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174 Cool Restaurants near Westminster London

We found 174 Cool restaurants within 1 miles 1 miles of Westminster London

Home to some of London’s most iconic monuments and attractions, it’s no surprise that Westminster is a bustling location filled with tourists looking to snap all the best pictures and Londoners headed for an after work drink or bite. Westminster is filled with a traditional and rich living history and this is no doubt reflected in its restaurant scene. Decadent buildings, fine dining and traditional Briitish eateries can all be found in Westminster - popular with tourists and locals who enjoy their dining with a side order of historic architecture. 

Start browsing our comprehensive directory of restaurants in Westminster - each restaurant has had an independent review written by one of our in house experts and you can filter Westminter restaurants by price, cuisine or by our independent SquareMeal rating.

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Cool Restaurants near Westminster London
Cool Restaurants near Westminster London
Cool Restaurants near Westminster London
Cool Restaurants near Westminster London
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Quaglino’s (bar)

Quaglino’s (bar)

St. James's, SW1Y 6AJ
0.7 miles
Rooted in the heart of Mayfair since 1929, Quaglino’s is the place to go for a healthy dose of glamour and sophistication. Aside from the restaurant, ... Find out more
Brumus Bar at the Haymarket Hotel

Brumus Bar at the Haymarket Hotel

St. James's, SW1Y 4HX
0.8 miles
What we think
"Tricked out in shades of fruit compote, Brumus’s well-upholstered, dressed-for-a-wedding pose may not suit those who prefer clean lines & Cal ..." Read our full review
Bagatelle

Bagatelle

Mayfair, W1S 4NG
0.8 miles
What we think
"It might have a French name but this glitzy import’s heart is in New York's Meatpacking District, where the original restaurant is famous for its ..." Read our full review
Isabel

Isabel

Mayfair, W1S 4HY
0.9 miles
What we think
"With its opulent, gold fabric-lined walls and geometric rows of polished brass lamps arrayed across the ceiling, this glossy sibling of Notting Hill&rs ..." Read our full review
Tandoor Chop House

Tandoor Chop House

Covent Garden, WC2N 4HZ
0.9 miles
What we think
"Boasting a plum location just a few minutes walk from Embankment and Charing Cross tube stations, plus in close proximity to Theatreland and Trafalgar ..." Read our full review
Barrafina Adelaide Street

Barrafina Adelaide Street

Covent Garden, WC2N 4HZ
0.9 miles
What we think
"Mixing authenticity with confidence and urban gloss, Barrafina’s lively theatreland outlet shows its glamorous side with huge windows, glittering ..." Read our full review
Old Spike Roastery

Old Spike Roastery

London, W1F 7BJ
0.9 miles
The Old Spike is a coffee house and roastery located in Peckham, close to a number of shops, cafes and bars. The Old Spike is a social enterprise which dona ... Find out more
Ham Yard at Ham Yard Hotel

Ham Yard at Ham Yard Hotel

Piccadilly Circus, W1D 7DT
1.0 miles
What we think
"Taking over a previously deserted site on the western edge of Soho, Ham Yard Hotel is the latest addition to the Firmdale Hotels chain. The venture has ..." Read our full review
Ham Yard Bar at Ham Yard Hotel

Ham Yard Bar at Ham Yard Hotel

Piccadilly Circus, W1D 7DT
1.0 miles
What we think
"Whether you're warming up before a trip to the theatre or simply chilling on the terrace with something suitably intoxicating, the bar at this boutique ..." Read our full review
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Special Offers


Thanks to its location as the heart of government, there’s rarely a time when all eyes aren’t focused on Westminster. But where to eat around 10 Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament? Subsidised meals for MPs in the Palace of Westminster mean there aren’t as many top restaurants as you might think in this historic corner of central London – but politicians still need somewhere to unwind, as well as to cook up all manner of intrigue. Read on to find out which Westminster restaurants get our vote.

 

Breakfast in Westminster

Aster 150 Victoria Street, SW1E 5LB

If you’re after a decent breakfast in Westminster but don’t want to eat in a hotel, you’ll have to wander a little further west to the shiny new Nova development, where you’ll find this Scandi-style D&D London restaurant and café. Executive chef Helena Puolakka hails from Finland, so expect cinnamon buns, ligonberry mousse and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on rye bread.

Blue Boar Conrad London St James Hotel, 22-28 Broadway, SW1H 9LQ

Set right in the heart of Westminster, this hotel restaurant has a clubby demeanour enhanced by subdued lighting, dark woodwork, chocolate-brown leather seating and thick patterned carpets. The British menu follows suit, offering plates of old-school comfort – smoked kippers, omelette Arnold Bennett – plus avocado on toast with poached eggs to prove that this is the 21st century.

Quirinale 1 Great Peter Street, SW1P 3LL

Elegant Quirinale has all the trappings that suited-and-booted Westminster lobbyists and government flunkies appreciate: discreet service, a traditional Italian menu and a kitchen that always delivers. A huge skylight floods the basement dining room at lunchtime, while the short menu of classics makes time-pressed ordering easy: think beef carpaccio or veal cutlet Milanese.  

Rex Whistler Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG

A restaurant as full of culture and character as any exhibit in the glorious Tate Britain, this aptly named eatery comes wrapped in a full-size Whistler mural depicting a hunt for mythical rare meats. Typical lunch dishes might include a carefully assembled heritage tomato salad or slow-cooked beef, while a brilliantly curated wine list is priced for enjoyment rather than mere admiration.

Quilon 41 Buckingham Gate, SW1E 6AF

Shell motifs and an undulating wave-like ceiling point up the maritime theme at this serene Michelin-starred South Indian specialist. Seafood is the undoubted high point of the menu, and dishes such as crab cakes gently spiced with curry leaves, ginger and chilli or giant juicy shell-on prawns cooked in an onion, tomato and coconut masala are well worth a trip across town. 

Shepherd’s of Westminster Marsham Court, Marsham Street, SW1P 4LA

Keeping the Westminster cogs lubricated since 1993, this discreet British restaurant and bar is a classy choice for business lunches, grown-up dinners and political intriguing. Some tables feature high screens (perfect for secret powwows), but ample windows and light-coloured walls prevent an oppressive atmosphere. Dishes such as Cornish cod with cockles are reasonably priced and satisfying.

Cheap eats in Westminster

Tozi 8 Gillingham Street, SW1V 1HJ

Wedged between the tourist honeypots of Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace, SW1 is not the cheapest of postcodes, but order with restraint at Tozi and the bill needn’t make you wince. Pick of the Italian tapas are pizzette topped with Taleggio, mushrooms and sausage, plus an elegant salad of asparagus and quail’s egg with black truffle.  

Worth paying a bit more for

Roux at Parliament Square 1 Great George Street, SW1P 3AD

Michel Roux Jnr might be the figurehead, but the kitchen of this Roux outpost is headed up by MasterChef: The Professionals winner Michael Groves, whose cooking is beyond reproach. Sit in the bar over cocktails or a glass of fizz before joining the corporate types and lobbyists in the dining room for the whole caboodle, including unmissable confit suckling pig scented with star anise.

Blowing your budget

The Cinnamon Club The Old Westminster Library, 30-32 Great Smith Street, SW1P 3BU

The wood panelling and book-lined walls of the Old Westminster Library are the comfortable backdrop for some seriously classy dining at this famous Indian. As befits a restaurant of this grandeur, the menu is well stocked with luxury ingredients – Bengali-style lobster thermidor sits alongside tandoori breast of Anjou squab – and the wine list is as impressive as the cooking.

Alfresco dining in Westminter

Caxton Grill St Ermin's Hotel, 2 Caxton Street, SW1H 0QW

This hotel restaurant’s terrace is a rare outdoor oasis in Westminster and overlooks a tree-lined courtyard. Nibble on a sharing box of finger food (the hotel has a roof garden growing fruits, vegetables and herbs for the kitchen) or a light-bites bar menu of crowd-pleasers like burrata cheese and plum tartar crisp breads, while sipping on a crisp Côtes du Rhône.

Cocktails in Westminster

Equus Bar The Royal Horseguards, 2 Whitehall Court, SW1A 2EJ

Set in what was the Secret Service’s WWII HQ, Equus pays homage to cavalrymen (not Peter Shaffer’s dark play), and its three comfortable rooms are bedecked with various heroic wall hangings. Well-made cocktails are named after past guests: a Manhattan-style Gladstone, say, or Negroni-style George Bernard Shaw.

Zander 45 Buckingham Gate, SW1E 6BS

One of the longest bars you’re likely to encounter, Zander attracts swarms of thirsty commuters and hotel guests with its mix of stainless steel, futuristic padded purple sofas, subdued lighting and comfy little nooks – perfect for a business tête-à-tête or sly assignation. Sit at the bar, admire the rows of spirits, and enjoy premier treatment from courteous staff who mix classic cocktails. 

If you want to see all that Westminster has to offer, check out our list of the best restaurants in Westminster, or if you’re looking to explore further afield, have a look at our guides to Chelsea and Clerkenwell.