These most famous and iconic places to eat in London are naturally where you’ll want to go for some British munch, especially if you’re visiting our capital for the first time.
Sure, to us Brits, these places might be a bit cliche, but they’re iconic for a reason and most of us probably wish we could dine out at them more often than we do.
So if you’re lucky enough to be in London Town, don’t miss the chance to get yourself to one of these most iconic eateries…
Famous & Iconic Places To Eat In London
The truth is, it’s an impossible job to name the most famous place to eat in London. It’s actually overwhelming how there’s just so many revered food spots in England’s capital; but here’s a selection that certainly have iconic reputations:
Legendary London Restaurants
This first lot of London eateries are among those that can’t be described as anything other than legendary, or quintessentially British if you will. Considering their age, you might expect these restaurants to be on the verge of toppling over. Instead, they’re just full of British history, tradition and great nosh.
The Ritz Restaurant
We really could’ve included The Ritz anywhere in this article, with it being iconic in so many ways. Historic and traditional, great for tourists and celeb-spotting, not to mention Michelin starred. A right old British stalwart and just a must for Afternoon Tea.
The Ritz
150 Piccadilly
St. James’s
London
W1J 9BR
Visit website: The Ritz
Rules
Officially London’s oldest restaurant, Rules has been around since 1798, so if you want an experience of British food history without plodding through a museum, Rules restaurant is truly iconic and the place to go.
Rules Restaurant & Private Dining Rooms
34-35 Maiden Lane
London
WC2E 7LB, UK
Visit website: Rules Restaurant
Claridge’s
One of London’s 5 star hotels, Claridge’s is full of glamour and history going back to 1812. You might need to save up or just have deep pockets for a trip to Claridge’s, but when in London and all that…
Claridge’s
Brook Street
Mayfair
London
W1K 4HR
Visit website: Claridge’s
The Savoy
Another of the capital’s most famous 5 star hotels with food fit for the Queen. The only top-rated hotel on the River Thames and once enjoyed by the blue-eyed wonder, Frank Sinatra.
The Savoy
Strand
London
WC2R 0EZ
Visit website: The Savoy
The Ivy
If you’re planning on hitting the theatre and want a classy West End meal to match, you can’t go wrong with The Ivy. You’ll find epic versions of the British classics but also more modern, internationally influenced grub.
The Ivy
1-5 West Street
London
WC2H 9NQ
Visit website: The Ivy
Famous (Chefs’) London Restaurants
These establishments aren’t necessarily iconic because of tradition or landmark location. Instead, they get their iconic status from the individual icons in the kitchen, i.e. famous chefs. But more importantly, the food too…
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
Yep, he swears a f*cking lot, but let’s not forget what he’s really good at, which is dishing out the ultimate British fine-dining experience. Holding three Michelin Stars for over two decades, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea is perfect for a special occasion, or if you’re just feeling a bit fancy-pants.
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
68 Royal Hospital Road
Chelsea
London
SW3 4HP
Visit website: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
Tom Kerridge’s Bar and Grill
To experience Tom Kerridge’s food in the past, you’d have to have headed for Marlow in Buckinghamshire. While it’d always be worth the trip, if you’re closer to London, now you can just head to Kerridge’s Bar and Grill instead.
Tom Kerridge’s Bar and Grill
10 Northumberland Avenue
Westminster
London
WC2N 5AE
Visit website: Tom Kerridge’s Bar and Grill
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
Not only are you getting a mind-blowing scientific experience at quirky Heston’s, but you’ll also be wowed with a British food history lesson, through a menu that explores the origins of the UK’s classic dishes.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
66 Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 7LA
Visit website: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
And just because, here’s a load more iconic London restaurants with well known chefs at the helm:
- Marcus at The Berkeley – Marcus Wareing
- Le Gavroche – Michel Roux Jr
- Mere – Monica Galetti
- Pollen Street Social – Jason Atherton
- Rick Stein, Barnes – Rick Stein
- Pharmacy 2 – Mark Hix
- Core – Claire Smyth
- Hélène Darroze at The Connaught – Hélène Darroze
- London Steakhouse Co. City – Marco Pierre White
- Murano – Angela Hartnett
- Corrigan’s Mayfair – Richard Corrigan
Where Do The Rich, Famous & Celebrities Eat In London?
Whether it’s Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lawrence, David Beckham, Prince William or Will Smith, these are supposedly among the London restaurants where the high-flyers and celebs eat: Chiltern Firehouse, Sexy Fish, Kitchen W8, Hakkasan Mayfair, J. Sheekey, The Swan, Shakespeare’s Globe, Nobu Berkeley Street.
Michelin Starred Restaurants In London
Feel free to check out our map of all the UK Michelin starred restaurants too, but in the meantime, here’s some of the best and most iconic fine-dining restaurants in London:
The River Cafe
In case you hadn’t guessed from the name, you’ll be getting great views of the Thames as well as some of London’s most iconic food at The River Cafe. You might need to save up again for this one, but it’ll be worth it for this incredible Italian eatery dating to 1987.
The River Cafe
Thames Wharf
Rainville Road
Hammersmith
London
W6 9HA
Visit website: The River Cafe
Sketch
A real sought-after restaurant in Mayfair, Sketch initially grabs attention with its unique decor. Then the grub takes over. Is it an art gallery? Is it a brasserie? A restaurant? A tea room? A cocktail lounge? Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep.
Sketch
9 Conduit Street
Mayfair
London
W1S 2XG
Visit website: Sketch
Veeraswamy
Dating to 1926, Veeraswamy is as iconic as they come, being England’s oldest Indian restaurant. We love a curry in Blighty and Veeraswamy serves the best of traditional Indian dishes but with modern flair.
Veeraswamy
Victory House
99-101 Regent Street
Mayfair
London
W1B 4RS
Visit website: Veeraswamy
Restaurant Story
If following a, well, story, is what you’re looking for alongside your dinner, then look no further than Restaurant Story in Bermondsey. A Michelin star after five months of opening really tells a, erm… you get the picture.
Restaurant Story
199 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2JX
Visit website: Restaurant Story
The Touristy Ones
These places are among the typical tourist attractions that probably come to mind and get you shaking uncontrollably with excitement when you think of London. No? Just us then. Either way, you’ll surely want to experience eating in at least one of these truly unique restaurants:
The Shard
Want to see the best views of the best city in the world while scoffing your face? Then head up 30 plus storeys to eat in one of The Shard’s diverse but equally iconic restaurants.
The Shard
32 London Bridge Street
London
SE1 9SG
Visit website: The Shard
The Gherkin
Another high-level eatery in more ways than one, you’ll be eating great food 39 floors up in the Helix restaurant at The Gherkin. Kind of a big dill, this one.
The Gherkin
30 Saint Mary Axe – Swiss Re
London
EC3A 8BF
Visit website: The Gherkin
The ‘Walkie-Talkie’
The Darwin Brasserie and Fenchurch Restaurant in the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ building are yet more iconic places to eat in London for reasons of height as well as top notch food. Also a great building to visit for views of The Shard (as opposed to views from the Shard).
The ‘Walkie-Talkie’
20 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 8AF
Visit website: The ‘Walkie-Talkie’
The OXO Tower
If you’ve not already had your fair share of views of London, then heading to The OXO Tower for some more panoramic activity and typically modern British grub is rarely a bad idea.
The OXO Tower
Barge House Street
South Bank
London
SE1 9PH
Visit website: The OXO Tower
Borough Market
It’s not all about restaurant food in London y’know. Borough Market, near London Bridge and The Shard, is without doubt the place to go for street food in England’s capital.
Borough Market
8 Southwark Street
London
SE1 1TL
Visit website: Borough Market
Chinatown
Since the 1950s, Chinatown in the West End has become an iconic part of London’s food scene. Naturally, we recommend heading there during the Chinese New Year if you can, but any day of the week eating in Chinatown will feel like a celebration.
Chinatown
West End
London
W1D 5PT
Visit website: Chinatown
Famous Food Shopping In London
As well as filling your basket with iconic luxury, there’s also the option of loading your gob with top-notch cuisine at some of London’s most famous shopping locations too, including:
And there you have it. As promised, that’s some seriously iconic places to eat, in London.
But naturally, that just scratches the surface of where to eat in Britain…
British Grub Hub
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