It's the Best of the Very Best: The Top 25 Restaurants in London

By James V. Ruocco

Setting the criteria for my favorite restaurants in London was fast, fun and easy. No long think fests. No deliberation about prices, locations, menus or cuisines. It was simply a case of picking places I've thoroughly enjoyed and revisited through the decades and felt compelled to visit again and again.

To be acknowledged, each restaurant had to stand out from all the others in terms of food, menus, wine and liquor listings, ambience, décor, history, clientele and finally...exceptional service. Until, at last, the list was complete, divided up to include my picks for London's best restaurants.

Many of these restaurants and their chefs have acquired international fame. And the menus are as diverse as the restaurants themselves.

Simpson's in-the-Strand

100 Strand
London, UK

Phone: 44 20 7420 2111

The Foyer and Reading Room

Claridge's

Brook Street

Mayfair

London, UK

44 20 7107 8886

Galvin at Windows
London Hilton on Park Lane
22 Park Lane
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 7208 4021

14 Hills
120 Fenchurch Street
14th Floor
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 3981 5222

Dalloway Terrace

16-22 Great Russell Street
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 7347 1221

The Wolseley
160 Piccadilly
St. James's
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 7499 6996

Galvin Demoiselle at The Conservatory

Harrods at Knightbridge

87-135 Brompton Street

London, UK

Phone: 44 20 7730 1234

 

The Palm Court

The Ritz London

150 Piccadilly
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 7300 2345 

Bistrot de Luxe

66 Baker Street

London, UK

Phone: 44 20 7935 4007

The Old Bank of England
194 Fleet Street
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 7430 2255

The English Tea Room
Brown's Hotel
Albemarle Street
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 7518 4155

Hutong

The Shard
32 London Bridge Street
London, UK
44 20 3011 1257

                                                                                  

The Homage Restaurant

The London Hilton

Aldwych

London, UK

Phone: 44 20 8166 3931

Roux at Parliament Square
11 Great George Street

London, UK

Phone: 44 20 7334 3737

The Balcon

8 Pall Mall

London, UK

Phone: 44 20 7968 2900

White Lion at Covent Garden
24 James Street
London, UK

Phone: 44 20 7240 1064

Joe Allen
2 Burleigh Street
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 7836 0651

Peninsula Restaurant

1 Waterview Drive
London, UK

Phone: 44 20 8463 6868

Wiltons

55 Jermyn Street

St. James's

London, UK

Phone: 44 20 7629 9955

Bistrot de Luxe

66 Baker Street

London, UK

Phone: 44 20 7935 4007

The Prospect of Whitby

57 Wapping Wall

London, UK

Phone: 44 20 7481 1095

Helene Darroze at the Connaught
The Connaught Hotel
Carlos Place
Mayfair
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 3147 7200

The Palm Court at the Langham Hotel
1C Portland Place
Regent Street
London, UK

Phone: 44 20 7636 1000

The Botanist
7 Sloane Square
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 7730 0077

Oka Kingly Court
1 St Floor Kingly Court
Carnaby Street
London, UK
Phone: 44 20 7734 3556