The definitive list of cool and trendy restaurants in London

Lively barbecue joint Temper took London's restaurant scene by storm when it first opened back in 2016. Head here to feast on grilled meats served on flatbreads that soak up the juices, as well as tacos with unconventional fillings.

Rochelle Canteen has transcended the trends and has been a favourite of ‘those in the know’ since it opened in 2004, remaining cool over since. The secret here is uncomplicated cooking and clean, vibrant flavours.

Decorated in the style of a student flat share complete with a faux living room, kitchen and utility area, needless to say this boho-chic restaurant and bar doesn't take itself too seriously. 

Occupying a tiny site right behind Spitalfields Market, Gunpowder is a small but mighty restaurant, turning out stellar Indian-inspired small plates. It’s a frenetic, buzzy space and the dishes pack a real punch. 

London is sadly low in Peruvian restaurants which gives Pachamama a bit of an edge before you’ve stepped through the door. With a pisco bar and party atmosphere thanks to regular DJ slots, this is the place to come for brunch with a group of friends looking to have a good time.

Taking their grub seriously, the team at Crispin are constantly working to evolve their menu. The ‘one of everything’ gives you a little taste of all the kitchen’s favourite dishes – like the potato-topped toast with anchovies and green sauce.

Isabel is home to a dining room which could have been ripped straight from Architectural Digest, so it’s no surprise that the restaurant is loved by London’s fashion crowd. Its glossy interiors include shiny monochrome tables and a striking brass disc studded ceiling.

It was once nigh on impossible to nab a table here, but Blacklock has since expanded to four locations. Its speciality is its ‘all in’ option, which sees guests served a pile-up of charcoal-grilled pork, beef and lamb chops resting on doughy flatbreads. Yum.

Gorgeous interiors, a bustling open kitchen, and a menu of unusual but additive Indian plates inspired by the chef’s childhood makes this a winner. For Mayfair it’s surprisingly lowkey, and the service is top-class too.

Chantelle Nicholson’s sustainably-focused restaurant is pioneering for many reasons, from using low-waste cooking techniques to its upcycled interiors. The chairs are even made from recycled Coca Cola bottles! 

Since Max Rocha opened Café Cecilia in 2021, it’s become known as the place to be and be seen in East London. Why? We think its menu of seasonal, unpretentious sharing plates might have something to do with it.  

The clue is in the name at this buzzy Soho joint. Kiln is a tiny Thai spot which is full of fire – fiery dishes that is - such as as glass noodles topped with Tamworth pork belly and brown crab meat.

For all out wow-factor, Seabird in Southwark delivers on both views and food. The gorgeous rooftop space looks over London’s sweeping skyline, while the menu features fresh Portuguese-inspired plates. Don't miss the oyster bar.

Okay, Bob Bob Ricard isn’t exactly new anymore but those ‘push for Champagne’ buttons have timeless appeal. Offset the bubbles with something from the long list of comfort food classics – like a beef Wellington.

We’re almost hesitant to include The Garden Café on our list. You see, part of its charm is the illusion that this is a cool restaurant that flies slightly under the radar. The minimalist dining room looks onto a pretty courtyard oasis and the small plates are undeniably delicious.

From the team behind Bob Bob Ricard comes bright young thing Bebe Bob, a rotisserie chicken-focussed concept designed to draw the crowds. Of course there's caviar, Champagne and beautiful interiors to keep people coming back for more. 

Hakkasan is the perfect spot for a hot date. Sleek interiors and impossibly good looking staff all add to Hakkasan’s exclusive vibe, while the outward bravado is backed up by a menu of Cantonese classics. 

This cool Chelsea restaurant has pretty-as-a-picture interiors perfect for snapping, and serves a broad menu of cult pub classics like sharing platters, moules frites, burgers, steaks and ice creams. Kids are welcome too, if you’re looking for somewhere to take the whole gang.

Arguably one of London’s most famous no-bookings restaurants, securing a table at Padella is notoriously difficult. It’s worth the queue though, as once you’re inside you can delight in the restaurant's perfectly simple menu.

Langan's may have had its heyday back in the 70s when it was launched by Peter Langan and Sir Michael Caine, but it still lays claim to the old-school glamour and notoriety that made it famous in the first place. 

Amazonico London follows on from its successful Madrid sibling which has been known to host notable guests - from celebs to politicians. The interiors are jungle-themed and the menu is a mix of Asian, Mediterranean and Brazilian food. 

Interiors adorned with fake foliage have been in vogue for a quite a while now, and 14 Hills capitalised on the trend at the perfect time. Jungle-like interiors and city views from the 14th floor make this D&D restaurant double cool. 

The Nomad Hotel’s restaurant feels a bit like being on a film set. It’s housed underneath a soaring glass ceiling while romantic wraparound balconies and trailing foliage spill down onto the dining room below.  

London’s first Sushisamba is best known for its stunning vistas, 38 floors above the City’s bustling streets. The blended menu of Peruvian, Brazilian and Japanese dishes is just as enticing though, boasting the likes of wagyu gyoza, and kobe ribeye from a robata grill.

Taking industrial-chic to a new level, this dark and dingy Shoreditch restaurant is a no-frills affair. The food however, is very much on the indulgent side with a menu consisting of barbecue sharing plates including an epic brisket bun with pickled red chilli.

The original Hoppers may no longer be the newest kid in town, but it’s still popular as ever. Its best dish has got to be the eponymous hopper: a bowl-shaped pancake made from rice which boasts a gooey egg at its centre.

Bringing together lavish 1920s interiors with high-end Chinese Food, MiMi Mei Fair has been an instant hit on London’s scene. Don’t miss the roast duck that’s carved tableside and there’s a secret basement bar too.

From the outside, Bodega Negra looks like a slightly seedy sex shop, but head downstairs and you’ll discover an underground Mexican bar serving margs and tacos all night long. This is Soho's worst kept secret. 

With 80s interiors, this east London Chinese restaurant manages to carefully ride the fine line of retro, hitting the references just right so that nothing is too gimmicky. Interiors are stripped back and café-like, while dishes are moreish and satisfyingly savoury.

With a wood grill at its centre, this Michelin starred restaurant by Tomos Parry has shirked the usual trappings of fine dining, trading starched linens for a more utilitarian approach. The stripped back interiors let the food do all the talking – like the Basque-style turbot.

This humungous Italian trattoria in Fitzrovia is known for its noteworthy interiors, including bundles of twinkly lights and walls lined with 20,000 real spirit bottles. The food menu is as over-the-top as you’d expect too, featuring metre-long pizzas and a 1L ice cream sundae.

Achingly cool Westerns Laundry comes from the same people who own hit bakery Jolene. Stripped back interiors and a candlelit courtyard draw a trendy north London crowd who lap up the seafood sharing plates.

VE Kitchen serves a colourful and fresh plant-based menu with decor just as impressive to match. Pretty pastel walls, pink velvet stools and mismatched sculptural lighting give this restaurant insta-worthy credentials.

It may sit just two floors above flashy Sushisamba, but the vibe at Duck & Waffle is far more relaxed (although it still boasts the same enviable views). Open 24/7, Duck & Waffle deals in upmarket comfort food, including its eponymous dish, which sees waffles topped with a confit duck leg and a glossy-yolked fried egg.

Former Murano head chef and Great British Menu finalist Pip Lacey is the woman behind this casual restaurant in the mightily popular Coal Drops Yard development. It focuses on wood-fired cooking, serving up plates which have been grilled, steamed and smoked.

Stripped back interiors hold space for only 30 diners, so eating here very much feels like you’re among others ‘in the know’. Plus, it's totally veggie! Think potato latkes with garlic sauce and thick slices of fried aubergine doused in zhoug. 

Cult hangout Mao Chow has been reborn as Facing Heaven just around the corner in Hackney, where it serves vegan Chinese food, natural wines and baijiu cocktails under neon lighting. 

Zany, silly and tonnes of fun, Gloria burst on to London’s restaurant scene in early 2019 and has since achieved a cult following. Part of the Big Mamma Group, Gloria revels in campy excess and it does so brilliantly.

Known for the queues that form outside its door nightly, a visit to Bao is practically a rite of passage for Londoners. The signature fluffy bao buns here are filled with the likes of confit pork belly, fried chicken or lamb shoulder.

Any restaurant that the JKS Group touches turns to gold, so it’s no surprise then that Berenjak has a clutch of in-the-know fans. Serving affordable small plates and majoring in kebabs, Berenjak has plenty of showstoppers on the menu that beg to be devoured. 

Funky, quirky and full of entertainment, Poulet is a rotisserie restaurant like no other, with entertainment such as drag shows, burlesque, comedy nights and West End singers. Over the top floral decor and glittering chandeliers also make this restaurant perfectly instagrammable.

Having graduated from a shipping container in Pop Brixton to a restaurant proper, Indian small plates joint Kricket serves up signature dishes such as fiery Keralan-fried chicken and crunchy Bhel puris which explode in the mouth with a swirl of tamarind stickiness.

Part theatrical experience, part restaurant, KOL is Marylebone’s latest Mexican restaurant. Watch as the chefs cook over grills in the centre of the room and enjoy innovative twists on classic cooking, like langoustine tacos.