The best restaurants in West London

In an unexpected but well-executed pivot, Jackson Boxer has transformed the beloved seafood-focused Orasay into a wider spectrum menu at Dove, and let us tell you, it more than fills the shoes of the original. Its cosy neighbourhood vibe is still very much intact, but with an ingenious menu of brilliant flavour combinations now in circulation. 

The Harwood Arms has long been London’s only Michelin-starred pub, with the esteemed Brett Graham sitting at the culinary director’s wheel, and head chef Josh Cuttress leading the kitchen. Tucked away in Fulham’s back streets, this fantastic gastropub serves hearty British fare with a focus on game and wild foods.

One of Fulham’s best neighbourhood gems, this welcoming Mexican restaurant serves a well-priced line-up of tacos and tostadas – and a tequila list longer than your arm. Agave tasting flights come highly recommended.

Much has been written about The Hero since it opened, but just know this – the food here is exceptional. The Grill is the main restaurant upstairs, where prime cuts of meat and fish are cooked over a wood-fired grill, or you can opt for the more casual pub downstairs. Cod cheeks with curry sauce anyone?

Chef Fadi Kattan honours the roots of his homeland by injecting traditional Palestinian dishes with modern twists. Look out for the short rib fatteh, zaatar bread, and fava bean foul. Brunch is excellent here, too.

Sometimes you want a meal without any fuss or gimmicks, but one that is still skillfully executed. Enter The Jones Family Kitchen, with its Ginger Pig steaks, epic whisky list and ever so charming staff. The alfresco terrace is popular in the summer months.

One of West London's best rooftop restaurants, The Broadcaster boasts an all-weather terrace with views overlooking White City. DJ sessions, all-day menus and a boho vibe make this a brilliant all-rounder for any occasion. Mid-week dinner, Sunday roast, party with pals - it does it all. 

This lovely Italian restaurant run by a husband-and-wife team (Guila and Endris) is slightly off the beaten track, but worth peeking into if you’re within a mile or two from Shepherd’s Bush’s Askew Road. Soothing green and white interiors set the tone for simple, heartfelt Italian cookery. The aperitivo and small bites list is great if you’re in a hurry.

Wildflowers occupies a spit-level site overlooking Newson’s Yard: a ground floor dining room serving seasonal Mediterranean dishes, and a wine bar upstairs where you can grab a cocktail or glass of wine with a few cicchetti-style bar snacks. Bag a seat in the charming courtyard during the warmer months.

From the same owners as Chez Bruce, La Trompette in Chiswick is another beloved Michelin spot serving dishes with French and Mediterranean accents. Three-course menus are available for lunch and dinner, and from Wednesday to Friday it serves a very reasonable set lunch for less than £50 per person.

Head Chef Matt Christmas and Bruce Poole have long stood at the stoves of this 30-year-old institution just off Wandsworth Common. Chez Bruce earned a Michelin star in 1999 for its modern European menus, consistently high-quality cooking and well-chosen wine list.

Remixing fine dining for the modern crowd, Michelin-starred Core is the brainchild of Gordon Ramsay protégé Clare Smyth, who has carved out a stellar reputation for herself thanks to Core’s truly mind-blowing menu. A bucket list entry for many foodies, although you'll need to save up to eat here. 

Brunch fans will know Sunday in Brooklyn for its viral fluffy pancakes – a giant, cake-like treat drowned in hazelnut maple praline and brown butter. But let it be known that this upbeat American-style restaurant serves thoughtful, all-day menus far beyond brunch, topped off with playful cocktails and warm hospitality.

The Lavery’s beautiful, white-washed dining room is certainly a looker, with sky-high ceilings, sweeping wooden bannisters, and towering windows that flood the space with natural light. The food matches the classic setting, where head chef Yohei Furuhashi creates uncomplicated, ingredient-led dishes rooted in Italian heritage.

Peter Joseph’s modern menus combine Indian flavours with British ingredients to create dishes that challenge everything you thought you knew about Indian food. A la carte, tasting, vegan and bottomless brunch menus cater for all occasions.

Phil Howard’s Elystan Street is a Chelsea essential, specialising in refined luxury matched by an impossibly chic dining room. The set menu is still one of the best-value in London for Michelin-starred cooking at this level. 

The Barbary has expanded into this second, much-larger site on Westbourne Grove, although its trademark counter still lies at the heart of the restaurant, where chefs turn out puffy flatbreads and flame-licked sharing dishes courtesy of an enormous wood-fired oven.