Things to do in Top 10 Restaurants in London

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Visitors to London are spoilt for choice when it domes to dining out.

London is one of the best cities in the world for the variety and quality of its restaurants. Wherever you are in the city, you will find dining options to suit your taste and budget.

London is renowned for its world class dining experience, featuring 66 Michelin-star venues owned by renowned chefs. However, London also has hundreds of independent, family run restaurants and bistros offering top quality menus. You will find cuisines from across the world in London’s restaurants.

Good food does not automatically mean top prices. London has excellent dining options to cover all price ranges. You will also find many restaurants where sustainability and the use of locally sourced ingredients is a top priority. London is a foodie haven with a huge choice of restaurants to satisfy all tastes.

The following are a selection of London’s restaurants, illustrating the diverse range of cuisines to be found.

1. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay (French - Chelsea - £££££)

The entrance to Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, photographed in 2008 (© Ewan Munro, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Gordon Ramsay had previously won three Michelin stars at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay (© Dave Pullig, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mark Sargeant was chef de cuisine at the Gordon Ramsay restaurant for 8 years. (© Oldmanuk, CC BY 3.0)

There are not many better known names in the culinary world than Gordon Ramsay.

His flagship restaurant on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea has been offering a fine dining experience since 1998. Ingredients are delivered fresh each day to this three Michelin-star restaurant in preparation for the French cuisine inspired menus.

As you may expect, this type of fine dining experience is at the higher end of the price scale. Lunch from the a la carte menu is priced at £120, with dinner costing £140. Main courses include Dover sole ‘Grenobloise’ and roast pigeon. The carte blanche menu provides a bespoke menu and is priced at £220. There is a separate vegetarian menu which is priced similar to the a la carte menu, with options including smoked Linzer potatoes and organic spelt.

For a special treat you could try the Inspiration Table, where up to four people have the opportunity to sample some of the restaurant’s newest and most creative offerings. Available from Tuesday to Saturday this luxurious treat, where you are seated separate from the main dining area, is priced at £1000 for the table of four!

As well as the exemplary food, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay prides itself on the level of service they provide their customers. The restaurant’s sommelier is on hand to help you choose the best wine to match your food from a range selected from across the world.

The restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday, with lunch served from 12pm to 2.15pm and dinner served between 6pm and 11pm.

2. Dinner By Heston Blumenthal (British - Knightsbridge - £££££)

The entrance to the restaurant space of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (© Ewan Munro, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Heston Blumenthal at Taste Of London Festival, June 2010. (© Brian Minkoff- London Pixels, CC BY-SA 3.0)
Meat fruit, a chicken liver mousse created to look like a mandarin orange at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (© irene., CC BY-SA 2.0)

If you are looking for a world class culinary experience, mixed with a fair share of theatre, then Dinner By Heston Blumenthal is the place to head.

This famous chef is known worldwide for his experimental style of cooking, and his restaurant treats and delights visitors with his twist on traditional British recipes.

The food is inspired by historic British gastronomy, providing contemporary food to match the contemporary feel of the dining room. The a la carte menu is available each day of the week, with the menu displaying the period of history which inspired the dish. Offerings include the duck and turnip, Hereford rib-eye and roast halibut and green sauce. Why not try the Tipsy cake from the dessert menu, circa 1810.

Main courses on the a la carte menu start from £40, with desserts from £18.50. For a more intimate treat, the Chef’s table allows four to six people the chance to sample a bespoke menu served directly to you by your chef. A six course menu at the Chef’s Table costs £165, while the eight course option costs £200.

Dinner By Heston Blumenthal is a two Michelin-star restaurant located in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel in Knightsbridge. Lunch is served from 12pm to 2pm, extending to 2.30pm on Friday to Sunday. Dinner is served from 6pm to 9pm, except again Friday, Saturday and Sunday where service finishes at 9.30pm.

3. Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (French - Knightsbridge - £££££)

The Table Lumière at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (© Pierre Monetta, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Dorset Crab, celeriac and caviar at The Dorchester (© Pierre Monetta, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester offers the ultimate in fine dining.

The restaurant holds three Michelin stars, having earned its first back in 2010. The elegant restaurant serves contemporary French cuisine, enhanced by the innovative touch of one of the world’s most decorated chefs.

The restaurant sources the finest seasonal produce to create signature dishes such as their ‘Sauté Gourmand’ of lobster, chicken quenelles and home made pasta. Leather, wood and fabrics are combined to create a dining area fit to accompany the food, creating a relaxed yet stylish natural design.

The restaurants a la carte menu is priced from £110. If you opt for the tasting menu costing £170 you are treated to culinary delights such as marinated sea bass with Reine Claude plums and samphire, as well as pigeon from Brittany with aubergine, sardine and lemon balm. The Jardin Menu costs £135 and includes red beetroot crapaudine with tender leaves and coffee, as well as heritage tomatoes with black cardamom and marjoram.

Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester is located on Park Lane in Knightsbridge and is open Wednesday to Friday for lunch, and Wednesday to Saturday for evening dinner. A smart casual dress code is recommended. The restaurant’s Table Lumière is one the most famous tables in the capital, where guests can enjoy a more private fine dining experience surrounded by 4,500 shimmering optical fibres and a luminescent oval curtain.

4. Hutong at The Shard (Chinese - London Bridge - ££££)

The Shard at sunset
The Shard in April 2015 (© User:Colin, CC BY-SA 4.0)

London has many restaurants with great views over the river Thames and on across London.

Diners at Hutong at The Shard can enjoy their meal with truly spectacular views from the 33rd floor of this landmark building in Southwark. Looking over the illuminated London skyline at night is a particular pleasure.

Hutong specialise in dishes inspired by the cuisine of northern China. The Hutong signature lunch is priced at £55, and dishes you can choose from the menu include pan-fried chicken fillet with ginger garlic and chilli sauce, wok-tossed beef tenderloin with green chilli, and lobster dumpling with Sichuan chilli sauce.

Hutong also offer a signature dinner menu priced at £95 per head, as well as an a la carte menu which includes dim sum platter from £19, seafood dishes from £31 and meat dishes such as Chinkiang pork ribs from £29.50. Why not try one of Hutong’s signature cocktails with your meal, starting from £15, or perhaps choose from their extensive wine and champagne list.

Hutong in London Bridge is designed to ensure all diners have a view of the stunning London skyline. Lunch is served every day of the week between 12pm and 2.30pm, while dinner is also available seven days a week, served from 6pm to 10.30pm. Hutong operates a smart casual dress code, with certain items of clothing including sports kit, flip flops and sports shoes not permitted.

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5. Murano (Italian - Mayfair - ££££)

The Murano in 2010 (© Ewan Munro, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Angela Hartnett, who founded Murano with Gordan Ramsay, at Taste of London 2009 during her cooking demo. (© , CC BY-SA 2.0)

This Michelin-star restaurant in Mayfair is run by acclaimed chef Angela Hartnett.

The menus are inspired by Italian cuisine, a nod to Angela Hartnett’s heritage and the Italian grandmother she used to cook with when younger. As well as fine, modern dining, Murano focusses on providing customers with a fun, informal atmosphere where they can relax and enjoy their meal.

Three courses from the a la carte menu will cost you £80, although if you are feeling particularly peckish you can opt for the six course dinner (£120). Sample dishes from the contemporary menu include roasted monkfish, Herdwick lamb and Saddleback pork with Morteau sausage. There is a separate vegetarian menu you can choose from alongside the a la carte menu.

If you fancy a bit of lunch, Murano offers two courses for £40 and a three course lunch for £45. You could choose the confit duck leg croquette to start with, before selecting roasted pollock or Herdwick lamb for your main course. Once again vegetarian options are available. In keeping with the informal nature of the restaurant, customers can choose any number of dishes from the different menu sections, and in the order they prefer.

You can call for the dessert menu to round off your meal with a sweet treat or perhaps the cheese board, with desserts starting from £13. Murano is open Monday to Saturday, serving lunch from 12pm to 3pm and dinner from 6.30pm to 11pm.

The restaurant is located at 20 Queen Street, Mayfair.

6. Amaya (Indian - Knightsbridge - ££££)

Amaya roughly translates as 'without boundaries', and this philosophy is represented in the restaurant’s glitzy open lay-out and open kitchen.

This Michelin-star venue opened in 2004 in Knightsbridge and soon established itself as one of London’s top restaurants.

The theatrical open kitchen allows customers to watch their meal being cooked. Amaya specialises in grilled foods from India which are served for sharing, with no conventional starters and main courses. This is a menu designed for a casual and relaxed dining experience, where you can try an authentic and lesser known style of Indian cuisine.

The seasonal menus offer around 45 dishes from which to select your sharing meals. Six to eight of Amaya’s menu dishes equate to a two course meal. Each menu dish costs between £15 and £44, containing 4 bite-sized portions. Samples from the menu include venison tandoori seehk, soaked chilli lamb chops and a seafood platter.

There are vegetarian dishes too, such as chargrilled aubergine and spinach tikki with spiced fig, plus a selection of sophisticated salads. On average a selection of dishes equating to a three course meal costs around £85 per head including drinks and service charges. You can also opt for a set meal, including the quick lunch Amaya Platter, which serves six tasting portions and a dessert for £29 per head.

Amaya is located on the Halkin Arcade (Entrance via Lowndes St) Belgravia, London SW1X 8JT. Closest tube: Knightsbridge.

7. Evelyn’s Table (Fusion - Soho - £££)

This intimate dining experience is one of London’s secret culinary gems. The restaurant comprises of a 10 seated counter where visitors can watch the chefs prepare the meals they are about to sample.

There is a wonderful element of theatre to Evelyn’s Table, but this never detracts from the foremost point of the restaurant which remains the quality of the food.

Evelyn’s Table is run by three brothers, with head chef Luke having previously worked in prestigious restaurants including Raymond Blanc’s La Manoir Aux Quat Saisons in Oxfordshire. Understandably, due to the size of the restaurant, reservations are quickly snapped up when released on the first day of every month. Therefore, you have to be quick off the mark in order to enjoy dining at Evelyn’s Table.

The menu evolves every month and is only revealed on the evening, a huge part of the fun and appeal. The food uses the best in British seasonal produce, fused with Japanese and French culinary influences. There is the Mulwray wine bar on the first floor of the building and the Blue Posts pub on the ground floor if you want pre or post meal drinks.

Evelyn’s Table is located on Rupert Street in Chinatown and can be accessed via stairs leading down to the basement. The five course meal cost £75 per head, with an optional wine pairing service for £60 per head. The restaurant opens from Tuesday to Saturday, with two daily sittings at 6pm and 8.45pm.

8. Le Vacherin (French - Fulham - ££)

This traditional bistro in Chiswick serves authentic French cuisine, using the freshest produce sourced throughout the year.

The elegant interior with its polished wood flooring provides a warm and inviting environment in which to enjoy traditional Parisian gastronomy.

The Prix Fixe menu offers a two course lunch for £24.50 and a two course dinner for £29. Dishes on the menu include aged Hereford beef sirloin, seared Orkney scallops and butternut squash ravioli. There is a separate Sunday Prix Fixe menu which offers a choice of Sunday roast meats, plus an a la carte menu. A vegetarian menu is also available, although this needs to be ordered 24 hours in advance.

Look out for the promotions Le Vacherin offers through the course of the week, including the Monday Chateau club where you can enjoy their Chateaubriand a la carte at half price. To participate in this promotion there needs to be at least two diners, enjoying this dining treat for £30 per couple. On Wednesday night, tables where all the diners order three courses from the Prix Fixe menu may bring their own wine to the restaurant, with corkage free.

Le Vacherin can be found on South Parade in Chiswick and opens daily. Lunch is served between 12pm and 2.30pm Monday to Saturday, with dinner between 6pm and 10.30pm. On Sunday the restaurant is open from 12pm through to 9pm.

9. VeganE (Vegan - Fulham - £)

Vegan and vegetarian food is finally receiving the attention it deserves.

VeganE in Fulham is a prime example of the exciting and quality Vegan food you can find in London. The VeganE menu contains 100% plant-free food which is all home-made and 100% fresh.

The extensive menu includes starters such as home-made hummus served with fresh naan bread, as well as a BBQ jackfruit wrap. Vegan stews and curries start from £10, while the mains include vegan steak and chips for £10 and a home-made lasagne for £12. VeganE also offers a choice of salads, pizzas and burgers, with their Chickenish burger priced at £11.

There is a separate kids menu so the little ones do not miss out, as well as a desserts and ice cream menu. Desserts start from £4, while a tempting ice-cream with jelly costs £5.50. VeganE has a good range of hot and cold drinks, including a selection of vegan wines, beers and cocktails.

VeganE is open daily from noon through to 11pm. The restaurant is located at 102 Lillie Road in Fulham, where reservations can be made to avoid disappointment. VeganE is a homely restaurant which is keen to showcase all that is good about modern Vegan food.

10. Foxden (British Burgers - Fulham - £)

London caters for all cuisines and tastes, including the great British burger. When you are in the mood for a proper, quality burger then Foxden restaurant in the heart of Fulham is the place to head.

Foxden champion all that is good in quality British produce, with a focus on the provenance and sustainability of the ingredients used in their menus.

A classic burger costs from £9 and the cheese burger is priced from £9.50. The Foxden burger is a popular choice, costing £15.50 and made with beef patty, slow braised pulled beef, truffle cheese sauce, rocket and red onion jam. Amid the extensive burger menu are vegan and vegetarian burger options, with both based around a home made bean burger and costing from £12.50.

Feel free to add extras to your burger of choice, such as treacled cured bacon, blue cheese, caramelised onions and confit tomatoes. The cost of extras ranges from 50p for home made pickles through to £4 for extra chicken. There is also a good choice of sides and sauces to accompany your burger.

A rich tasting burger is hard to beat. Foxden recognised a gap in the market and brought their homely restaurant and takeaway to Jerdan Place in Fulham. Foxden open every day of the week from 12pm with the restaurant closing at 9pm, except on Sundays when they shut an hour earlier at 8pm.