The definitive list of cool and trendy restaurants in London

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.

Cult-favourite pop-up Four Legs has been hanging out at The Plimsoll for a while now, churning out cracking menus as well as arguably London’s best burger. Without doubt one of the hardest places to get (and keep hold of) a table in London.

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.

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.

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. 

The Water House Project feels less like a restaurant and more like an open house for a property you can’t afford. The seasonal monthly tasting menus are superb, but you’ll probably leave with some interior design inspo as well.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Sumptuous, inventive modern Japanese food meets slick contemporary interior design at Evernight - the best of Nine Elms restaurant offerings for our money.

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.

Colourful, South American chic and a hefty menu of easy-eating ceviche, steak, tacos and tiraditos make Coya endlessly popular.

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.

Bistro Freddie lives up to the name with candlelit bistro tables and a menu full of comfort food you just want to dive into.

JOIA has pride of place at the top of art’otel Battersea, with stunning views overlooking the Power Station. It’s beautiful inside and out - the pastel shaded art deco styling really appeals to us.

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.

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.

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. 

Famously serene, Lyle’s whitewashed walls and sleek Scandi lines are the definition of wabi sabi restaurant style. The cooking is rightly lauded too.

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. 

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.

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. 

We’re huge fans of Akoko, and Akara offers a more relaxed entry point into Ayo Adeyemi’s dynamic West African cooking. The signature akaras are delicious, but there’s lots more on the menu worth trying too.

The energy at Papi is frenetic, joyful chaos, as messrs Matthew Scott and Charlie Carr sling out utterly unique dishes and cleverly matched wines. One of East London’s hottest properties right now.

Los Mochis seamlessly blends two worlds, mixing a colourful Mexican aesthetic with slick, modern Japanese design. Moody, buzzy interiors are a big part of the interest, but the food is bold, exciting and delicious too.

Hospitality power couple Honey Spencer and Charlie Sims head to Broadway Market for this achingly cool modern bistro and wine bar. Sune sits right in the zeitgeist but few restaurants nail this combination with such class and conviviality.

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.

Arcade’s newest food hall delivers an array of delicious options, all housed inside the glorious, newly-renovated Battersea Power Station. This is what we want our food courts to look like from now on. 

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.

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 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.

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.  

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.

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. 

Head to the back of Hackney Church Brewing Co to find Lagom, where chef Elliott Cunningham is manning the flames of an open wood fire and knocking out delicious steaks, smash burgers and more.

The South Bank finally has a restaurant of real note - Lasdun - which sits tucked away inside the National Theatre. A tribute to Brutalist architect Denys Lasdun, Lasdun boasts a certain geometric majesty, and is worthy of much more than just pre-theatre dinners.

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.

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! 

Brash and bustling Dorian has been a smash hit in Notting Hill, mixing edgy modern design with some really exceptional bistro cooking.

Easy-going modern Japanese plates and live jazz in a shabby chic restaurant in Dalston - it doesn’t get more cool and trendy than that does it?

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.

Over the park from another Newington Green trendy favourite, Jolene, Cadet is a no-bookings wine bar that hides some truly fantastic cooking behind the scenes. Don’t leave without trying a slice of pate en croute.

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.

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.

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 grand, towering ceilings, giant palm trees and sleek furniture of this 19th century ticket hall are quite something. Order a cocktail at the 22-metre-long bar and ogle at the interiors for half an hour - it’s worth every penny.

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.