The 12 Best Restaurants in London (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 12 picks

The best restaurants in London in 2026 are St. JOHN for British nose-to-tail cooking, the River Café for Italian, Brat for wood-fired Basque-style food and Core by Clare Smyth for fine dining. For great food at lower prices, go to Dishoom, Kiln, Padella and Barrafina.

London restaurants usually add a discretionary 12.5–15% service charge to the bill, so check before tipping. Book popular places weeks ahead, or use their walk-in policies: Padella, Kiln and Barrafina keep many seats for walk-ins. For classic British food, see our guides to the best Sunday roasts and fish and chips.

1. St. JOHN — Smithfield, The City

The restaurant that defined modern British cooking, nose to tail.

$$$ Upmarket

St. JOHN, in a white-walled former smokehouse near Smithfield Market, is where Fergus Henderson made nose-to-tail eating famous. The menu changes daily, but roast bone marrow with parsley salad is a permanent fixture, along with seasonal British dishes and game.

The bar at the front serves Eccles cakes, Welsh rarebit and drinks without a booking. It suits adventurous eaters and anyone interested in where modern British food came from.

Good to know: Order a dozen madeleines baked to order for dessert, or take an Eccles cake from the bakery.

26 St John Street, London EC1M 4AY

Google Maps Website

2. The River Café — Hammersmith

London's most influential Italian restaurant, on the Thames since 1987.

$$$$ Splurge

The River Café, beside the Thames in Hammersmith, has served simple, ingredient-led Italian food since 1987, and its influence on London cooking is enormous. The menu changes daily, with dishes from the wood oven and its famous Chocolate Nemesis cake.

It is expensive, but the riverside terrace on a summer evening is one of the best places to eat in London.

Good to know: Book a terrace table in summer — they're the most sought-after in the restaurant.

Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London W6 9HA

Google Maps Website

3. Brat — Shoreditch

Wood-fired cooking inspired by the Basque grills, centred on whole turbot.

$$$ Upmarket

Brat is a wood-panelled first-floor restaurant on Redchurch Street, cooking over open fire in the style of the Basque coast. The whole grilled turbot is the signature dish, served for sharing, and the rest of the menu is simple and seasonal.

It suits a celebration meal or a long lunch with friends. A sister site, Brat at Climpson's Arch, runs in Hackney.

Good to know: Order the turbot for two and the burnt cheesecake.

First Floor, 4 Redchurch Street, London E1 6JL

Google Maps Website

4. Core by Clare Smyth — Notting Hill

A relaxed three-Michelin-star restaurant from one of Britain's best chefs.

$$$$ Splurge

Clare Smyth's Core, in Notting Hill, serves refined tasting menus built around British produce. Its signature potato dish — a simple 'Charlotte' potato with trout roe and seaweed butter — has become one of London's best-known plates.

Despite the accolades, the room is warm and unstuffy. It is the place for a special occasion.

Good to know: Book as far ahead as possible; reservations open well in advance and go fast.

92 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2PN

Google Maps Website

5. Gymkhana — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

Rich, refined Indian cooking in a clubby, colonial-style dining room.

$$$$ Splurge

Gymkhana, in Mayfair, is styled like an Indian gentlemen's club, with dark wood and leather booths, and serves some of the best Indian food in London. The tandoori dishes, kebabs and biryani are standouts.

It suits a smart dinner out with friends or a business meal. Book well ahead.

Good to know: Ask for a booth when you book.

42 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4JH

Google Maps Website

6. Ikoyi — Strand, Soho & the West End

London's most original tasting menu, built on West African spice.

$$$$ Splurge

Ikoyi, now at 180 Strand, serves an inventive tasting menu that combines West African spices and flavours with British produce. It's one of the most acclaimed and distinctive restaurants in London.

It is a destination for serious food lovers and a special-occasion splurge.

Good to know: Tell them about dietary needs when you book; the tasting menu is set in advance.

180 Strand, London WC2R 1EA

Google Maps Website

7. The Clove Club — Shoreditch

A tasting menu of modern British cooking in a converted town hall.

$$$$ Splurge

The Clove Club, in the old Shoreditch Town Hall, serves a seasonal tasting menu of modern British food, with dishes like buttermilk fried chicken in pine salt that have become signatures. The room is bright and the service relaxed.

It is one of the best fine-dining choices in east London.

Good to know: Have a drink in the bar before dinner — it's a good spot in its own right.

Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT

Google Maps Website

8. Dishoom Covent Garden — Covent Garden, Soho & the West End

London's favourite Bombay café, from breakfast to late dinner.

$$ Mid-range

Dishoom recreates the old Irani cafés of Bombay, and its Covent Garden branch was the first. The menu covers small plates, grills, biryanis and the house black daal, cooked for 24 hours. At breakfast, the bacon naan roll is a London classic.

Prices are fair for the quality, and it suits any occasion. There are now several branches across London.

Good to know: Come for breakfast to skip the dinner queue and try the bacon naan roll.

12 Upper St Martin's Lane, London WC2H 9FB

Google Maps Website

9. Kiln — Soho

Fiery Thai grill cooking at a counter in the heart of Soho.

$$ Mid-range

Kiln is a Thai grill restaurant on Brewer Street, with most seats at a counter facing the open kitchen. The menu of grilled meats, seafood and clay-pot dishes is fiery and full of flavour, and prices are reasonable for Soho.

It is great for a quick, exciting meal before a night out or a show.

Good to know: Sit at the counter to watch the cooks at work and order the clay-pot glass noodles.

58 Brewer Street, London W1F 9TL

Google Maps Website

10. Padella — Borough Market

Fresh, hand-rolled pasta at prices that feel like a mistake.

$ Budget

Padella serves a short menu of fresh pasta at low prices, and its Borough Market branch is one of the most popular restaurants in London. The pici cacio e pepe and the beef shin ragù are the dishes to order.

There are also branches in Shoreditch and Soho. The queue moves quickly, and you can join a virtual queue via the website.

Good to know: Arrive at opening time, or join the online queue and explore Borough Market while you wait.

6 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TQ

Google Maps Website

11. Barrafina Dean Street — Soho

Counter-only tapas that rivals the best bars in Spain.

$$$ Upmarket

Barrafina serves Spanish tapas at a counter, with chefs cooking in front of you. The menu changes regularly, but the tortilla, the grilled seafood and the croquetas are always good.

It is ideal for a lively meal for two. There are several branches in London, including Covent Garden, King's Cross and London Bridge.

Good to know: Go early or late to avoid the longest waits for a counter seat.

26–27 Dean Street, London W1D 3LL

Google Maps Website

12. Rules — Covent Garden, Soho & the West End

London's oldest restaurant, serving British game and pies since 1798.

$$$$ Splurge

Rules, on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, opened in 1798 and is the oldest restaurant in London. The dining rooms are full of paintings, cartoons and red velvet, and the menu is traditional British food — game, pies, puddings and oysters.

It is a classic for a special occasion or a pre-theatre dinner.

Good to know: Order game when it's in season — it's what the restaurant does best.

34–35 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7LB

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

How much does dinner cost in London?

A good mid-range dinner costs around £40–£70 a head with a drink in 2026; places like Padella and Dishoom are cheaper. Tasting menus at top restaurants such as Core, Ikoyi and the Clove Club cost several hundred pounds a head before wine.

Do I need to book restaurants in London?

For the top restaurants, yes — often weeks or months ahead. Many popular mid-range places keep seats for walk-ins, though queues are common at peak times. Lunch is usually easier to get than dinner.

Is tipping expected in London restaurants?

Most restaurants add a 12.5–15% discretionary service charge. You don't need to tip on top of it. If there's no charge, 10–12.5% is normal for good service.

What food is London known for?

London is known for its Indian food, British classics like Sunday roasts and fish and chips, and a huge range of world cuisines. St. JOHN, Dishoom and Rules are good starting points for food that feels distinctly London.

Where can I eat with a view in London?

See our guide to the best rooftop bars in London, several of which also serve food.

1. St. JOHN — Smithfield, The City

2. The River Café — Hammersmith

3. Brat — Shoreditch

4. Core by Clare Smyth — Notting Hill

5. Gymkhana — Mayfair, Soho & the West End

6. Ikoyi — Strand, Soho & the West End

7. The Clove Club — Shoreditch

8. Dishoom Covent Garden — Covent Garden, Soho & the West End

9. Kiln — Soho

10. Padella — Borough Market

11. Barrafina Dean Street — Soho

12. Rules — Covent Garden, Soho & the West End

Frequently asked questions

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