London's Top 100 Restaurants by SquareMeal

Back for 2023, the SquareMeal Top 100 London Restaurants awards represent the leading lights of the capital’s culinary scene.

Updated on 17 January 2023

We think it’s safe to say that after two years of living through a pandemic with its various hurdles, lockdowns and restrictions, London’s hospitality scene came back fighting in 2022. We reviewed more new restaurants than ever before over the course of the last year, each of which so neatly summarised the core values of our cherished industry: creativity, resilience, and care. We’ll never fail to be amazed by the way the teams – made up of owners, chefs, sommeliers, front of house and more – manage to create completely unique and inviting spaces that offer distinctive experiences for guests against a wave of thousands of other restaurants in the city.

This year the winner of our Top 100 London Restaurant awards is Da Terra. Rafael Cagali's two Michelin-starred restaurant seamlessly fuses Brazilian cooking with Italian flair to create a whirlwind menu of concise, contemporary and exquisitely-crafted plates. This fine dining joint isn't without fun though, and Cagali offers flashes of playfulness throughout the dining experience, from the food to the interiors, to provide a refreshing take on high-end dining. We could not be more proud to crown Da Terra our top restaurant in London for 2023. 

As the epicentre of the UK’s culinary scene, London is blessed with food from nearly every corner of the world. A melting pot in the true sense of the word and a destination for foodies in search of something a little less ordinary, our world-famous city plays host to something for everyone when it comes to eating out. In our list, you’ll find a diverse range of cuisines, styles and price-points to suit every occasion and appetite – a true snapshot of the city we’re proud to call home.

Our annual SquareMeal awards are uniquely curated using a combination of the opinion of our in-house critics and thousands of votes from diners. Our team spends most of their days and nights eating out, critiquing restaurants and bars across London and the UK, while our dedicated reader base knows a good meal when they see one.

A huge congratulations to each and every restaurant which placed on the list of top restaurants in London – with such intense competition, a place anywhere on the ranking is a massive achievement.

Aside from our annual round-up of London’s top restaurants, we simultaneously announce our list of the UK's Top 100 Restaurants which similarly place 100 of Britain’s best dining spots in order to represent the culinary talent of chefs in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

Da Terra

1. Da Terra

8 Patriot Square, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9NF

Two Michelin-starred Rafael Cagali’s Da Terra is a blissful representation of Brazilian and Italian working together in equal harmony. Every dish is precise, exquisitely crafted and surprising in the best possible way. A triumph!

Over £80
Modern European
Brazilian
Italian
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Dorian

2. Dorian

105-107 Talbot Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2AT

The calibre of the kitchen team at this neighbourhood joint is so fierce that our expectations were confirmed when Dorian opened to stellar praise in 2022. Expect beautiful seasonal plates handled with care by ex-Ikoyi chef Max Coen, and a wine list sourced from Noble Rot.

£50 - £79
British
Bistro
SquareMeal London Top 100
Brat

3. Brat

4 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, London, E1 6JL

Tomos Parry’s Basque-inspired cooking continues to earn the praises of anyone who eats here. Welsh produce cooked over flames is Parry’s way of celebrating the food of his childhood, but it’s the house specialty turbot that will forever give the restaurant its name.

£50 - £79
Spanish
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Fallow St James

4. Fallow St James's

52 Haymarket, St. James's, London, SW1Y 4RP

Brave, insightful, sustainable cooking elevates Fallow to the upper echelons of London’s dining scene. Heston alumni Will and Jack prove that low-waste cooking is as cool as ever, with dishes such as smoked cod’s head in Sriracha butter gaining cult status for those in the know.

£50 - £79
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
BiBi

5. BiBi

42 North Audley Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 6ZP

Indian restaurants in London are varied and bountiful, but Chet Sharma’s brainchild Bibi surpasses them all. Here, rules are thrown out the window with his witty and inventive spin on classic Indian dishes, and the interiors are just as exceptional as the food.

£50 - £79
Indian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Pollen Street Social

6. Pollen Street Social

8-10 Pollen Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 1NQ

Jason Atherton’s Michelin-starred Mayfair gem shows no signs of becoming outdated by other new ventures moving into the area. Instead, Pollen Street Social continues to astound with its attention to detail and adventurous ideas. Superb.

Over £80
British
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Quality Wines

7. Quality Wines

88 Farringdon Road, Farringdon, London, EC1R 3EA

The place to go when you want comfort and joy on a plate (and in a glass). Head chef Nick Bramham curates a weekly-changing blackboard of Mediterranean plates which you can pair alongside a selection of daily-changing wines, available by the glass or bottle.

£30 - £49
Modern European
Mediterranean
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Pelican Notting Hill

8. The Pelican Notting Hill

45 All Saints Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 1HE

Few gastropubs manage to capture the essence of a local boozer with the elegance of a sophisticated restaurant, but The Pelican’s only gone and done it. The cooking here is robust, intelligent and well-priced. Don’t miss the lobster pie.

£50 - £79
Pubs
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Acme Fire Cult @ 40FT Brewery

9. Acme Fire Cult @ 40FT Brewery

The Bootyard, Dalston, London, E8 3DP

Barbecue joint Acme Fire Cult offers a rebellious take on cooking over hot coals, with a focus on vegetables and utilising low-waste techniques, such as pickling and fermenting. Here, insightful dishes are presented on bamboo plates, and best enjoyed alongside one of its fresh brews

£30 - £49
Modern European
Barbecue
SquareMeal London Top 100
Ikoyi

10. Ikoyi

180 Strand, Aldwych, London, WC2R 1EA

To call Ikoyi a 'West African' restaurant is a wild simplification of what a meal at this exceptional restaurant entails. This is West Africa via Noma, with smatterings of chef Jeremy Chan's Chinese-Canadian background thrown into the mix, and the results are astonishing.

Over £80
International
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal

11. Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal

Hotel Café Royal, Piccadilly Circus, London, W1B 4DY

Alex Dilling’s pitch-perfect cooking has Michelin star written all over it, a bold but fair claim despite being open less than a year. We salute his remarkable skill, evident in dishes such as deconstructed tartiflette canapes and Cornish sardines with just-set buttermilk and cuttlefish.

Over £80
French
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Ledbury

12. The Ledbury

127 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2AQ

The Ledbury’s enduring reign as one of London’s best restaurants has not been tainted by its temporary closure during the pandemic. Focusing on tasting menus only, Brett Graham and Tom Spenceley continue to deliver faultless cooking at this Notting Hill icon.

Over £80
Modern European
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Restaurant St Barts

13. Restaurant St Barts

63 Bartholomew Close, Barbican, London, EC1A 7BF

The team behind NEST and FENN have opened another success story with St Barts. Executive chef Johnnie Crowe’s masterpiece 15-course menu demonstrates a huge amount of skill, while still allowing the ingredients to breathe and sing. Bravo!

Over £80
British
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
TEMAKI

14. TEMAKI

12 Market Row, Brixton, London, SW9 8LB

Rice is elevated to hero status at Shaulan Steenson’s sushi restaurant in Brixton, which he flavours perfectly to pair with fresh fish. Discover winning combinations such as BBQ eel, miso aubergine and lobster with egg yolk, miso and citrus in his famous temaki handrolls.

£30 - £49
Sushi
Japanese
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Ritz Restaurant

15. The Ritz Restaurant

The Ritz Hotel, Mayfair, London, W1J 9BR

All ones' cares simply slip away upon entering The Ritz’s pink, Regency-style dining room. Few in the capital manage to execute classic French cooking with the panache and high level of service as at this iconic Michelin-starred haunt.

Over £80
British
French
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Evelyn

16. Evelyn's Table at The Blue Posts

28 Rupert Street, Soho, London, W1D 6DJ

A chef’s counter with room for just 10 diners, Evelyn’s Table is an intimate and seriously special dining experience in which guests are treated to a tasting menu of Italian-Japanese influences from the highly-talented Selby brothers.

Over £80
Modern European
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Clove Club

17. The Clove Club

380 Old Street, Shoreditch, London, EC1V 9LT

Main man Isaac McHale’s cooking is radical, unorthodox and daringly modern, his tasting menus featuring the likes of grilled habanero granita with plum sorbet, and warm potato mousse with caramel ice cream. It’s bold, and it works (with two Michelin stars to prove it).

Over £80
British
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Luca

18. Luca

88 St John Street, Farringdon, London, EC1M 4EH

There are good Italian restaurants, there are great Italian restaurants and then there’s Luca, which is in a league of its own. Despite advertising itself as casual dining, the plates here offer a level of precision, creativity and beauty often only achieved in the upper echelons of fine dining.

£50 - £79
Italian
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
KOL

19. KOL

9 Seymour Street, Marylebone, London, W1H 7BA

Mexican cuisine is portrayed using British produce at this Michelin-starred restaurant, where chef Santiago Lastra aims to elevate average ingredients (KOL plays on the Spanish for ‘col’ meaning cabbage) to something incredible. It's unlike anything else in London right now.

Over £80
Mexican
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
A. Wong

20. A. Wong

70 Wilton Road, Pimlico, London, SW1V 1DE

Chef and owner A.Wong’s flair for creativity, storytelling and fun is the reason his restaurant is still the only Chinese restaurant in London to retain two Michelin stars. Serving some of the best dim sum in the capital, a meal here will stay with you long after it's over.

Over £80
Chinese
Dim Sum
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Evernight

21. Evernight

3 Ravine Way, Battersea, London, SW11 7BH

Lynus Lim and Chase Lovecky have a gem on their hands with Evernight - a slick Japanese restaurant in glamorous Nine Elms that delivers genuinely innovative cooking. The smoked eel chawanmushi is one of our dishes of the year.

£50 - £79
Modern European
Sushi
Japanese
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Kiln Soho

22. Kiln Soho

58 Brewer Street, Soho, London, W1F 9TL

There’s a reason Kiln has accrued a legion of fans that continues to grow with each passing year. From its quirky, out-there Thai dishes to its laughably affordable prices, this is the sort of spot you can’t believe still exists in central London. A true favourite.

£30 - £49
Thai
Burmese
SquareMeal London Top 100
Core by Clare Smyth

23. Core by Clare Smyth

92 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2PN

Core by Clare Smyth will forever go down in history as one of the finest examples of culinary excellence in the UK. With three Michelin stars to its name, this unrivalled restaurant acts as a model for fine dining, while exceptional service and a French-leaning wine list complete the experience.

Over £80
British
Three Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

24. Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

The Connaught, Mayfair, London, W1K 2AL

The food at Helene Darroze is nothing short of a work of art. Each carefully-considered plate is made using the finest seasonal ingredients, from producers hand-selected by Helene herself, and wielded into plates of pure joy.

Over £80
Modern European
French
Three Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Perilla

25. Perilla

1-3 Green Lanes, Canonbury, London, N16 9BS

Perilla might bill itself as a neighbourhood restaurant, but this high-flying gem is well worth a trip across town if you ask us. The menu changes daily and with the seasons, and while all its dishes are worthy of applause, you can’t start a meal here without its famous sourdough with brown butter.

£50 - £79
Modern European
Lisboeta

26. Lisboeta

30 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 2NG

Nuno Mendes’ love letter to Lisbon finds its home on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia, where gorgeous sharing plates are served ‘tasca-style’. It's a convivial dining experience from start to finish, and you mustn’t leave without trying the egg yolk and pork fat custard with port wine caramel.

£50 - £79
Portuguese
SquareMeal London Top 100
Noble Rot Lamb

27. Noble Rot Lamb's Conduit

51 Lamb's Conduit Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1N 3NB

Dark wood, scrawled blackboards and flickering candles feel like a comforting embrace amidst the heaving streets of Bloomsbury. Noble Rot specialises in simple, honest, beautiful French food, and the wine list is second to none.

£30 - £49
British
French
Wine Bars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Manteca Shoreditch

28. Manteca Shoreditch

49-51 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3PT

Far more than just another pasta restaurant, Manteca brings robust, richly-flavoured Italian plates to Shoreditch at this relaxed, nose-to-tail restaurant. Expect whole-animal butchery, hand-rolled pastas, wood-fired breads, and its own salami made in-house.

£50 - £79
Italian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Lyle

29. Lyle's

The Tea Building, Shoreditch, London, E1 6JJ

James Lowe’s ever-popular Shoreditch restaurant continues to draw the crowds. Lyle’s is famous for its minimal, utilitarian aesthetic, which gives the spotlight to hyper-seasonal British cooking.

Over £80
British
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Corrigan

30. Corrigan's Mayfair

28 Upper Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 7EH

The glitzy location may keep some away, but we’d recommend everyone to make time to visit Richard Corrigan’s eponymous Mayfair restaurant - the food is comforting, delicious and perfectly executed.

£50 - £79
British
Irish
SquareMeal London Top 100
St John Smithfield

31. St John Smithfield

26 St John Street, Farringdon, London, EC1M 4AY

One of London’s truly influential great restaurants is still as good as ever, feeding the masses with humble British cooking, comforting pies and warm madeleines straight from the oven. Long may it continue.

£30 - £49
British
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Singburi

32. Singburi

593 High Road, Leytonstone, London, E11 4PA

This diminutive Thai restaurant in London’s far east reaches has built a considerable following thanks to unabashed, authentic cooking. Bookings are thin on the ground but necessary.

Under £30
Thai
SquareMeal London Top 100
Trinity

33. Trinity

4 The Polygon, Clapham, London, SW4 0JG

Everything about the experience at Trinity is pitch-perfect, from generous service to exceptional cooking that bring classic French technique to British produce. Don’t miss the beloved salted caramel custard tart.

Over £80
Modern European
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Sabor: El Asador

34. Sabor: El Asador

35-37 Heddon Street, Mayfair, London, W1B 4BS

Nieves Barragan Mohacho’s peerless Spanish restaurant remains one of London’s very best. Gather around the open kitchen and wood-fired ‘asador’ and feast on some special Galician cooking.

Over £80
Tapas
Spanish
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Muse by Tom Aikens

35. Muse by Tom Aikens

38 Groom Place, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BA

Aikens’ tiny Belgravia restaurant only sits 25 diners, but there’s magic going on in this converted mews townhouse. Grab a spot at the upstairs counter for an exceptionally personal experience with the man himself.

Over £80
Modern European
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Restaurant Story

36. Restaurant Story

199 Tooley Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 2JX

Tom Sellers’ double Michelin star-wielding fine diner goes from strength to strength, executing inventive, playful dishes with unmatched precision and style.

Over £80
British
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Frog by Adam Handling

37. Frog by Adam Handling

34-35 Southampton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7HG

If you’re looking for innovative fine dining with a touch of theatre, Adam Handling’s flagship Frog is the place to be. That inventive streak stretches to the vegetarian menu, which is one of London’s best.

Over £80
Modern European
British
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Lanesborough Grill

38. The Lanesborough Grill

The Lanesborough, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7TA

The new look Lanesborough Grill has made a splash with masterful British cooking, courtesy of Shay Cooper. Also in the running for one of London’s most majestic dining rooms.

Over £80
British
Afternoon tea
SquareMeal London Top 100
Claude Bosi at Bibendum

39. Claude Bosi at Bibendum

Michelin House, Chelsea, London, SW3 6RD

One can’t talk about French food in the capital without mentioning Bibendum, where Lyonnais master chef Claude Bosi is at the very top of his game in this majestic, historic building.

Over £80
French
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Brutto

40. Brutto

35-37 Greenhill Rents, Farringdon, London, EC1M 6BN

Buzzy, authentic and unpretentious, Brutto crashed onto the scene last year and has retained its popularity thanks to some very heartwarming Florentine cooking and affordable negronis.

£30 - £49
Italian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Endo at the Rotunda

41. Endo at the Rotunda

101 Wood Lane, White City, London, W12 7FR

London has really fallen for the omakase experience, and no-one does it quite like Endo Kazutoshi; the sushi master tells a story with his omakase feast, perched at the top of the Television Centre in White City.

Over £80
Sushi
Japanese
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Prawn on the Lawn London

42. Prawn on the Lawn London

292-294 St Paul’s Road, Islington, London, N1 2LL

Easily mistaken for a fishmonger from the outside, Prawn on the Lawn delivers heavenly fresh seafood and simple, generous cooking. The result is so much more than the sum of the parts - a hugely underrated London restaurant.

£50 - £79
Fish
SquareMeal London Top 100
Rochelle Canteen

43. Rochelle Canteen

16 Playground Gardens, Shoreditch, London, E2 7FA

Another of London’s beloved old-timers, Rochelle Canteen is still where you go when you just want great, seasonal, British food with no messing about. The courtyard is one of London’s most coveted summer dining spots.

£50 - £79
Modern European
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Allegra

44. Allegra

The Stratford, Stratford, London, E20 1FD

Patrick Powell’s highrise modern European restaurant is brilliant, inventive and, perhaps because of its Stratford location, rather underrated. Go - it’s worth the trip.

£50 - £79
Modern European
SquareMeal London Top 100
KOYN

45. KOYN

38 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 4AG

Samyukta Nair’s latest restaurant nails opulent Japanese dining, with luxury dishes delivered in a moody basement dining room. Yes, prices are sky high, but if you’re going to spend, this is a good place to do it.

£50 - £79
Sushi
Japanese
SquareMeal London Top 100
Mambow

46. Mambow

78 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, London, E5 0RN

Abby Lee’s no-holds-barred Malaysian restaurant is one of the revelations of the year. Menus are compact but perfectly-formed with comforting Malaysian cooking backed up with natural wines.

£30 - £49
Malaysian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Trivet

47. Trivet

36 Snowsfields, Bermondsey, London, SE1 3SU

Love a food and wine pairing? Look no further than Jonny Lake and Isa Bal - the ultimate pairing - who have a great thing going in Bermondsey with clever European cooking and worldly wines from unheralded grape-growing regions.

£50 - £79
Modern European
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Le Gavroche

48. Le Gavroche

43 Upper Brook Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 7QR

Still the last word in timeless French cookery, Le Gavroche is where you go when you want to eat in the lap of Gallic luxury. The menu has evolved a little, but classics like the souffle Suissesse remain.

Over £80
French
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Kitchen Table

49. Kitchen Table

70 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 4QG

James Knappett’s fine dining magnum opus is counter dining at its most intimate - Kitchen Table fits just 19 people for each service, with each of the many courses delivered personally by chefs.

Over £80
Modern European
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
The River Café

50. The River Café

Thames Wharf, Hammersmith, London, W6 9HA

Is there a better lunch spot than outside at The River Cafe on a summer’s afternoon? Quality produce, measured cooking and generous service ensure that this iconic restaurant is still one of London’s elite.

Over £80
Italian
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
The French House

51. The French House

49 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 5BG

The grand dame of Soho continues to thrill with a menu of proper cooking that you just wanted to dive into and roll around in. Go with oysters, chicken liver parfait, steak frites and a Paris Brest, then stumble out happy onto the streets of Soho.

£30 - £49
Pubs
French
SquareMeal London Top 100
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Mandarin Oriental

52. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Mandarin Oriental

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7LA

Heston’s London outpost is still going strong, and continues to attract gastro-tourists from far and wide, who come for a taste of the famous meat fruit and other mind bending creations.

Over £80
British
Two Michelin stars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Mount St. Restaurant

53. Mount St. Restaurant

41-43 Mount Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 2RX

An opulent newcomer to London’s burgeoning restaurant scene, Mount St.'s prices are eye watering, but there’s brilliance and artistry in Jamie Shears’ cooking, from lobster pie to bubble and squeak with HP hollandaise.

£50 - £79
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Gymkhana

54. Gymkhana

42 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 4JH

A jewel in the JKS Restaurants crown, Gymkhana has long been thought of as one of London’s very best Indian restaurants. The interiors are rather lovely too, with dark wood, marble tabletops and metal accents striking a chord against a jade green colour palette.

£50 - £79
Indian
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Quality Chop House

55. The Quality Chop House

88-94 Farringdon Road, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 3EA

A long-standing cult favourite with Londoners, Quality Chop House has been serving up rustic, comforting British classics for over a hundred years. Inside it retains a Victorian charm, with black and white tiled floors and wooden booths on cast iron legs.

£50 - £79
British
Wine Bars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Akoko

56. Akoko

21 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 3LP

West African fine dining might not be as rare in London as it once was, but Akoko finds itself at the forefront of the movement. Comforting, familiar favourites - like jollof rice - are elevated via slick presentation and fun twists.

Over £80
West African
SquareMeal London Top 100
Marcus

57. Marcus

The Berkeley, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7RL

This is fine dining with all the bells, whistles and quenelles you could ever dream of. Marcus Wareing’s restaurant champions hospitality in the whole sense of the word, encompassing impeccable service, plush surroundings and world-class cookery.

Over £80
British
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Mere

58. Mere

74 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 4QH

Monica Galetti stepped away from MasterChef in 2022 to focus on her restaurant, and this elegant Fitzrovia spot is right at the top of its game now, blending classic French and South Pacific influences.

Over £80
Modern European
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Baring

59. The Baring

55 Baring Street, Islington, London, N1 3DS

London is hardly short of gastropubs, but The Baring marks one of the category’s trendiest openings of 2022. The frequently rotating yet short menu speaks volumes of the kitchen’s confidence in its handling of gutsy British favourites.

£50 - £79
Pubs
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Ekstedt at The Yard

60. Ekstedt at The Yard

3-5 Great Scotland Yard, Westminster, London, SW1A 2HN

Employing live-fire cooking, Ekstedt at The Yard’s USP is the smoky hum of smoke through everything it serves - including a stupendous tableside-torched baked Alaska. Go for Scandinavian food that goes way beyond meatballs and mash.

Over £80
Swedish
Scandinavian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Aulis London

61. Aulis London

16A St Anne's Court, Soho, London, W1F 0BN

Simon Rogan’s development kitchen presents a unique opportunity via its eight seater chef’s table where guests are used as (willing) guinea pigs to try some of the team’s most interesting, innovative dishes. The only problem? Getting a seat at the table.

Over £80
British
International
SquareMeal London Top 100
Jamavar

62. Jamavar

8 Mount Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 3NF

Headed up by father and daughter duo Dinesh and Samyukta Nair, Jamavar is the exemplification of the duo’s innate capacity for creating unforgettable dining experiences. Head here for a warm welcome and unrivalled Indian food.

£50 - £79
Indian
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Barley Mow Mayfair

63. The Barley Mow Mayfair

82 Duke Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 6JF

Ben Tish’s latest venture has all the hallmarks of its chef patron’s signature style: top-class ingredients, assertive flavour combinations and a relaxed family-dining set-up where guests are encouraged to enjoy their meal in a leisurely fashion.

£50 - £79
Pubs
British
Gastropub
SquareMeal London Top 100
Wild Honey St James

64. Wild Honey St James

8 Pall Mall, St. James's, London, SW1Y 5NG

Anthony Demetre’s pitch-perfect classic cookery is all the reason you need to visit Wild Honey in smart St James’s. The use of genuine wild honey in the dessert section is a nice touch.

Over £80
Modern European
British
French
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Kitchen W8

65. Kitchen W8

11-13 Abingdon Road, Kensington, London, W8 6AH

This Michelin-starred restaurant in Kensington often goes under the radar, yet continues to turn out refined, uncomplicated, perfectly-cooked plates in its elegantly understated dining room. A real home away from home.

£50 - £79
Modern European
British
French
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Cavita

66. Cavita

60 Wigmore Street, Marylebone, London, W1U 2RZ

Adriana Cavita’s cooking isn’t like anything else in London, it’s a love letter to proper, uplifting Mexican food that spans the culinary intricacies of such a vast country. The chic interiors at this Marylebone restaurant add to its appeal.

£50 - £79
Mexican
SquareMeal London Top 100
Angler

67. Angler

South Place Hotel, Moorgate, London, EC2M 2AF

One of The City’s best, Angler provides not only beautiful fish cookery but also stunning views and a terrace that is hard to beat come warm weather. Flawless service and experienced sommeliers complete the experience.

Over £80
Fish
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Wolseley

68. The Wolseley

160 Piccadilly, St James's, London, W1J 9EB

Marble pillars and Venetian-inspired details evoke the feel of a grand European cafe at this iconic dining destination. While a menu of European classics, from steak to schnitzel, offers timeless appeal.

£50 - £79
Modern European
Central European
Afternoon tea
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Cinnamon Club

69. The Cinnamon Club

The Old Westminster Library, Westminster, London, SW1P 3BU

Vivek Singh’s shaping of London’s culinary landscape has been instrumental in elevating Indian cuisine to whole new, elegant heights. Here, in the surroundings of an old library, he and his team serve flawlessly balanced plates.

£50 - £79
Indian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Cafe Cecilia

70. Cafe Cecilia

Canal Place, Hackney, London, E8 4FX

Max Rocha’s famous parentage (John Rocha) might have helped the initial PR push, but Cafe Cecilia’s enduring popularity signifies the crowd-pleasing cookery done here. Rocha comes to the pass with experience in the kitchens of the River Cafe and Spring.

£30 - £49
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Leroy

71. Leroy

18 Phipp Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 4NU

Proving style and substance can co-exist in equal measure, Leroy is a trendy Shoreditch pitstop that serves fantastic natural wines plus sharing plates that are pin-sharp yet unpretentious.

£30 - £49
Modern European
Wine Bars
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Chez Bruce

72. Chez Bruce

2 Bellevue Road, Wandsworth, London, SW17 7EG

A fine dining old-timer, Chez Bruce’s dependable cookery has kept it central to the capital’s food scene since the 90s. The deft handling of British ingredients attracts both a well-heeled local crowd and a clutch of celebrity regulars.

£50 - £79
Modern European
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Westerns Laundry

73. Westerns Laundry

34 Drayton Park, Islington, London, N5 1PB

A candlelit garden welcomes you before you’re met with a fish-first menu of sharing plates that celebrates the bounty of Britain in all its glory - illuminating the beauty that can be created from humble ingredients.

£30 - £49
Modern European
Fish
SquareMeal London Top 100
MiMi Mei Fair

74. MiMi Mei Fair

55 Curzon Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 8PG

Opulent and theatrical in equal measure, the themed rooms of MiMi Mei Fair present a grown-up wonderland for those of us who love the whole dining experience. The kitchen’s clever handling of Chinese classics includes what we think might just be London’s best tableside-carved duck.

Over £80
Chinese
SquareMeal London Top 100
Scully

75. Scully

4 St. James's Market, St. James's, London, SW1Y 4AH

Diversity’s the name of the game at the eponymous Scully, a restaurant that draws on the eclectic heritage of its chef patron, an alumni of Ottolenghi. Exciting plates bounce from Ireland to Bali yet magically manage coherence.

Over £80
International
SquareMeal London Top 100
Norma

76. Norma

8 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 2LS

Championing the heady combination of Sicilian-Moorish cuisine, Norma has carved a distinctive niche for itself in its bejewelled Fitzrovian townhouse. Start with cuttlefish crudo before enjoying incredible pasta and one of the sharing secondis.

£50 - £79
North African
Italian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Carmel

77. Carmel

23-25 Lonsdale Road, Queen's Park, London, NW6 6RA

Berber & Q’s little sister site, Carmel is sort of like a hip younger sibling with all the ease and confidence that brings. Food takes inspiration from the Eastern Mediterranean with menus that span brunch, lunch and dinner.

£30 - £49
Middle Eastern
Mediterranean
Wine Bars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Plaza Khao Gaeng at Arcade Food Hall

78. Plaza Khao Gaeng at Arcade Food Hall

Arcade Food Hall, Oxford Street, London, WC1A 1DB

Serving up vibes as hot as its food, Plaza Khao Gaeng burst onto London’s dining scene in 2022 to critical acclaim. Chef Luke Farrell spent years in Thailand studying the country’s food before returning to Blighty with his favourite recipes.

£30 - £49
Thai
SquareMeal London Top 100
Bentley

79. Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill

11-15 Swallow Street , Mayfair, London, W1B 4DG

Richard Corrigan’s seafood institution needs little introduction, where everything from Beluga Royal caviar to fish and chips is served with aplomb. 100 years later and it’s still going strong.

Over £80
British
Fish
Farzi Café

80. Farzi Café

8 Haymarket, St. James's, London, SW1Y 4BP

Competition for modern Indian cooking in London is fierce, but Farzi Cafe puts up a strong fight. Here, inventive dishes such as lobster and coconut curry risotto turn traditional Indian dishes on their head, and the results are truly exciting.

£30 - £49
Indian
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Pem

81. The Pem

22-28 Broadway, Westminster, London, SW1H 0BH

Run by the formidable Sally Abe - SquareMeal’s female chef of the year in 2021 - The Pem has a bold pink and red colour scheme and an equally punchy menu of Great British flavours.

Over £80
Modern European
SquareMeal London Top 100
José Pizarro at the RA

82. José Pizarro at the RA

The Royal Academy, Mayfair, London, W1S 3ET

Seemingly unstoppable, Jose Pizarro‘s latest venture adds another reason to head to the RA, besides the art. Creativity in the kitchen is realised through tapas plates like spicy prawn fritters. Be warned though, most days it's only open for lunch.

£30 - £49
Tapas
Spanish
SquareMeal London Top 100
Caravel

83. Caravel

172 Shepherdess Walk, Islington, London, N1 7JL

It’s sort of hard not to be impressed by dining on a boat, but the food at Caravel would be classed as extremely lovely, wherever it was served. Plates are filled with flavours that nod to nostalgia, yet the fish cookery is resolutely grown-up.

£30 - £49
Modern European
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Quo Vadis

84. Quo Vadis

26-29 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 3LL

Jeremey Lee’s rustic and generously portioned British classics have helped this restaurant remain one of London’s best. We adore the frivolity and fun of this quirky Soho restaurant.

£50 - £79
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Apricity

85. Apricity

68 Duke Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 6JU

Chef, cookbook author and sustainability advocate Chantelle Nicholson heads up this impressive Mayfair restaurant. Everything from the decor to the menu has sustainability at its core.

£50 - £79
Modern European
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Above at HIDE

86. Above at HIDE

85 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London, W1J 7NB

Found on the first floor of this multi-floor restaurant, Above at HIDE offers serene views of Green Park. Diners can enjoy both a la carte and tasting menus that feature ever-changing seasonal dishes.

Over £80
British
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Scott

87. Scott's Richmond

Whittaker House, Richmond, London, TW9 1EH

As glitzy and glamorous as its original site in the heart of Mayfair, this sprawling suburban version delivers big on sophisticated seafood. Grab a cocktail and caviar at the bar before moving to your table for a towering seafood platter.

£50 - £79
Bars
Fish
SquareMeal London Top 100
Spring

88. Spring

Somerset House, Covent Garden, London, WC2R 1LA

Frequently referred to as one of London’s most laidback luxury joints, Spring is special in its ability to put diners completely at ease. The kitchen’s sustainability ambitions are skyhigh and realised through pristine plates.

£50 - £79
Modern European
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Plimsoll

89. The Plimsoll

52 St. Thomas's Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2QQ

Widely known as one of North London’s best pubs, since being taken over by new owners, The Plimsoll has regained the feel of a traditional British boozer with a daily-changing menu of experimental takes on classic dishes.

£30 - £49
Pubs
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Garden Café Lambeth

90. The Garden Café Lambeth

Lambeth Garden Museum, 5 Lambeth Palace Road, Lambeth, London, SE1 7LB

The epitome of charming, the Garden Museum Cafe produces some of the most wonderful yet simple food in London. The kitchen delivers a few select plates daily, each carefully balancing just a couple of key ingredients that prove sometimes less is more.

£30 - £49
Modern European
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Townsend Restaurant

91. Townsend Restaurant

77-82 Whitechapel High Street, Aldgate, London, E1 7QX

Found within the historic Whitechapel Gallery, Townsend’s loosely British menus are constantly changing but one thing remains consistent - truly outside-the-box creativity. Plus some great wines to match.

£30 - £49
Modern European
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Harwood Arms

92. The Harwood Arms

Walham Grove, Fulham, London, SW6 1QP

For some top tier pub food, The Harwood Arms has everything you could want - and it’s surprisingly affordable. The pub has also been the training group for some notable chefs, including Sally Abe and James Cochran.

£50 - £79
British
Gastropub
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Tamil Prince

93. The Tamil Prince

115 Hemingford Road, Islington, London, N1 1BZ

Ex-Roti King chef Prince Durairaj has joined forces with Glen Leeson of JKS to create this traditional British pub serving authentic dishes of South India. The menu consists of crowd-pleasing small and large sharing plates celebrating the flavours of Prince’s home state.

£30 - £49
Indian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Legare

94. Legare

Cardamom Building, London Bridge, London, SE1 2YR

Just a short walk from London Bridge station, this casual Italian restaurant prides itself on a homely feel and despite the central London location, offers more of a neighbourhood vibe rather than a tourist spot.

£30 - £49
Italian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Kudu Grill

95. Kudu Grill

57 Nunhead Lane, Peckham, London, SE15 3TR

With a unique combination of both cool and cosy, Kudu Grill has found a winning formula with its South African braai barbecue and an impressive cocktail list. Marble table tops and exposed brickwork quietly make this one of London’s most photogenic restaurants.

£30 - £49
South African
Barbecue
SquareMeal London Top 100

Ready to book? You’ll have to be quick. Following our awards, the restaurants on our Top 100 lists tend to fill up fast. Once you’ve decided on your favourite or favourites from the summaries above, you can click through to read the full in-depth review of each place. Here you’ll find exacting tasting notes, opening hours, dress codes, FAQs, booking details and more.

Once you’ve explored the top restaurants in London, it might be time to spread your wings further afield. Our guide to the best restaurants in Scotland showcases exemplary cuisine north of the border, while our round-up of Cornwall’s best restaurants is perfect if you’re looking for beautiful seafood cooked in stunning surrounds.

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