Best chef’s tables London: 14 exclusive spots for a special celebration

Most of the time, a visit to a restaurant is cause for celebration enough - there’s nothing quite like the feeling of sitting down, knowing you’ve got two hours of eating ahead of you. But for those extra special occasions (or if you’re just feeling a bit fancy) there are chef’s tables and counters.

What is a chef’s table exactly? Usually a chef’s table refers to a special, private dining table, often in close proximity to the kitchen, where you get more personal service from the kitchen or the head chef themselves. That said, this is a rough idea - chef’s tables vary massively in size and experience, and we’ve built our list of the best to be as wide-ranging as possible, including everything from cosy, private dining rooms to bookable seats at dining counters.

Chef’s tables have been growing in popularity over the last few years. In general, food and restaurants have moved in a more experiential direction - valuing the total experience more than just the food. Chef’s tables at heart are about the experience - you expect to have a very personal experience from the chef or chefs in the restaurant, with dishes delivered to you by the kitchen, and often explained to you. At most of the below restaurants chefs are comfortable in coming and having a chat with you, extending the feeling of being part of the kitchen experience.

We’ve also included a handful of counter dining restaurants - these are not private dining rooms (though in some cases they can be privately booked for the right price). Rather, you book a number of seats along the counter, and you get to see all the food being prepared and cooked right in front of you, then served to you by the chefs.

So, if you’re in the mood for some theatrics, scroll down and check out our selection of the best chef’s tables in London.

The best chef's tables in London for private dining

Chef's tables are, typically, a private affair, allowing you to book an entire dining room for you and a group, that offers views into a live-action kitchen. They're a great way to celebrate a special occasion, or impress clients, and these fantastic options all guarantee a memorable evening. 

Corrigan’s, Mayfair

What: One of London’s most consistently excellent restaurants, Corrigan’s also boasts a dedicated dining room for private chef's table experiences. The forest green room boasts an oval antique table and lots of hand decorated fine china, offering a grand culinary take on a board room. Of course, the main feature is the glass wall overlooking the kitchen, allowing everyone at the table to watch chefs plate up its modern British dishes. A choice between a six-course tasting menu and a three-course a la carte is on offer here, and you'll be treated to your own service team for the ultimate exclusive experience. 
Capacity: 14
Where: 28 Upper Grosvenor Street, W1K 7EH
Book now: Private dining at Corrigan’s

Benares, Mayfair

What: Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Benares’ eight seat chef’s table sits right in front of a panoramic kitchen window, which provides a full view of the live kitchen theatre. The room itself is a sleek affair, painted in a rich chocolate brown and featuring a multi-coloured light fixture above the long central table. You'll be treated to some of the best Indian food in London by chef Sameer, with both a la carte and tasting menus available with paired wines.
Capacity: 8
Where: 12a Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, W1J 6BS
Book now: Benares

Muse, Belgravia

What: Tom Aikens’ latest restaurant is easily his most personal yet, with a series of dishes that explore his background and influences in very intimate ways. It offers both private and semi-private chef's table experiences across its two floors, with a six-seat counter upstairs and a five-seater downstairs. You can hire the space for as little as 10 guests, all the way up to 25 with exclusive hire, but you can always guarantee a glimpse into the kitchen wherever you're seated. The best bit? You'll likely be served by Tom himself. 
Capacity: 25
Where: 38 Groom Place, SW1X 7BA
Book now: Muse (regular dining) or private dining at Muse

KOL, Marylebone

What: Noma alumni Santiago Lastra was always bound to do great things when he decided to open his debut solo restaurant in London, and KOL has become just that - arguably one of the most beautiful restaurants in the capital, as well as the most popular. Awards have quickly followed, and Lastra’s modern, Noma-Mexico take on classic flavours is spellbinding. The chef’s table is a beautiful space too, all dark timber, plaster, terracotta and greenery, and comes with a nine-course tasting menu personally delivered by Lastra and team.
Capacity: 20
Where: 9 Seymour Street, W1H 7BA
Book now: KOL

Voyage by Adam Simmonds, King's Cross

What: A brushed metal counter lies at the heart of Adam Simmonds' new restaurant concept, his most personal venture to date, and a culmination of years spent working in fine dining institutions, including Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. Obviously, we recommend grabbing a seat at the counter to see Adam's finely-tuned artistry in action. When we visited, we were blown away by his salt-baked, roasted and fermented celeriac dish, served with shiitake, walnut and truffle. 
Capacity: 12
Where: 23 Euston Road, NW1 2SD
Book now: Voyage by Adam Simmonds

The best restaurants offering chef's tables experiences

There are a collection of restaurants in London that are built entirely around a chef's table concept. They tend to be intimate spaces that only offer one sitting per evening, and can be booked by single diners, couples or groups, with everyone seated around one table. Yes, that means you could be rubbing shoulders with a total stranger, but the likelihood is you're both avid foodies, so you should have plenty to talk about.  

Kitchen Table, Fitzrovia

What: With two Michelin stars and a hefty waiting list, Kitchen Table remains one of the most in-demand bookings anywhere in the capital. This four hour food odyssey takes you through some twenty courses, all made in front of you and hand-delivered by James Knappett and team.
Capacity: 20
Where: 70 Charlotte Street, W1T 4QG
Book now: Kitchen Table

Kioku by Endo, Westminster

What: Tucked away in a discreet part of the restaurant, Kioku’s chef’s table is separated from the rest of the dining room by timber sliding doors, leaving you to enjoy one of the best new restaurants in the last year in perfect solitude. The chef's table can be booked by regular diners, or as a private dining experience with the timber doors drawn. This is a special experience indeed. The menu costs £200 per head, and take diners on an exploratory journey of modern Japanese cookery, spearheaded by one of the most talented sushi masters in the world. 
Capacity: 8
Where: 6th Floor, 57 Whitehall, SW1A 2BX
Book now: Kioku by Endo

Humble Chicken, Soho

What: This tiny Soho site once belonged to Barrafina, but it is now home to Humble Chicken, where Angelo Sato and team cook up one of the most unique, delicious tasting menus in London. A mixture of impossibly-precise, technical cooking and full-throttle Asian flavours, Humble Chicken is an incredible experience, made all the better by how close you get to all the action.
Capacity: 18
Where: 54 Frith Street, W1D 4SJ
Book now: Humble Chicken

Evelyn’s Table, Soho

What: The diminutive basement counter first made a name for itself alongside the Selby brothers, who first won a Michelin star here. Evelyn’s Table has retained the award under new head chef Seamus Sam, and he is front and centre at this very personal ten-seat counter, which remains one of London’s most in-demand bookings. There is no strict dress code, and guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes early - service commences promptly. 
Capacity: 12
Where: 28 Rupert Street, W1D 6DJ
Book now: Evelyn’s Table

Aulis, Soho

What: Simon Rogan’s intriguing chef’s table development kitchen hybrid has really come into its own under the leadership of head chef Charlie Tayler. It’s not cheap, but following the closure of Roganic, it’s the only place you can experience a taste of Rogan’s innovative cooking in the capital. The 12-seat table is available for private hire too, in case you’re planning something special.
Capacity: 12
Where: 16A St Anne's Court, W1F 0BN
Book now: Aulis

Behind, Hackney

What: Fresh from a stint as Jason Atherton’s development chef, Andy Beynon’s first solo restaurant scooped a Michelin star just 20 days after opening back in 2021. The oft-changing menu is largely fish and seafood-focused, and the counter seats up to 18 for each sitting, tucked away in trendy London Fields. Its signature tasting menu costs £125, which for 10 courses ain't bad. 
Capacity: 18
Where: 20 Sidworth Street, E8 3SD
Book now: Behind

Counter 71, Shoreditch

What: Adding to London’s embarrassment of riches when it comes to counter dining options, Counter 71 comes from former Fenn head chef Joe Laker. Laker explores his love of British ingredients across 10 precise courses (for dinner only), delivered along the length of a beautiful green marble counter. It also serves a shorter six-course lunch menu on Saturday lunchtimes.
Capacity: 16
Where: 71 Nile Street, N1 7RD
Book now: Counter 71

Ekstedt at The Yard, Westminster

What: Niklas Ekstedt's Michelin-starred Scandinavian restaurant has added a relatively new chef's table to its culinary armoury. Limited to just seven guests around one shared table, it's one of the most intimate experiences in this list, allowing diners to fully immerse themselves in Ekstedt's flame-cooked food. Techniques might be Scandi, but produce is strictly British. Enjoy things like 'snacks from the fire', hay-smoked veal sweetbreads with parsnip velouté and buckwheat, and pine-smoked sirloin with fire cooked aubergine puree and wild mushrooms.
Capacity: 7
Where: 3-5 Great Scotland Yard, SW1A 2HN
Book now: Ekstedt at The Yard

Kebab Queen, Covent Garden

What: Easily one of, if not the, most unusual chef’s table in London, Kebab Queen is hidden away under Maison Bab in Covent Garden. What looks like a regular kebab shop is in fact, a chef’s counter, and each course is served straight onto the (totally clean, we promise) counter in front of you to be eaten with your hands. Pretty barmy stuff. The space can be booked privately, too.  
Capacity: 10
Where: 4 Mercer Walk, WC2H 9FA
Book now: Kebab Queen

If you're looking for something a bit special but you're not quite ready to push the boat out on a full, private chef's table, check out our list of the best tasting menus in London, all of which are still guaranteed to provide a night you won't forget in a hurry.