Where Chefs Eat in London

by Phaidon

Updated 09 November 2023

You’re in luck. The world’s best chefs are sharing their favorite places to dine out in London. We’ve partnered with Phaidon’s Where Chefs Eat, the best-selling restaurant guidebook with over 7,000 recommendations across the globe, to create a list of restaurants in London where chefs love to eat. Grab your copy of this must-have guide, and get 30% off, just for being an OpenTable diner.

The Jugged Hare

4.2

4.2 (1433)

£26 to £40

British

Barbican

About the restaurant

"A great English pub using terrific seasonal produce." – Michael Reid

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

Great food and good busy atmosphere. Would be good to have a better priced house wine as £11 plus a glass is expensive when you can get a decent bottle for that

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Experience

Pre-theatre menu

Experience

Saturday Bottomless Brunch

Experience

Express Lunch

The Drapers Arms

4.6

4.6 (1459)

£25 and under

Gastro Pub

Angel

About the restaurant

"Always seasonal, their Sunday roasts are banging, and the landlord Nick is a great host." – Hus Vedat

Top review

ChloeBvip

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

Best pub in London

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Popular dish

Roast Lamb Rump

Benares

4.5

4.5 (5821)

£41 and over

Indian

Mayfair

About the restaurant

"An explosion of flavors, textures, and colors at this smart Mayfair restaurant." – Martin Morales

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined 2 days ago

An amazing experience as always! Best Indian Restaurant we have ever been to — beats anything you can find in the US. I come here on every trip to London. This time we brought 3 generations of our family for a pre-Christmas dinner. The staff were so kind to our children. Prabhat and Guarav gave fantastic service — they were so friendly and accommodating. Really made dinner an exceptional experience. Above and beyond. The food is exceptional— really cant find quality Indian in this lively setting any where.

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2 Course Set Menu & A Sparkling Cocktail @£35pp

Andrew Edmunds

4.8

4.8 (1655)

£26 to £40

Modern European

Soho

About the restaurant

"Andrew Edmunds is a Soho institution that's been around since the 1980s. It's a small, rambling little townhouse with a hand written menu, serving excellent classics that aren't over-priced." – Bruno Loubet

Top review

EatTillIBurst

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

Great old school vibe. Food was faultless.

Cecconi's

4.5

4.5 (2563)

£26 to £40

Italian

Mayfair

About the restaurant

"Cecconi's is a modern-day classic Italian restaurant. They serve fantastic handmade pasta, seafood and dishes from Italy using very fine ingredients." – Shaun Rankin

Top review

ThatGuy

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

Got off to a bad start, but was rectified above and beyond by management. Very happy with the food and service we recieved after a slight hickup at the beginning. Will certainly be returning

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Popular dish

Crab Ravioli

Clipstone

4.8

4.8 (1714)

£26 to £40

Modern European

Fitzrovia

About the restaurant

"Clipstone is a new restaurant that manages to be a charming neighborhood restaurant in the center of town. The quality of cooking is outstanding and I love that much of the menu is very vegetable focused." – Bruno Loubet

Top review

twinklevip

Dined 4 days ago

Delicious food and delightful service as always.

som saa

4.9

4.9 (418)

£26 to £40

Thai

Shoreditch

About the restaurant

"Fun, sexy food, cool and stylish with a completely relaxed atmosphere, taking Thai flavours to the max." – Martin Morales

Top review

OsbornO

Dined on 4 Nov 2023

The restaurant was really nice and I liked the layout of the restaurant, the food was really good, the service was amazing as well.

Goodman Mayfair

4.4

4.4 (2303)

£41 and over

Steak

Oxford Circus

About the restaurant

"Goodman is right around the corner from us and the team there offer exceptional service. Pair that with a great burger or steak and a glass of red and you can see that it's perfect for a quick bite and a drink at the end of a long day." – Cary Docherty

Top review

Karl

Dined on 29 Aug 2023

Very good service, however the sirloin was served three times as it was overcooked twice. The sides were re- served free as they went cold. Manager was apologetic. Overall great lunch, spoiled by the overcooked steak.

ROKA - Aldwych

4.6

4.6 (410)

£41 and over

Japanese

Aldwych

About the restaurant

"Great food, great service, great vibe. Every time." – Miles Kirby

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 6 Oct 2023

Very decent restaurant with good Japanese food served. The sashimi is very fresh.

Franks Canteen

4.8

4.8 (228)

£26 to £40

European

Highbury

About the restaurant

"Great small place with a menu that is constantly changing. They have classics as well as experiments with different cuisines." – Tam Storrar

Top review

Kentishtowner

Dined 6 days ago

Such a great brunch spot. Everything was delicious.

Park Chinois

4.5

4.5 (724)

£41 and over

Chinese

Mayfair

About the restaurant

"High end Chinese restaurant with elegant interiors. Its menu is derived from authentic Chinese with superior quality ingredients. I love the individuality of all the dishes on the menu." – Rohit Ghai

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined on 30 Sept 2023

Great food, lovely atmosphere, good service. Just a shame they need your table back after two hours especially when you’ve spent quite a bit of money

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Experience

Monday to Friday - Prix Fixe Menu - 2 Courses

Experience

Monday to Friday - Prix Fixe Menu - 3 Courses

Blacklock Soho

4.7

4.7 (5166)

£25 and under

Steak

Soho

About the restaurant

"I go there whenever I crave chops. I always crave chops. Go there, eat chops!" – Tomer Amedi

Top review

Chloe

Dined 5 days ago

Food was incredible and the service amazing! Really good value for money. Great experience and will definitely be visiting again next time we are in London!

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4.5

4.5 (3832)

£26 to £40

European

St. James's

About the restaurant

"It has an amazing buzz that sets the pace for a day in the center of town – and delivers exactly what it sets out to do – a great breakfast, suitable for all tastes and budgets." – Philip Howard

Top review

SuzanneAvip

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

Always a favourite, quality food and great service.

The Duke of Sussex

4.4

4.4 (658)

£25 and under

Spanish

Chiswick

About the restaurant

"It's a beautiful building with a dining room and a bar with huge windows that face Acton Green. It also has a large garden, which in the summer you'll have to come in early to secure a table. Staff are super friendly. They mostly do Spanish food but also a mean Sunday roast." – Sami Tamimi

Top review

carmelc

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

Excellent, Sunday roast. My husband is fish was also first-rate. The choice of drinks was excellent and the service very pleasant friendly and professional.

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4.8

4.8 (1026)

£26 to £40

Farm-to-table

Stoke Newington

About the restaurant

"It's a former garage which the team have converted into a friendly, neighborhood restaurant with a great interior. They have a daily changing menu with a strong French influence and a great selection of wines." – Jon Rotheram

Top review

GinToclock

Dined 2 days ago

Great to be back at Primeur. Warm and welcoming staff and lovely ambiance. The food was delicious as always and some very good value and quality house wines Thank you!

Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill

4.3

4.3 (2697)

£41 and over

Seafood

Mayfair

About the restaurant

"It's hard to pass this restaurant and not pop in for a cheeky oyster or two! Steeped in history and with a great ambience, especially when eating at the bar." – Jocky Petrie

Top review

Ursule52

Dined on 2 Jan 2020

Always a pleasant surprise, a wonderful atmosphere and very attentive staff. The food is also top quality

Sichuan-Folk

4.2

4.2 (144)

£26 to £40

Chinese

Spitalfields

About the restaurant

"It's the first authentic, spicy Szechuan food I've tried. I go back there often, especially for the famous Szechuan fish hotpot." – Merlin Labron-Johnson

Top review

Jayavip

Dined on 22 Aug 2023

The best Sichuan restaurant I've been to in London, very authentic. My dinner guest was able to order in her native Chinese language and enjoyed the food served immensely. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We will definitely be going back.

Moro

4.6

4.6 (3141)

£41 and over

Mediterranean

Angel

About the restaurant

"Moro is a timeless institution that is as relevant still today as it was when it first opened twenty years ago. It serves exceptional Spanish and North African-influenced food in a beautiful room that generates such a convivial atmosphere, one where you can feel both relaxed and indulged at the same time. It is, for me, the perfect restaurant." – Joshua Katz

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 3 days ago

I love this place. Food and service is always great.

Tandoor Chop House at Covent Garden

4.5

4.5 (2072)

£25 and under

Indian

Covent Garden

About the restaurant

"Premium cuts of meat, spiced and grilled over a charcoal tandoor." – Sameer Taneja

Top review

MelissaC

Dined on 24 Nov 2023

Lively restaurant - quite noisy for chats, but good fun. Excellent service and amazing good.

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Amritsari Crispy Lamb Chops

Hereford Road

4.6

4.6 (1683)

£26 to £40

British

Notting Hill

About the restaurant

"Simple, honest, super seasonal English cooking. A gem." – Helena Puolakka

Top review

Expat

Dined 2 days ago

The quality of food selection and preparation has been maintained over the many years that we have come to Hereford Road. Food is nicely seasoned and prepared, and there is always a good selection. The wines are also well selected. Prices have remained reasonable. This is one of our most favorite London restaurants, and it has never disappointed us.

Bellanger

4.2

4.2 (524)

£26 to £40

Mediterranean

Islington

About the restaurant

"The atmosphere and food is fantastic." – Francesco Mazzei

Top review

gwc333vip

Dined on 2 Nov 2023

Bellanger is our fav place to go and meet friends for a meal. Fortunately they weren't too busy at lunchtime so we enjoyed a very leisurely lunch.

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Experience

Prix Fixe Menu

Ivy Market Grill

3.9

3.9 (16904)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Covent Garden

About the restaurant

"The people running The Ivy Market Grill are very talented and very smart. They are rolling them out everywhere. Well done!" – Cary Docherty

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 1 Jan 2023

Wonderful staff and an overall great experience in a lovely setting

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4.6

4.6 (4153)

£26 to £40

British

Oxford Circus

About the restaurant

"The room is stunning and the food is great. It always feels like an occasion to go." – Tom Sellers

Top review

foodnutsvip

Dined 3 days ago

Service was good but politely slow & somewhat unorganized . Room for improvement !

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Popular dish

Buccleuch Estate Chateaubriand

Popular dish

Berners Tavern mac and cheese (ve)

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester

4.5

4.5 (999)

£41 and over

French

Mayfair

About the restaurant

"The stunning dining room, the service, and Monsieur Ducasse's cuisine is mind blowing." – Francesco Mazzei

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 10 Nov 2023

Great food and great service from an iconic restaurant. Diverse tastes not always thrilling but overall experience close to perfect. Lighting and ambience can be improved.

Jikoni

4.7

4.7 (571)

£41 and over

Asian

Marylebone

About the restaurant

"This is exactly the sort of food I want: food that both comforts and surprises at once. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant too: so much colour and comfort." – Yotam Ottolenghi

Top review

IsabelleF

Dined on 3 Nov 2023

We spent a great evening at Jikoni. The dishes were interesting and exciting, while the service was welcoming and accommodating. We hope to make another visit in the future!

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

4.6

4.6 (1891)

£41 and over

Contemporary French

Chelsea

About the restaurant

"This restaurant is still the place to go to celebrate a special occasion. Everything about it is top of the class in London. The precision in the cooking always impresses, as does the way the team in the front of house make it all look effortless." – Cary Docherty

Top review

JohnR

Dined on 21 Nov 2023

The whole experience was exemplary. I would say it was better than best in class, but it’s a class of one, especially as Gavroche is about to close.

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Popular dish

Ravioli

Experience

Inspiration Table at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay

Pidgin

4.6

4.6 (1351)

£41 and over

Modern European

Hackney

About the restaurant

"This restaurant really does serve the most exciting food. It is inventive, unusual and using some of the most exciting ingredients and techniques around. Always a delight." – Thomasina Miers

Top review

ClaudiaR

Dined 2 days ago

Overall a good experience. Sadly, the room was very cold and the time in between dishes was a bit long. The tasting menu was delicious, but not very cohesive in terms of flavor profile.

Restaurant Story London

4.7

4.7 (987)

£41 and over

British

London Bridge

About the restaurant

"Top-quality food in a great restaurant by chef Tom Sellers. Expect some great surprises and all beautifully presented with real thought, care and attention to detail." – Tom Aikens

Top review

PHILIPM

Dined on 30 Jan 2023

Really good evening...nice atmosphere, professional service and outstanding food.

Fischers

4.7

4.7 (688)

£26 to £40

Austrian

Marylebone

About the restaurant

Recommended by Chef Shaun Hill from The Walnut Tree

Top review

NeilMvip

Dined on 23 Oct 2023

Efficient service, great breakfast, ideal spot for an early meeting.

The Winter Garden

4.5

4.5 (1585)

£41 and over

Modern European

Marylebone

About the restaurant

Recommended by Chef Lori Granito from Magnolia

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 4 days ago

Wonderful experience. Gorgeous food, the service was impeccable and I couldn’t believe the price - such great value.

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Experience

Festive three -course set dinner menu

Experience

Festive three -course lunch set menu

The Morgan Arms

4.4

4.4 (604)

£25 and under

British

Mile End

About the restaurant

Recommended by Chef Ben Tish from Restaurant Norma

Top review

Rhyde

Dined 6 days ago

Outstanding roast dinner. Cannot recommend enough.

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Experience

Steak Night

OPSO

4.6

4.6 (1509)

£41 and over

Greek

Marylebone

About the restaurant

Recommended by Chef Michael Reid from Restaurant M

Top review

Bbone

Dined on 13 Oct 2023

This was recommended by a friend of a friend and we want to pass that same recommendation on to others. Was a great experience and food was excellent.

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Popular dish

Octopus 'Stifado'

ROKA - Canary Wharf

4.4

4.4 (606)

£41 and over

Japanese

Canary Wharf

About the restaurant

Recommended by Chef Mark Sargeant from Rocksalt

Top review

tomu

Dined on 21 Nov 2023

Very nice interior. Enjoyed fresh sashimi and tasty sushi. Good for special occasion.

Chotto Matte Soho

4.5

4.5 (2396)

£41 and over

Peruvian

Soho

About the restaurant

Recommended by Chef Jose Luis (Chele) Gonzalez from Gallery VASK

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 7 Oct 2023

Amazing food and service. The general ambience was lovely and hip; however, our experience was slightly ruined by a very loud and drunk group of young women, not the restaurant's fault though haha. We definitely enjoyed every single bite of food!

ROKA - Charlotte Street

4.6

4.6 (232)

£41 and over

Japanese

Fitzrovia

About the restaurant

"Great food, great service, great vibe. Every time." – Miles Kirby

Top review

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined on 30 Sept 2023

Food was excellent and beautifully presented. Ana our waitress was extremely nice, attentive and had great recommendations.