London's Top 100 Restaurants by SquareMeal

BiBi is a vibrant and colourful neighbourhood restaurant in Mayfair. Here, Chet Sharma whips up Indian-inspired fine dining creations with British produce, often grilled over charcoal. At BiBi, the interiors are just as stunning as the food.

Proving sustainability is chic, Heston alumni Will and Jack are truly invested in low-waste cookery. This translates into moreish plates that keep repeat custom high. Think Sriracha butter drenched cod’s head or ex-dairy beef burgers.

The intimate 12-person chef’s table at Evelyn’s Table is home to a most talented trio - Luke, Theo and Nathaniel Selby, who move in harmony as they effortlessly blend classic French and Japanese influences in a multi-course tasting menu.

Oxeye is the brainchild of chef-owner Sven-Hanson Britt, who won MasterChef: The Professionals Rematch in 2019 and, previously, spent eight years training at The Ritz. Designed to marry food, drink and art under one roof, the creative tasting menus here are guaranteed to inspire and beguile.

KOL in Marylebone is the creation of nomadic Mexican chef Santiago Lastra. It was the first Mexican restaurant in the UK to win a Michelin star and offers a truly unique fine dining experience.

A more recent addition to Brixton market, TEMAKI is a hand-rolled sushi bar headed up by rice specialist Shaulan Steenson. Rolls are prepared in front of you, then handed across the counter. Sides and sake are a must.

An essential, unwavering pillar of London’s dining scene, Le Gavroche remains the last word in Gallic luxury fine dining. French classics and faultless service are alive and well thanks to chef patron Michel Roux Jr.

Complex, intricate Ikoyi has overcome the initial confusion about its identity and blossomed into one of London’s great restaurants. Chef Jeremy Chan weaves West African flavours with threads of umami to create unique, entrancing dishes.

Clare Smyth first won three Michelin stars at Gordon Ramsay’s eponymous restaurant as head chef and has since gone on to win her own triple accolade. Sophisticated British-leaning plates are the order of the day here.

Utterly brilliant French cooking, in one of London’s most photogenic, soothing dining rooms - Hélène Darroze at The Connaught has ascended to the top of London’s gastronomic pyramid with a third star. Quite right too.

There’s no frills fine-dining, and then there’s Lyle’s. James Lowe’s no-nonsense restaurant strips away the fripperies of gastronomy to leave a starkly minimalistic, buzzy space where disarmingly simple, Michelin-starred food does the talking.

James Knappett and Sandia Chang’s wonderful Kitchen Table is part restaurant, part interactive theatre. Knappett and team are flawless in devising a daily tasting menu and delivering it with panache.

Jason Atherton’s flagship restaurant Pollen Street Social offers impactful, fine dining dishes served up with a pinch of theatre, all of which are based around high-quality seasonal ingredients. The tell of a truly great restaurant? It earned its Michelin star within the first six months of opening.

Split into a downstairs bar and upstairs dining room, this chic gastropub has become famous as one of the best in London. Head chef and Great British Menu finalist Ruth Hansom whips up hearty delights here through the day.

Appetite for Heston's wild sensory creations shows little sign of abating. Many of the dishes at Dinner are rooted in mediaeval history, such as the ‘meat fruit’ - a chicken liver and foie gras parfait in mandarin jelly, dressed to look like a mandarin.

The iconic whitewash and wood of St John continues to thrum with the crackle of bone marrow being spread on toast. A great deal is made of St John’s influence, but the restaurant is still one of London’s best.

Adam Handling received a long-awaited Michelin star in 2022 for his playful, technical tasting menus at Frog. The name ‘Frog’ was a reference to Handling’s sink-or-swim attitude - there’s no doubt now that he’s doing the latter.

A two Michelin-starred French master at the very top of his game, Claude Bosi has returned Bibendum to its rightful place in the higher atmosphere of London’s restaurant scene.

Ravinder Bhogal’s 'no borders kitchen' takes inspiration from far and wide, honouring shared flavours and cultures across South Asian and the Far East, as well as the Middle East, East Africa and Britain.

Rafael Cagali conjures inspiration from his Italian and Brazilian roots to create an intriguing tasting menu with a sprinkle of fun, all within the parquet and marble minimalism of Bethnal Green Town Hall Hotel.

Perched on the top floor of the former Television Centre in White City, sushi master Endo Kazutoshi tells his story via a unique omakase menu that flows with the seasons.

Andrew Wong took on his parent’s Chinese restaurant in Pimlico only to turn it into one of London’s most famous culinary destinations. Here you’ll find the most beautifully handled dim sum among other regional dishes.

Russell Norman’s Florentine trattoria can’t change the weather, but everything else about this perfectly imperfect Tuscan delight is spot on, from the authentic, no-frills cooking to the £5 negronis.

Spring is a sustainably-minded restaurant by Skye Gyngell that serves hyper-seasonal dishes in the west wing of Somerset House. Its eco-conscious ethos runs through everything it does, from creating a Scratch menu to use up surplus ingredients to eradicating single-use plastic from the restaurant.

Former Harwood Arms head chef Sally Abe brings her culinary skills to The Pem, where she champions top-quality British produce and reworks classic dishes with innovative new spins.

The River Café has maintained its iconic reputation from pretty much the moment it opened, known for serving some of the best Italian food in London and spawning a series of heralded UK chefs over the years – Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to name a couple.

With pride of place in the Berkeley Hotel, Marcus remains a magnificent, wood-panelled temple of modern British cooking, with great respect paid to produce from all over the British isles.

Head to Shoreditch to find this ultra-edgy (yet Michelin-starred) restaurant, which is headed up by chef Tomos Parry. Brat is largely based around Basque cuisine and wood-fired cooking, while celebrating the Welsh ingredients Anglesey-born Parry grew up with.

Mere is the Masterchef judge and ex-Gavroche powerhouse Monica Galetti’s restaurant in Fitzrovia. Here, she and the team turn out elegant French dishes with hints of South Pacific influences from her Samoan origins.

Housed inside a former bike shed, Rochelle Canteen is a relaxed lunch and dinner destination led by co-patron and chef Margot Henderson OBE, that serves an ever-changing seasonal menu of classic but brilliantly-executed dishes.

There’s something endearing about the success of someone young, and Tom Sellers garnered his reputation at 26 when he simultaneously opened Restaurant Story and earned a Michelin star. Fun, inventive dishes have become his calling card.

Thanks to its numerous accolades, The Clove Club needs little introduction. Chef patron Isaac McHale and the team devise unusual, elegant tasting menus of modern British fare alongside excellent contemporary and classical wines.

Former Fat Duck pair Jonny Lake and Isa Bal have had as good a 2022 as anyone - they scooped a Michelin star for their smart, contemporary cooking, whilst Bal also received Michelin’s Sommelier Award.

Aside from its fabulous Italian fare, one of the greatest things about Luca is its foliage-adorned alfresco courtyard, which provides an incredible location in which to feast on pasta galore and short and bitter-sweet negronis.

Casa Fofo’s tasting menu combines unexpected flavours with fantastic results, its innovation being one of the main reasons it earned itself a Michelin star in 2021. Accolade aside, it’s loved by many for retaining its cosy and unpretentious feel.

Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge’s first London opening offers comfort and luxury in buckets. With head chef Nick Beardshaw at the helm, this stylish Whitehall dining room celebrates British cooking with much-loved Kerridge-style twists.

Heddon Street is home to much-loved Spanish restaurant Sabor, which is led by highly-acclaimed chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho and serves specialties from Galicia and Castile. Try its signature Segovian suckling pig, which you'll need a group to help tackle!

Michelin-starred Hide Above in Mayfair is located on the first floor (go figure) of this multi-floor restaurant, offering serene views across Green Park. Here, you can enjoy both a la carte and tasting menus featuring seasonal, refined and sometimes theatrical dishes.

Take a seat at Michelin-starred Elystan Street where you can opt to dine from the a la carte or six-course tasting menus. It’s the work of two Michelin-starred chef Phil Howard, who has brought his highly-acclaimed experience to this corner in Chelsea.

This award-winning restaurant and wine bar is an all-occasions sort of place that allows guests to wine and dine as cheaply or lavishly as they please. Enjoy a glass of vino and be on your way, or stay for dinner to sample some of its fantastic French-English dishes.

The French House has occupied its corner on Dean Street for as long as anyone can remember, with the intimate restaurant upstairs serving a daily-changing menu of classic French dishes. The pub has hosted some pretty creative brains in its time, too – we're talking Dylan Thomas and Francis Bacon.

Silo in Hackney is one of the most, if not the most, sustainable restaurants in the UK. Douglas Mc Master heads up the kitchen, ensuring that nothing is wasted. Tasting menus at Silo change regularly depending on what is freshest and available.

Simon Rogan’s intimate London restaurant is the best place to experience his farm-to-fork flavours in the capital. The chef's table doubles as an open kitchen, allowing head chef Charlie Tayler and team to talk you through each dish as they prepare it. 

Vivek Singh’s restaurant empire has earned him a reputation as an authority on Indian cookery. The Cinnamon Club’s other-worldly library setting gels with the beautifully spiced dishes to create an experience like nowhere else in London.

Kaiseki restaurant Roketsu delivers a meticulous tasting menu of traditional Japanese flavours. The hinoki wood interiors were made specially in Kyoto, before being shipped all the way to London.

Michelin starred Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt is the man behind this restaurant of the same name, where the team work over open wood fires to turn out plates of Scandinavian cuisine.

Jamavar is a traditional fine dining Indian restaurant in the heart of Mayfair. Head chef Surendar Mohan crafts elegant, beautiful dishes packed with flavour, some slowly braised, others fired in the tandoor, all delicious.

Rustic charm seeps into every nook and cranny of this old restaurant, from the black-and-white tiled floors and papered walls to the wonderful menu, which mixes classic Brit-fare with some soothing Mediterranean influence.

London’s most famous Chinese still has its magic touch. Enter this glamorous basement and enjoy top-tier dim sum, stellar cocktails and a global wine list. Flavours here are as exciting and punchy as ever, as one would hope from a true London institution.

Carousel does things a little differently, in that there is no head chef. Instead, an ever-changing roster of brilliant global chefs take over the trendy Fitzrovia venue for two weeks, cooking up their own unique menus.

There’s nowhere quite like Scott’s for old-world Glamour. Enjoy martinis at the sweeping central bar before settling into a seat at one of the crisply laid tables to enjoy seafood platters and expertly cooked catch of the day.

No restaurant embodies the frivolity and fun of Soho quite like Quo Vadis - this remains one of central London’s great restaurants thanks to Jeremy Lee’s rustic, generously-portioned British classics.

Padella changed the game for pasta in London, and it’s still a must-visit thanks to speedy, delicious and generously-priced pasta dishes, only made better by the introduction of virtual queuing.

A piece of traditional Mayfair, Sartoria offers an authentic Italian menu in a refined and elegant setting. Headed up by Chef Francesco Mazzei, dishes are inspired by Mazzei’s home region for a true taste of Italy.

Decidedly relaxed for a Michelin starred spot, The Ninth is special. Here guests are treated to refined comfort food that run from pasta dishes through to mains like chargrilled lamb in an apricot anchovy vinaigrette.

After a successful residency in Soho, Manteca now occupies a permanent site in Shoreditch where it turns out Italian plates such as fazzoletti, duck ragu and seaweed tagliatelle, plus its famous pig skin ragu.

Anthony Demetre’s Wild Honey returns to the Michelin Guide as the worthy recipient of a Michelin star in 2022. Demetre’s graceful cooking shows British produce at its very best, and the inclusion of wild honey from Bermondsey Street Bees is a nice touch.

Westerns Laundry, tucked away in a residential corner of Islington, is not to be missed. Expect creative seafood dishes that hop all over Europe, alongside the occasional excellent meat or veg dishes and low-intervention wines.

The Harwood Arms is a Michelin-starred in Fulham where diners can enjoy surprisingly affordable top-tier pub food. The pub has also been the training ground for top chefs like Sally Abe and James Cochran.

This Islington staple has since birthed the viral Padella, but for a full restaurant experience remains the superior of the two. Expect bread baked every morning, handmade pasta and mouth-watering grilled dishes to share.

Leroy is a Michelin-starred wine bar and bistro in the heart of Shoreditch, offering up punchy small plates, a phenomenal wine list and larger feasting menus for groups. Oysters and cheese can often be added to the already decadent offering here.

Possibly London’s most famous pub, the Marksman boasts a hidden roof terrace as well as a dining room that turns out elevated British plates. Pies and seafood platters are popular during the week while roasts become obligatory on Sundays.

Those seeking borderline hedonistic Chinese food in a boujie, 1920s-themed setting should head straight here. MiMi Mei Fair comes from restaurateur Samyukta Nair (Jamavar and Bombay Bustle), so you know you are in the best of hands.

Gymkhana, run by the hugely successful JKS Group, is a Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Mayfair. The kitchen here turns out elegant Indian fare and affordable set menus in a refined and glamorous setting.

Younger sibling to The Barbary, this petite counter dining space next door has personality by the bucketload. Expect sunny service, an excellent drinks selection and gorgeous sharing food from North Africa. Don’t skip the bread.

Café Deco answers many a Londoner’s call for straightforward food in simple surroundings. This pared-back spot shakes off the usual trappings of a Bloomsbury address in favour of a blackboard menu of daily specials.

Friendly atmosphere and delicious food makes Darjeeling Express a jewel in London’s crown. Chef Asma Khan takes inspiration from her Rajput and Bengali heritage to present royal Indian dishes that will just make you smile.

Nearly a synonym for classy dining, you simply can’t go wrong with The Wolseley. Here you’ll find grand European style interiors and a please-all menu that runs from breakfast waffles through to late-night plates of kedgeree.

Queue-inducing Barrafina has never diluted its offering, despite expanding into multiple sites. Its popularity doesn’t look to be dwindling with diners either, who come for stand-out tapas plates like the now-famous oozing Spanish tortilla.

RAI is a modern fusion concept that focuses on multi-course omakase-style tasting menus featuring meticulously-executed Japanese plates. Everything is sustainably sourced, too, including its furniture which is made from recycled materials.

Sarap Bistro is an elegant and unique Filipino restaurant in Mayfair. Head chef Ferdinand ‘Budgie’ Montoya cooks up a storm of vibrant dishes, packed with colour and flavour. Try the double-fried, deboned and stuffed pig’s trotters, trust us.

Punchy stir-fries, braises and barbecues from Thailand’s borders have made pint-sized Kiln one of London's most popular restaurants. Grab a seat at the counter to watch claypots bubble over the coals.

Dainty Korean plates in strikingly stylish surrounds mark out Sollip against the competition. Here you’re nearly always guaranteed to try something you’ve never had before, with favours expertly balanced in a dance of sweet, sour and salty.

Nestled in the historic Whitechapel Gallery, Townsend offers a constantly changing, loosely British menu with some truly outside-the-box creativity and a wine list to match. Without doubt one of London’s great value hidden gems.

There’s no denying Peg’s hipster credentials. Firstly, there’s its Hackney address, then there’s a range of ever-changing small plates, plus a far-reaching wine list featuring small-scale suppliers. The results – we hasten to add – are great.

Anna Haugh’s infectious Irish enthusiasm is plain to see in her sweet Chelsea restaurant where warm hospitality is as much a part of the experience as the food. Expect Celtic treats like beef with boxty.

Selin Kiazim’s Modern Turkish plates are generous and made to share with the people you love. Pick between a tasting menu and the a la carte, but don’t skip the cocktails which are equally as complex as the food.

??Pip Lacey’s peppy Italian style cookery has been undoubtedly influenced by her time as Angela Hartnett’s head chef at Murano. Here you’ll find open fire cooking in a cool warehouse style building in King’s Cross.

Rooftop restaurants always have a certain allure about them, and Seabird is probably one of the most glamourous in the city. Boasting London's largest oyster menu and a menu focused on fish and seafood, you can find this gem on the 14th floor of The Hoxton hotel.

Carmel is an all-day restaurant and bar in Queen’s Park, offering Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare. Try the shakshuka in the morning, mezze plates and flatbreads at lunch, and live-fire cooking and wood-roasting at dinner.

Tucked away in the quirky arcades of Brixton village, Chishuru is a small West African restaurant, with a menu packed full of delicious, elevated West African classics.

Llewelyn’s is a neighbourhood restaurant in Herne Hill. Don’t let the Welsh name fool you - the menu travels all over Europe while keeping the ingredients British. With outdoor seats facing the park, Llewelyn’s flourishes in summer.

This hip Californian restaurant comes from restaurateur Victor Garvey and has earned many accolades including a Michelin star for its stunningly plated west coast creations. Nestled in the heart of Soho, this is a seriously trendy eating destination.

Based in Bustling Kingly Court, this buzzy Syrian restaurant is the work of Imad Alarnab who fled Syria in 2015 before settling in the UK. Alarnab’s mezze dishes have become cult classics amongst London’s foodie set.

Inspired by the kebab joints of Tehran and spearheaded by former Gymkhana chef Kian Samyani, beautiful Berenjak impresses with dishes cooked in the tandoor and over the mangal barbecue. A second site in Borough promises a big 2022.

Often described as a hidden gem for art and food lovers alike, this humble museum cafe is surprisingly refined considering the pricing. Enjoy fresh British produce, crafted into simple modern European dishes in a relaxed, natural setting.

It might not be conventional to house a restaurant in a luxury fashion store, but then Native at Browns aims to turn dining on its head with a fluctuating menu, unorthodox flavour combinations and a ‘what grows together goes together’ mantra.

Legare is a beautifully compact and casual Italian eatery near Tower Bridge. Here, diners can expect a short and affordable but perfectly executed menu from ex-Trullo head chef Matt Beardmore.

Cool and cosy Kudu Grill has found a winning formula with South African braai barbecue and a cracking cocktail list. Exposed brick, concrete and marble also make this low-key one of London’s most photogenic dining rooms.

While first impressions here are that it’s a trend-led restaurant, there are often surprising plates of food that evidence the kitchen’s commitment to low-waste cooking. Pork belly with watermelon was a favourite from our visit.

James Cochran opened 12:51 the same year he won Great British Menu. Here, you can expect a seriously affordable five-course tasting menu or Sunday roast, pulling from Cochran’s Caribbean-Scottish heritage and prior career.

Brother and sister duo Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederick have tapped into their Nigerian heritage at Chuku’s - a homely restaurant that serves Nigerian comfort food in a relaxed ‘tapas’ style.

If it’s steak you are craving then Hawksmoor will hit the spot every time. Along with excellent cuts of beef, a host of sauces and sides mean you can tailor your order to exactly what you are looking for.

A haven for carnivores, Blacklock goes all-out, supplying hefty cuts of meat, roasts, endless bone marrow gravy, beef dripping chips and even beefy Marys. What sets it apart is how affordable it is despite being a trendy, central London opening.

Chez Bruce is a true London institution, having been around for 30 years while retaining its culinary prowess. Diners at Chez Bruce are guaranteed excellent service, food and wine in a refined yet unpretentious setting.

Trinity is a Michelin-starred neighbourhood restaurant where diners can enjoy four courses of modern European fare. Headed up by chef Adam Byatt, Trinity has been around for over 15 years and shows no signs of slowing down.

Another London institution, Bentley’s has been around for over 100 years, serving up only the freshest seafood. Richard Corrigan has been at the helm for some time now, ensuring the standard remains sky-high.

The Palomar is a bustling Soho restaurant, serving up small and large Israeli, Spanish and North African plates. Aside from the elegant dining room, there is the famous counter where diners can watch the cooks at work.

Bao has proven itself as a successful concept, but the latest addition to the family is the brand’s Shoreditch noodle shop. Fluffy bun fans are catered for in amongst bowls of steaming broth punctuated with house-made noodles.

You can recognise a Big Mamma Group restaurant from a mile off, which will typically sport fabulously flamboyant interiors that are well deserving of a place on your Instagram feed. Head to this Covent Garden outpost for Italian plates that are just as OTT as the décor.