London Restaurant Recommendations

London is not only a classic world capital; it is also home to one of the most creative and vibrant scenes in world cuisine. In this article, we take you on a culinary journey from the city’s starred fine dining restaurants to the small restaurants hidden in the neighbourhood, from deep-rooted cuisines to contemporary Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours.
Michelin-starred tables, modern fireside experiences, zero-waste restaurants and the city’s characteristic venues…

If you want to check out our favourite bakeries and breakfast places in London, you can find our previous blog post here.

BRAT

Basque cuisine in the lively streets of Shoreditch: BRAT. With its impressive and simple flavours cooked over a wood fire, this one-star restaurant more than deserves its reputation.
For lunch, we started with grilled pitas with caramelised onions – a very satisfying starter. We followed with ‘cockles’ with wild garlic and wild mushrooms in season. Ingredients are at the forefront here and the menu changes frequently according to the season.

The ribs were tender and had a wonderful sooty flavour. Although we didn’t get to try the turbot, a speciality of the restaurant and the Basque region, the smoked duck was excellent – tender, layered and expertly smoked. The accompaniments of candied Cedro lemon, liver parfait and wood-roasted radicchio flavoured with ‘sherry’ vinegar were excellent.

San Sebastian cheesecake is not a dessert we are a fan of but it was highly recommended here so we wanted to try it – and it was perfect. The touch of rhubarb was also nice as we were in spring.

We paid about £145 for two people – well worth it.

If you like Basque cuisine and flavours cooked in wood fire, BRAT should definitely be on your list.


Address: First Floor, 4 Redchurch St, E1 6JL
Menu and booking: bratrestaurant.co.uk

LYLE’S LONDON

A starred restaurant in the heart of Shoreditch, serving the most exquisite examples of modern British cuisine: Lyle’s. Lyle’s, which has been awarded a Michelin star since 2015, emphasises naturalness with a simple yet sophisticated approach.

During the lunch service, they offer a two or three course set menu in a white and spacious atmosphere (Lunch menu: Two courses £39, three courses £49).For starters, we opted for the fried squid tentacles, a type of fried squid – the crispy fried squid arms paired perfectly with the black pepper mayonnaise on the side. Throughout the meal, we were served a wonderfully flavoursome butter and sourdough bread. The breads come from Quince Bakery, opened by a chef who worked in Lyle’s kitchen. It is also one of our favourite bakeries in the city.
Next came grilled mussels sauced with butter cider and grilled sardines with Marinda tomatoes (grilled sardines & Marinda tomatoes). Marinda is a special type of winter tomato originating from Sicily; it stood out with its thick skin, slightly sour and intense flavour.For the main course, we tried one of the signature dishes of the restaurant, Suffolk mutton crumpet, brassicas & green sauce with wild mustard herb. It was the star of the table with its rich and balanced flavours.

For dessert, we opted for the less sweet and more refreshing of the two options, the fennel and grapefruit sorbet served in choux pastry – a fresh, unusual and fitting finale.

We paid a total bill of around £120 for two people, a drink and service charge – well worth it for a restaurant experience like Lyle’s.

Chef James Lowe’s seasonal approach and strong connection with local producers make Lyle’s not just a dining experience, but a special journey that follows the culinary rhythm of the year.
The spirit of the place is reflected in the food with its minimalist design, a lounge filled with natural light and plates that offer depth without overdoing it. If you want to experience modern British cuisine in a simple and impressive way, Lyle’s should definitely be on your list.

Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JJ, United Kingdom
Menu & Opening Hours: lyleslondon.com

BERENJAK

One of the most impressive representatives of Iranian cuisine in London, with two branches in Soho and Borough Market: Berenjak.Berenjak, which was crowned with the Bib Gourmand award in the Michelin guide, was inspired by the traditional small “kabab” houses in Tehran. The restaurant, which revolves around an open kitchen, tandoor oven and barbecue grill, offers an intimate and lively atmosphere.
It was one of our favourite restaurants in London and it was quite difficult to find a seat. Our advice is to book well in advance; they even have an alarm system on their website to let you know when there is a cancellation – that’s how we managed to get a seat.
We may not have experienced Iranian cuisine on the spot, but we had the opportunity to taste Iranian food in different parts of the world. Berenjak was one of the best Iranian restaurants we have tried.Especially the kebabs are prepared with different techniques than Anatolian style kebabs: In Iranian kebabs, the meat is usually ground finer, the spices are used more delicately, the cooking method is at a lower temperature and the texture is drier rather than greasy. It is therefore not surprising that some Turkish visitors find it different according to their palatal habits.
The Lunch Menu, which we preferred at noon, was £35 per person. The concept is sharing: You choose your bread, meze, kebab and pilaf, and all the plates come in the centre.
At the beginning, soft bread from the hot tandoori oven was served. We ordered black chickpea hummus and aubergine kashk-e-bademjoon. For the main course, we preferred two types of kebab:
* Koobideh kabab: A soft and aromatic kebab prepared with finely chopped veal, unique to Iranian cuisine.
* Jujeh kabab: Chicken skewers marinated with saffron and lemon – especially the chicken skewers were exceptionally flavourful; slightly smoked, juicy and aromatic.
Saffron rice and Shirazi salad as an accompaniment (salad shirazi) was also served – everything was fresh and balanced.
We paid a total of £92 for two people, one drink and service charge. A la carte menus are also available, but we think this set menu is an excellent choice for first-timers in terms of both variety and price-performance.
When Chef Kian Samyani founded Berenjak, he aimed to bring the home cooking of his childhood memories to London. In this cosy environment, where he combines the spirit of traditional Iranian cuisine with seasonal British produce, you enjoy the pleasure of sitting shoulder to shoulder with your friends at the table and sharing a meal.
If you want to experience Iranian cuisine in London in an authentic and impressive way, Berenjak should definitely be on your list.

Berenjak Soho: 27 Romilly Street, London
 Berenjak Borough: 1 Bedale Street, London
Menu and Booking: berenjaklondon.com

ST.JOHN

St JOHN London – The simplest and strongest version of traditional British cuisine.
Opened in 1994, just round the corner from Smithfield Market, in partnership with Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver, St. JOHN has become a cult on the London gastronomic scene as a pioneer of the nose-to-tail dining philosophy.There’s no waste here: every piece is used and every dish is prepared with a reverence all its own. Even Fergus’ book “Nose to Tail Eating” shows how seriously this approach is taken.
The atmosphere is minimalist: white walls, simple tablecloths and no frills. All the glamour is reserved for the food.When you come here, don’t expect excessive service or the elegance of a classic Michelin restaurant – the magic of St. JOHN’s comes from this naturalness.However, the staff can be a bit “cool” and sometimes even aloof, which seems to be part of the restaurant’s character.
Here are some of the dishes we ordered:
* Roasted Bone Marrow: This dish, which Anthony Bourdain called “my last dish”, really fulfils the expectations. Silky bone marrow is in perfect harmony with the toast and salt that comes with it.
* Crispy Pig’s Skin & Ketchup
* Purple Sprouting Broccoli
* Rabbit Saddle
* Braised Mutton
* Madeleines & Twice Baked Chocolate Cake: They are cooked as soon as the order is placed and come hot, fresh from the oven. A perfect ending with a light lemon flavour. For dessert, we tried the twice baked chocolate cake on the recommendation of the staff and it was quite interesting. First half of the batter is baked, then the remaining batter is added halfway through the baking time and the cake goes back into the oven, resulting in an enormous soft layered cake.
The menu is based on seasonal products and simplicity.For example, “Potatoes and Greens” is always on the menu, but the types of potatoes and greens used change according to the season.And you don’t have to settle for a single portion – there are also magnum bottles of wine and dishes for two to share.
To summarise:
* The food is simple but with an extraordinary technical mastery.
* On every plate, it is possible to see how even what could be considered “leftovers” are transformed into great flavours.
* The service is carried out by a cold-blooded but competent team. They are a little bit nosey. So don’t be surprised if one of the staff snaps at you for not being a knowledgeable enough tourist.
* It’ s not a place that feels touristy but at the same time intimate; a true “London classic”.
As Anthony Bourdain said:”This restaurant is the restaurant of my dreams.”

Address: 26 St John St, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY
Reservation & menu: stjohnrestaurant.com

SILO LONDON

Claiming to be the world’s first zero waste restaurant, Silo offers a very special experience centred on naturalness and sustainability at The White Building in Hackney Wick.Founded under the leadership of Chef Douglas McMaster, Silo was actually born in Australia in 2011 with artist Joost Bakker’s idea of a “restaurant without bins”. The restaurant, which later moved to Brighton, moved to its current location in London in 2019.
I’ve been following Silo from afar almost since it first opened; I was even impressed enough to apply for a job when I worked in the kitchen. Years later, eating here was a very special experience for me.
Silo’s culinary philosophy: to serve a meal that is free from industrial processing, with ingredients taken directly from the producer.Everything used in the restaurant – flour, butter, cheeses, even the kitchen worktop – comes from nature or is made with recycled materials.
A short tasting menu is offered at lunchtime or until 7pm. If you are not too hungry, this “short list” menu is quite sufficient. The menu changes frequently according to the season and the product, so it is difficult to find the same dishes on a second visit.
The dishes we tasted in our experience:
* Koji quaver, treacle, goat cheese
* The siloaf (homemade sourdough bread) with cultured butter and smoked salt
* Beetroot, yogurt and pickled rhubarb
* As main course:
* Merit mushroom, koji porridge and electric dairy
* Venison, caramelised cream and kale.
* For dessert:
* Beetroot amazake, basil and apple

In general, there was a sense of experimentation in the cuisine, pushing the limits of the ingredients.In some dishes the flavours were quite intense and pronounced, while in others the flavours were a bit more subtle. On the whole, however, we had a smooth dining experience. The service, the details and the industrial yet cosy atmosphere of the place were really impressive.
Silo has received the Green Star award from the Michelin guide.As Michelin states, you not only see a waste-free kitchen here, but also witness a circular gastronomy approach that respects nature.Details such as homemade ‘siloaf’ bread and ‘siloaf ice cream sandwich’ prepared from it are good examples of this approach.
If you are after naturalness, sustainability and a little experimental flavours in the kitchen, Silo is one of the places you must discoverin London.

Address: The White Building, 7 Queens Yard, London E9 5EN
Menu and Booking: silolondon.com

PLANQUE

A stylish and original restaurant located under two railway arches in the Hackney district of London: Planque.Describing itself as a “wine drinkers’ clubhouse”, Planque made a rapid entrance to London’s gastronomic scene in 2021. Led by Chef Seb Myers, the kitchen offers a creative approach to modern British cuisine. The venue also operates as a wine club, offering members exclusive wine storage areas, low bottle service charges and special events for members.
We opted for the weekend lunch service at Planque.The set lunch special for weekends is £39 per person and four small plates, consists ofa main course and a dessert.
Food service, It started with homemade sourdough bread and cultured butter.Then came the small plates for sharing:
* Fresh curd, Cedro lemon olive oil
* Rabbit terrine
* Endive & fennel salad
* Grilled pollack & winter tomatoes
* Pork shoulder, spelt & mustard leaves
* Pumpkin seed ice cream & mandarin
It was an extremely light, refreshing and beautifully balanced sugar balance.
Planque’s atmosphere is as elaborate as its cuisine: in a spacious lounge with high ceilings, you sit along a long communal table and eat while watching the open kitchen.The design of the place is a nice balance between modernism and comfort.
Everything we ate was as it should be: technically flawless, clean and attentive.However, the plates lacked an emotional impact, those little “striking” details that will remain in the memory.
Nevertheless, Planque became a restaurant that we would like to go back to again with the curiosity of “I wonder what the chef did this time?”.

Planque is listed in the Michelin guide and offers a refined interpretation of modern British cuisine, using few but effective ingredients.The wine list focusses on small producers and low-intervention vineyards, making it an attractive choice for wine lovers.

Address: 322-324 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA
Menu and Booking: planque.co.uk

SMOKESTAK

One of London’s most famous barbecue stops, which reveals itself with its smell even before approaching the streets of Shoreditch: Smokestak.Founded by David Carter, Smokestak has created long queues in the street food scene since its first days, and has solidified its name by moving to a fixed location over time. Today, it has the Bib Gourmand award in the Michelin guide.
Smokestak’s formula is simple: expertly cooked low-heat meats, reasonable prices and a lively atmosphere. What more could you ask for?
We tried a few iconic dishes from the menu during our lunch:
* Wood roasted bone marrow, sourdough, parsley + shallot
* Crispy ox cheek, anchovy mayo
* Pulled pork bun, green chilli slaw
* Brisket bun, pickled red chilli
* Beef brisket, mustard barbecue
The starter of wood oven roasted marrow and the sourdough bread served with it was a perfect opening: deep, rich and balanced.Crispy ox cheek with crispy texture and strong flavoured anchovy mayo was one of the stars of the meal.
When we came to the main courses, the expectations were more than met:Pulled pork bun was balanced with green chilli slaw prepared with lime freshness.Brisket bun was a flavour bomb with brioche bread prepared in butter, pickled red chilli and brisket smoked in English oak for 12-15 hours.
Of course, we couldn’t leave Smokestak without having beef brisket.The brisket is cooked overnight at low temperature and served with mustard barbecue sauce. The meat separates into fibres and each bite has a deep, slightly smoky aroma.A simple looking dish, but very layered in terms of technique and flavour.
After the meal, we tried deep fried plum tart and gelato for dessert. Crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside, this fried plum tart created a wonderful balance of hot and cold with the cold gelato that came with it. After a meal with an intense flavor like Smokestak, this kind of relaxing ending was really appropriate.
The service is fast, warm and very experienced. The atmosphere is energetic, friendly and of course, filled with the smell of barbecue — you’re bound to leave with a little “Smokestak memories” after you leave here.
As the Michelin guide notes, there’s an extraordinary attention to detail in the meats here. But Smokestak doesn’t just offer a delightful experience with its meats, but also with its sides and desserts.
If you’re looking for a truly impressive barbecue experience in London, Smokestak should be at the top of your list.

Address: 35 Sclater St, London E1 6LB
Menu & Reservation: smokestak.co.uk

OMA LONDON

Right in the heart of Borough Market, one of the most impressive representatives of modern Greek cuisine in London: OMA London.Since its inauguration in 2023 , it has been the centre of attraction for both the local community OMA , which has become a favourite with visitors to the city, the best price/performance among Michelin-starred restaurants today It stands out as one of the stops with a balance.
To be honest, I was a bit hesitant at first to try Greek cuisine in London, as we often go to Greece during the year. However, when we heard that OMA was a modern and creative interpretation of our favourite cuisine, we decided to give it a try – and we’re glad we booked months in advance. (Especially considering that it’s crowded even on weekdays, early booking is a must.)
The menu at OMA is centred around small sharing plates and large grilled/gratin dishes.They also have a separate section on the ground floor, which has more of a bar atmosphere and serves a variety of drinks and small snacks – we plan to visit there next time we visit.
Let’s talk about what we ate:
We started with wildfarmed laffa and aça verde – to be honest, these two breads were the stars of the whole meal. Especially the verde was memorable with its light herby flavour and soft texture.
Our picks afterwards:
* Tarama, pickled cucumber, carob rusk – a classic Greek tarama, updated with a refreshing touch of pickles.
* Babaghanoush, tahini, jerusalem artichoke crisps – a very successful pairing with the deep flavour of smoked aubergine.
* Tuna ceviche, avocado, tamari – a fresh, citrus flavoured dish; light and balanced.
* Charred lamb belly, hummus, shallot + mint salad – the intensity of the lamb was balanced with the hummus and mint-chive salad, making it one of the favourites at the table.
* Oxtail giouvetsi, bone marrow, beef fat pangrattato – a modern interpretation of the traditional Greek stew made with oxtail; served with bone marrow and flavoured breadcrumbs, this dish was both intense and memorable.
Throughout the menu, the quality of the ingredients was at the forefront; you could clearly feel that every detail had been carefully thought out in the kitchen.The atmosphere inside is very energetic: a modern terrace, a fast-paced kitchen and a young, friendly service team make it a city restaurant.
The wine list was particularly impressive: They offer a refined and original collection, mostly selected from local grapes from Greece.
As the Michelin guide says, the food at OMA is uncomplicated; simplicity and flavour are at the forefront.The flavours are clean, the plates are suitable for sharing and the atmosphere is cosy. Although it is located in a crowded, touristic area , the quality of the food more than meets expectations.
If you want to experience a modern interpretation of Greek cuisine in London with quality ingredients and affordable prices, OMA should definitely be on your list.

Address: 2-4 Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
Menu and Booking: omalondon.co.uk

THE TAMIL PRINCE

The Tamil Prince: A perfect fusion of Indian cuisine and London pub culture.A revival of an old neighbourhood pub, this warm and energetic venue is inspired by the cuisine of Tamil Nadu, but occasionally takes a delicious journey to other parts of India.The Tamil Prince, along with its sister establishment The Tamil Crown, has become one of the city’s new favourites.
Small platesat the venue, large sharing dishes and delicious sides to choose from It is possible to set up a complete feast with breads or pilafs.We came here for lunch and tried the following plates:
* Onion bhaji with mint chutney
* Dal makhani
* Thanjavur chicken curry
* Paneer butter masala
* Robata lamb chops
* Buttery, flaky roti
* Coconut pilau rice
As for our dining experience:The onion bhaji was crispy on the outside, light and aromatic on the inside and paired perfectly with the mint sauce that came with it.Dal makhani and Thanjavur chicken curry impressed us with their perfectly balanced spice profiles and soft textures.Paneer butter masala, in particular, was one of the favourites at the table with its slightly sweet sauce and smooth texture.
However, the star of the day was definitely the buttery, flaky roti.This buttery and flaky roti bread was so harmonious, especially with the curry, that we wanted to order not one but several more. We would go again just for the roti!
We tried Robata lamb chops as the main course and although it was delicious, it was a bit in the background compared to the other dishes.It was definitely not bad, but if you need to make a priority list when choosing from the menu, lamb chops might be in the last place.
There is also a very strong bar section here.We tried the Tamil Negroni, Ginger Paloma and Gunpowder Margarita; all of them were aromatic and balanced.Blended with Indian spices, these cocktails add an extra dimension to the dining experience.
A small note: They may direct you a little bit to order more items from the menu.It is a detail to keep in mind for first-timers – it is useful to order selectively without filling the table too much.
The service is fast, the atmosphere is cosy and the place is always lively.If you are looking for an experience that combines the spirit of modern London with traditional Indian flavours, The Tamil Prince should definitely be on your list.

Address: 71 Wilton Way, London E8 1BG
Menu and reservation: thetamilprince.com