The best restaurants in London you should be booking

What’s the deal? Since Max Rocha’s debut solo venture opened in 2021, its smash-hit status has been impossible to deny. Part neighbourhood bistro and part classy tribute to the chef’s Dublin roots, Café Cecilia showcases Rocha’s training at leading local London lights St John and The River Café in the simple but stunning cooking. If you’re not raving about the onglet, you’ll be buzzing about the Guinness cake, or singing the praises of sublime sage-and-anchovy fritti.  

Why go? Because the Cambridge Heath gas towers have never looked as charming as when you’re gazing at them through massive windows in this airy, L-shaped warehouse-style space while ramming fries in your mouth. 

Order this Anything with Guinness in it. The cake. The bread. The ice cream. And the fritti, goodness me, the fritti.

What’s the deal? The recently revamped classic dining room of the ‘great dame of Dean Street’ boasts one of the world’s most charismatic chefs at the fore. Jeremy Lee has made a menu to treasure: seasonal, sensational and never one to scrimp on pudding, which regularly comes slathered in custard. 

Why go? For an unforgettable Soho experience. Exceptional British food, a high-end bohemian vibe and perfect people-watching are what eating out in London is all about. 

Order this Pies are Lee’s passion. Order whatever filling is going and a smoked eel sarnie on the side.

What’s the deal? A west African tasting menu of dreams in Fitzrovia, with 10-odd courses courtesy of exec chef Ayo Adeyemi, who took over the kitchen in September 2022 and has quickly made it his own.  

Why go? This laidback and airy room is fancy without the faff – there’s no fiddly, fussy food here, but rather huge, innovative flavours that draw on old family recipes and flavours from across Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal.

Order this You’ll have to plump for the tasting menu, as there’s no a la carte option, but you will have zero regrets; expect hunks of lobster tail, scotch bonnet soup and extremely moreish jollof rice. 

What’s the deal? The menu is entirely plant-based: it’s mock-meat, tofu and beancurd galore. But the fact it’s all vegan (and by extension, theoretically less damaging to the environment) isn’t the best part. The best part is that it’s genuinely delicious Chinese cuisine.

Why go? The vegans are taking over. Come and worship at their church. 

Order this The shredded tofu and water chestnut wontons in house special sauce. Deep, garlicky, fiery and fizzy, it’s an oily concoction of pure, merciful pleasure.

What’s the deal? LA chef Kris Yenbamroong has spent the past decade wowing his hometown with bold Thai flavours – and an extremely well-curated natural wine list – at his clutch of cult-y Night Market restaurants. Now it’s London’s turn. Chet’s is Yenbamroong’s first full-time European venture, and you’ll find it holding court at the back of the Hoxton hotel in Shepherd’s Bush. Massive portions with a side order of massive fun. What’s not to like?

Why go? It’s cheaper than booking a flight to Thailand by way of California, and because it’s in a hotel, it’s open all day for indulgent brekkies and lunches, too. 

Order this The gloriously gloopy blue-cheese-slathered wedge salad, complete with candied pork jowl and garlic nam jim dipping sauce. Add on a fried chicken khao soi: perfect katsu-style chicken plonked on a bed of creamy Chiang Mai curried noodles with bean sprouts and roasted chilli oil.

What’s the deal? The latest incarnation of this iconic London restaurant is perhaps its finest offering to date. A shorter, ever-changing blackboard menu removes the intimidating pomp the long-standing Smithfield outpost might hold, but is packed with treasures, from anchovy-based small plates, to whopping great fish dishes and sublime stews. Very heaven. 

Why go? To sample some of the finest British cooking you’ll ever eat. Tumble into The Golden Eagle pub opposite afterwards for a pint.

Order this Deep fried hunks of cheesy, crispy rarebit, a queen of a dish that you’ll only get at this very St John.

What’s the deal? A low-key looking joint on Finsbury Park’s Blackstock Road that serves huge, incredible helpings of Uyghur cuisine, a blend of northern Chinese dishes like noodles and dumplings, kebabs and meat-soaked bread. Try it once, be obsessed for life. 

Why go? It’s one of the few places in London where you can find overlooked, but certainly not under-flavoured Uyghur food (Etles in Walthamstow is another). Come for a powerful Szechuan punch and some of the finest noodles in London.

Order this Large-plate chicken, with its hand-pulled noodles and dry chill spice. Tugure dumplings, samsa pastries and smashed cucumber on the side is a pro move.

What’s the deal? Sat in the garden of a former school off Arnold Circus in Shoreditch, Melanie Arnold and Margot Henderson’s idyllic bolthole is a vision of simplicity and good sourcing. Think St John (Fergus Henderson is Mr Margot) without the wine-sloshing brouhaha – and with less offal.

Why go? Because lunches are rarely more idyllic, especially in the spring. 

Order this Uncomplicated constructions sum up this place’s ethos, so pick one a simple starter such as clams, chilli and garlic. Don't ignore the old school puddings, especially the ones drowning in custard.

What’s the deal? Eat in an art gallery. No, really. This Mayfair newbie opened at the end of 2022 and, thanks to owners Hauser & Wirth, contains £50m-worth of masterpieces by everyone from Lucian Freud to Pablo Picasso. The food – trad British which borders on the Victorian but comes with a graceful twist – is pretty special too. 

Why go? When was the last you had dinner with a genuine Matisse looming over you? The art is on your table too, with salt and pepper cruets are inspired by American artist Paul McCarthy’s racy ‘Tree’ sculpture. 

Order this The showstopping lobster-head pie has got everyone talking, and at £96 you’d hope it would. But it’s possible to plump for something a little more pocket-friendly, including a selection of classic savouries, such as London rarebit, Gentleman’s Relish and cucumber on toast, or devilled-kidney omelette at £12 each.

What’s the deal? A cosy and chic side-street spot in Bloomsbury with some serious cheffy pedigree; the talented Anna Tobias – who refined her trade at London landmark Rochelle Canteen – heads up the kitchen, and the folk from 40 Maltby Street are also involved.

Why go? Because it’s basically the coolest National Trust café you’ve ever been to, with elevated, ingredient-led Euro cult classics. Think: nice things on toast, hearty but stylish soups, and rustic yet inventive salads.

Order this The super-seasonal menu is forever changing, but Tobias’s simple signature dish, a small egg-mayonnaise starter, is always worth an order.