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Discover Trending Restaurants in London

by The OpenTable Team

Updated 09 November 2023

London is simultaneously ancient and ultra-modern, trendy and traditional—and the best restaurants in the city encapsulate this dichotomy. You might dine on a culinary creation that feels entirely "now" while sitting in a centuries-old building. Young, up-and-coming chefs source their produce from long-established heritage farms across the British Isles, and restaurants that have been around for decades revamp their dishes and dining spaces to keep up with the latest trends. But where are the smartest, savviest diners eating out? Welcome to our Tastemaker List. We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top trendy spots among OpenTable's most expert, seasoned diners. The best spots in the city bring a whole world of flavors into the dining experience while honoring their London home.

A photo of Blacklock Soho restaurant

4.7

4.7 (5176)

£25 and under

Steak

Soho

About the restaurant

The minimalist, meat-centric menu and bargain craft cocktails at Soho's Blacklock have proved so popular that it launched two more restaurants, one in the City and another in Shoreditch. For its venue, the restaurant transformed the basement of a once-seedy building near Picaddilly Circus (they don't mind telling you it used to be a brothel) into a trendy, industrial-chic space with communal tables and exposed brick. The menu is a showcase for the finest British meat cut from carefully sourced heritage breeds. Lamb, beef, and pork chops come in skinny, big, and off-the-bone cuts a la carte. Side options are substantial and flavorful, among them beef dripping chips, a 10-hour ash-roasted sweet potato, and barbecued baby gem lettuces with anchovy dripping. On Sundays, Blacklock offers an old-fashioned British roast.

Top review

OT

OpenTable Diner

Dined 2 days ago

What a fantastic place and it embodies Soho. The food was absolutely delicious, the sauces and steak were fantastic. What I really enjoyed was the personalities of the staff, sometimes at other places it can feel faceless but our servers were amazing. The cheesecake was exceptional too, would recommend that! The waitress we had was very funny and we’d love to come back. Cocktails were nice and it was our favourite meal of the few days we’ve had away. Thanks for a great time!

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A photo of Cheese & Pickle of a restaurant

Cheese & Pickle

A photo of Skinny Chops of a restaurant

A photo of Lamb Rump of a restaurant

A photo of Angler - London restaurant

Angler - London

4.6

4.6 (1065)

£41 and over

Seafood

Liverpool Street

About the restaurant

A seasonal delight at Angler, on top of the South Place Hotel, is the rooftop terrace with views across the city. A retractable roof extends the availability of coveted terrace seating, but every seat in the house promises a delightful dining experience, especially for those who love fish and seafood. Chef Gary Foulkes earned Angler a Michelin star with his ever-changing menu of meticulously prepared, impeccably sourced British seafood with French, Asian, and Scandinavian influences. A signature dish is the yellowfin tuna tartare with avocado, shiso, and wasabi. Regulars also rave about the banana, salted caramel, and Guanaja chocolate tart, a highlight of the dessert menu.

Top review

OT

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 29 Nov 2023

I had booked the Angler for myself and my wife for our anniversary. We both had the tasting menu, and the chef modified the relevant dishes to suit my pescetarian diet. I was actually treated to the head chefs specialty cod dish which was absolutely amazing. Super helpful and friendly staff, amazing setting, and incredible food. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a special culinary experience in London.

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A photo of COYA Mayfair restaurant

4.5

4.5 (1715)

£41 and over

Peruvian

Mayfair

About the restaurant

The journey toward making COYA Mayfair one of the best trendy restaurants in London was a genuine around-the-world quest for chef Sanjay Dwivedi. Before devising his acclaimed Incan-Peruvian fine dining experience, Dwivedi spent a year tasting the flavors of Latin America and delving into the incredible culinary heritage of the Andes and Amazon. The result is a menu offering authentic delights like uncommonly fresh ceviches, Japanese-Peruvian fusion sashimi and antichuchos, marinated skewers of tender meat, and seafood cooked over charcoal. And, of course, COYA Mayfair does a mean Pisco sour.

Top review

KB

KingB

Dined on 2 Nov 2023

Fun, energetic restaurant. Youngish crowd all on date night. DJ keeps the music on through the evening. Food was decent, wagyu bao and ceviche tasty. We were 20 mins late but they were fairly accommodating on a busy night just meant we had to rush to finish our meal as they had another booking, but that's fair enough. Overall would recommend for a lively dinner :)

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Lunch Hour Menu

Lunch Hour Menu

Lunch Hour Menu

A photo of The Ledbury restaurant

4.9

4.9 (2558)

£41 and over

British

Notting Hill

About the restaurant

Just months after The Ledbury opened in Notting Hill in 2005, Michelin Guide awarded it an incredible two stars, immediately landing the restaurant a solid spot among the best trendy restaurants in London. Australian chef Brett Graham is at the helm of the 55-seat space, presenting his signature contemporary European cuisine centered around British game, seafood, and produce. Graham's signature dish, flame-grilled mackerel with smoked ell, shiso, and Celtic mustard, is a certain highlight of the menu.

Top review

OT

OpenTable Diner

Dined 5 days ago

Superb dining experience. Best degustation restaurant we have been to in a long time. Beautiful atmosphere in the restaurant too. Expensive, but great experience for a special occasion.

A photo of Scott's Mayfair restaurant

Scott's Mayfair

4.7

4.7 (1675)

£41 and over

Seafood

Mayfair

About the restaurant

As one of the oldest restaurants in London—it started out as an oyster bar in 1851—Scott's Restaurant has certainly proved its ability to evolve with the ever-changing trends of contemporary cuisine while focusing on classic British seafood. The restaurant has had plenty of time to perfect its traditional offerings, among them potted shrimps, dressed crab, and goujons of Cornish sole. Japanese, French, and Nordic traditions come into play as well, particularly with the raw bar selections. Some interesting vegetarian options and hearty meat dishes round out the a la carte lunch and dinner menus.

Top review

H

Hamish97

Dined 6 days ago

As always our visit to Scott's Mayfair was outstanding

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A photo of Dover Sole of a restaurant

A photo of Mixed Oysters of a restaurant

A photo of Seared Sea Bass of a restaurant

Seared Sea Bass

A photo of St. JOHN Smithfield restaurant

St. JOHN Smithfield

4.8

4.8 (3745)

£41 and over

British

Farringdon

About the restaurant

The signature of St. John, which opened in Smithfield in 1994, is chef Fergus Henderson's pioneering whole-animal approach to classic British cuisine. Diners enthusiastic about offal, game, and uncommon cuts of meat find a lot to love on St. John's menus that change daily, especially when it features Henderson's famous roasted bone marrow on house-made sourdough bread. The lunch and supper menus also feature some top-notch vegetarian, seafood, and more-approachable cuts of meat, along with sides exemplifying the best of British comfort food, like cauliflower cheese and Welsh rarebit. Traditional puddings are an essential finale.

Top review

E

Expat

Dined 3 days ago

The food quality has remained exceptional over the years, and the prices are reasonable considering the quality. The wine list is also very good, and keeps changing, adding good value bottles under the St John label. Service is excellent and servers are knowledgeable about the menu. The menu continues to provide choices involving non-standard meats (recently ox heart and mallard) and fish (recently gray mullet and skate), so interest in such foods are helpful in negotiating the menu. One of our favorites in London.

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A photo of Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad of a restaurant

Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad

A photo of Pheasant and Trotter Pie of a restaurant

Pheasant and Trotter Pie

A photo of Green Salad of a restaurant

A photo of Galvin at Windows restaurant

Galvin at Windows

4.5

4.5 (6788)

£41 and over

British

Mayfair

About the restaurant

The name of Galvin at Windows is a nod to its famously incredible views from the top floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane, a panorama encompassing the ancient rooftops of the city and green expanse of Hyde Park. Chef Joo Won has his work cut out for him in diverting diners' attention from the views, but his creative offerings combining contemporary French cuisine with the influences of his own Korean heritage do so admirably. Michelin Guide agrees and has awarded Galvin at Windows one star.

Top review

PP

ParagP

Dined on 19 Nov 2023

Great view, great food, great service! Will be revisiting again for sure.

A photo of Portland Restaurant restaurant

Portland Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1991)

£41 and over

British

Marylebone

About the restaurant

An immediate critical darling upon its debut in 2015, most notably as the recipient of a Michelin star, Portland Restaurant has gained rave reviews and earned itself a loyal following among London locals. The open kitchen turns out beautifully presented contemporary British fare amplified by Mediterranean-inspired flavors but emphasizing local ingredients of the highest provenance. Tasting menus for lunch and dinner showcase exemplary dishes, while the a la carte dinner menu includes shared plates for a more casual approach. A Portland Restaurant signature is wild game pies.

Top review

OT

OpenTable Diner

Dined 2 days ago

Very friendly and kind stuff!! The food was very good and our favourite dishes was the striploin and the cod!!our less favourite was the burn leek but it was also decent!

A photo of Kai restaurant

4.6

4.6 (1724)

£41 and over

Chinese

Mayfair

About the restaurant

"Liberated Chinese cooking" is the founding ethos of Kai, a Mayfair institution (since 1993) that boasts a Michelin star and a solid claim to being one of the best trendy restaurants in London. The menu is lengthy, pricey, and thorough, a journey through the culinary heritage of Chinese South Seas-regional cuisine as interpreted by Malaysian-born chef Alex Chow. The signature dish is wasabi prawns, and the hot and sour soup is another best seller. Kai's creative desserts are such a highlight that they're presented at the beginning of the menu rather than the usual relegation to the back.

Top review

OT

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

The visit to Kai was excellent. The food was authentic, delicious and beautifully presented, and the atmosphere was lovely, striking a great balance between elegant, cosy and lively.

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A photo of Wasabi Prawns of a restaurant

A photo of Lobster & Lobster of a restaurant

Lobster & Lobster

A photo of Roasted Chilean Seabass of a restaurant

Roasted Chilean Seabass

A photo of Hakkasan - Hanway Place restaurant

Hakkasan - Hanway Place

4.5

4.5 (6298)

£41 and over

Chinese

Fitzrovia

About the restaurant

Hakkasan Hanway Place isn't the only Hakkasan in London (there's another in Mayfair), but it's the original restaurant that launched an international empire. The location won a Michelin star in 2003, a testament to the prodigious skill of chef Tong Chee Hwee and his elevated versions of classic Cantonese cuisine. The Peking duck entree accompanied by caviar is a signature, and lunchtime dim sum always draws a buzzy crowd. Hakkasan's cocktails gain as much attention in glowing reviews as the food, as does its stunning black and gold dining room and an open kitchen behind the noticeably nondescript back-alley entrance.

Top review

G

Gon205

Dined 5 days ago

Hakassan has upped its game. Booked to celebrate my wife's birthday, the ambience, food and service did not disappoint

A photo of The Ivy Chelsea Garden restaurant

The Ivy Chelsea Garden

4.1

4.1 (13190)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Chelsea

About the restaurant

The Ivy Chelsea Garden dazzles a chic crowd of diners with its venue, light-filled space on King's Road with an orangery and leafy garden terrace in the back ideal for warmer-weather meals and drinks. The British bistro-inspired cuisine on the lengthy all-day menu, along with a dedicated vegetarian and vegan menu, fits with Ivy's sunny vibe. Comfort food like the classic hamburger and shepherd's pie share space with lighter options like a warm chicken salad with barley, apples, pomegranate, and herbs, and the raw market salad of seasonal vegetables sliced paper thin next to avocado hummus.

Top review

S

Sidd

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

Amazing food, great ambience and excellent service. Would definitely come back for more.

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A photo of Shepherd's Pie of a restaurant

A photo of Crème Brûlée of a restaurant

Crème Brûlée

A photo of Steak Tartare of a restaurant

A photo of Berners Tavern restaurant

4.5

4.5 (4163)

£26 to £40

British

Oxford Circus

About the restaurant

A vast and eclectic assortment of paintings united by gilt frames blanket every inch of wall space around Berners Tavern, perhaps competing for diners' attention with the beautifully ornate ceiling—or the impeccable versions of British comfort food and modern European fare that characterize the menu. Breakfast, an afternoon tea, and a weekend roast give Londoners and visitors ample opportunities to sample incredible British produce transformed into something truly gourmet. The overall vibe is one of hip glamour, securing Berners Tavern a solid claim to being one of the best trendy restaurants in London, along with the rest of Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton's acclaimed empire.

Top review

JC

JonathanC

Dined 3 days ago

We experienced very Inattentive service, left waiting for drinks and dessert

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A photo of Buccleuch Estate Chateaubriand of a restaurant

Buccleuch Estate Chateaubriand

A photo of Berners Tavern mac and cheese (ve) of a restaurant

Berners Tavern mac and cheese (ve)

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