KEY2 Pick
Best restaurants in London
Counters, dining rooms and neighbourhood favourites, chosen for the way they actually eat — not for how loudly they market.
KEY2 Pick
Modern British Fine Dining • $$$$
Core by Clare Smyth
Three-Michelin-star tasting menus from Britain's most decorated female chef.
Best for: Special Occasion
KEY2 Pick
Indian / Bombay Café • $$
Dishoom Covent Garden
Bombay café cooking in a beautifully art-directed room — the bacon naan roll is a genuine institution.
Best for: Brunch / Casual
KEY2 Pick
KEY2 Pick
French Fine Dining • $$$$
Sketch (Lecture Room & Library)
Michelin-starred French tasting menus beneath the same roof as the pink Gallery room.
Best for: Special Occasion
KEY2 Pick
KEY2 Pick
Modern European Fine Dining • $$$$
The Ledbury
Two-Michelin-star tasting menus in a quiet Notting Hill townhouse dining room.
Best for: Special Occasion
Spanish Tapas • $$$
Barrafina Soho
Counter-only Spanish tapas cooked in front of you, no bookings, worth the queue.
Best for: Date Night / Casual
Indian Barbecue • $$$
Brigadiers
A City of London basement restaurant styled as an Indian officers' mess, grilling tandoori meats over open flame.
Best for: Group Dinner
Steakhouse • $
Flat Iron Covent Garden
One cut, flat iron steak, unbeatable value, no reservations needed on weekdays.
Best for: Casual / Budget
Neapolitan Pizza • $
Franco Manca Brixton
Sourdough Neapolitan pizza from the original Brixton Market branch that started the chain.
Best for: Casual / Budget
Sri Lankan / South Indian • $$
Hoppers Soho
Crisp hoppers and short eats served in a packed, buzzy Soho dining room.
Best for: Casual / Group
Italian / Pasta • $
Padella Borough Market
Cheap, exceptional fresh pasta a few steps from Borough Market, always with a queue outside.
Best for: Casual / Budget
Modern British • $$$$
The Clove Club
A Michelin-starred Shoreditch Town Hall restaurant with a tightly plotted seasonal tasting menu.
Best for: Special Occasion
Questions, answered
What are the best restaurants in London?+
The KEY2 editors' top picks for restaurants in London are Brat, Core by Clare Smyth, Dishoom Covent Garden, Gymkhana, Sketch (Lecture Room & Library). Every listing in this guide is individually vetted, with hours, prices and booking links.
Where can I find good-value restaurants in London?+
For $$-level restaurants in London, consider Dishoom Covent Garden, Bao Soho, Flat Iron Covent Garden, Franco Manca Brixton.
What are the best restaurants in London for a special occasion?+
For a splurge, the KEY2 guide recommends Brat, Core by Clare Smyth, Gymkhana, Sketch (Lecture Room & Library). Reserve ahead — the booking link is on each listing.
Do I need to book restaurants in London in advance?+
The most popular restaurants in London fill up days or weeks ahead. Every KEY2 listing includes a direct reservation or booking link where one is available.
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