key Portuguese restaurant. It is a bright and fresh space nestling in the arches of London Bridge, with lovely blue and white ceramic wall tiles and bar stool dining-only at curving marble counters.
Bar Douro is owned by Max Graham of the Churchill port family who was brought up in the Douro valley, so we really (really) enjoyed a selection of chilled Ports and red wines from the all-Portuguese wine list, made up from small regional producers.
To eat, we opted for petiscos the Portuguese classic salt cod fritters and the charcuterie board with a pimento-rich chouriço. Our starters were followed by the most perfect salt cod hash, a charred octopus with sweet potato puree, succulent large garlic prawns, and a truly mind-blowing Onglet steak with confit egg that was so tender no chewing was required.
We managed to find a non-existent space for the classic Portuguese tart and cinnamon ice cream…heavenly!
Click here to find out more.
Location: Arch 35B, Flat Iron Square,, 66 Union Street, London SE1 1TD
13) Circolo Popolare
This Instagram-friendly eatery has developed a cult-like following ever since the Big Mamma Group opened its doors in the UK capital in the summer of 2019 with Circolo Popolare (sister restaurant to Shoreditch's Gloria Trattoria). Found off Oxford Street at Rathbone Place, the establishment's decor - adorned with Italian antique plates, flowers and bottles - encourage visitors in itself, which has been evident by the pre-Covid walk-in queues lining up outside the eatery.
As for the food, signature showstopping dishes include the Cacio e Pepe wheel, Malfadine Al Tartufo (mafalda pasta, mushrooms, black truffle and mascarpone) and their extensive list of pizzas. Though the food is head-turning, with the Cacio e Pepe served in the Pecorino wheel, the Malfadine brought to the table in a saucepan and the lemon meringue pie has a meringue layer towering at six inches, the food is not just a gimmick with fine dining quality of food complimenting its fun features. Book (especially post-Covid) to avoid disappointment but walk-ins are currently still being accepted for tables of six or less.
Click here to find out more.
Location: 40-41 Rathbone Pl, Fitzrovia, W1T 1HX
14) Brasserie Zédel
For a restaurant that's in the heart of London’s bustling Piccadilly, it’s easy to descend the stairs to Brasserie Zédel and completely lose yourself in another world - for us, the ultimate sign of a good restaurant. A buzzing Art Deco Parisian brasserie that has become loved for its hearty, excellent value French food served by the most Gallic-looking waiters (it's the berets).
Opt for the Prix Fixe menu (2 or 3-courses both under £20) or choose from classics including beef bourguignon, coq au vin and, mais oui, frogs legs with garlic butter. The brasserie has just partnered with Hedonism Wines to bring a bit of spark to Monday nights, when diners can bring their own bottle of wine with dinner, and no corkage fee. And when you're done with your meal, hold off on the taxi and head to Zédel's Bar Américain for a night cap, we'll take an Old Fashioned, or Crazy Coqs for cabaret, both right next to the restaurant. There really is no reason to go anywhere else!
Click here to find out more.
Location: 20 Sherwood Street, W1F 7ED
15) Rambutan
If you're looking for Sri Lankan diaspora food in London, then look no further. Even if you're not looking, you'll be lucky to stumble across this gem of a restaurant in Borough Market. Masterminded by Cynthia Shanmugalingam, Rambutan opened in 2023 after the runaway success of her cookbook and culinary memoir Rambutan: Recipes from Sri Lanka.
This is open fire cooking with an explosion of flavours and clever pairings. Think fried sardines with tamarind, ginger & katta sambol mayo and grilled king prawns with goraka butter. There are also fresh sambols and curries prepared in the clay stoves on the small but perfectly formed menu, concise just how we like it. For dessert? The ultimate palette-cleansing homemade peach and saffron ice cream. Oh and don't forget to order a Rambutini, a fun twist on a classic lychee martini and part of a summer cocktail menu especially crafted for the restaurant by Malik Acid, of Cameron and Missy Malik-Flynn fame.
Click here to find out more.
Location: 10 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD
16) Mountain
Another hit from Welsh chef Tomos Parry, who opened Brat in Shoreditch in 2018 to great acclaim, Mountain on Soho's Beak Street wows in a lot of ways (it won a Michelin star a year after opening) and will satisfy the biggest and most discerning appetites. Set over two floors, there's plenty of Parry's famous cooking on open fire but with experimental touches that pack flavour alongside the robustness.
Start with a few of the smaller plates, like the pumpkin fritto or the smoked sardines with citrus for a palette awakener before moving onto the weightier dishes such as the spider crab, fallow dear loin or brill with chicken 'pil-pil'. The wine list will have you experimenting with new varieties (expertly guided of course) and paired deliciously with the dishes you've ordered. And if you're still looking for a kick, pray that the chocolate & chilli sorbet is still on the menu.
Find out more here.
Location: 16-18 Beak Street, London W1F 9RD
17) Marjorie's
Shopping is thirsty work. So it’s just as well Marjorie’s, a Parisian wine bar and restaurant, has opened just off Carnaby Street on Foubert’s Place. This chic, stripped back, small-but-perfectly-formed bar may have only just flung its doors open (and the doors are very open, making it ideal for balmy summer nights), but it’s making a plucky, plate-licking, mark on the Soho dining scene.
Pick and choose a selection of small and larger plates to share, or not. Get an early Parisian hit with the saucisson and don’t miss the fried courgetti, rouille and trout roe for bursts of flavour. The poached chicken, rice and brown butter sauce is particularly comforting, while the hearty bavette with egg yolk emulsion will keep your iron levels brimming for days. The wine list is unsurprisingly spot on and includes crisp Loire Valley whites and funky orange vintages - the 'by the glass' options change daily, as does the must-order cheeseboard.
Marjorie’s is the kind of place you’ll want to keep going back to, trying new flavour and wine combinations each time. Or just sticking with your favourites.
Find out more here.
Location: 26 Foubert's Place, London W1F 7PP
18) OMA
If you're hungry, there’s now even more reason to go to Borough Market thanks to David Carter’s (of Smokestak fame) Greek isles-inspired restaurant OMA. Winning a Michelin star in its first year of opening, the beautiful, sandy-coloured space is a classy backdrop to a colourful, flavour-rich meal. Choose from plates of tahini, hot honey and crispy chickpeas (to be swept spotless with açma verde bread, aka ‘the Turkish bagel’), torched mackerel and charred squid skewers with confit garlic and za’atar. We loved the salt cod xo spread (a second place of bread is a must) and the spanakopita gratin served with crispy hot-griddled malawach. This is date-night special with a 400+ strong wine list to help island-hop your way through dinner.
And if you fancy something a little more laid-back, there’s souvla bar AGORA (OMA’s younger, wilder sister) downstairs where you can pop in for a bustling lunch of lamb kebab skewers and hunks of crispy pork belly cooked on a wood-burning rotisserie. Just make sure you have time for a frozen margarita and hot potato crisps. Hello, foodie heaven.
Find out more here.
Location: 2 - 4 bedale street, SE1 9AL, London
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