Guide to the best British restaurants in London

For over two centuries, Rules has been a respected fixture on the city’s dining scene, offering classic game delicacies such as rabbit and guinea fowl from the proprietors’ countryside estate. There are other traditional British dishes such as steak and kidney pie or Dorset crab salad available as well, and an array of familiar puddings to round off your meal in this opulent restaurant with a distinguished clientele that includes celebrities.

A restaurant and wine bar/shop that puts a particular emphasis on takeaway lunches, 40 Maltby Street writes its oft-changing menus on chalk boards. The dishes showcase British produce and include lunchtime sandwiches such as roast aubergine and goat’s curd or cured pork belly and onion fritter, and sturdier fare such roast veal with fried new potatoes or braised beef shin for dinner. There are, of course, countless bottles of wine to accompany your meal as well.

Encompassing a stately bar area with wood panelling and old-timey lighting, a sunny terrace and a muted upstairs dining room with splashes of vibrant colour, Bethnal Green’s Marksman serves a changing menu with options such as grilled megrim, chicken & wild garlic pie and sheep’s milk dumplings, as well as cult favourites such as the brown butter & honey tart. The buzzy spot also features a sizeable wine list and various craft beers.

Doing for British cooking what its Michelin-starred sibling Galvin La Chapelle does for French cuisine, Galvin Bar & Grill is an opulent dining room where you can try contemporary grill specialties such as steaks, short ribs, mixed meats, grilled fish and more. The chefs prepare the dishes from fresh, sustainably sourced produce, and you can finish your meal with one of the traditional puddings.

Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton is in command at Berners Tavern, a sophisticated restaurant hung wall-to-wall with fine art beneath an ornate ceiling and chandelier. The restaurant is located within the landmark building of the London EDITION five-star hotel and serves contemporary British cuisine throughout the day, with an extensive international wine list to go along with the food.

Boasting a lovely view over Borough Market, this contemporary British restaurant serves food all day, from breakfast through afternoon tea to dinner, all using fresh, seasonal ingredients. You can choose from a two- or three-course set menu, or go for filling options such as roast rump of spring lamb or slow-braised short rib from the à la carte menu. You can also complement your meal with English sparkling wines.

The Michelin-starred restaurant at the famed luxury hotel boasts a sumptuous baroque dining room with chandeliers, marble columns, rich fabrics and Midas-like levels of gilding. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, using quality British produce in seasonal menus that take a gourmet approach to traditional British and French dishes. Some of the specialties, for example Beef Wellington or Crepe Suzette, are prepared at your table, and there’s live music on throughout the week.

The signature restaurant from award-winning chef James Cochran, 12:51 serves a changing array of five-course tasting menus, in both standard and vegetarian version – the latter Sunday roast option is especially renowned. The vibrant British cuisine on offer, for example smoked eel rarebit or Jersey Royal risotto, is made from fresh, seasonal ingredients and can be paired with drinks as well.

Discreetly tucked away in a converted bike shed, Shoreditch’s Rochelle Canteen is a cosy sanctuary for diners looking to indulge in seasonal British- and European-inspired dishes. The menu changes on a daily basis and the team behind the restaurant takes great pride in the quality produce they source. There’s an outside area with a canopy for al fresco lunches and dinners regardless of the weather conditions.

Based in the Great Northern Hotel, Rails was previously known as Plum + Spilt Milk. Giving a nod to the nearby Eurostar, this homey spot serves modern British cooking with a clear French influence. You can expect attentive service, a curated menu, and plenty of cocktails, French wine, and liqueurs.

A lasting hit on the London dining scene, the Michelin-starred St. John in Smithfield is credited with reviving the interest in offal dishes, among other things. Thanks to a daily changing menu, you can expect something different every time you stop by, but always rooted in British culinary heritage, for example Welsh rarebit, meatballs and mash or bread pudding.

Acclaimed chef Clare Smyth, recipient of the 2018 World’s Best Female Chef Award by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, boasts no fewer than three Michelin stars at her Notting Hill eatery. Showcasing the best of sustainable British produce in beautifully crafted dishes such as Herdwick lamb or Cornish turbot, the light, elegantly decorated restaurant serves artisanal dishes for lunch and dinner. Up to ten guests can also book the Chef's Table experience.

Under the direction of Michelin-starred chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen, the dining room at the five-star Stafford hotel showcases the finest seasonal produce in a stylish, comfortable setting. Dishes such as the restaurant’s famous Chicken Kyiv, steak and ale steamed suet pudding or baked Scottish salmon are the stars of the show, with particular highlights being the concise game offering and the smoked fish trolley.

The Ivy Collection spans a range of elegant, vibrantly decorated restaurants at various locations around town, many of them with outdoor seating. They offer all-day dining, from breakfast with fry-ups and egg dishes to heftier evening fare such as veal sirloin and steak pie, complementing British staples with a variety of international influences.

Established in 1869, today The Quality Chop House is a contemporary British restaurant in Grade II listed building with a rich heritage, focusing on quality produce on its daily changing menu. You can choose from an à la carte menu or a weekly set lunch, with a two- or three-course Sunday lunch on offer as well. The steaks and chops such as the Aberdeen Angus T-bone or the Hereford sirloin are particular highlights, and don’t forget the infamous confit potatoes on the side.

Aiming to be one of the best steakhouses in the UK, the Hawksmoor restaurants seem to have been doing a fine job so far, at least judging by the number of their locations around London. Known primarily for serving meat in all shapes and sizes, from T-bone steaks to ribs and burgers, some of the group’s venues have expanded their offering to sustainable, locally sourced seafood.

Michelin-starred Trinity’s sibling Bistro Union is a relaxed neighbourhood bistro with a retro interior, serving traditional British fare with contemporary inspiration for lunch and dinner. The menu changes daily and might include delicacies such as Cornish cod with clams, broccoli and vermouth, watercress soup or stout-braised ox cheek, celeriac and suet dumplings, accompanied by a curated selection of wines and cocktails.

The widely renowned Lyle’s has earned a Michelin star for its trendy minimalist style, attentive staff and menus that change on a daily basis. The contemporary British cuisine on offer uses ingredients sourced from around the country and is accompanied by a sophisticated wine list. Vegetarians and pescetarians will find plenty to their liking here as well.

A timeless and elegant seafood restaurant with 280+ years of heritage makes you feel like you're experiencing a slice of British history, along with a slice of very good food. The à la carte and seasonal menus feature seafood specialties such as grilled Cornish plaice and half a dozen fresh rock oysters. At lunchtime, the carving trolley comes round with hunks of roast lamb, pork and more, and there’s an extensive wine list to go with your meal as well.

Decked out in full tartan, the Boisdale restaurants are Scottish through and through, from the decor to the haggis-featuring menu. If haggis is a bit too much for you, there’s also plenty of seafood, meat and other dishes using ingredients sourced in the Isles to choose from. Equipped with an outdoor terrace, whisky bar and live music every night, the Boisdales are a cosy spot for a cigar, food and drinks.

Bringing together three distinct spaces, the Michelin-starred venue can fulfil a range of needs, from wine pairing in the modern dining room upstairs to sophisticated all-day dining on the ground floor. Upstairs, decadent choices such as caviar or roast scallops await, while downstairs, options include unique breakfast dishes such as truffled eggs on toast or à la carte offerings such as grilled octobus and Cornish cod.

Just a few minutes away from Buckingham Palace, the Great British Restaurant provides posh British dining in elegant classical splendour. The all-day dining menu features traditional British favourites such as Scotch egg or rib-eye steak. Different set menus can also be ordered, with wine pairing available as well. Private or semi-private dining can also be booked.

The Rosewood Hotel’s dining room is furnished with copper, wood and leather, giving off an elegant and welcoming vibe for enjoying breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a G&T from the dedicated bar. The menu features an unexpected highlight in the form of the humble British pies, as well as other British staples, for example Cornish sirloin.

A leader on the London dining scene, The Clove Club boasts no fewer than two Michelin stars. The bright and elegant Shoreditch venue offers contemporary British cuisine in indulgent lunch and dinner tasting menus, with a vegetarian selection available as well. If you just want to grab a quick bite for lunch, they’ve got you covered with a lower-priced set lunch menu as well.

Kitty Fisher’s is cheekily named after an 18th century lady of the night who used to live nearby, and there are cheeky hints of Spain to be found among the classic British fare on offer as well – the salsa verde accompanying the pork chop is one of them. The atmospheric restaurant in Mayfair shows little restraint on the cocktail front as well, playfully inviting its guests to have a dalliance or indulge in a bit of Hanky Panky.

Formerly home to Karl Marx and courtesans, this historic restaurant and private members’ club shows no signs of past seediness behind its stained-glass windows. The sophisticated dining venue serves lunch and dinner in stylish, bright surroundings, providing an oasis of calm amidst the hustle and bustle of Soho. The seasonal menu uses quality British produce to craft traditional fare such as smoked eel sandwiches, pies and roast lamb.

The Corinthia hotel’s high-ceilinged dining room is helmed by renowned chef André Garrett, who crafts European-inspired dishes using fresh seasonal ingredients. A typical set menu served for lunch and dinner might include mains such as roasted monkfish tail with summer cabbage, chorizo, buttermilk & horseradish, or chateaubriand of beef with Yorkshire pudding, horseradish, roasted potatoes & seasonal vegetables.

Another of The Corinthia's dining establishments, Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge’s first London venue greets you with specially commissioned artwork in a contemporary space. You can choose from a number of menus that showcase elevated British cooking, with dishes such as pig’s cheek pie, pork and mushroom pâté, and the classic favourite, fish ‘n’ chips. The bar serves an extensive range of beers, spirits and cocktails, including a dedicated G&T menu.

Cooking quality local produce over flames, The Coal Shed showcases unique and inspiring seasonal dishes with a focus on meat and fish, with the award-winning Sunday roast featuring aged sirloin a particular highlight. The grilled specialties on the main menu include rib-eye and porterhouse steaks, as well as grilled chicken, sea bass or short ribs. There’s a wide range of original cocktails available from the bar, as well as a varied international wine list.

Before opening Café Deco with the 40 Maltby Street team, chef Anna Tobias worked at Rochelle Canteen and P.Franco, among others, building up serious culinary cred in the process. At her restaurant, bar and wine shop near the British Museum, she serves her trademark fuss-free British fare, for example roast monkfish, braised rabbit or marinated aubergines, complemented with fresh veggies and fine wine.

A stylish British bistro in a Victorian butcher’s shop, Hereford Road Restaurant honours its locations heritage by not shying away from offal. The daily-changing menu is therefore likely to feature delicacies such as lamb’s sweetbreads or calf’s liver, as well as more commonplace cuts such as roast pork belly or braised duck leg.

Innovative chef Heston Blumenthal applies his trademark experimentalism and creativity to historical British cookbooks from the 13th century at this Knightsbridge establishment with two Michelin stars. The resulting dishes include a 14th century take on sweetbreads and smoked eel, or an 18th century smoked confit chicken, for example. You can also book the chef’s table experience or the private dining room.

If you’re looking for fresh British seafood, look no further than the window display of Sweetings, where fresh fish wait on ice to be turned into lunch. This enduring City institution serves a traditional bill of fare rather than a menu, offering dishes such as lobster bisque, luxurious caviar and fried, grilled or poached fish.

Lupins is a popular restaurant next to London Bridge that uses quality British ingredients to prepare seasonal delicacies, adding creative global inspiration and serving them as sharing plates. The lunch and dinner menus might include dishes such as Montgomery cheddar fritters, pork & fennel ragu, calf’s liver or grilled onglet.

The popular Blacklock restaurants around town harken back to the traditional chophouses that became a thing in the 17th century, putting quality, grass-fed meat on the menu at cost-friendly prices. You can choose from an abundance of meaty dishes such as dry-aged steaks, burgers, ribs or pork belly buns wrapped in crispy crackling. Their nostalgic Sunday roast are also considered among the best in London.

Origin is a contemporary restaurant in The City that champions a low-waste nose-to-tail approach to dining. The family farm provides seasonal produce and heritage breeds for the daily changing menu, with all of the meat butchered in-house. Fresh seafood is also a regular part of the menu, and as the restaurant is by the same team as the 56 West Smithfield wine bar, the wine list is concise yet comprehensive and on point.

Situated above The Audley Public House, Mount St. Restaurant & Rooms similarly integrates art and design into its interior, featuring bespoke works by acclaimed artists, furnishings inspired by famous pieces of art, and works by Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol and other masters hanging on the walls. The kitchen serves elevated British cuisine made with carefully sourced produce, and you can also enjoy the sophisticated dining experience in one of the several beautiful private rooms.

The esteemed seafood establishment J Sheekey has been serving marine delicacies for over a hundred years, becoming an integral component of a West End night out. Within the chic wood-clad setting behind its signature red exterior, diners are presented with an array of choices, from oysters and caviar to sumptuous platters filled with an eclectic mix of sea treasures. Their fish pie is a timeless classic, and don't forget to peruse the dessert menu if you're after a traditional British treat.

45 Jermyn Street is a luxury restaurant in the city's heart, identifiable by its vibrant canopy and bold interior colour scheme. The establishment offers all-day dining options, ranging from traditional breakfast dishes like kedgeree and kippers to modern British lunch and dinner options with global twists, including caviar and tandoori roasted vegetables. A comprehensive wine list joins a playful cocktail menu, making 45 Jermyn Street an in-demand dining spot for any time of the day.

Dean Street Townhouse, situated in the heart of London, boasts a sophisticated ambiance, exuding classic British charm. The space is enhanced by an art collection from renowned artists. The restaurant serves quintessential British dishes throughout the day, from breakfast favourites like a full English to traditional dishes such as steak and fish and chips, and even afternoon teas. Accommodation is available as well.

The Portrait Restaurant at the recently refurbished National Portrait Gallery is a cherished culinary spot in London. The restaurant offers stunning vistas of the London skyline and is adorned with artwork from the gallery. It features a blend of seasonal British fare and signature dishes like the Crispy Oyster Croque Monsieur, all of which can be paired with an exquisite wine selection and timeless cocktails.

Grumbles in Pimlico goes back to the 1960s, with an original wooden interior that has been preserved since the early days, when the likes of The Beatles and Christine Keeler could be spotted here. There's hearty, comforting British fare on the menu, including fish and chips or burgers, along with some French influences. It's no wonder this local favourite has persevered through the decades – it's cosy, familiar, and welcoming.

Occupying a cosily elegant space in the landmark Bromley Old Town Hall building and featuring a high-ceilinged dining area that's flooded with natural light, Dorothy and Marshall emphasises local ingredients such as London honey and produce from Kent. The restaurant's seasonal menu revolves around elevating British classics, for example braised beef short rib cooked with Guinness and black treacle with bone marrow mash and red cabbage, or a Tate & Lyle golden treacle tart with raspberries and whipped almond cream for dessert.