Best restaurants in the City of London

Fazenda’s lively rodizio experience has been a huge hit across the UK, but the London site brings extra glamour, with moody interiors and attentive passadores. On top of that, what’s not to love about unlimited Brazilian and Argentinian meats? With flexible portions and diverse dietary options, it’s well-suited to group dining, team socials and celebrations.

People flock to Yauatcha for the brand’s precision-made dim sum (buttery venison puffs are a must). There is also a short menu of more substantial Chinese classics like stir-fried beef rib-eye with black bean sauce. As London dim sum spots come and go, Yauatcha's class proves to be permanent. 

Famous for ultra-luxurious cooking and 'Press for Champagne' buttons, Bob Bob Ricard City never fails if you need somewhere to impress a colleague, client, or loved one. Opulent cooking and attentive service always makes us feel well looked-after, but make sure you wear your stretchy pants for this one, because the menu is packed with delicious cooking. 

City Social's calling card is playful food that carefully balances substance as well as style. Here you’ll be treated to great views and a menu of classic dishes given a modern twist. As you'd expect from the location, it really caters to corporates, as well as celebrations (we recommend getting stuck into the impressive leather-bound drinks list). 

Found’s quirky design and creative cocktails bring a little mystery to St Pauls, offering comforting dishes and warm service in a stylish City setting. Theatrical drinks are definitely among the highlights - the Lost Unicorn, for example, is revealed via a glow-in-the-dark laser pen. Though quirky, the cooking is solid, mixing up British and French nostalgia, from prawn cocktail to beef bourguignon.

A slightly unconventional combination of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian food somehow miraculously works here, thanks to deft handling from the kitchen. Floor to ceiling views of London’s skyline are guaranteed to impress out of towners too - SUSHISAMBA still never fails to impress whenever we visit. 

Carefully sourced steaks are cooked over the grill and priced by weight which gives this City restaurant a very American feeling. A selection of sides and steak-friendly wines completes the setup for a carnivorous crowd-pleaser. Keep an eye on 'The Cut' - Goodman's daily specials board, which highlights the best cuts from the kitchen's ageing room each day. 

Giorgio Ristorante Italiano benefits from the atmosphere of Leadenhall Market’s dramatic Victorian setting, bringing a slice of warm Italian hospitality to proceedings. Inside, it's the fresh, in-house cooking that has built a cult following, with classic pasta, seafood and meat dishes crafted with quality ingredients.

A sleek Italian bolthole in a Norman Foster glass palace, Manicomio City nails power-lunch polish and date-night charm. Expect all-day dining from luxe breakfasts to classic antipasti, pasta and veal Milanese, plus an absolutely stellar tiramisu. The 220-strong wine list seals the deal -  effortless City sophistication, without the stuffiness.

Wild Izakaya brings Tokyo cool to Old Jewry with neon flourishes, communal tables and a menu led by a Nobu-trained chef. Sushi, sashimi and robata skewers shine, alongside punchy tempura plates. An epic sake list and sharp cocktails keep things lively, making this ideal for post-work drinks or long, late dinners.

Oozing old-school glamour, Boltons deep red carpets, extravagant oil paintings and pressed white-tablecloths all culminate in a rather charming backdrop. An a la carte of Italian fare invites diners to enjoy plates of pasta and hearty mains, all washed down with something off the extensive wine list.

One of London's superlative tasting menu experiences (and the only London restaurant to hold a Michelin star and a Michelin Green star), St Barts explores the history and diversity of classic British ingredients. The dining experience moves you through a few different spaces in this beautiful old site, which looks out onto the gardens of the 12th century church of St Bartholemew the Great.

Sister to The Wolseley in Piccadilly, The Wolseley City has all the pomp and grandeur of that iconic location, but transports it to The City of London, just north of London Bridge. It's hard not to gawp at the Byzantine chandeliers and baroque ironwork, and the menu is typical Wolseley luxury, right down to the plateau de fruits de mer and a magnificent sachertorte.

Gaucho's aged Argentinian beef, accessible cooking and slick design has stood the test of time, and who can guess how many thousands of deals have been sealed over the emerald tables at Gaucho City. Still, Gaucho isn't just for city-slickers - a huge range of menus covers every time of day and type of meal, and Gaucho's reliably excellent cooking always delivers. 

Enoteca da Luca’s St Paul’s location offers cosy, rustic Italian dining, with particularly notable hardmade fresh pasta dishes. The restaurant itself boasts a fantastic terrace, as well as lots of nooks that make it good for more private business lunches. There’s an excellent wine list too, with a whole host of fantastic bottles from all regions of Italy.

Expect live fire theatre at Temper City - one of Temper's biggest, most electric sites in London. The open kitchen anchors a buzzy dining room serving rare-breed British steaks, smoked meats, tacos and bold snacks, all touched by a lick of smoke. The drinks list focused on big wines and mezcal cocktails, making this a vibrant post-work favourite.

This rather beautiful wine bar also doubles as a florist, where owners Ed and Dee look after each side of the business. Don't underestimate the quality of the cooking (or the floristry, in fact!) as chef Ed has worked with the likes of the Roux family and Gordon Ramsay over the course of his career, channelling his experience into easy-going, delicious modern British plates.

Sleek bistro and steakhouse Ibai, set in a converted warehouse with an authentic 'industrial cool' aesthetic, serves up classic dishes of the French Basque country - carabinero prawns, marmitako fish stew, Gateau Basque for dessert - from the team behind fellow London Basque restaurants Donostia and Lurra. A highlight here is the simple yet delicious steak menu, in particular the rare Galician blond cuts on offer.

Vivek Singh’s signature style sings here with bold, colourful dishes of contemporary Indian food. Watch the chefs at work via the open kitchen as you await plates of things like Keralan curry or chicken biryani. The large al fresco terrace is a fantastic place to enjoy lunch or dinner in the summer.

This slick restaurant near Smithfield Market specialises in nose-to-tail cooking, with all the meat reared on the restaurant's own 600-acre organic farm in Scotland. Butchery and aging is all done in-house as well, and that translates to some of the best classic meat cooking anywhere in the City. Origin does a fantastic Sunday roast as well, complete with excellent house cocktails.

The converted church setting of Galvin La Chapelle makes any old evening feel like a grand occasion. Come here for luxurious cooking from Chris and Jeff Galvin - two of London's true old-school master chefs, with a menu that includes classics like truffle pasta and tarte tatin. There's s a great roast on Sundays too.

For those in search of a classic City curry house, look no further than City Masala, and its comforting, authentic Indian dishes. With generous portions, a nostalgic menu of classics and a flexible approach to guest preferences, it’s no wonder this City hotspot has remained popular for years. There’s a fantastic set lunch as well, and a huge vegetarian selection.

If you’re looking for something polished, business-like and reliable, The Don is the place to go. Expect European dishes served in elegant, softly lit surroundings, an excellent wine list and attentive service, this has been a calm, sophisticated escape in the City for decades, ideal for business lunches and discreet meetings.

You know what you’re getting with a Hawksmoor – top quality steak, expertly cooked over the grill. The result is rich, perfectly seasoned meat accompanied by tempting sides like creamed spinach or crisp, beef fat chips. Still the first and last word in luxurious British cooking, but also boasting one of London's very best cocktail lists. 

Cracking vistas of the capital's skyline from this 40th-floor restaurant makes it a great place to grab breakfast while you watch the sun come up. Open through ‘till midnight, late-night dining is also available, and the menu is pleasingly versatile, offering everything from ox cheek doughnuts to whole roasted poussin, and spicy lobster rolls. 

Classic French cookery and old-world interiors combine here to create a comfortable ambiance, making it the perfect spot for entertaining. Expect dishes like moules marinière or lapin à la moutarde followed by chocolate mousse, with a suitably Gallic wine list to match. Bleeding Heart's private dining spaces are very atmospheric too. 

Nestled in an impressive former banking hall just opposite Bank station, British brasserie 1 Lombard Street serves an elegant a la carte, a mean Sunday roast, and a now-legendary Bubbles, Steak and Lobster Bottomless Brunch every Saturday. All served beneath its iconic circular glass dome, it's been a City favourite since it opened in 1998. 

Hithe + Seek combines Thames-side views with stylish interiors, and an inventive wine-led experience that encourages exploration through curated ‘Hithe’ and ‘Seek’ selections. There are some inventive small plates to complement pairings too, and knowledgeable staff are on hand to offer guidance to find the perfect bottle, making this ideal for wine lovers.

Celebrating some of Singapore’s best flavours within contemporary dishes, Strait’s Kitchen at Pan Pacific London is just a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street Station and is an ideal spot for an impressive work meeting or a memorable dinner. We love that the menu adds some unique twists to nostalgic flavours, like the signature fish finger bao, and aged beef served on miso polenta.

Taking up a prime piece of real estate on the ninth floor of 100 Liverpool Street, Los Mochis offers pan-pacific menus that delve into the flavours of Tokyo and Tulum. Bold, colourful decor and eye-catching views are just part of the appeal, made all the better by carefully plated dishes of maki rolls, tacos, and crispy rice.

Housed in a former East India Company tea warehouse, Anokha mixes heritage with glam City swagger: velvet tones, moody lighting and proper date-night drama. The menu rewrites Indian classics - from tikka favourites to rich curries - with a lighter touch, but also offers a killer tasting menu. Slick, stylish and built for impressing.

Sultry Mint Leaf Lounge elevates Indian dining with moody interiors and theatrical cocktails. Under the surface, there's a menu of real substance: dishes balance simplicity with intricate spicing, from coconut prawn curry to tender butter chicken, and creative desserts and storytelling drinks enhance the experience, offering a more contemporary take on Indian dining.