The British capital’s finest selects revealed.
Photo: Courtesy Justin De Souza
London is a hotbed for gastronomy, and thanks to a multi-cultural population, sauce here represents every corner of the globe. The action’s in central, or the West End, where you’ll find the highest concentration of acclaimed establishments. Venture westside and the upscale trend ensues, while smaller independent businesses are the bread and butter of North, South, and East London. There are a staggering 80 Michelin-starred restaurants dotted all over town, and we’ve plucked not only heavyweight names but also new openings and under-the-radar gems that make the British capital a feast. Here are the wonders of London’s food scene.
Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay is a glorious Michelin-starred restaurant serving modern French cuisine in Belgravia. It offers five distinct menus: Prestige, Discovery; à la carte, three-course lunch, and a Chef’s Table menu. Each is seasonally driven, with sample items like tender Aynhoe Park Deer, sourced from Banbury, England, and a decadent Anjou Pigeon confit, presented as a work of fine art. The 1200-strong wine list includes rare vintages, though menus come with excellent pairings.
Photo: Courtesy Petrus by Gordon Ramsay
London’s best Chinese fine dining restaurant is not in Chinatown, it’s in Tower Hill, tucked at the back of the majestic Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square. Superstar Chef de Cuisine Peter Ho elevates classic Asian dishes with finesse, like the Peking Duck with Caviar for an indulgent contrast of texture and flavor, and the Drunken Guinea Fowl marinated with fragrant spices. Sushi and dim sum complete the setup. Wash it down with Tang Dynasty, a bubble tea cocktail spiked with rum.
Courtesy Mei Ume
Enter the jungle in Mayfair: Amazónico is an explosion of the senses, with live music, rainforest-esque décor, and a tantalizing menu of Latin flavors. Popular plates include the Pastel de Choclo, a Peruvian corn cake made with Scottish lobster and Oscietra caviar, and the Picanha Rodizio, a Brazillian-style grilled rump steak. This restaurant concept is curated by renowned husband and wife team, Sandro Silva and Marta Seco. Don’t miss the hidden cocktail den, OCTO, beneath the restaurant.
Photo: Courtesy Amazónico
Chef Shinji Kanesaka brings Ginza to 45 Park Lane at this exquisite new omakase thats already garnered a Michelin star. His multi-course Edomae sushi-focused menu features only the finest cuts, including Yariika (spear squid), Steamed Abalone with wasabi and shio, and Negi Toro Maki (fatty tuna and green scallion). Say yes to any pour from their excellent sake list, served in bespoke glassware. Guests dine on the restaurant centerpiece; a single carved piece of hinoki wood, lined by a row of wishbone chairs.
Photo: Courtesy Sushi Kanesaka
Alex Dilling At Hotel Café Royal
When a restaurant is awarded two stars just six months after opening, you know you’re in for a treat. British chef Alex Dilling’s fine dining experience is an intimate affair with just 34 prized seats. Tasting menus swoon patrons on seasonal creations like the Shetland Cod with black truffle and Scottish Blue Lobster, finished with a sweet masterpiece. Overlooking the iconic curve of Regent Street, this venue is a date night dream.
Photo: Courtesy Justin De Souza
Dinner with a view? Head to the Shard, Britain’s tallest building. With soaring vistas over some of the city’s Eastside icons, guests dine on quintessential British fare in the allure of Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral. Menu standouts include Dover Sole Ballotine and Salt Marsh Lamb Saddle, and you’ll find a dessert that’s themed to the icon, aptly called The Shard. Afternoon tea is available if sweets are all you desire.
Photo: Courtesy Aqua Shard
Travelers who’ve been to Kyoto might be familiar with kaiseki, a Haute dining course divided into small ceremonies, whereby each dish reflects ingredients at the peak of freshness without artifice. Chef Daisuke Hayashi’s menu is thus changed monthly, harnessing the powers of dashi stock, and prepared in front of a 10-seat counter facing the kitchen team. One of the only masters of the Kaiseki tradition globally, he’s the first to bring this lesser-known form of dining to London.
Photo: Courtesy Roketsu
It’s not the recent accolades that have had locals pouring into Ormer, this has long been a Mayfair darling. Chef Sofian Msetfi’s seasonal tasting menus spotlight the very best of British, including sample items like the Cornish mackerel with sesame, kombu, and spiced nage, and the milk-fed Pyrenees lamb with cucumber, lettuce, and lime. Vogue tip: say yes to the cheese trolley when it comes around for the finest fromage of your life.
Photo: Courtesy Ormer Mayfair by Sofian
Bringing the traditional flavors of Spain to the capital, El Norte is a tapas restaurant with a sizzling selection of shareables. They include Alcachofas Rehogadas Con Jamón (baby artichokes with Iberico ham), Carrilleras Al Vino Tinto (slow-cooked red wine ox cheek and vanilla mashed potato), and Pulpo A La Brasa (grilled octopus with lentils and chimichurri). Three to four dishes per person is recommended. Delicioso.
Photo: Courtesy El Norte
Sketch: The Lecture Room & Library
Within an opulent 1779 grade II listed building lies The Lecture Room & Library, a multi-awarded restaurant dancing in color from wall to plate. Guests are immersed in a fairytale-style fantasy: draped with ivory walls and vibrant red chandeliers, and tantalized bite-on-bite from Pierre Gagnaire’s seasonal menu. Stay a while and be seduced by more rooms in the mansion, including The Gallery for tea and The Glade for a cocktail. This was well worth the flight over.
Photo: Courtesy Sketch
