Restaurants

From Michelin-starred fine dining to beloved local favourites

Sketch

A Mayfair institution where art meets gastronomy. The Gallery serves modern French cuisine beneath David Shrigley's pink walls, while the Lecture Room holds two Michelin stars.

EuropeanLondon Institution

The Wolseley

£££·Piccadilly·Green Park

The grand cafe-restaurant on Piccadilly that does breakfast, lunch, and dinner with equal aplomb. A place to see and be seen, in a stunning art deco space.

TaiwaneseCult Following

Bao

££·Soho·Tottenham Court Road

The original Soho Bao, still the best. The classic bao, fried chicken, and 40-day aged beef short rib have earned a cult following that shows no sign of fading.

IndianBest Brunch

Dishoom

££·King's Cross·King's Cross

Bombay cafe culture brought to London. The bacon naan roll at breakfast is legendary, but everything from the black daal to the lamb biryani is impeccable.

Italian PastaWorth The Queue

Padella

££·Borough·London Bridge

Hand-rolled pasta at prices that seem almost too good to be true. The pici cacio e pepe is perfection. No bookings, just join the queue and know it's worth it.

Modern BritishThree Michelin Stars

Core by Clare Smyth

££££·Notting Hill·Notting Hill Gate

Clare Smyth's three-Michelin-starred showcase of modern British cooking. The Potato and Roe dish is iconic, and every course demonstrates extraordinary technique and restraint.

ItalianLegendary

The River Cafe

££££·Hammersmith·Hammersmith

Ruth Rogers' Thames-side Italian has been setting the standard for seasonal simplicity since 1987. The wood-fired oven turns out some of London's finest cooking.

Indian Fine DiningMichelin Star

Gymkhana

£££·Mayfair·Piccadilly Circus

Refined Indian cuisine in a clubby Mayfair basement inspired by the gymkhana clubs of colonial India. The kid goat methi keema and wild muntjac biryani are extraordinary.