Recently I asked my Twitter followers which is their favourite restaurant in London. I asked them to consider quality of food, service and atmosphere. Unimportant were price, area of London and type of cuisine. What came from this was a list so diverse and interesting it seemed a waste to let it drift off into the wasteland of old tweets, so I pulled out the names, added a few of my own, and put them in this lovely table of delicious delights to share with you.
I’ve put in bold the ones I have been to and personally recommend. One of the things I love most about London is the vast diversity of food, so I rarely go to the same restaurant twice despite eating out frequently. This means I’ve forgotten more than I remember. If it’s in bold on this list it’s special.
May this list inspire many delicious kinky dinner dates! Of course if you’re curious to try anything on this list but lacking someone to share it with, I am always happy to provide relaxed and charming company, excellent conversation and plenty of opinions. Just drop me an email to book something in.
Restaurant | Cuisine | Area | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
Eritrean | SW9 | A modern glass front gives way to carved wood and stone inside this traditional Eritrean restaurant. | |
Exotic dishes, eclectic | W1T | The exotic tease of an undiscovered fragrance and the sensuous indulgence of tantalising global cuisine awaits you. | |
Tapas | Multiple | Barrafina is a collection of authentic Spanish Tapas bars in Central London. | |
Belgian | Multiple | Simple Belgian cooking and good Belgian beers. Quirky 1990s designed restaurants create a delicious and authentic Belgian experience. | |
Modern British | W1T | Under the direction of celebrated Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton, Berners Tavern is a gastronomic gem in a truly breathtaking setting. | |
Steak | Multiple | Blacklock is an award-winning steak and chophouse serving the best grass-fed, dry-aged meat in the country for unbeatable value for money. | |
Italian | W1D | Bocca di Lupo specialises in the obscure and the delicious highlights of food and wine from all across Italy’s twenty regions. | |
Indian | SW7 | Luxurious Indian restaurant with skylit conservatory, serving authentic regional gourmet cuisine. | |
French | W1F | Brasserie Zédel is a grand Parisian brasserie with an authentic Art Deco interior. | |
Burgers and lobsters… | Multiple | Burger & Lobster craft prime burgers and serve wild, fresh Atlantic lobsters. | |
Indian | SW1A | Contemporary regional gourmet Indian cuisine in a stylish space with a bar and sepia etching decor. | |
Modern British | EC2N | Jason Atherton’s modern British fare served in art deco-style surroundings with 24th floor views. | |
French café | SW1W | Colbert’s classic Parisian all-day café menu takes in breakfast to morning coffee through to lunch, mid-afternoon snacks, early evening drinks and dinner. | |
French | EC1M | Comptoir Gascon’s menu is inspired by the classic dishes of Gascony – duck confit, rillettes and cassoulet. To enhance seasonal produce, Comptoir Gascon’s offers these home-style dishes alongside their daily changing plat-du-jour and weekly specials. | |
British | W11 | Core is an elegant and informal fine dining restaurant with an emphasis on natural, sustainable food, sourced from the UK’s most dedicated farmers and food producers. | |
Caribbean | Multiple | Colourful laid-back environment offering a taste of island life with Caribbean dishes and drinks. | |
Classic Central European | WC2B | All-day brasserie in elegant grand café surrounds, serving modern and classic European menu. | |
Indian | Multiple | Dishoom pays homage to the Irani cafés and the food of all Bombay. | |
Tapas | W1H | Donostia serves Basque-inspired tapas and pintxo dishes prepared by a highly professional team of chefs, using ingredients driven by seasonality and quality. | |
Spanish | E8 | El Ganso (The Goose) Is the new Spanish Restaurant brought to you by experienced restaurateur Ihsan Tuncay & renowned Spanish chef Marcelo Sánchez Cabrera. | |
Japanese, Kobe beef | W1D | One of London’s most authentic and traditional Japanese restaurants, specialising in Kobe beef alongside fresh sushi and sashimi. | |
Steak | Multiple | Small local chain serving a simple steak menu in airy, industrial-chic environs plus wine & beer. | |
French haute cuisine | W1K | Modern French haute cuisine and hand-picked wines with 28th-floor views over Hyde Park. | |
French | W1D | Intimate dining on 3 floors of Regency townhouse, starring Alexis Gauthier’s modern French cuisine. | |
Australian | Multiple | Eclectic fare with an Australian flair served in a simple setting with a sophisticated vibe. | |
Cantonese | W1 | Dim sum, modern Cantonese delicacies and signature cocktails on 2 floors with designer decoration. | |
Greek | W2 | Greek specialities served in cosy, family-run taverna decorated with handmade traditional fabrics. | |
Japanese | Multiple | Shared tables and an uncluttered vibe are the hallmarks of this Japanese hot- and cold-food chain. | |
Seafood | WC2N | Fresh seafood expertly prepared, cute little nooks to sit in | |
French | Multiple | A restaurant that specialises in the contre-filet cut of sirloin and serves it in the typical French bistro style of steak-frites. | |
Contemporary cuisine, French/South Pacific | W1T | Mere is an elegant and contemporary restaurant, offering a relaxed yet refined dining experience. | |
Vegetarian/Vegan | Multiple | International-themed vegetarian restaurant which favours organic, seasonal produce and wine. | |
North African, Spanish | EC1R | North African and Spanish dishes and all-day tapas in smart space with low lights and wooden floors. | |
Mandarin | SW1 | Chic, arch-ceilinged dining room serving classic and creative Mandarin dishes. | |
British | E9 | British seasonal produce, single meat used | |
Lebanese | Multiple | Modern Middle Eastern café and shop with mezze and char-grills, known for its vegetarian food. | |
Greek | W1U | Warmly decorated bar/diner over 2 floors, serving Greek-inspired dishes until late. | |
Jerusalem | W1D | Delicious food inspired by Southern Spain, North Africa and the Lavant. Can get overcrowded and noisy but is worth it. | |
Modern British | W1S | A modern urban meeting point. A place to eat, drink and socialise, for special occasions, and informal everyday affairs. | |
Vegan | Multiple | The self-proclaimed world’s healthiest bar restaurant, serving up vegan, sugar-free and wheat free food with an alcohol-free bar. | |
Mexican | SE1 | The most delicious authentic Mexican food I’ve found in London. A bit noisy. | |
British fusion | W1F | Michelin star dining in a relaxed pub environment | |
Turkish | N16 | Kebabs and other Turkish classics served in a snug, convivial dining space with exotic decor. | |
Italian | N1 | Trullo offers a simple, seasonally focused, Italian inspired menu that changes daily. | |
Vegetarian/vegan | EC4A | Vanilla Black serves gourmet vegetarian and vegan dishes in its modern restaurant based in Chancery Lane. |
Speaking as a foodie with a Malaysian variety-hungry husband, this is a great idea and a great list to work through! Thanks for sharing! Already been to a few, and I am going to try Hakkasan next month, for my husbands birthday. :op
I hope it’s delicious! Let me know how you get on