Iconic London Restaurants Everyone Should Visit Once

New restaurants pop up left right and centre in the capital – but only a select few earn legendary status. Some eateries just become ‘it’ destinations, which people travel from far and wide to experience. Often these are places with storied histories: a favourite of royals, perhaps, or a haunt of Hollywood stars. Other London restaurants become icons for managing to stick around for so long, like Wiltons, which has been serving Londoners since 1742, and retains a feel of old-school Britain. Then there are the modern institutions, like The River Cafe, Ruth Rogers’ perennially beloved riverside hotspot, and St. John, which spearheaded the nose-to-tail dining movement. Whether they’ve been around for over a century or sprung onto the scene more recently, all the restaurants in this list have a sense of timelessness. And they should all be added to your culinary bucket list.

London’s Most Famous Restaurants

• The River Cafe
• The Wolseley
• St. John
• Wiltons
• The Ritz Restaurant
• L’Escargot
• Langan’s Brasserie
• J Sheekey
• Quo Vadis

The River Cafe, Hammersmith

Since opening in 1987, this riverside gem perched beside the Thames in Hammersmith has remained pretty much unchanged – a testament to its timeless magic. The brainchild of Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray, The River Cafe was originally built as a canteen to feed the staff of Ruth’s husband Robert’s architecture firm. But it quickly became recognised as one of the city’s best Italian restaurants, with its idyllic outdoor terrace and ingredient-led menu. The eatery is also renowned for nurturing some of the biggest chefs in the business: everyone from Jamie Oliver to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has cooked in the River Cafe kitchen at some stage in its history. Signature dishes include the chargrilled squid, which has been on the menu for decades, alongside impeccable pastas and an exclusively Italian wine list.

Where? Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, London W6 9HA

BOOK: rivercafe.co.uk

The Wolseley, Mayfair

If AA Gill wrote a whole book about it, then it’s got to be good. The Wolseley has stood proudly on Piccadilly since 2003 – though the building itself dates back to the early 1900s, when it was first built as a prestigious car show room, going on to serve as a Barclays Bank for some years. Restauranteur duo Chris Corbin and Jeremy King acquired the site in July 2003, and just a few months later the restaurant opened its doors. Its eclectic history is reflected in the interiors: high vaulted ceilings and Venetian pillars intermingle with red and gold Japanese panels, and Oriental friezes on the walls – a feature from its brief stint as a Chinese restaurant. The Wolseley oozes glamour, and you’ll usually spot at least one famous face there (the Beckhams are regulars, and Kate Moss is a fan). It’s a particularly popular spot for breakfast, when Londoners flock in for Arnold Bennett omelettes and baskets of pretty pastries. An all-day menu, meanwhile, offers everything from caviar and oysters to steaks and fish dishes – plus a selection of ice cream coupes, including a pistachio and hazelnut number inspired by the late Lucian Freud.

Where? 160 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9EB

BOOK: thewolseley.com

St. John, Smithfield

When it comes to culinary influence, few London restaurants have had as much of a big impact as St. John. The restaurant first opened in 1996 in a former smokehouse in Smithfield, helmed by Fergus Henderson, Trevor Gulliver and Jon Spiteri – and it was quite unlikely anything the city had seen before. At the time, fine dining was all about luxurious ingredients, tiny plates and extravagant techniques, but the trio decided to go in another direction, focusing instead on pared-back plates of ‘unfashionable’ cuts of meat – think pig’s ear, jellied tripe and lamb’s heart. They were pioneers of the whole animal butchery movement, and stressed the importance of provenance long before it was in vogue. Aside from its green credentials, the restaurant soared to fame for its celebrity clientele: Madonna, Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin were early fans. Over 30 years on, St. John remains one of London’s cult favourites, with many original dishes still on the menu, like the bone marrow and grilled bread with parsley salad.

Where? 26 St John St, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY

BOOK: stjohnrestaurant.com

Wiltons, St James’s

London’s second oldest restaurant (and that’s only because Rules got their liquor license first), Wiltons is the height of sophistication and old-school elegance. The Jermyn Street eatery has long been a firm favourite amongst politicians and celebrities not wanting to get papped; since 1742 it’s become synonymous with discretion, impeccable service – your name will be known after just one sitting – and of course, delectable food. Tradition is at the heart of this refined dining spot, with a carving trolley available daily, serving up roast leg of Romney Marsh lamb and Blythburgh pork, among other meats. If fish is more your thing (or even if it’s not), we urge you to try Wiltons’ famed Dover Sole; as one of the last restaurants to offer fork filleting service at the table, it’s an experience in itself, and one so delicious that it accounts for 90 per cent of the main course orders at Wiltons. The restaurant has been supplying the royal household with its oysters since gaining its first Royal Warrant in 1836, so you can rest assured that when you pull up a seat at the oyster bar, you’ll be sampling the very best. For extra special occasions (anything from a client lunch to a romantic proposal) the restaurant’s private Jimmy Marks Room is perfect. Utterly elegant, it can accommodate up to 20 guests for a seated meal – we suggest hiring the carving trolley as well.

Where? 55 Jermyn Street St James’s, London, SW1Y 6LX

BOOK: wiltons.co.uk

The Ritz Restaurant, Mayfair

The Ritz is one of the most iconic hotels in the world, with an enviable location on London’s Piccadilly overlooking the Royal Green Park. Opened in 1906 by hotelier César Ritz, the hotel quickly became a favourite home-from-home for Hollywood stars and royalty alike – and in 2002, it was the first hotel to be awarded a Royal Warrant. More than a century after its launch, The Ritz remains at the top of its game, recently being crowned the UK’s best restaurant at the National Restaurant Awards, lauded for its feel of timeless elegance, with faultless service and an excellent food offering. In the exquisite Michelin-starred Ritz Restaurant, with its sparkling chandeliers and marble columns, Executive Chef John Williams MBE uses the finest seasonal ingredients throughout the menus. His famed signature dishes include dishes such as Cornish turbot, beef wellington and langoustine à la Nage. Afterwards, spend the evening sipping cocktails in the intimate Art Deco Rivoli Bar.

Where? 150 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9BR

BOOK: theritzlondon.com

L’Escargot, Soho

Another of London’s oldest restaurants, L’Escargot has been around in its current iteration since 1927, though it has been around in some form or another since 1898. The French-inspired eatery is housed in a Georgian house on Greek Street, and upon opening it quickly became a favourite for theatre types, who would flock there pre- and post-shows to try the famous titular dish: snails in garlic parsley butter (this was the first UK restaurant to serve them). It was also a regular haunt of Princess Diana, who would reportedly order the seared tuna with lentils, as well as celebrities including Mick Jagger, Elton John and Coco Chanel. In 2023, the restaurant closed briefly due to some issues with its lease, but happily it reopened after a few months. To this day, it’s widely known as one of London’s best places for French food, with an elegant feel and slick service.

Where? 48 Greek St, London W1D 4EF

BOOK: lescargot.co.uk

Langan’s Brasserie, Mayfair

(c) Cristian Barnett

With one of the world’s biggest actors, Sir Michael Caine, at its helm, Langan’s Brasserie was destined to draw in big names. He opened the restaurant in Mayfair back in 1976 in partnership with the eponymous Irish entrepreneur Peter Langan, and it quickly became a magnet for the rich and famous, frequented by the likes of Princess Margaret, Mick Jagger and Muhammed Ali. As Joan Collins once put it: ‘Anybody who was anybody lunched or dined there’. Yet when Langan died, and his partners traded in their shares, the venue slowly faded away – and in 2020, it went into administration. In late 2021 though, it was revived by restaurateurs Graziano Arricale (previously of Birley Clubs) and James Hitchen (former CEO of Manchester restaurant group East Coast Concepts). Their aim was to bring the spirit of the ’70s and ‘80s heyday to a new generation. That means the showpiece dining room and brasserie-style food remain, but there’s also a raw seafood bar, a basement private dining room, and an invitation-only upstairs bar, designed by Peter Mikic. For a taste of the original, try the beef tartare – prepared tableside – or the famed spinach soufflé with anchovy sauce.

Where? Stratton St, London W1J 8LB

BOOK: langansbrasserie.com

J Sheekey, Covent Garden

Back in 1893, stallholder Josef Sheekey was given permission by Lord Salisbury to serve fish and shellfish in St Martin’s Court, in return for supplying meals to Salisbury’s after-theatre dinner parties. This was the beginning of Sheekey’s – and, to this day, the restaurant retains its Victorian charm. Located bang in the middle of the West End, it’s always been a hotspot for actors, hosting an endless stream of A-listers over the years – from the Beckhams to Jude Law and Bradley Cooper. Food-wise, it’s all about high-quality seafood: think oysters, fruits de mer platters and lobster thermidor, alongside its famous fish pie. Head there for a pre or post-theatre dinner and ensure you sample the excellent cocktail list, which features recreated versions of 10 iconic cocktails from the restaurant’s 125 years.

Where? 28-32 St Martin’s Ct, London WC2N 4AL

BOOK: j-sheekey.co.uk

Quo Vadis, Soho

Occupying four townhouses on Soho’s Dean Street, Quo Vadis is a restaurant with no shortage of history. The building was once a notorious brothel, and from 1851 to 1856 it was home to Karl Marx and his family. It was Italian-born restaurateur Peppino Leoni who gave Quo Vadis its moniker – which translates as ‘where are you going?’ in Italian’ – opening a restaurant there in 1926. Since then the restaurant has had numerous owners, including Marco Pierre White and Damien Hirst, and in the late noughties it was bought by its current owners, Sam and Eddie Hart – the brothers behind Barrafina. Nowadays the space comprises a restaurant, two bars and a private members’ club, with Scottish chef Jeremy Lee spearheading the culinary side. The menu is distinctly British, with signature dishes including the smoked eel and horseradish sandwich, and a daily changing pie.

Where? 26-29 Dean St, London W1D 3LL

BOOK: quovadissoho.co.uk