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Best Restaurants In London: Complete Guide

TeamAckoFeb 14, 2024

Foodies around the world agree that London and New York City can't be rivalled when it comes to the best selection of restaurants and cuisines from around the world. Sure, you can get your fill of the humble yet iconic fish and chips when you're in Great Britain, but there's so much more to taste! London prides itself on being a truly multicultural and diverse city, even though everything is packed into this city as tight as a can of sardines - apparently it makes everything more accessible.

We can't possibly cram our top picks into this article, but we've tried our best. Whether you're vegan, a pescatarian, an omnivore, or a vegetarian, London offers you the best food at every price point. London is where you want to be if you literally and figuratively want to eat and leave no crumbs.

Contents

Explore the best restaurants in London

Fine Dining Restaurants In London

Aqua|Shard

Cuisine: Modern British

Rating: 4.1/5

Price: ₹6,431 for 2

Address: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 3011 1256

The Shard pierces London's skyline and boasts impeccable service at its hotel rooms, offices, and restaurants. Just one of many restaurants at The Shard, Aqua is a fine dining establishment that serves "contemporary British dishes''. Aqua prides itself on creating stunning food and beverages with fine ingredients that are in season. Experience a sweeping view of one of the oldest cities in the world with floor-to-ceiling glass windows at Aqua.

Akoko

Cuisine: West African

Rating: 4.8/5

Price: ₹12,449 for 2

Address: 21 Berners St, London W1T 3LP, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7323 0593

Akoko is a West African restaurant that features 10 course meals on their tasting menu. This fine dining restaurant captures the essence of West African cuisine in London, with a minimalist yet warm ambience that lends to the West African vibes. Tantalise your taste buds with dishes like the exotic Gambian oyster stew that is topped with cucumber dust! The chefs play with unique West African ingredients, creating a modern take on comfort food.

Nine

Cuisine: Pan-Asian

Rating: 4.7/5

Price: ₹4,149 for 2

Address: 228 Tunnel Avenue, London SE10 0PL, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 7453 326350

Be dressed to the nines when you dine and wine at Nine! This fine dining establishment overlooking the London skyline oozes elegant chic vibes with a monotone palette and a mirrored ceiling to up the ante. With a nod to their neighbour across the pond, Nine serves up a "Caulifornia" platter of sweet and spicy cauliflower, served with ingenuity and delicate plating, of course. Nine is a contemporary restaurant that dishes up cuisine from around the world.

Best Michelin Star Restaurants In London

Sabor

Cuisine: Spanish

Rating: 4.6/5

Price: Over ₹8,297 for 2

Address: 35-37 Heddon St, London W1B 4BR, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 3319 8130

This Michelin star Spanish restaurant is divided into three zones, each offering a unique set of Spanish dishes. The three zones at the Sabor are The Counter, El Asador, and The Bar. Sabor means flavorful in Spanish, and patrons of this fine dining restaurant swear by its authentic and oh so delicious flavours. Apparently, you shouldn't miss out on the must-try grilled razor clams seasoned to Spanish perfection!

Marcus Restaurant

Cuisine: Continental

Rating: 4.6/5

Price: ₹8,297 for 2

Address: The Berkeley, Wilton Pl, London SW1X 7RL, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7235 1200

Marcus offers you everything you'd expect out of a Michelin star restaurant - exquisitely plated dishes, impeccable service, and chic interiors. However, Marcus takes it a bit further and provides patrons with a private room that can be booked ahead for intimate gatherings such as birthdays. The "green salad" at Marcus is a curated dish featuring all edible things green that blend together beautifully. There's even a treacle-cured salmon at Marcus, keeping in mind their local roots in London!

The Best Affordable Restaurants In London

Chet's

Cuisine: Thai-American

Rating: 4.2/5

Price: ₹2,593 for 2

Address: 65 Shepherd's Bush Grn, London W12 8QE, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 3540 3150

Chet's is an interesting Thai-American fusion restaurant with tasty and affordable dishes. It's an American diner from the 1960s that whips up Thai cuisine, both authentic and with a modern twist. Try delicious spins on old classics, such as the Roti Waffle and a Key Lime Pie done Thai style called the Thai Tea Tart! What keeps diners returning are the generous portions, which are quite easy on the wallet too.

Rasa Sayang

Cuisine: Malaysian/Singaporean

Rating: 4.2/5

Price: ₹3,111 for 2

Address: 5 Macclesfield St, London W1D 6AY, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7734 1382

A little sweet, a little spicy, and overflowing with peanuts, Malaysian and Singaporean food is flavorful and aromatic. Apparently, no one does this cuisine better than Rasa Sayang. This restaurant serves delicious and hearty dishes such as smoky stir-fried noodles, juicy satay, and so much more. Grab a friend or two when you go, especially if you want big taste on a small budget.

Sông Quê Café

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Rating: 4.2/5

Price: ₹3,111 for 2

Address: 134 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8DY, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7613 3222

From hearty Pho that's cooked for hours on end to handy Banh Mi "sandwiches" and the famous green honeycomb cake, you'll find it here. Sông Quê Café is one of London's tastiest Vietnamese restaurants and is worth every penny! This family owned and operated restaurant has been running for years and is open every day of the week.

Unique Restaurants In London

Golden Dragon

Cuisine: Cantonese

Rating: 3.8/5

Price: ₹3,111 for 2

Address: 28-29 Gerrard St, London W1D 6JW, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7734 1073

Have you ever experienced Yum Cha? Yum cha is a "tea time" affair where you're usually served a variety of dim sum and tea for breakfast. At Golden Dragon in Chinatown, you'll witness a flurry of activity as servers whizz past with dim sum carts stacked high with bamboo baskets housing everything from prawn siu mai to noodle-y cheung fun and golden buns. Normally, guests go for yum cha as a group and share baskets of dim sum among themselves. It's a great way to socialise, eat good food, and recharge your social battery. Visit Golden Dragon, the British Chinese community's priceless gem!

Kebab Queen (5*)

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Rating: 5/5

Price: ₹10,890 for 2

Address: 4 Mercer Walk, London WC2H 9FA, United Kingdom

Phone: No phone number, but email them at [email protected]

An underground restaurant with no plates is ruling London's unique dining scene! The trendy Kebab Queen is making steady appearances on the pages of London's most hip and happening influencers on TikTok and Instagram. Diners are treated to an 8 course meal, where the chef personally attends to you and finishes serving your dish right in front of you! Savour fine dining the Mediterranean way at Kebab Queen, where you dine sans plates.

Nomad Bro Special

Cuisine: Turkish

Rating: 5/5

Price: ₹3,111 for 2

Address: 179 Priory Rd, Muswell Hill, London N8 8NB, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 4531 5919

Forget playing with your food, because at Nomad Bro Special, you can break a few things while you eat! This Turkish restaurant whips up mouthwatering claypot chicken cooked in a claypot. When it's served upon flames at your table, you're meant to break the claypot open to access the delicious chicken within. The portions are generous here, and guests say that you can enjoy it as a group on a budget at Nomad Bro Special.

Dishoom

Cuisine: Indian

Rating: 4.6/5

Price: ₹5,081 for 2

Address: 12 Upper St Martin's Ln, London WC2H 9FB, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7420 9320

A play on words and a way to pay homage to the iconic theatrics of Bollywood, Dishoom (Dish-oom, we assume) is an Indian restaurant that draws inspiration from the Irani cafes of Mumbai. If you ask London natives what their top 10 best restaurants in London are, Dishoom always seems to end up on those lists! Dishoom prides itself on being a truly Indian restaurant, and hosts events that are resplendent in Indian splendour and, of course, the aromas of Indian cooking! When you visit Dishoom, be sure to try their lip smacking Murgh Malai, cooked with chicken "steeped overnight" in flavorful spices. The restaurant's specialty is their Dishoom Chicken Tikka,made with vinegar and not yoghurt!

Restaurant With Plant-based Menus

Tofu Vegan

Cuisine: Cantonese

Rating: 4.7/5

Price: ₹3,111 for 2

Address: 105 Upper St, London N1 1QN, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7916 3304

Tofu Vegan is the coolest new plant-based restaurant in London. Both vegetarians and vegans can enjoy the wide variety of Chinese fare on offer… and meat lovers will enjoy it too! Almost all their dishes are prepared with tofu and/or mushrooms, and imitation meat. The restaurant's chefs are from Sichuan, and recreate authentic Chinese dishes in London.

Mildreds Soho

Cuisine: Continental

Rating: 4.5/5

Price: ₹5,081 for 2

Address: 45 Lexington St, Carnaby, London W1F 9AN, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7494 1634.

Reimagining vegan cuisine since 1988, Mildreds Soho has been consistently dishing up delightful food in central London. Although the restaurant focuses on continental fare, they're skilled vegan artisans. Try the melon heirloom tomato yam or sesame tempeh to satisfy your vegetarian cravings.

Afternoon Tea Restaurants in London

Indulge in those Enid Blyton-esque dreams with high tea in London! From dainty cakes to savoury sandwiches, they're all accompanied by English tea. Expect to pay around £50 to £80 per person, and book well in advance - British people love their tea time activities!

Palm Court

Cuisine: British

Rating: 4.5/5

Price: ₹8,086 for 2

Address: Piccadilly, London W1J 7BX, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7499 6321

Dress up when you go for tea at the Palm Court. Set against an opulent background, nibble on delicious snacks and sip on hot tea for a truly English tea time experience. You'll find strawberry inspired treats in the summer and pear-y good ones during winter.

The Grand Saloon at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Cuisine: British

Rating: 4.0/5

Price: ₹12,440 for 2

Address: Catherine St, London WC2B 5JF, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 3925 2998

You won't find the muffin man here, but you'll find something just as sweet! This theatre has been entertaining crowds since the 1600s, and continues to do so today. At the Grand Saloon, you can enjoy a sumptuous high tea with iconic English scones, cakes, and of course, airy cream!

The Grill Room

Cuisine: British

Rating: 4.2/5

Price: ₹14,511 for 2

Address: Café Royal, Hotel, 68 Regent St., London W1B 4RS, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7406 3333

This restaurant takes high tea even higher, with a sophisticated and elegant menu and ambience. At The Grill Room, high tea includes truffle gougère, truffle mousse, and parmesan choux pastries. Feast on indulgent morsels of smoked salmon sandwiches and wash everything down with tea of course.

Conclusion

Hungry yet? From scones and clotted cream to Vietnamese banh mi and the ubiquitous doner kebab, London is a smorgasbord of cuisines from around the world. Whether you can splurge, or are keeping a tight fist on your wallet, you'll find a restaurant to suit your palate and budget.

Forget about getting sick of, or on, food when you're in London with ACKO travel insurance! Travel insurance policy is so important, because it covers medical emergencies and illnesses in London when your own insurance doesn't. Eat up, bestie, travel insurance is here to save the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the frequently asked questions on Best Restaurants In London

Is it easy to find vegetarian food in London?

Yes, London has had a vibrant vegan and vegetarian food scene for decades. They've mastered the art of delicious and wholesome veg options, many of which are affordable.

What time do restaurants close in London?

While most restaurants close around 10 PM, many close by 11 PM. Restaurants close earlier on Sunday so plan ahead.

Which area in London has many restaurants?

London's Soho and Covent Garden neighbourhoods have a high number of restaurants.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet and is subject to changes. Please contact us on [email protected] for help with making any travel insurance purchase related decisions. All the mentioned prices are approximate numbers.