Best exclusive hire restaurants in London

The beauty of exclusive hire of Arcade Battersea (or indeed, Arcade Tottenham Court Road) is that you have all the food and facilities of this fantastic food hall at your fingertips. When it comes to the catering you can build a bespoke menu from any of vendors that are part of Arcade, and the hall has lots of interesting spaces too, including a pool room and a private bar.

West London steak and sushi restaurant Nova offers a glamorous private dining experience complete with varied entertainment. You and your family, friends, or colleagues can enjoy a specially curated menu, involving Nova's signature premium meat and fish dishes and their wittily named cocktails (think 'novagronis' and 'novastar martinis').

Much like the ancient poem from which it takes its name, pan-Asian cocktail bar Gilgamesh is vast, epic, and always offers something new to discover. Available for private hire for up to 250 standing guests, Gilgamesh fittingly boasts maximalist interiors inspired by the sumptuous excess of ancient Mesopotamia, as well as indulgent set menus ideal for larger group dinners.

This glitzy Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant will transport you far away from the city to debaucherous summer nights beside the Mediterranean, via decadent mezze feasts, sultry mood lighting, and flirty waiting staff. It's available for exclusive private hire that includes access to both indoor and outdoor spaces. 

If you want to bask in the sun with a rum cocktail and a plate of jerk chicken, Limin is the place for you. With a prime spot on the South Bank, Limin comes into its own in the summer, when the large al fresco terrace catches the sun's rays. Mahabir’s Trinidadian cooking is fantastic too, delivering comforting, flavour-forward food suitable for any occasion.

One of London’s most iconic restaurants, the OXO Tower is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on your guests, especially if you hire the whole shebang. The events team here are incredibly experienced and helpful too, so no event or request is too much. Exclusive hire of the whole Tower (including the restaurant, bar and brasserie) gives you room for up to 750 guests, making OXO Tower perfect for everything from big parties to product launches, awards dinners and more.

Glamorous Bocconcino Soho makes a statement as soon as you enter - the gleaming terrazzo flooring, marble bar and moody lighting makes this perfect for special events where you want a venue to impress your guests. The stylish Italian menu has something for everyone too.

A larger-than-life Chinatown institution that claims to produce 8,000 dumplings a day, Dumplings Legend is spread across three floors and offers several plush private rooms for a wild night out. Best of all, private hire here includes not only oodles of dumplings but also karaoke equipment - enjoy singing your heart out with up to 30 of your closest friends!

If you hire this New Orleans-inspired Victorian townhouse all to yourself, you're certainly in for a treat. Spread across four floors, Louie makes sure that its guests experience something new with each storey they ascend to - you'll have your pick of a semi-outdoor terrace, four bar areas, film screening room, and two restaurants serving Southern American and Creole-influenced cuisine.

SUSHISAMBA City might grab most of the Instagram love (it’s also available for exclusive hire, by the way) but we love SUSHISAMBA Covent Garden’s jungle-like interiors and beautiful tiled floors. Housed inside Covent Garden’s famous Grade II-listed Market Building, it couldn’t be easier to find, and the menu doesn’t disappoint either.

London's most glamorous steakhouse is an ideal choice if you're looking to really splash out on an exclusive night with friends. In the heart of the West End, STK offers a menu of prized cuts (think Australian wagyu or New York strip), as well as varied non-steak dishes and quirky cocktails, all in a lacquered, sophisticated environment.

Chotto Matte Soho offers a stunning two-floor venue perfect for exclusive events. With a 140-covers, standing space for 400, an open Robata grill, and sushi bar, it provides a vibrant setting for corporate events, celebrations, and private parties of all kinds. The restaurant's unique design, Japanese-Peruvian cuisine and dynamic atmosphere ensure an unforgettable experience.

Sette is the London-based sister restaurant to acclaimed New York restaurant Scarpetta, housed inside the glitzy Bvlgari Hotel London in Knightsbridge. That makes it ideal for those planning something glamorous, and exclusive hire also gets you access to Nolita Social next door - the restaurant’s dedicated bar and lounge.

1 Lombard Street is a bit of a City institution, thanks largely to excellent European cooking and a hefty drinks list. The Grade-II listed former banking hall looks the part too, and houses up to 450 guests when hired in its entirety.

One of London’s most iconic addresses, each of Sketch’s restaurants is available for exclusive private hire. Larger events are best in The Parlour, with its famously Instagrammable wallpaper and neon accents. There’s also the three Michelin-starred Lecture Room & Library, and of course, and The Glade - a smaller lounge designed to emulate an enchanted forest.

Offering great quality Indian fine dining at an attractive price point, Pravaas promises seasonal menus that offer up a journey through the traditions of authentic South Asian cuisine. With a capacity of up to 30 guests, exclusive hire at Pravaas is suited to all events whether it be a corporate gathering or social celebration. As for the food, think wasabi chicken tikka, lamb sukke, and indulgent dal makhani.

Duck & Waffle has hosted some of the capital’s most exclusive private events over the years, including movie premieres, after parties and product launches. Exclusive hire of the whole venue gives you all the time in the world to drink in those 40th floor views of London, with standing space for up to 250 guests.

There are numerous options inside the glitzy art’otel at Battersea Power Station, but special mention has to go to Henrique Sa Pessoa’s glorious Portuguese restaurant JOIA, which inhabits the top two floors. Choose between the stunning art deco JOIA Bar, which boasts huge panoramic windows and impressive views of the renovated power station, and JOIA restaurant itself.

You’ll find this bright, modern venue inside the renovated Battersea Power Station, where it serves measure Modern European cooking with fantastic views of the Thames from the outdoor terrace. Exclusive hire of the whole restaurant packs in a whopping 450 guests, so this is ideal for big parties.