London opens new restaurants every week, and closes plenty too. This list sticks to places with years of form that are still trading in 2026, so you can book with confidence. It covers a spread of styles and budgets, from a grand Piccadilly breakfast to a pasta counter you can walk into.
The best restaurants in London
1. Rules, England
London’s oldest restaurant opened as an oyster bar in 1798 on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden. Expect red velvet, cartoons and paintings on every wall, and a menu built on British game, pies and puddings. In October 2026 the owner gave the building to the National Trust; the restaurant keeps trading as a tenant, so nothing changes at the table.
Best for: a classic British dinner before the theatre.
2. St. JOHN, England
The Smithfield restaurant that made nose-to-tail cooking famous still feels plain and confident: white walls, paper tablecloths and very little fuss. Order the roast bone marrow with parsley salad, then whatever the day’s menu does with offal or game. Finish with a madeleine baked to order. There are sister sites in Spitalfields (Bread and Wine) and Marylebone.
Best for: serious eaters who like their cooking direct.
3. The Wolseley, England
A grand café in a former car showroom on Piccadilly, serving from breakfast through afternoon tea to dinner. The room is the draw: high ceilings, black lacquer and a buzz that never quite drops. Breakfast is the easiest booking and arguably the best meal. A second branch, The Wolseley City, serves the Square Mile.
Best for: a long breakfast with a sense of occasion.
4. Dishoom, England
Dishoom recreates the old Irani cafés of Bombay, and its first site in Covent Garden is still among the hardest-working dining rooms in town. Go for the bacon naan roll at breakfast, or the black daal and chicken ruby later on. It now has several London cafés, including Shoreditch, King’s Cross and Carnaby, plus a new one in Borough that opened in October 2026.
Best for: groups and a filling, good-value meal.
Tip: Dishoom’s King’s Cross café sits in a converted railway goods shed and is usually calmer at breakfast than Covent Garden.
5. Padella, England
Padella started at Borough Market in 2016 with fresh, hand-rolled pasta at friendly prices, and the queues never really went away. The pici cacio e pepe is the order. There are now branches in Shoreditch and, since April 2026, on Kingly Street in Soho, which spread the crowds a little.
Best for: a quick, excellent lunch near Borough Market.
6. Barrafina, England
Counter-dining Spanish tapas, cooked in front of you. Sit at the bar and order the tortilla, the specials board and something from the plancha. Barrafina has five London sites, including Dean Street in Soho, Drury Lane in Covent Garden and Coal Drops Yard at King’s Cross.
Best for: a lively dinner for two.
7. Gymkhana, England
An Indian restaurant in Mayfair styled after colonial-era gentlemen’s clubs, with dark wood, brass and low lighting. It holds two Michelin stars, and the kebabs, game dishes and biryani explain why. Booking is online only and opens up to two months ahead, so plan early if you want a weekend table.
Best for: a special-occasion dinner.
8. Hawksmoor, England
Hawksmoor began in Spitalfields in 2006 and helped make British steak a destination meal again. Expect grass-fed beef cooked over charcoal, beef-dripping chips and strong cocktails. Choose from eight London sites, including Spitalfields, Seven Dials, Borough and Air Street.
Best for: steak lovers and a big Sunday roast.
9. The River Café, England
A Thames-side Italian restaurant in Hammersmith that has shaped how Britain cooks Italian food since the late 1980s. The menu changes daily around seasonal produce, and the wood oven turns out roast meats and fish. Lunch runs every day, dinner Monday to Saturday. Sunday lunch is booked by phone.
Best for: a long, sunny lunch by the river.
10. Brasserie Zédel, England
A huge Art Deco brasserie in a basement just off Piccadilly Circus, serving French classics like steak haché, choucroute and îles flottantes. It’s open daily, with live music in the dining room. It’s one of the best-value sit-down meals in the West End, and the cabaret room upstairs makes it a full evening.
Best for: a pre- or post-theatre meal in the West End.
How to choose
Match the meal to the moment. For one big dinner, book Gymkhana, Rules or The River Café well ahead. For breakfast, choose The Wolseley or Dishoom. For a quick lunch between sights, Padella or Barrafina will fit. If you’re building a day around the South Bank and Borough Market, see our list of the best things to do in London. For a drink after dinner, our guide to the best pubs in London has ten historic options.
Tip: Many London restaurants take a card to hold your booking and charge for late cancellations or no-shows. Read the terms when you book.
Heading north too? See our best restaurants in Manchester. Visiting in December? Pair dinner with our London Christmas market guide, and check this weekend for current events.
FAQ
What is the oldest restaurant in London?
Rules in Covent Garden, which opened in 1798. It still serves traditional British food, and its building now belongs to the National Trust.
Do I need to book restaurants in London at weekends?
For anywhere well known, yes. Book a week or more ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner, and longer for Michelin-starred places such as Gymkhana. Breakfast and early lunch are easier.
Where should I eat near Borough Market?
Padella is the classic choice for pasta. Hawksmoor and Barrafina also have branches nearby, and the market’s own stalls are good for grazing.
Where can I get a good breakfast in central London?
The Wolseley on Piccadilly and Dishoom’s Covent Garden or King’s Cross cafés are two of the most reliable options.
