Best burgers in London: 20 spots serving brilliant buns

If you’re a burger fanatic, you’ll know that London is one of the greatest places on earth to indulge in this guilty pleasure. For some time now, proper hamburgers have been a huge hit in the capital, with succulent beef patties, fully loaded toppings and glossy burger buns found all over the city. Typically, you’d find the best burgers in London at buzzy sports bars, new-school food trucks or in giant food halls.

Lately, though, burgers have become something of a status symbol, even among the city’s most coveted restaurants. A great burger in London is a surefire way to get people talking - and most importantly, to get bums on seats - so it’s easy to see why food-forward pubs and high-end restaurants are keen to put the beef-and-bun combo on their menus.

With more burgers comes more competition, and now, the city is brimming with really great burger spots, all battling it out for the title of the best burger in London.

Some burger places have headed down the smash burger route, where the beef patty is pressed into a thin, crispy layer for maximum caramelisation. Others have gone against the grain and introduced ultra-thick patties, honing in on meat quality and cooking technique. There’s some pretty cool burger places in London too, with trendy branding and retro decor helping them soar to the top of everyone’s social media feeds.

In the heart of the city, you can also find boujee burgers, topped with caviar and washed down with a Martini, no less. We’ve even seen burger spots emerge out of left field, incorporating Pan Asian flavours to create flavour combinations we never knew were possible in the burger world.

Basically, the burger game in this city is strong. With such an impressive range of exceptional buns on offer, we’ve put together a definitive guide featuring only the very best burgers in London. There’s chicken burgers, cheeseburgers, and even burgers served with gravy boats… but rest assured, every single one deserves its rightful place on this list.

The best smash burgers in London

Smash burgers have quickly taken over the London burger scene, packing all of the flavour without any of the jaw-breaking size. Less is more as far as these are concerned, and there are a few spots across the city that have managed to absolutely nail it.

Whole Beast, Brixton

What: Founders Sam and Alicja Bryant are all about nose-to-tail cooking, always over live fire. It began with a series of pop-ups and residencies largely in South London, which led to a Champion of Champions title at the National Burger Awards in 2024. The famed Aged Cheeseburger is caramelised to the nines, with melted cheese, house burger sauce, and a generous helping of pickles. We love all the burgers on this list, but nothing beats the joy of the dry-aged funk you get with the OG - so good, in fact, that we gave it a SquareMeal Gold Award. 
Why we love it: That caramelisation...
Where: 336 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8QH
Book now: Whole Beast

The Plimsoll, Finsbury Park

What: The iconic Dexter Cheeseburger at The Plimsoll is undoubtedly one of the top burgers in London, and it’s easy to see why. Served on a dainty side plate, the smashed patty is served in a brioche bun with finely diced onion, American cheese, burger sauce, and gherkins. Whilst it may sound simple, each element is perfectly executed, taking it from ordinary to knockout. Although word to the wise, it’s just down the road from the Emirates Stadium, so you may want to work your visit around any Arsenal home games as it's hard to get a table at the best of times. 
Why we love it: A burger and boozer match made in heaven
Where: 52 St Thomas's Road, N4 2QQ
Book now: The Plimsoll

Dumbo, Shoreditch

What: Think you know smash burgers? Think again. Dumbo is a Parisian-born burger joint, renowned for its uber-smashed patty burgers. Thanks to some cool branding and a savvy social media presence, Dumbo's impossibly crispy patties already had a big following online before it landed in London. Eagle-eyed burger stans were quick to jump on the opening, and the hype hasn't slowed since. The rough-edged takeaway is slap-bang in the heart of Shoreditch, where it churns out wafer-thin patties coated in American cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup and mayo, and welded shut with a glossy bun. 
Why we love it: There's a good chance of a celeb sighting here
Where: 119 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG
Book now: Dumbo

Hawksmoor, Various London Locations

What: Hawksmoor is known for its top-quality meat and big flavours, so it’s hardly surprising that the burger here is one of the best. The Royale Burger is a simple, smoky smash burger that uses caramelised dry-aged beef and bone marrow patties, scorched on the charcoal grill. It’s a perfect ensemble, allowing all those great meaty bone marrow juices to soak into the bun, while remaining hearty enough not to collapse as you dig in. Trust Hawksmoor to nail the smash burger. 
Why we love it: A trusty favourite that never lets us down
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Hawksmoor Borough; Hawksmoor Seven Dials; Hawksmoor Knightsbridge; Hawksmoor Guildhall

Manna at Arcade, Tottenham Court Road & Battersea

What: Arcade Food Hall offers a number of exciting eateries across its site, but Manna remains one of the most popular since its opening, thanks to its undeniably delicious burgers and fried chicken. The Nashville Hot Chicken Burger is a close second, but if you've nabbed a table in this swanky space, do yourself a favour and order in one of these simple yet effective smash burgers. There are no frills here, just a quality smashed beef patty, cheese, pickles, diced onion and the perfect ratio of mayo, ketchup and mustard. A bite of delicious Americana.
Why we love it: The food hall is great for big groups
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Arcade Tottenham Court Road; Arcade Battersea

Supernova, Soho, South Kensington & Mayfair

What: If your social media is flooded with cool burger places in London, you will have heard of Supernova. The buzzy burger place caused a storm online when it first opened, gaining an instant fan base for its delicious smash patties. Between its trendy branding, snaking queues and rave reviews, it's no surprise that Supernova has now expanded, with sites in South Ken and Mayfair too.  The menu here is simple - burgers, fries, sundaes - and we'd recommend ordering the lot. 
Why we love it: It looks great on your Insta story
Where: 25 Peter Street, W1F 0AH
Book now: Supernova Soho

Bleecker Burger, Various London Locations 

What: Offering up proper dirty burgers, the menu at Bleecker Burger spans six options - five beef and one veggie. If we had to choose our favourite, it would be the Double Cheeseburger – made up of double beef patties, American cheese, onions and house sauce. Like many greats before it, Bleecker was born from a food truck, and that commitment to small-scale and quality has remained. The rare-breed, pasture-fed beef comes from small, UK farms, and then dry-aged for that intense beefy flavour, before being topped with a few well-thought-out ingredients.
Why we love it: Excellent produce at a wallet-friendly price
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Bleecker Burger Spitalfields; Bleecker Burger City; Bleecker Burger Marylebone and more

The best beef burgers in London

Sure, smash burgers are all the rage right now, but sometimes you just can't beat a classic. London is spoilt for choice when it comes to proper beef burgers, so it's no mean feat narrowing it down to just a few favourites; but rest assured, we know our stuff.

Black Bear Burger, Various London Locations

What: Black Bear's winning burger formula has taken it all across London, but we still love the original Market Row site in Brixton. Stepping into the joint, you're immediately struck by the old-school hip hop blasting from the speakers and the scent of fresh-grilled meat coming from the open kitchen. Our favourite thing on the menu is the Black Bear burger, featuring two dry-aged beef patties, American cheese, smoked bacon, garlic mayo and onion jam - it's a perfect blend of salty and sweet. The Double Miso Burger is also a real hitter, so much so that it won National Burger of the Year in 2025. 
Why we love it: The quality of meat is second to none
Where: 11-13A Market Row, SW9 8LB
Book now: Black Bear Burger Brixton

Dove, Notting Hill

What: The Dove Burger has become instantly recognisable which, in a city brimming with great burger spots, is pretty impressive. Jackson Boxer’s Dove serves only ten of these gorgeous buns per day, each with a thick 50-day dry-aged patty, gorgonzola dolce, and lyonnaise onions braised in Champagne. There’s no fuss or frills - it’s just a winning combination of tangy sweet onions, funky cheese and very meaty beef cooked medium rare. If you get to Dove before they sell out, you’d be a fool not to order it, but you've been warned - once they're gone, they're gone.
Why we love it: This one's a cheese-lovers' dream
Where: 31 Kensington Park Road, W11 2EU
Book now: Dove

Empire Tavern, Hackney

What: From the independent East London hospitality group, Taverns East (Leytonstone Tavern and Tavern On The Hill) comes Empire Tavern, a buzzy multi-level bar that just so happens to sling slap-up burgers. There's buttermilk fried chicken burgers, and plant-powered patties, but it's the Double Cheese & Onion that you won't want to miss. Made with American cheese, burger sauce, mustard jam and chopped onions, it's a strong contender for the best hamburger in London. 
Why we love it: The live vinyl playing in the background
Where: 289 Mare Street, E8 1EJ 
Book now: Empire Tavern

Heard Burger, Borough & Soho

What: After years of perfecting its burgers and touring the UK in a food truck, two Michelin-starred chef Jordan Bailey has opened not one, but two brick-and-mortar sites. Every burger is made using the same skill, technique and precision he employs at his restaurants, and uses high quality ingredients, including 35-day aged British beef. We love the signature Heard Burger (Jordan's favourite) featuring jalapeño hot honey, Ogleshield cheese, white onions, Heard's secret sauce and house made pickles, all stuffed inside a butter-toasted roast potato bun. Make sure you order a side of beef fat fries and extra Heard sauce. That's the good stuff.
Why we love it: Guaranteed to impress your foodie friend
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Heard Burger Borough; Heard Burger Soho

One Club Row, Shoreditch

What: Not only is One Club Row one of SquareMeal's top London restaurants, it's also home to one of our favourite burgers in the city. The New York-style diner is hedonistic, buzzy and wonderfully swanky, with a house 'au poivre' cheeseburger to match. Made with a thick, juicy peppered patty and topped with raw onions and pickles, it's the kind of indulgence you might regret sharing. The finishing touch? A silver gravy boat filled with peppercorn sauce, designed for dunking. 
Why we love it: The burger comes with peppercorn sauce for dunking. Enough said.
Where: 1 Club Row, E1 6JX
Book now: One Club Row

Earl of Derby, New Cross

What: A cosy local in south east London, Earl of Derby comes with a menu courtesy of kitchen team Gengelly’s - think pies, chips, and proper Sunday roasts. But the burger here is an elite hidden gem, especially if you’re partial to quality cheese. It’s a proper premium grade patty, topped with melting Mornay cheese, finely grated Lyburn Old Winchester, house burger sauce, and pickles. The pub also runs a £4 pint deal 4-6pm on weekdays, including Murphy's stout - the ideal companion to one of London’s best pub burgers.
Why we love it: Pairs perfectly with a cheap happy hour pint
Where: 87 Dennett’s Road, SE14 5LW
Book now: Earl of Derby

Hanbaagaasuuteeki, Westminster

What: Asian-inspired burger joint, Hanbaagaasuuteeki (the name derives from the Japanese word for 'hamburger steak') will take your idea of a beef burger and spin it on its head. Here, the flavours of China, Japan, Korea and Thailand all come together in one big melting pot to create some of the most innovative burger combinations you could think of. There's a kimchi burger, a matcha burger and even a secret off-menu burger. The double cheese is a fan favourite too, but we'd encourage you to order out of your comfort zone for the full experience. 
Why we love it: These guys really push the burger boundaries
Where: 36 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0RE
Book now: Hanbaagaasuuteeki

Burger & Lobster, Various London Locations

What: Having originated back in 2011, Burger & Lobster has hit a winning steak-and-seafood formula that's seen the restaurant chain expand across London, the UK and beyond. The menu varies ever so slightly from site to site, but the Wagyu Smash Burger is a permanent fixture for a reason. Two wagyu patties are smashed and smothered in mac sauce, and then topped with American cheese, lettuce and pickles. A side of fries is included (a welcomed rarity these days) and you can opt for salad too, although we're not sure anyone does. 
Why we love it: Fries included!
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Burger & Lobster Oxford Circus; Burger & Lobster Soho; Burger & Lobster Threadneedle Street

Nanny Bill's, Various London Locations

What: Nanny Bill’s doesn’t do things by halves, and you can expect to see everything from ‘The Yard’ with smoked brisket and burnt butter mayo, to ‘The Hot Mess’ chicken burger with hot sauce and smoked bacon - but it’s the ‘Dalston Dip’ that’s caught the attention of foodies across the capital. This lip-smackingly good burger is crammed with double beef patties, mustard glaze, American cheese, caramelised onions and burger sauce, and even comes with a pot of gravy on the side for dipping. If you're into a messy burger that you can really get stuck into, we think you'll love this.
Why we love it: Super saucey indulgence
Where: 72-82 St Thomas Street, SE1 3QX
Book now: Nanny Bill’s Vinegar Yard

Red Dog Saloon, Various Locations

What: Nowhere does a burger quite like America, and Red Dog Saloon is arguably the most authentic American BBQ spot in London. With a proper smoker imported straight from the States, and aged chuck steak ground in house, Red Dog lives up to their claims. There's over 15 types of burgers on the menu - from a peanut butter burger, to a garlic parm - but we particularly love ye old faithful cheeseburger, with a special Red Dog sauce. Another one for the messy burger fans!
Why we love it: The endless flavour combinations to choose from
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Red Dog Saloon Hoxton; Red Dog Saloon Soho; Red Dog Saloon at World's End Finsbury Park

The best chicken burgers in London

We love a beef burger as much as the next person but sometimes the stomach pines for some crispy fried chicken, and thankfully London is not short of tasty treats to indulge this fantasy.

Butchies, Various London Locations

What: If you like your chicken burgers stacked and saucey, you've come to the right place. Butchies has outposts all over London, but the recipe remains the same: ultra-crispy fried chicken and fully-loaded chicken burgers. There's a bunch to pick from but the 'OG' stays unbeaten, simply made with the house 'OG sauce' and pickles. Is it the best chicken burger in London? We think so.
Why we love it: Ultra-crispy chicken is a 'yes' from us
Where: 22 Rivington Street, EC2A 3DY
Book now: Butchies Shoreditch

20ft Fried Chicken at Market Halls, Paddington & Oxford Street

What: From the Black Bear Burger team comes 20ft Fried Chicken, a new-school fried chicken joint championing Black Bear's same ethos: quality produce, chef-led techniques, and British ingredients. 20ft was crowned National Fried Chicken Champions 2026, so it's safe to say they know a thing or two about chicken burgers. There's a couple of options: hot honey or house chicken, with the latter smothered in confit garlic butter and pickle pepper mayo. 
Why we love it: The garlicky sauce takes its burgers to a whole new level
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Market Halls Paddington; Market Halls Oxford Street

Bébé Bob, Soho

What: If there's anyone who knows their way around chicken, it's the people behind Bébé Bob. Known for a steady rotation of dishes laden with chicken and caviar, this bougie burger comes with a hot and crispy chicken fillet, gochujang chilli mayonnaise, and a confit egg yolk for good measure. You'll also have the option to add a healthy bump of caviar, which is sure to elevate things further. If you're looking for London's most elegant burger, you've met your match with this one.
Why we love it: The ultimate boujee burger
Where: 37 Golden Square, Soho, W1F 9LB
Book now: Bébé Bob

Before we go, it's only fair to shout out the most overlooked element of the burger - the bun. It's the key to a good burger, and some amazing London bakeries are working their magic to help house delicious patties. They also use their powers to make London's very best sandwiches, so be sure to check that out too.