Before the end of 2025, we had the opportunity to spend another week in London in December, during which time we tried many restaurants that could be added to our list of London recommendations.
You can access the first part of the list here: Click here
Let’s get to those enjoyable places we spent time in London.
Santiago Lastra’s London-based one Michelin-starred restaurant KOL has consistently featured in the 50 Best lists in recent years.
Lastra’s career, which includes working in some of the world’s most creative kitchens such as Mugaritz and Noma, explains the experience he offers here: he reinterprets Mexican techniques and rituals using seasonal British produce. The phrase “Mexican soul, British ingredients” is perfectly apt.
You see familiar names on the menu like toast, tacos or pozole; but the dishes are never copies. The technique is strong, the flavours bold, and there are little surprises in every bite. KOL’s real mastery lies in making those seemingly complex things feel effortless.
Highlights from Our Plates
•Quesadilla — Short ribs and black truffle, paired with green plum salsa, offer surprising depth; both comforting and elegant.
• Langoustine Taco — A signature dish with smoked chilli and sea buckthorn; the sweet-sour-smoky trio lingers in the memory. Instead of lime, you squeeze the acidic sauce, which is filled into the langoustine shell, over the taco as you eat it.
• Pozole — Made with wild mushrooms and yellow corn; it has a familiar spirit, but the fresh herbs and acidity at the finish take it somewhere entirely different.
Each dish pays homage to Mexican tradition, blended with British ingredients to create a unique expression.
📍 Address: 41 Blandford Street, Marylebone, London W1U 8EQ, UK
💶 Tasting Menu: Approximately £185 (excluding drinks pairing)
🥂 Reservations: Required — recommended several weeks in advance, especially for weekends and evening services.
Tomos Parry’s restaurant Mountain in Soho, familiar from the Brat team, is one of the most talked-about places of late. With a concept that could be described as “Basque meets Welsh,” it combines fire-cooking techniques with quality ingredients; the menu is designed for sharing, creating a warm and enjoyable atmosphere.
This place serves à la carte; there’s a big advantage to going in a large group. The wine list is surprisingly accessible — there are many good options under £50.
The atmosphere is lively, the kitchen bustling, and the music selection adds to the character of the place. Overall, the service team is attentive and professional; however, a few minor issues with the sommelier slightly marred the experience: despite stating that we would be sharing 7–8 dishes, there was unnecessary insistence on an extra main course; ultimately, the wood-fired rice we ordered failed to meet our expectations, being too dry to eat. Additionally, while all other tables had their wine in an ice bucket, ours was not provided—small but noticeable details.
Other than that, the service flow was smooth and the team was generally quite good.
Highlights from Our Plates
• Mutton Chops
• Spider Crab Omelette
• Cured Dairy Beef
• Sobrasada
• Walnut Bread, Quince & Lardo
• Wild Mushrooms
• Ensaimada (sweet) — Light caramel character and its ice cream leave a lasting impression as a memorable finishing touch to the meal.
📍 Address: Soho, London (near Regent Street and Carnaby Street)
💷 Bill: 2 people, 1 bottle of cava, under £200
🪑 Reservations: Busy — if you can’t find a seat, it helps to go to the bar/counter area when it opens.
🍽️ Service: Sharing focused à la carte
One of our favourite restaurants in Istanbul, Yeni Lokanta, has a branch in London, right in the heart of Soho, bearing the signature of Civan Er. The menu combines dishes inspired by Anatolian cuisine with modern techniques; the aroma of wood-fired cooking and seasonal ingredients are evident in every bite. You’ll find a lively and welcoming dining experience, perfect for sharing.
The menu changes frequently here, but the general approach remains the same: familiar Turkish flavours, reimagined with little surprises.
Notes from the Table
• Açma basket & butter — Brioche like soft, sweet and delicious a opening. In Yeni, one of the essentials
• Carrot tarator & pan bread
• Pastırma — its own production pastırma’s salt balance is very good.
• Fried kelle cheese
• Beetroot
• İnegöl Köfte — We tried the version of the single-serving köfte at Yeni for the first time and loved it so much that we had to order it again.
• Beef Mantı — Thick, salty yoghurt and spices, mantı can be at its best form like this.
• Dried Aubergine Mantı — Made with dried aubergine, just as tasty as meat-filled mantı.
• Banduma Chicken — Civan Er’s interpretation of a dish from the Kastamonu cuisine.
• Rice pudding — A delicious rice pudding served with saffron-flavoured Turkish delight.
📍 Address: 55 Beak Street, Soho, London W1F 9SH
💷 Bill: £334 (4 people, 1 bottle of wine and all food consumed, service charge not included)
The Water House Project, located in East London, entirely tasting menu focused, sustainability and “zero-waste” approach stands out offering a unique experience with. Here there is no à la carte; everyone follows the same route and the kitchen, works to make the most of the ingredients in every dish.
Normally, there are two tasting menu options: short and long; however, during the festive period we visited, only one menu was served, so no alternative was offered.
The 13-course tasting menu progresses with dishes centred around seasonal produce. Technically meticulous; the dishes are refined and the presentation elegant.
However, at times there were flavour repetitions, with similar acidity and sauce textures appearing in several dishes. It would have been nice to see a bit more contrast in the menu flow.
Non-alcoholic pairings, while conceptually strong, did not quite work for us in practice.
In contrast, the zero-waste approach is truly impressive.
Beginnings in the home kitchen:
The first Water House Project supper clubs were held in chef Gabriel’s own home in 2015. It began as a journey with tasting menus for just 12 people.
Gabriel opened the restaurant with his wife Patricia; most of the natural furnishings and atmosphere in the venue are designs touched by Patricia’s hand.
💷 Tasting Menu: 13 courses
👤 Price: Per person ~ £115 (excluding drinks)
Gymkhana, which takes the concept of “chic Indian cuisine” to another level in London, is now a two-Michelin-starred establishment and remains one of the city’s hardest-to-book restaurants. While drawing inspiration from the atmosphere of colonial-era clubs, the cuisine is entirely contemporary: classic flavours are reimagined using premium ingredients and excellent technique.
The restaurant is two-storey:
The upper floor, with its wooden panelling and more tranquil atmosphere, is ideal for business dinners. Frankly, the other tables were a bit too intimate; we found the tables a bit too close together for this kind of restaurant, to be honest.
Notes from the Table — What Did We Eat?
We shared everything, and each plate left a clear mark:
• Kid Goat Methi Keema, Pao
• Kasoori Chicken Tikka
• Gilafi Quail Seekh Kebab — delicious and balanced spicy kebab.
• Chicken Butter Masala — Frankly, it wasn’t as refined as we expected, but the sauce is still worth scraping off the naan.
• Venison Keema Naan — Thin dough + plump inside with very successful, but a bit too much large portion. Before eating it causes you to feel a bit stuffed.
• Basmati & Garlic Naan — A must-have with every meal.
Finally, to settle our stomachs after all this eating, we finished off with Masala Chai.
The layered use of spices, the depth of the sauces and the cooking technique are evident in every dish. This is precisely what makes Gymkhana so special: making familiar flavours “better”.
Address: 42 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom
Account: 💷 2 people, sharing, with a 15% service charge, totalling £183.85.
If you have time, the set lunch menu is a very good option, ideal for trying out at a more affordable price.
And remember: reservations are essential. It’s hardly surprising that evening services are fully booked months in advance.
On our last Sunday in London, after wandering around the Columbia Road Flower Market, we stopped by Bambi for lunch. Located in London Fields, this venue is not just a restaurant — it’s a delightful meeting place where food and music come together, featuring a huge record collection, a hi-fi sound system, and DJ sets in the evenings.
There is a weekend brunch menu, but don’t think of it as a traditional brunch: it’s designed to please both those who want lunch and those seeking a refined brunch experience, and it’s perfect for sharing. Going in a large group and ordering dishes to share is the best choice here.
Our favourites
• Peri Peri Prawns — black garlic, aioli, and lime, a smoky-spicy-fresh trio that is very well balanced.
• Buttermilk sea bass ceviche — perfectly balanced with lively acidity, a light creamy touch and fresh herbs.
In addition to these, the menu includes:
• grilled persimmon & figs, mascarpone & hazelnuts (≈ £11)
• chalk stream trout tartare, miso dressing (≈ £13)
Sharing plates are also prominent. Prices generally range from £10 to £18; they rise slightly when moving on to main courses, but the portions are suitable for sharing.
The atmosphere is relaxed but not careless: wooden tables, a DJ corner surrounded by records, and a spacious area bathed in natural light. In the evenings, there are DJ sets and special events — worth noting for those who enjoy this style.
📍 Adres: London Fields
🍽️ Concept: Sharing-friendly, modern dishes between brunch and lunch
💷 Price: Per person ~ £25–40 (depending on drinks)
🥂 Drinks: An extensive wine list + cocktails (the Bloody Mary is particularly good)
📅 Reservations: Weekends are recommended — they fill up quickly.
Conclusion: Bambi is one of those rare brunch/lunch spots in London that is enjoyable, filled with music, yet still manages to remain calm. It’s worth making a special trip just for the peri peri prawns and ceviche. Those curious about the DJ evenings should keep an eye on the programme.
Ben Chapman’s team’s Shoreditch establishment, Smoking Goat, is one of the first places that comes to mind in London when you think of “casual but serious flavour”. The place is very unpretentious, with plastic plates, crowded tables, and smoke rising from the open kitchen, but the dishes are surprisingly creative and balanced. Recipes inspired by Northern Thailand meet British local suppliers wherever possible.
The menu is designed for sharing, so it’s best to go as a group and fill the table. We can say we’ve tried almost the entire menu — and paid a total of £291 for two bottles of cava (quite reasonable for four people).
Featured items
• Fish sauce chilli wings
• Fried chicken skin
• Nahm prik pao mussels
• Massaman curry + grilled bavette
• Pad phet chalk stream trout
• House-made roti & jasmine rice
Menu in general as spicy; if you like it it’s splendid, if you don’t like it when ordering make sure to specify it’s beneficial to mention. Service is fast, despite the crowd the pace doesn’t slow down.
Value for money is still very strong for London: creative dishes, good produce, a relaxed atmosphere and high flavour. Booking isn’t difficult, but it’s advisable to do so.
A place we can wholeheartedly recommend to those seeking a casual yet memorable evening meal in London.
Adres: 64 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ, UK
Right next to Quality Chop House, Quality Wines is more than just a wine bar: it’s a small, intimate restaurant with a weekly changing menu that captures the spirit of the neighbourhood. In the kitchen, chef Nick Bramham prepares Mediterranean-inspired dishes using seasonal ingredients and a simple approach.
At lunchtime, it offers accessible menu options such as a two- or three-course set menu; in the evenings, it serves a menu consisting of small and large plates suitable for sharing. As the menu changes frequently, you can encounter completely different flavours each time you visit, making this a place you return to regularly rather than one you visit just once and forget.
The wine selection is just as impressive as the cuisine. The glass-by-glass options are updated daily; you can purchase your preferred bottle from the shelves on the wall and have it opened at your table. The selections are carefully curated by Marcos Spyrou and Darragh Monnin from the team.
We came here with food and travel writer Berkok Yüksel. Our favourites from that day’s menu were chickpea cod, vitello tonato, risotto: simple, comforting dishes that let the flavours speak for themselves without any unnecessary fuss.
A note: Right next door, Quality Chop House is a separate establishment with a history dating back to 1869 and a kitchen focused on fine British produce, also featured in the Michelin guide recommendations. But if you ask us, we preferred the more relaxed and everyday feel of Quality Wines. We’ll try Quality Chop House at the first opportunity.
Address: 88 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3EA, UK
Michelin-starred Frog by Adam Handling’s basement, descending a dimly lit staircase, you enter a completely different world: Eve Bar. This is not a classic cocktail bar; it is the scene of a creative cycle established between the kitchen and the bar.
Eve Bar’s philosophy is to give ingredients from the Frog kitchen a “second life”.
Just imagine: At one corner of the triangle one corner Frog’s fine-dining plates, at another corner are Eve Bar’s snacks, and at the last corner are cocktails. The main menu’s unavailable sections are first served as bar food, from there also turns into cocktail recipes. Both smart against waste and also quite surprising in terms of taste.
The atmosphere is dark, intimate and somewhat mysterious, but comfortably so without being unsettling.
The service team loves telling the story behind the cocktails, transforming the menu from a mere “drinks list” into an experience.
The cocktail menu combines a nod to the classics with modern experiments:
🍸 Tomato
🍸 Cherry / Manhattan interpretation
Be sure to order some bar snacks to go with your drinks; they’re small but full of character. Prices are in line with the average London cocktail bar (cocktails are mostly around £15–£17).
For us, Eve Bar has become one of those places that balances creativity, technical skill and fun. This approach, which brings the story of the kitchen to the bar, is truly inspiring.
Address: 34 Southampton Street, London WC2E 7HF, UK
