Explore the Best Women-Led Restaurants in London

by The OpenTable Team

Updated 03 February 2023

More and more women are making a name for themselves in London’s vibrant dining industry. In honour of International Women’s Day on March 8, OpenTable is celebrating these talented women on the front lines of the food scene. From the affluent streets of Mayfair to bustling Covent Garden, women are showcasing their best creations through a dazzling array of cuisines. Whether the night calls for a fine dining tasting menu or a juicy barbecue platter, book the perfect table using our handy list!

CORE by Clare Smyth

4.8

4.8 (3528)

£41 and over

British

Notting Hill

About the restaurant

Clare Smyth is a U.K. culinary genius who holds the award for World’s Best Female Chef. She moved from Ireland to England at only 16 years of age, and trained in some of the best kitchens in the world. Her current restaurant, Core, is her first solo venture and is very much at the forefront of fine dining. Booking is essential at this Notting Hill establishment, with the tasting menu being the popular choice.

Top review

NicholasVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Fabulous restaurant, food, atmosphere. Hats off to the service too which was impeccable! Wined and dined all over the world but this was one of the best ever!

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Experience

Valentine's Day Dinner

Experience

Valentine's Day Lunch

Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

4.7

4.7 (804)

£41 and over

French

Mayfair

About the restaurant

The Connaught is the ultimate in luxury: a five-star hotel in Mayfair, one of London’s most illustrious neighborhoods. Many people fall in love with the hotel as soon as they walk in, which is exactly what happened to celebrated French chef Hélène Darroze. She loved it so much, she became the chef there! The restaurant hosts elegant surroundings and beautifully crafted menus — which keep the guests coming back for more. There’s a five- or seven-course menu, with delights from bluefin tuna to pink garlic with wild mushrooms. A true treat for the senses!

Top review

CHRIS

Dined on 23 Dec 2024

Excellent as always. Food, atmosphere and exceptional service. The somier knowledge was impressive

Jikoni

4.6

4.6 (577)

£41 and over

Asian

Marylebone

About the restaurant

Global cuisine is on the menu at Jikoni, where Chef Ravinder Bhogal's childhood of myriad flavors come to life. Born in Kenya to Sikh parents, then later moving to Kent, Ravinder gained exposure to a wide variety of cultures, flavors, textures, and foods at a young age. After winning Gordon Ramsay's The F Word in 2007, Bhogal realized that she could take her love of food, blogging, and entertaining to a larger audience. Enter Jikoni, where dishes such as a prawn toast scotch egg with banana ketchup or cauliflower "popcorn" play with these varying spices and flavor combinations, just as Bhogal's childhood recollections mix and match flavor memories. Jikoni's menu is guided by Chef Patron and award-wining food writer Ravinder Bhogal, who’s delicate hand with flavours and global mixed-heritage cooking can be seen in the dishes. Around half of the menu is vegetarian and much of Jikoni’s produce, wines and even teas are sourced from artisan and sustainable family producers.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 4 Oct 2024

Both the food and service were a joy … simple, clean flavours which combine beautifully and lovely, unobtrusive service. Great value for the quality of the experience. Would definitely recommend and would dine again. Thank you!

La Dame De Pic London

4.8

4.8 (1501)

£41 and over

French

Tower Hill

About the restaurant

Chef Anne-Sophie Pic, born and trained in France, was born into restaurant royalty — her family's restaurant is the award-winner La Maison Pic. Anne-Sophie earned prestigious awards herself at the restaurant's helm, and later opened La Dame De Pic London at the opulent Four Seasons, an outpost of the Paris restaurant of the same name. Here, she tackles high-end French cuisine in a way that feels light, airy, and unpretentious — going against the grain of how French food is often perceived. Chef Pic uses traditional French ingredients such as foie gras, quail, and Vacherin cheese, but also adds unexpected Asian touches like yuzu, seaweed, and dashi to keep diners re-thinking what French cuisine can become with fresh, modern interpretations. Anne-Sophie Pic is known for her distinct culinary identity, revisiting ingredients and exploring unusual cooking methods to create powerful and unexpected flavour combinations.

Top review

Helen

Dined 7 days ago

Beautiful room with private seating in a gorgeous hotel. Food excellent with helpful and attentive service. Special tasting menu at £65 3 courses fantastic value for money for such high quality food. Loved the beetroot starter, artichoke main and amazing mille feuille desert. Will definitely return.

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Experience

Lunch Menu

Theo’s on the Terrace

4.4

4.4 (31)

£26 to £40

European

Mayfair

About the restaurant

How does the daughter of a doctor and former political science major enter life as a professional chef? Martha Ortiz did just this. Chef Ortiz fell in love with professional kitchen life while traveling abroad from her native Mexico. This, in turn, led her to desire to know more about her Mexican heritage and its native flavors. After finding tremendous success in Mexico City with her first restaurant, she hopped the pond to open Ella Canta on Park Lane. Chef Ortiz's passion for bringing authentic Mexican flavors leads to menu items such as grilled nopales and beef cheek, and traditional, time-honored sauces like red pipian and chile arbol.

Top review

Jennie

Dined on 3 Sept 2024

Amazing experience from start to finish here at Theo’s. Exceptional food, staff and service. The best meal we’ve had in ages and highly recommend!

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