London is a world-class food city — bursting with innovation, history and restaurants that give you unforgettable meals. If you're planning where to eat in the city, these must-try restaurants in London represent a mix of skyline views, pan-Asian finesse, Argentine steakhouse theatre, polished modern dining and contemporary Indian flavours. Below, we have researched five standout spots. Decide on the perfect table for your next visit to the capital. Whether you're chasing the best restaurants in London for a special night out or scouring your neighbourhood's food scene for an all-round brilliant meal, this list of 5 best places to eat in London has something to suit every occasion.
Perched atop Rooftop Terrace One, New Change, Madison London is best known for its breath-taking views over St Paul's and the City skyline, so it's no wonder that one of the must-try restaurants in London is somewhere that offers food with a view. The menu is quite modern-British with a focus on sharing plates, seasonal mains and fresh, bright flavours - it's particularly popular for brunch, cocktails and sunset dinners. It's a favourite for both tourists and Londoners, marking an extra-special occasion, thanks to its open rooftop terrace and glass-walled dining room. Among the best rooftop restaurants in London, this is one.
The Happy Bar & Grill London (the Piccadilly location). If you're seeking laidback, crowd-pleasing fare in the West End, it is to provide steaks and burgers and cocktails in lively surroundings. It's a London restaurant for a mix of casual dining with groups where the menu and central location never fail. The reviews are mixed — many guests appreciate the atmosphere and how reasonable it is for the area; others note that there may be inconsistency in service at peak times, so it's where you go when you want a lively, straightforward bite post-theatre or shopping. This is among the trendy restaurants in London, having been awarded the ‘Best Restaurant in London' by the British Restaurant Awards.
For steak lovers, Gaucho Piccadilly makes its way onto the list of best restaurants in London, loved due to its quality Argentine beef and slick surroundings. In a good-looking townhouse at Swallow St, the Gaucho's flagship Piccadilly site is famed for its dramatic three-storey dining rooms, carefully curated wine list and finely cooked prime cuts from grass-fed cows. It's the perfect place for client dinners or celebratory meals — the service, presentation and drinks programme all mark it out as one of best places to eat in London if you want refined meat-concentration dining.
Not quite central London — Tanishq Restaurant & Bar, located in Ongar, Essex — it's known for quality modern Indian fine dining and is worth the travel time if you don't mind venturing just beyond city bounds for good food. The menu fuses regional Indian tastes with seasonal British produce and creative presentation, making it a local go-to for celebrations. If you're heading east of the capital or want to venture further out for London/Essex dining, Tanishq is a fantastic choice for contemporary Indian cuisine and service.
Set across from St Paul's Cathedral as part of The Ivy Collection's Asian concept, The Ivy Asia St Paul's provides a glamorous, shared oriental menu. The restaurant marries splashy interiors with a roster of dishes that falls somewhere between the theatre and gilded dining fare — sushi, dumplings, crispy duck served alongside swanky takes on Asian-inspired plates — and has proved to be one of London's most ambitious spaces for diners in search of equal parts style and substance near the City. The location — especially attractive to business lunches and its special-dinner types; the people who come out of town looking for a really good meal near London's historic heart.
These picks span a range of what makes eating in London exciting right now — skyline panoramas and seasonal British plates, safe (and satisfying) steakhouse theatre, innovative modern Indian cooking just outside the city, and polished pan-Asian dining that comes with cathedral views. They're indicative of the best restaurants in London mix: places that offer atmosphere, technical cooking and memories to take home — crucial when you've got a list of top restaurants in London with which to impress.
If you're mapping a London food itinerary, these five would go on any shortlist must-try restaurants in London. They each have something different to offer, from rooftop views and signature steaks to modern Indian ingenuity and elevated pan-Asian sharing menus – combined, they make for a diverse selection of the best restaurants in London for locals and visitors alike.
We hope you loved reading this London food guide.
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