London
The best restaurants in London, area by area, with a hotel next door
Roast bone marrow in Smithfield, whole turbot over charcoal in Shoreditch and game pie beneath oil paintings in Covent Garden. The best restaurants in London, grouped by neighbourhood, each with somewhere to stay within walking distance.
The walls at Rules on Maiden Lane are hung so densely with cartoons and oil paintings that you can barely see the plaster. It has served game and pies since 1798, and much of the game still comes from the restaurant's own estate in the High Pennines. No restaurant in London is older.
London is one of the world's great food cities, and one of the least convenient. Its best tables are scattered from Notting Hill in the west to Shoreditch in the east, and a cab between them can take longer than the meal. So we have grouped them by area, each with a hotel a short walk away. For smaller, cosier places, see our separate guides.
The hotel links are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
In short
The best restaurants in London are spread across several areas, so pick your hotel by where you want to eat. Core by Clare Smyth and The Ledbury in Notting Hill both hold three Michelin stars in the 2026 guide. For classic British cooking, go to Rules or St. JOHN, while Dishoom is the favourite that needs no booking.
Our first choice for a food weekend: Covent Garden Hotel. Rules and Soho are both under ten minutes' walk, and there is a private cinema in the basement.
Book your stay: See rooms at Covent Garden Hotel (Paid link)
Covent Garden: game and a Bombay breakfast
Rules
The dining room is all red plush, and the menu leans on British game and pies. Order grouse or pheasant in autumn, when the shooting season is under way. Tourists love it, but Londoners still bring their own guests here.
Dishoom Covent Garden
Dishoom is modelled on the old Irani cafés of Bombay, with marble tables and ceiling fans. Its bacon naan roll at breakfast has a cult following. Bookings are limited, so expect a queue in the evening.
Where to stay: Covent Garden Hotel
Covent Garden Hotel sits on Monmouth Street in a building that once housed a French hospital. The drawing room has an open fire and bold fabrics, and downstairs is a private screening room.
Good if you want to stroll home after dinner without checking the time, with the West End theatres around the corner.
Book your stay: See rooms at Covent Garden Hotel (Paid link)
Soho: Thai grill and Taiwanese buns
Kiln
Kiln on Brewer Street cooks northern Thai food over charcoal, and you sit at the counter facing the flames. Seats are few and meals are brisk, but the food arrives quickly and the heat is real.
Bao Soho
Bao serves steamed Taiwanese buns with fillings, and the queue on Lexington Street has been there since the day it opened. Go early or late to keep the wait short.
Where to stay: The Soho Hotel
The Soho Hotel is tucked into a quiet mews off Dean Street, in a building that was once a car park. A huge bronze cat by the Colombian artist Fernando Botero stands in the lobby.
Kiln and Bao are five minutes away on foot. Good for eating somewhere new every night and still sleeping in peace.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Soho Hotel (Paid link)
The Soho Hotel
The ground-floor restaurant is a good place to start an evening in Soho. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Smithfield, Shoreditch and Borough: nose to tail
St. JOHN
Fergus Henderson opened St. JOHN in a former smokehouse by Smithfield meat market in 1994. The dish everyone orders is roast bone marrow with parsley salad and toast. The room is white and bare, and the cooking uses the whole animal.
Brat
Brat is on the first floor of an old pub building on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch, with a big grill in the middle of the room. Whole turbot is cooked over charcoal and shared at the table, in the style of the Basque Country.
Padella
Padella by Borough Market rolls fresh pasta by hand in the window, and the pici cacio e pepe is the reason for the queue. There are no reservations, but its app lets you queue virtually while you browse the market.
Where to stay: The Rookery
The Rookery fills three Georgian houses in Clerkenwell, five minutes from St. JOHN and Smithfield. Rooms have four-poster beds and freestanding baths, and there is no sign outside.
Suited to couples who want somewhere historic and quiet, a short hop from the best of east London.
Book your stay: See rooms at The Rookery (Paid link)
Where to stay: Hilton London Bankside
Hilton Bankside sits between Tate Modern and Borough Market in a modern building with an indoor pool. Padella is a fifteen-minute walk.
A sound choice for families, or anyone mixing galleries with food, with the river across the road.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hilton London Bankside (Paid link)
Notting Hill and Hammersmith: three stars and a riverbank
Core by Clare Smyth
Clare Smyth opened Core in 2017 and won three Michelin stars four years later, the first British woman to do so. The dish that made her name is a humble potato, served with roe and a butter sauce.
The Ledbury
The Ledbury is a five-minute walk from Core and also holds three stars. The kitchen is best known for its game.
The River Café
Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray opened The River Café on the Thames at Hammersmith in 1987. The Italian menu changes daily with the produce, and in summer you eat outside on the riverside terrace.
Where to stay: Portobello Hotel
The Portobello Hotel spans two Victorian houses in Notting Hill, its rooms filled with antiques. For decades it has been where musicians and actors stay out of sight.
Core and The Ledbury are within walking distance. Room sizes vary a great deal, so read the descriptions before you book.
Book your stay: See rooms at Portobello Hotel (Paid link)
Tips for eating out in London
Reservations: The best-known places release tables about four weeks ahead. Set a reminder.
Walk-ins: Several popular places take few or no bookings. Arrive before six.
Service: Most restaurants add a 12.5 per cent service charge to the bill. Check before you tip.
Lunch: Many of the top kitchens run cheaper lunch menus, the easiest way into a starred dining room.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best restaurants in London?
The best restaurants in London include Core by Clare Smyth and The Ledbury in Notting Hill, both with three Michelin stars. For British cooking, Rules and St. JOHN are the classics. For great food at lower prices, Dishoom and Padella are the favourites.
Which London restaurants have three Michelin stars?
In the 2026 Michelin Guide, London's three-star restaurants include Core by Clare Smyth, The Ledbury, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Hélène Darroze at The Connaught. Tables are often released a few weeks ahead and go quickly.
Do you need to book restaurants in London?
Yes, the well-known restaurants in London should be booked several weeks ahead. Some popular places, such as Dishoom, Bao and Padella, take few or no reservations. There you queue, and arriving early pays off.
How much should you tip in London restaurants?
Many restaurants in London add a 12.5 per cent service charge to the bill. If it is already included, there is no need to add more. Without it, 10 to 12.5 per cent is usual for good service.