Best chef’s tables London: 23 exclusive spots for a 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 - London's best 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. 

Chef's Table at City Social, City of London

What: City Social’s chef’s table offers an exclusive, private experience for 11 guests on the 24th floor of Tower 42 in the City. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame dazzling city views, while a glass panel gives you a unique view into the kitchen. Expect Michelin-starred menus courtesy of Jason Atherton and team, with a focus on seasonal British cooking.
Capacity: 11
Where: 24th Floor, Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, EC2N 1HQ
Book now: Private dining at City Social

Table Lumière at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Mayfair

What: At three Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, the Table Lumière is arguably London's most theatrical private table, cocooned within a shimmering curtain of 4,500 fibre optics at the heart of the dining room. Executive chef Jean-Philippe Blondet's seven-course tasting menu, paired with wines chosen by the sommelier, arrives on Hermès china with Puiforcat silverware.
Capacity: 7
Where: The Dorchester Hotel, 53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA
Book now: Private dining at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester

The Cook’s Room at Hawksmoor Borough, London Bridge

What: Downstairs at Hawksmoor Borough, the Cook's Room puts you right up against the open kitchen, watching chefs work through a bespoke Beef Feasting menu built exclusively for private groups. Expect the full Hawksmoor theatre - expertly dry-aged steaks, showstopping sides and that trademark generosity - all cooked and explained a few feet from your table. It's steak lovers' theatre with a genuine front-row seat, set inside a converted Borough Market hops warehouse.
Capacity: 20
Where: 16 Winchester Walk, SE1 9AQ
Book now: Private dining at Hawksmoor Borough

Chef's Table at 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

Chef's Table at 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: Private dining at KOL

The Orangery TCR, Soho

What: Delivering what has to be one of London’s most unique chef’s table experiences, The Orangery TCR is an indoor farm and restaurant offering a leafy reprieve from the chaos of Tottenham Court Road. The vertical urban farm introduces a fresh take on farm-to-fork dining, complete with menus packed with produce sourced from hydroponic, hand-nurtured greens. We’re talking Cornish halibut with charred leek fondue and Champagne beurre blanc, celeriac velouté with black truffle, and green apple and thyme sorbet.
Capacity: 16
Where: 81 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1DG
Book now: Private dining at The Orangery TCR

Chef's Table at 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, 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: Private dining at Benares

Angélus Room at Mosimann's, Belgravia

What: Mosimann’s in Belgravia offers eight exquisite private dining rooms, and it’s is still run by world-famous chef Anton Mosimann OBE, and his sons Philipp and Mark. Angélus is the jewel for culinary theatre: seating up to six, this mahogany-panelled chef’s table lets you see right into the bustling kitchen - perfect for anyone seeking a truly immersive, Michelin-level dining experience in one of London’s most prestigious clubs.
Capacity: 6
Where: 11B W Halkin Street, SW1X 8JL
Book now: Private dining at Mosimann's

Chef's Table at The Anthologist, City of London

What: The Anthologist is a multi-level venue, specialising in unique private dining experiences. Situated in a private corner of the restaurant, the Chef's Table is an immersive dinner setting, offering a direct view of the open kitchen. Order from a range of three-course set menus - Petal, Blossom or Bloom - each with their own carefully curated selection of dishes, like prawn lollipops followed by Goan chicken curry, and Wagyu sausage and mash with sticky toffee pud for dessert. 
Capacity: 8
Where: 58 Gresham Street, EC2V 7BB
Book now: Private dining at The Anthologist

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.  

Muse by Tom Aikens, Belgravia

What: Tom Aikens’ latest restaurant Muse 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
Planning something special? Explore private hire options at Muse by Tom Aikens
Book now: Muse by Tom Aikens

LUNA Omakase, Liverpool Street

What: One of the most intimate, unique counter dining experiences in London, LUNA Omakase seats 12 along a polished counter overlooking Broadgate Circle, set inside Los Mochis London City. Chefs here craft Edomae-inspired sushi with absolute precision, delivering luxurious bites with the most generous Japanese hospitality. LUNA is available for private hire too, for the most special of occasions.
Capacity: 12
Where: 9th Floor, 100 Liverpool Street, EC2M 2AT
Planning something special? Explore private hire options at Los Mochis London City
Book now: LUNA Omakase

JUNO Omakase, Notting Hill

What: The older sibling of LUNA Omakase in Liverpool Street, JUNO Omakase’s six-seat counter is hidden inside Los Mochis Notting Hill, making it perhaps the most exclusive chef’s table experience in London. Expect absolutely top-class fresh fish and seafood courtesy of chef Leonard Tanyag and team, and a front row seat to some of the most skilful sushi cheffing in London.
Capacity: 6
Where: 2-4 Farmer Street, W8 7SN
Planning something special? Explore private hire options at Los Mochis Notting Hill
Book now: JUNO Omakase

Dinings SW3, Belgravia

What: Tucked into a Chelsea mews, Dinings SW3's marble counter is the best seat in the house, putting you inches from chef-owner Masaki Sugisaki's team as they fire up his distinctive Japanese-European cooking. Expect precise knife work, the occasional blowtorch flourish and dishes like the signature wagyu bun delivered straight from the pass. We love Dining SW3 for ambitious, technically dazzling food, and there’s nowhere better to enjoy it than the counter.
Capacity: 12
Where: Walton House, Lennox Garden Mews, SW3 2JH
Planning something special? Explore private hire options at Dinings SW3
Book now: Dinings SW3

Restaurant St. Barts, Barbican

What: At Michelin-starred Restaurant St. Barts, the Kitchen Counter sits right alongside the pass, giving diners an unobstructed view of the kitchen as it fires out an ambitious British tasting menu. Chef Johnnie Crowe's cooking champions small-scale farmers and seasonal, sustainable produce, and the setting - a converted Smithfield courtyard overlooking St Bartholomew the Great - is a stunner.
Capacity: 4
Where: 63 Bartholomew Close, EC1A 7BF
Planning something special? Explore private hire options at Restaurant St. Barts
Book now: Restaurant St. Barts

Appalachia, Shoreditch

What: At Appalachia, Shoreditch's intimate counter puts you right in the smoke and flames as Head Chef Alistair Borer - ex-Smoking Goat - fires out his Appalachian-inspired menu. Expect deep, heritage-driven American South cooking with a distinctly fire-led, Thai-tinged edge - think smoked eel and jalapeño deviled eggs, cornbread madeleines and grilled poussin with grits.
Capacity: 16
Where: 71 Nile Street, N1 7RD
Book now: Appalachia

Kebab Queen at Le Bab, Covent Garden

What: Easily one of, if not the, most unusual chef’s table in London, Kebab Queen is hidden away under Le 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
Planning something special? Explore private dining options at Kebab Queen
Book now: Le Bab Covent Garden

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

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

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, Liverpool Street

What: The latest outpost of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay sits right at the top of 22 Bishopsgate, offering perhaps the most incredible views of any restaurant in London. Ramsay protege James Goodyear (who also cooked recently at Evelyn’s Table, and at three Michelin-starred Maaemo in Oslo before that) runs the show here with incredible skill, overseeing a menu that focuses on the best of the best British seasonal produce.
Capacity: 12
Where: Level 60, 22 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4BQ
Book now: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High

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 £175 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: Two Michelin-starred Humble Chicken is Angelo Sato's culinary playground, where he and his team cook up one of the most unique 16-course omakase 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: 13
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

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