London Restaurants
My favourite London restaurants- and a few from my wish list
Know me, know my foodie obsession. I love to dine in style. If you do too, I would like to invite you to join me for an unforgettable adventure in gastronomy, flirty conversation and plenty of laughs. I appreciate the artistry of haute cuisine but avoid stuffiness at all costs!
I have organised my list into the following categories, but they are all pretty central and easy to reach by taxi or tube from wherever you are in London.
- Mayfair and Soho
- Central/ West London
- Kensington and Belgravia
- Central/ East London
I invite you to introduce yourself and ask me to dinner sooner rather than later! I’m hungry…
I can also recommend bars and restaurants in the rest of the UK and Paris.
Mayfair and Soho
The following restaurants are all a 5-15 minute stroll from one of my 5* incall venues. Selfridges and Harrods are both just one mile away, providing added convenience for those gentlemen who enjoy shopping for gifts.
Evelyn's Table at The Blue Posts
Twelve seats, five courses, three chefs. An intimate 12-seater counter dining experience, led by Head Chef James Goodyear. Evelyn’s Table serves an evolving menu built on James’s formative experiences, a love of British produce, and Scandinavian and Japanese techniques all underpinned by his classic French training. One of my 5* incall venues is a convenient stroll away, making this restaurant the natural choice for a lunch or dinner date.
The Blue Posts pub basement
28 Rupert Street
London W1D 6DJ
theblueposts.co.uk/evelyns-table
hello@evelynstable.co.uk
Mildred’s
The OG vegan restaurant that was established in London in 1988, so it’s safe to assume they know what they’re doing with veggies by now! Today they have branches in Soho, King’s Cross and Covent Garden, with the Covent Garden branch offering an incredibly good value pre-theatre dinner between 3 and 7pm (£24 for two courses! In Covent Garden!).
Mildred’s
mildreds.com
Soho: 45 Lexington Street, W1F 9AN
Covent Garden: 79 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4AA
King’s Cross: 200 Pentonville Road, N1 9JP
Sabor
Founded by Nieves Barragan and JosĂ© Etura, Sabor (meaning "flavour" in Spanish) takes you on a journey from the tapas bars of AndalucĂa through to the asadors of Castile and the seafood restaurants of Galicia. A delightfully casual Spanish restaurant split into three areas: the Bar, the Counter and El Asador, only the latter of which takes reservations. Conveniently, I have a 5* incall venue just ten minutes' walk away.
Sabor
35-37 Heddon Street
London W1B 4BR
saborrestaurants.co.uk
+44 (0) 20 3319 8130
info@saborrestaurants.co.uk
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
Unrivalled contemporary French cuisine and impeccable service. A modern, light and elegantly informal setting complements the restaurant’s forward-thinking approach to haute cuisine. A perfect place for true hedonists to come together and overindulge each other’s senses. They serve the best scallop starter I have ever had, and their kristal caviar is well worth the additional splurge.
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
53 Park Lane
London W1K 1QA
alainducasse-dorchester.com
+44 (0) 20 7629 8866
alainducassereservations@alainducasse-dorchester.com
China Tang
China Tang at The Dorchester is widely heralded as home to some of the finest authentic Cantonese food outside of China. Located within the iconic Dorchester hotel, the Chinese restaurant has built its steadfast reputation on serving a selection of deeply comforting Chinese favourites with style and flair. China Tang bears the unmistakable fingerprint of its flamboyant creator, Sir David Tang, dressed to impress even London’s most glamorous clientele. I love to have a dim sum lunch in the Chinoiserie jewel box of a bar with a sparkling tea cocktail, or the best duck pancakes in the world in the restaurant.
China Tang at The Dorchester
53 Park Lane
London W1K 1QA
chinatanglondon.co.uk
+44 (0) 20 7319 7088
reservations@chinatanglondon.co.uk
The Wolseley
The Wolseley is a café-restaurant in the grand European tradition located on Piccadilly, London. In my opinion, they serve the best full English breakfast in London, which you will probably need if you order more than one French champagne cocktail the night before! They are strong.
The Wolseley
160 Piccadilly
London W1J 9EB
thewolseley.com
+44 (0) 20 7499 6996
reservations@thewolseley.com
Park Chinois
An exquisite blend of artistry and inspiring modernism is waiting to be discovered. Park Chinois will capture your imagination and immerse your senses in the unique world of Chinoiserie – the French and Oriental inspired culture of dining, entertainment, and experience. I recommend ordering lots of their exquisite starters and dim sum and then skipping straight to coffee, but if you don’t have time to eat anything, it is worth going to Park Chinois just for the cocktails! They are sumptuous and the lighting and atmosphere there are so sensual. It’s one of the sexiest restaurants in London; a perfect place to rendezvous before slipping away to my 5* incall venue just ten minutes around the corner, or to enjoy luxuriate in the afterglow.
Park Chinois
17 Berkeley Street
London W1J 8EA
parkchinois.com
+44 (0) 20 3327 8888
reservations@parkchinois.com
Veeraswamy
“It is not only the food that is elegant and princely, but also the lavish interiors, where we have created an environment that evokes the opulent extravagance displayed in the Maharajas’ Palaces in the 1920s. By marrying the style of the interiors with the menu, we offer a slice of wondrously haute India in the heart of London’s premier West End. With a rich and scintillating history, Veeraswamy has been known as a legendary landmark amongst the well-heeled, worldwide royalty, and international gourmets since its inception. This has required impeccable service. We have built on this so that the service is not only refined but welcoming with true Indian princely hospitality.” This is the best intro for a restaurant I have ever heard, quite frankly. I offer a social lunch date here for half my usual consideration just once per month on a day of my choosing; please get in touch as soon as possible to find out when the next date will be.
Veeraswamy
Mezzanine Floor, Victory House
99 Regent Street (entrance on Swallow Street)
London W1B 4RS
veeraswamy.com
+44 (0) 20 7734 1401
info@veeraswamy.com
The Ritz Restaurant
With sparkling chandeliers, towering marble columns and soaring floor to ceiling windows overlooking the calm oasis of Green Park, the elegant Ritz Restaurant is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the world. It is a Michelin-starred restaurant so of course the food is second to none, but what keeps me coming back is the service. The staff here is perfection (and so is that Ritz 110 cocktail). Order something with honey in it- they get it from their own bees, which they keep on the roof. I offer a social afternoon tea date here for half my usual consideration just once per month on a day of my choosing; please get in touch as soon as possible to find out when the next date will be.
The Ritz
150 Piccadilly
London W1J 9BR
theritzlondon.com/dine-with-us/the-ritz-restaurant
+44 (0) 20 7493 8181
dining@theritzlondon.com
The Mayfair Chippy
“London’s best fish and chip shop” has a light, airy interior that pays homage to the chippies of yesteryear with cosy booths and sunny outdoor tables too. If you are visiting England and eager to sample a classic British dish (besides me!), you have to try fish and chips, preferably served with mushy peas, tartare sauce and a mug of tea or a cold beer.
The Mayfair Chippy
14 North Audley Street
London W1K 6WE
mayfairchippy.com
+44 (0) 20 7741 2233
sketch
Sketch is a complex and unique site containing five different artistically themed restaurants and bars. Conceived by French master chef Pierre Gagnaire and restaurateur Mourad Mazouz, it has attracted unprecedented media reaction for its myriad food, drink and entertainment styles since it opened in 2002. I love to go for cocktails or mocktails in the fairy realm that is The Glade before moving to The Lecture Room & Library for a magical dinner that makes me feel like Alice in Wonderland. Their website is a nightmare but the place itself is a fabulous escape from reality.
sketch
9 Conduit street
London W1S 2XG
sketch.london
+44 (0) 20 7659 4500
info@sketch.london
Hakkasan
Chinese cuisine is one of most ancient and diverse in the world. Its influence has spread across mountains and jungles, rivers and cities, to impress upon the rest of the globe. Hakkasan’s unique cuisine blends authentic Cantonese recipes with contemporary influences. The kitchen teams create modern dishes using traditional techniques and the finest quality ingredients. The atmosphere is dark and sexy, and I enjoy the drama of their presentation of the Mistress of Deception cocktail.
Hakkasan
17 Bruton Street
London W1J 6QB
hakkasan.com
+44 (0) 20 7907 1888
mayfairreservation@hakkasan.com
West/ Central London
Endo at The Rotunda
Traditional and innovative omakase sushi in the clouds at 6pm or 9pm.
Endo at The Rotunda
8th Floor, The Helios
Television Centre
101 Wood Lane
London W12 7FR
endoatrotunda.com
reservations@endoatrotunda.com
Core by Clare Smyth
Core is an elegant fine dining restaurant with an emphasis on natural, sustainable food, sourced from the UK’s most dedicated farmers and food producers. Core celebrates the finest British ingredients for an exceptional and relaxed dining experience in the heart of Notting Hill. The atmosphere is relaxing and gently feminine, and the tasting menu generous!
Core by Clare Smyth
92 Kensington Park Road
London W11 2PN
claresmyth.com/restaurants
+44 (0) 20 3937 5086
info@claresmyth.com
Farmacy
Biodynamic and nutritionally balanced plant-based restaurant in Notting Hill. They source their vegetables from nearby Kent and also offer a fine selection of cold-pressed juices, CBD-infused and adaptogenic drinks, and desserts free of refined sugar. Their lunch and dinner menus look interesting and delicious, and personally I am very intrigued to try their healthy vegan afternoon tea!
Farmacy
47Westbourne Grove
London W2 5SH
farmacylondon.com
+44 (0) 20 7221 0705
nottinghill@farmacylondon.com
The Ledbury
Chef Brett Graham's innovative tasting menus are paired with fine wines in a smart, modern setting. And they grow their own mushrooms on site!
The Ledbury
127 Ledbury Road
London W11 2AQ
theledbury.com
+44 (0) 20 7792 9090
Ikoyi
Ikoyi builds its own sub-Saharan West African spice-based cuisine around British micro-seasonality: vegetables slowly grown for flavour, sustainable line-caught fish, and aged native beef. Strictly Michelin star-counting omnivores only! It is a five-minute stroll from a favourite incall venue and a ten-minute stroll from a favourite candlelit spa.
Ikoyi
180 Strand
London WCRG 1EA
ikoyilondon.com
reservations@ikoyilondon.com
The Savoy Grill
I love coming here on Sundays and also during the Christmas season, when the lobby is beautifully decorated and The Savoy Grill is serving Christmas dinner. The mixologists at The Savoy do the perfect dirty martini and they have amazing pieces of history on display, such as Marlene Dietrich’s checking-in form written in her own handwriting and signed. She had asked that her room have a bottle of champagne and two dozen pink roses waiting for her inside. I wonder who she was meeting! The Savoy is conveniently close both to one of my incall venues and to the fabulous AIRE spa.
The Savoy Hotel
The Strand
London WC2R 0EU
thesavoylondon.com/restaurant/savoy-grill-restaurant
+44 (0) 20 7592 1600 (9am – 8pm)
savoy@fairmont.com
Clos Maggiore
Clos Maggiore is an oasis of calm in the heart of Covent Garden. Influenced by the stylish country inns of Provence and Tuscany, the unique interiors create an unparalleled warmth and intimacy. The cherry blossom-adorned conservatory features a fully retractable glass roof creating a bright and airy dining space in summer months and in winter months it is transformed at night by candles, starlight and a crackling fire. I believe I heard somewhere that Clos Maggiore was voted most romantic restaurant in the world at some point. It certainly is the perfect spot for pre-opera dinner. I also offer a social lunch date here for half my usual consideration just once per month on a day of my choosing; please get in touch as soon as possible to find out when the next date will be.
Clos Maggiore
33 King Street
London WC2E 8JD
closmaggiore.com
+44 (0) 20 7379 9696
enquiries@closmaggiore.com
A. Wong
A. Wong straddles the border between Belgravia and Westminster, serving tasting menus that celebrate 3000 years of culinary tradition and technique, from dim sum at lunchtime to a tour of all fourteen of China's borders at dinner.
A. Wong
70 Wilton Road
Pimlico
London SW1V 1DE
awong.co.uk
+44 (0) 20 7828 8931
info@awong.co.uk
Kensington and Belgravia
The Dining Room
In the luxurious setting of a five-star London hotel, The Dining Room is beautifully elegant- a place where traditional and delicious British food triumphs. The holder of a Michelin star and three AA Rosettes, The Dining Room offers an impeccable yet fun dining experience, under the direction of Executive Chef Richard Galli. The Goring offers a dinner, bed and breakfast package convenient for overnight dates.
The Goring
15 Beeston Place
London SW1W 0JW
thegoring.com/food-drink/the-dining-room
+44 (0) 20 7769 4475
diningroom@thegoring.com
Muse by Tom Aikens
Muse takes guests on a fine dining journey in a 23-cover converted Georgian townhouse that encapsulates pivotal memories of Tom’s personal life and culinary career through the prism of seasonally driven tasting menus. A delightful choice for a day date or longer booking that happens to be less than a mile from one of my 5* incall venues.
Muse by Tom Aikens
38 Groom Place
Belgravia
London SW1X 7BA
musebytomaikens.co.uk
+44 (0) 20 3301 2903
info@musebytomaikens.co.uk
Marcus at The Berkeley
Marcus is a contemporary European Michelin-starred restaurant from celebrated British chef Marcus Wareing. Set within the five-star Berkeley Hotel in Knightsbridge, Marcus offers an outstanding fine dining experience in a warm and welcoming dining room, sourcing the best seasonal ingredients from a trusted network of suppliers and applying innovative cooking techniques with exceptional attention to detail. I haven’t had the pleasure yet, but I want to. Very much.
The Berkeley
Wilton Place
London SW1X 7RL
marcusrestaurant.com
+44 (0) 20 7235 1200
reservations@marcusrestaurant.com
PĂ©trus
Set between Belgravia and Knightsbridge, PĂ©trus by Gordon Ramsay is a Michelin starred restaurant serving exceptional modern French cuisine. With a spectacular circular dining room boasting a floor-to-ceiling wine cellar at its heart, PĂ©trus by Gordon Ramsay offers exquisite wines from across the world, including vintages from its namesake Chateau PĂ©trus. I had the best meal of my life here once and am longing to go back for more. It is a five-minute cab ride from one of my 5* incall venues.
PĂ©trus
1 Kinnerton Street
London SW1X 8EA
gordonramsayrestaurants.com/petrus
+44 (0) 20 7592 1609
petrus@gordonramsay.com
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
This intimate restaurant seats 45 guests. Surrounded by the stylish interiors designed by Fabled Studio, combining contemporary elegance and unparalleled service, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay has the hallmark of true excellence. I really want to experiment with their “Carte Blanche” menu, where the chef creates a bespoke menu for you.
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
68 Royal Hospital Road
London SW3 4HP
gordonramsayrestaurants.com/restaurant-gordon-ramsay
+44 (0) 20 7352 4441
royalhospitalroad@gordonramsay.com
Claude Bosi at Bibendum
Celebrated French chef Claude Bosi launched Claude Bosi at Bibendum back in 2017, with a ground-floor seafood and oyster bar and first-floor restaurant which is "unashamedly fine dining"- with the chef's signature contemporary and light-hearted flair. The Ă la carte menu features some of his signature classics and the chef’s Michelin-starred alma matter, with ingredients sourced predominantly from the British Isles and France. The striking upstairs dining room with its dramatic and iconic floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows has been redesigned to house a larger central open kitchen. All is housed within the original Michelin House, a stunning and unique Art Nouveau-Deco icon, and just a ten-minute stroll from one of the most cost-effective 5* hotels in London, The Exhibitionist.
81 Fulham Road
London SW3 6RD
claudedebosi.com
+44 (0) 20 7581 5817
enquiries@claudebosi.com
Central/ East London
Galvin La Chapelle
Large arched windows, high stone ceilings and elegant interiors provide the perfect backdrop to Michelin starred Galvin La Chapelle’s traditional yet modern French menu, moments away from Liverpool Street station- I would describe it as gorgeous French food in a high-end medieval feasting hall. Both their omnivorous and vegan tasting menus are very good, which they clearly want you to order over Ă la carte. It is a ten-minute dreamy afterglow stroll from one of my 5* daytime incall venues.
Galvin La Chapelle
35 Spital Square
London E1 6DY
galvinrestaurants.com/restaurant/galvin-la-chapelle-the-city-michelin-star
+44 (0) 20 7299 0400
elise@galvinrestaurants.com
Club Gascon
Club Gascon is a Michelin-starred, contemporary French restaurant cooking imaginative plates of food inspired by the cuisine of southwest France. They offer an excellent value four-course menu on weekday evenings 6-7.30pm and after 9pm, and also on Thursday lunchtimes.
Club Gascon
57 West Smithfield
London
EC1A 9DS
clubgascon.com
+44 (0) 20 7600 6144
info@clubgascon.com
The Clove Club
Currently holding two Michelin stars and a raft of awards, including the highest new entry to the prestigious World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2016, where it has been the highest-placed UK restaurant to this day; No.1 Restaurant in the UK in The Sunday Times Top 100; winner of the Service Award and fifth place in the UK National Restaurant awards; BMW Squaremeal London Restaurant of the Year; and London Restaurant Festival AMEX Restaurant of the Year. We must go to Shoreditch and see what all the fuss is about- not to mention that The Clove Club is only a three and half mile cab ride from my favourite dungeon-for-hire.
The Clove Club
Shoreditch Town Hall
380 Old Street
London EC1V 9LT
thecloveclub.com
+44 (0) 20 7729 6496
hello@thecloveclub.com
Da Terra
At Da Terra, a relaxed and understated modern Latin restaurant conveniently situated inside Town Hall Hotel, you will not be presented with a menu on arrival. Guests will be offered a blind tasting menu, which are guided by chefs who are on hand to present each dish. Please allow an average of three hours for the complete experience.
Da Terra
8 Patriot Square
London E2 9NF
daterra.co.uk
+44 (0) 20 7062 2052
mail_info@daterra.co.uk
Which restaurant caught your eye? Or do you know somewhere better? Don't be scared; introduce yourself and invite me to dinner. You only live once.
"Lilly is stunning, fun and wonderful in every way. Funny, interesting and very lovely! This was one of the best experiences I have had." - malsan2