If you’re on the hunt for an intimate private dining room in the City, we've got you covered with our pick of the best in the Square Mile, all with a capacity of 25 or less.
MBER
On the site where the Great Fire of London started, this stylish Pan-Asian offers a choice of cool private rooms. But it’s the mirrored Retreat room with a wine tasting area and a distinctive tree-trunk table that we’re most impressed by.
Capacity: 6
Where: 1a Pudding Lane, EC3R 8AB
La Dame de Pic
This high-end restaurant has impressed the City crowds since opening in early 2017. The intimate private dining room has modern furnishings and allows you to chat to all the guests in your party with ease.
Capacity: 12
Where: Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, EC3N 4AJ
L’Anima
Sit amid heavyweight Italian and French bottles in this intimate space, while enjoying first-class Italian cuisine from the adjacent kitchen. Anyone with even half an eye for top wine producers is sure to love it.
Capacity: 7
Where: 1 Snowden Street, EC2A 2DQ
Cinnamon Kitchen
Part of Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Collection, this City site has a private dining room with a cinema screen-sized window looking directly into the kitchen, allowing guests to view all the drama of a busy restaurant kitchen as service unfolds. Complete with conference facilities, the room is also suited to corporate meetings.
Capacity: 9
Where: 9 Devonshire Square, EC2M 4YL
Enoteca da Luca St Pauls
Like a traditional Italian enoteca, this private room is ideal for intimate, casual get-togethers for up to 12 guests. For an extra cost, your night can also include a wine tasting.
Capacity: 10
Where: 21 Watling Street, EC4M 9BR
Luca
The second outing from The Clove Club team, this Italian boasts two private dining rooms. The Garden (pictured) overlooks the open kitchen and is kitted out in the style of a southern Italian garden, while The Pasta Room is made to look like a traditional Italian kitchen.
Capacity: 10
Where: 88 St John Street, EC1M 4EH
Chiswell Street Dining Rooms
There are a number of private dining spaces at this hard-to-miss City restaurant just north of Moorgate Station. Our pick of the bunch is the smallest – Grubb Street – with its Georgian panelled walls and distressed mirrors.
Capacity: 12
Where: 56 Chiswell Street, EC1Y 4SA
Angler
Michelin-starred Angler at South Place Hotel lives up to its name by focusing on seafood. Groups dining at The Chef’s View can enjoy their own special tasting menu, plus a tour around the kitchen, as well as great views of the Gherkin and Tower 42.
Capacity: 14
Where: 3 South Place, EC2M 2AF
HKK
This private dining room is certainly no scrappy afterthought. It matches the restaurant for style and refinement, with a viewing window into the kitchen and a first-class Chinese menu centered around the Peking duck oven.
Capacity: 14
Where: 88 Worship Street, EC2A 2BE
Obica Mozzarella Bar St Paul's
The semi-private room in this pared-back, stylish mozzarella bar wears its savoir-faire with grace, making it a first-rate option for casual meet-ups. TV screen available if needed.
Capacity: 15
Where: Unit 4, 5-7 Limeburner Lane, EC4M 7AX
Humble Grape Fleet Street
A bigger, plusher sister to James Dawson’s original Battersea wine bar, Humble Grape Fleet Street offers a private dining room for 16 guests. Staff display not just wine expertise but, equally important, an engaging way of communicating about wine.
Capacity: 16
Where: 1 St Bride's Passage, EC4Y 8EJ
Lutyens
This comfortable, light-grey space features one long feasting table, making it suited for top end events. The food always hits the high notes too.
Capacity: 16
Where: 85 Fleet Street, EC4Y 1AE
Darbaar
This is one classy outfit in the Snowden Street development, graced by some of the best looking and brightest private rooms in the City. There’s great Indian cooking by ex-Cinnamon Kitchen head chef Abdul Yaseen, too, amongst generous space and plenty of natural light.
Capacity: 20
Where: 1 Snowden Street, EC2A 2DQ
High Timber
This large, rustic-looking basement dining room offers a broad church of well executed dishes but its heart is rooted in South Africa – it is the same ownership as the beautiful Jordan Estate – and wine is at its core.
Capacity: 20
Where: Paul’s Walk, 8 High Timber Street, EC4V 3PA
Taberna Etrusca
With a prime spot on characterful Bow Lane, this well-loved family-run restaurant now operates an attractive, modern and comfortable private room. Service is always friendly and professional.
Capacity: 24
Where: 9-11 Bow Churchyard, EC4M 9DQ
For further, London-wide inspiration, click through to our private dining rooms page
This article was modified 19 July 2017