Restaurants in London

The food scenes in London are teeming with a smorgasbord of different cultural influences and tastes. Whether you eat in Michelin-starred restaurants, slurp noodles or gorge on freshly caught fish and chips, you'll never have to skimp on quality.

The London restaurants below have been handpicked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories:

Expensive (over £75)

Moderate (£25 to £75)

Cheap (up to £25)

These restaurant prices are for a three-course meal for one, including tax and service but excluding alcohol. A service charge of 12.5% will be added to your bill in most restaurants. If service is not included, 10% tipping is customary.

The Ivy

Price: Expensive
Cuisine: British, European

The Ivy's reputation precedes itself, being well publicised as the favoured haunt of celebrities and socialites. Its prime West End location also lends it to the pre- and post-theatre crowds who come to feast on its modern British dishes in their droves – if they can get a seat. Safe to say, booking is essential.

Address: 5 West Street, London, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 7836 4751

Restaurant Gordon Ramsey

Price: Expensive
Cuisine: French, European

If you are looking for perfection, visit this three Michelin-starred restaurant that bears the name of an international chef. The menu is considered modern French, showcasing artful dishes best paired with the choicest of wines. Book well in advance.

Address: 68 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, London, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 207 352 4441

Pied à Terre

Price: Expensive
Cuisine: French, European

One of London's longest-standing Michelin fine dining restaurants, Pied à terre is known for the subtly refined flavours delivered by a team of talented chefs using only the freshest produce. The setting is intimate yet unpretentious, and the service is top-class.

Address: 34 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 207 636 1178

The Clink Restaurant

Price: Moderate
Cuisine: British, European

The Clink is a charity-run restaurant located within a Category-C prison in Brixton. The restaurant aims to help prisoners get back into society by allowing them to work towards gaining the necessary qualifications. Expect traditional British meals served beautifully and at reasonable prices. Must book at least 72 hours before arrival.

Address: HMP Brixton , Jebb Avenue, London, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 8678 9007

Vanilla Black

Price: Moderate
Cuisine: Vegetarian, vegan

A firm favourite of vegetarians and vegans, Vanilla Black serves creative meatless fine dining. Their motto: no dish would rely on pasta, meat substitutes or heavy spicing. As a result, you can expect high-quality vegetarian and vegan dishes that pack a punch.

Address: 17-18 Took's Court, London, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 207 242 2622

Punjab

Price: Moderate
Cuisine: Indian

London's oldest North Indian restaurant, Punjab is the go-to place for a flavourful lunch or dinner. The Chicken Tikka Masala is a must-try for many first-timers, and if you are looking to capture the essence of India's Maharajas, choose any one of the Punjab Specialities from the menu.

Address: 80 Neal Street, Covent Garden, London, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 207 836 9787

Yauatcha

Price: Moderate
Cuisine: Cantonese, Chinese

A contemporary dim sum restaurant, Yauatcha serves up elegantly simple and delicious fare, exemplified in dishes like 'Spicy soft shell crab with almond' in two locations across London, one in SoHo, another on near Liverpool Street Station.

Address: 1 Broadgate, London, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 203 817 9888

Goddards at Greenwich

Price: Cheap
Cuisine: British

Londoners have been enjoying pie and mash since the 1700s and back then, the pies were filled with eels from the Thames. Today, eels have been replaced by minced beef, chicken, lamb, cheese or just vegetables, but pies continue to deliver cheap and flavourful meals to the masses. At Goddards at Greenwich, the family has been making pies since 1890 and they still serve handmade pies every day.

Address: 22 King William Walk, Greenwich, London, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 208 305 9612

Poppies

Price: Cheap
Cuisine: British

For many international visitors, no trip to London is complete without trying fish & chips. Poppies at Spitalfields is a traditional fish & chips shop decked out in 1950s memorabilia. Fresh fish and light batter is the winning combination here.

Address: 6-8 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields, London, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 207 247 0892

Patty & Bun

Price: Cheap
Cuisine: International

With many branches throughout London, Patty & Bun serves delicious burgers at affordable prices. Tucked between pillowy buns can be a juicy beef patty, buttermilk chicken, lamb, mushroom, tempeh or even a plant-based patty.

Address: 54 James Street, Marylebone, London, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 207 487 3188
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