The best restaurants in London are magnificent and myriad. They are pizzerias, fine dining establishments, curry houses, food markets, grand dining rooms and caffs. Does London have Michelin star restaurants? Yes, 85 of them. Not more than Paris, but more than New York City, Copenhagen or Rome. Does London have sushi and Thai food and Turkish? But of course; the selection of cuisines knows no bounds. If you’re heading to London on either our British Royale or Castles & Kingdoms journeys, you’ll want to extend your stay and make some reservations – treat the list below as your little black book.  Somehow, we have narrowed it down to 13 of the best places to eat in London right now.

The Devonshire

The London pub of your dreams is just off Piccadilly Circus, right opposite the elaborate, art deco theatre that’s been hosting the feathers of Moulin Rouge since 2022. The Devonshire is a hot ticket, so book in advance. Then you’ll be able to luxuriate in your good planning, on a burgundy banquette, with a pint of velvety Guinness and a beef cheek suet pudding.

 

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Brutto

This perfect trattoria is one of the best restaurants in London for a celebratory lunch that ends on a tiramisu high and starts with coccoli or “cuddles” (which are fried balls of dough served with silky prosciutto and creamy soft cheese). The atmosphere is divine, as are the spritzes. Bookings open exactly 14 days ahead of time, so you must be alert.

 

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You may also enjoy reading: What to Wear to Dinner in London by Food Writer Laura Goodman

Brat

This Basque grill restaurant in chic Shoreditch is named after the old English word for turbot, one of the star menu items that comes golden from the grill. Brat is about great food, cooked disarmingly simply but with such skill. The grilled flatbread with anchovies is a modern classic, as are the chopped eggs with bottarga on toast, and – arguably London’s most famous pudding – the burnt cheesecake.

 

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The Clove Club

For fine dining with a big heart, nowhere does it like The Clove Club, which has been keeping modern British food interesting in Shoreditch Town Hall for over 10 years now. The tasting menu is ever-changing, but always an adventure through the best of British ingredients – Wiltshire trout, Orkney scallops, Scottish langoustine, Yorkshire rhubarb – containing eight dishes which are so much more than the sum of their parts.

 

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Chishuru

In 2024, chef Adejoké Bakare became the first black woman in the UK to be given a Michelin star. Her singular West African cooking had a loyal fanbase among London’s chefs and punters long before she settled at the Fitzrovia address, thanks to a previous Brixton iteration of Chishuru. The food is luminous, delicious, cosy, alive – this is a tasting menu that makes you feel looked after.

 

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Jikoni

Eat an abundant, joyous lunch at Jikoni, where the floral tablecloths and peachy pastels will lift your spirits and the food is sunshine on a plate. Chef-founder Ravinder Bhogal describes her kitchen as ‘no borders’, offering a gently genius cross-cultural menu of, for instance, prawn toast Scotch egg with banana ketchup, or Cornish ray wing with lime pickle beurre noisette. Not to mention the Jikoni ice creams (pistachio, Ovaltine or Turkish delight).

 

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Bookmark for later: The Luxury Gold Guide to the Best London Experiences

Trullo

This handsome blue spot close to Islington’s Upper Street is an Italian restaurant in the most London sense of the words. The menu is creative but unshowy and the food is reliable, but always a massive treat. It’s one of the best restaurants in London, but quietly. For primi: pappardelle with beef shin ragu or ravioli with Westcombe ricotta, sweet herbs and walnut sauce. From the oven: Whole Torbay lemon sole. Yes.

 

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Kol

Sitting at number 17 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, Kol is a modern Mexican restaurant full of soul in calm, elegant Marylebone. Chef Santiago Lastra’s blending of central American flavors and British produce is masterful and the downstairs mezcaleria oozes fun. It’s fine dining – tasting menus only, which is just as well, because you don’t want to miss a thing.

 

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Ikoyi

And at number 35 of the same list is Ikoyi, which the people at the World’s 50 Best describe as serving “category-free cuisine”. With a choice location on The Strand, close to Covent Garden station, this two Michelin star restaurant is the brainchild of chef Jeremy Chan – he creates complex, beautiful dishes inspired by West African spices and British ingredients.

 

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Toklas

This Mediterranean restaurant with its own bakery has lots of fans, including Britain’s own Nigella. It’s near Temple, close to the Thames, and only a short walk along The Strand from Covent Garden. Come for coffee and squishy cardamom buns in the morning or a perfect, pre-theatre set menu. Or, luxuriate in the full menu, from boquerones, through grilled pork chops (with escarole, raisins and capers), fantastic fries and tarte tatin. Toklas is one of the best places to eat in London at any time of day.

 

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Gymkhana

This is a two Michelin star restaurant inspired by the elite clubs of India where members of high society socialize, eat, drink, and play sport. The dining room – with its amber lighting, dark timber, shades of jade green and brass – is a chic space in which to work through a thoughtful tasting menu, an adventure in Indian fine dining.

 

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The Ritz

What is the most iconic restaurant in London? There is nowhere on this planet like The Ritz. Think: lofty, frescoed ceilings, gilding, glittering chandeliers, marble columns and all the rest of it. Go for absolute theatre – it’s icons or bust. The beef wellington is a fine centrepiece, made with Périgord truffle, sliced at the table and the crêpe Suzette is cooked (and dramatically flambéed) tableside.

 

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With exceptional dining at the heart of every Luxury Gold journey, take a look at our collection of small group luxury tours.

Each year, Mercer, the consultancy focused on global economics, publishes its list of the most expensive cities in the world. The index lists 226 cities in the world in order, measuring how ‘expensive’ each one is by comparing the costs of more than 200 items in each location, including transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. Mercer says “the comprehensive ranking serves as a valuable compass, providing guidance through the intricate landscape of living expenses in cities worldwide”. At the other end of the Mercer list, the cities that ranked the lowest for living costs last year are Islamabad, Lagos and Abuja.

Mercer’s list of the most expensive cities in the world is aimed at companies with employees who are assigned internationally and it includes four Swiss cities (Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern). There are other similar lists, including one by The EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit), which publishes a worldwide cost of living survey naming its most expensive cities in the world each year. And there’s another, by Numbeo, which focuses on the prices of consumer goods such as food, restaurants, and transportation, but not housing. Below, we’ve combined our findings to make a list of the 10 most expensive cities in the world, which happen to make wonderful luxury travel destinations.

1. Singapore

Poised at the top of both lists, there is no denying this luxury paradise’s position as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Singapore has pizzazz in abundance – even its botanical garden is described by Lonely Planet as “a S$1 billion, 101-hectare fantasy land of space-age biodomes, high-tech Supertrees and whimsical sculptures”. The soothing Mandarin Oriental overlooks the Marina Bay Sands development – the crown jewel of the skyline, and the symbol of modern Singapore.

2. Hong Kong

This city wears its luxury credentials glamorously, via an iconic skyline, glittering harbour and spectacular restaurant scene. But there are lush green peaks all around, too, offering panoramic views, Hong Kong camellias and sightings of spoon-billed sandpipers. Stay at the Peninsula to absorb some old-world magic, right on the Kowloon waterfront, and dine at Wing, Vicky Cheng’s rule-free fine dining establishment, which celebrates the eight great Chinese cuisines to dazzling effect.

3. Zurich

Another long-term resident of the top 10 list, this Swiss city rides high as a result of expensive housing prices and high transportation costs. Our 10-day Majestic Switzerland journey begins and ends in Zurich, where we stay at the stunning art deco AMERON Zürich Bellerive au Lac on the shore of Lake Zurich, a short walk from the opera house.

4. Geneva

On the same captivating Switzerland journey, which sweeps round the country with a stint on the Glacier Express, we pause in Geneva for a stay at the uniquely grand but intimate Hotel d’Angleterre, on the shores of the lake. It’s a sumptuous address – lots of dark wood, soothing tones, rich fabrics and imposing drapery. The lake views from the restaurant are exquisite, making for a meal perfectly befitting one of the most expensive cities in the world.

5. Copenhagen

Number 8 on the EIU list, Denmark’s impossibly cool capital is well documented as an expensive destination to while away a weekend. It’s worth every penny. Our Timeless Scandinavia journey combines a divine mix of fjords, scenic railways, countryside abodes and dazzling cities, starting in Copenhagen. Our chosen city lodgings are the epitome of Scandi minimalism: 71 Nyhavn is made up of restored canalside warehouse buildings, originally built in the early 1800s. We dine at the Michelin-star Høst – on the best Nordic ingredients, meticulously assembled.

6. Paris

Naturalement, some of the world’s most fabulous vacations are taken in Paris. On our Ultimate France journey we luxuriate in Paris last of all, so you can also extend your trip and linger longer. We stay at the Hotel Napoleon, a romantic address in the city’s heart, a short walk from the Arc de Triomphe. At the very end, our guests reminisce over dinner on the Eiffel Tower, potentially the most alluring dining destination in the world.

7. New York City

We flock to the Big Apple to shop widely, dine opulently and sleep soundly in some of the world’s most exquisite boudoirs, amid the unmistakable buzz of one of the most expensive cities in the world. Our current hotel pick for sheer grandiosity is the Fifth Avenue Hotel, once part of the estate of a 19th century socialite, sensationally restored with a jewel box palette, elaborate wallpapers, ornate paneling and oysters à la pomme at Café Carmellini.

8. London

Maintaining its position in the top 10 thanks to enormous demand for a tightly constrained supply of city-centre property, London is still Europe’s biggest financial centre, and the average house costs around 850,000 USD. On our journey through the regal glory of Great Britain, we begin in London – very centrally – across the road from Buckingham Palace. The Rubens at the Palace is a riot of lavish Englishness, with four poster beds, doormen in tailcoats and afternoon tea.

9. Nassau

The high cost of living in Nassau is due to its status as a tourist destination and financial hub, and because of high demand for limited housing from both locals and expatriates. Modern Nassau is all high-end fashion designers, extremely fine dining and superyachts – all with that turquoise backdrop. Soak it up at the Rosewood Baha Mar, a haven of exclusivity, with a golf course, French restaurant and soothing, richly decorated residences, opening on to the powder white sands of Cable Beach.

10. Los Angeles

LA has higher than average costs for housing, taxes, food, transport, health care, and utilities. The most expensive neighbourhood is Bel-Air. If you’re in town, only the rose-coloured Hotel Bel-Air will do, set within 18 acres of bougainvillea, ficus, orange blossom and fern. This classic Hollywood hideaway makes guests feel like A-listers, and is a peaceful antidote to the traffic.

As a lifelong Londoner, one of the things I love most about the city is that – truly – you can wear what you like. This is the city of diversity, self-expression and creativity – be who you are and feel good doing it. So, why does it feel so easy to get it wrong? Possibly because it’s also the city of the poorly ventilated London Underground, relentless drizzle, and long, uneven walks. And because it’s English. Which means you never know when a unexpected Anglicism is going to catch you unawares. Let’s get into some of the nuances that dictate precisely what to wear to dinner in London. We’ll finish with some dos and don’ts.

How to Dress For Dinner in London:

Dress codes

 If we start by turning our attention to some of the older, classic restaurants, what do we learn? At Claridge’s, “we do not operate any dress code, however we find most of our guests choose smart casual dress”. At The Ritz, “gentlemen are required to wear a jacket and tie” in the main restaurant, while “shorts, trainers and sportswear are not permitted in any of the hotel’s restaurants or bars”. At Rules, “whilst jacket or tie are not required, we prefer smart dress”.

In a lot of ways, these are the easy ones. You probably wouldn’t even consult the dress code before taking afternoon tea at the Ritz, you’d just know you were embarking on something luxe, and you’d want to dress accordingly. The direction that luxury takes you in is really up to you.

Buttoned up pockets:

 There are some pockets of the city that take dress codes more seriously. For instance, there was a “tightening up” of the dress code at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea recently. It now reads:

“We would like all of our guests to feel free to express their own individual style however, we do ask guests to avoid shorts, tracksuits, hoodies and hats. Smart trainers are fine. We know lots of our guests like to dress smartly which we appreciate. Ultimately we want every guest to feel at home.”

I appreciate the distinction between “smart trainers” and the ones you wear to the gym, or “sportswear”. I think it’s important to know that comfort counts for a lot in London, and you know the difference between one sneaker and another.

Even restaurants frequented by royalty have a smart-casual policy these days, though in these corners of London (Mayfair, Kensington), they can have their own ideas about what that actually means – some state that they prefer a jacket over a shirt, some specify “tailored shorts” – but these are few and far between.

Feeling fancy

In fact the reality is that most high end restaurants in London are so relaxed about clothes, you might want to seek out some addressed that are special enough to flex your fanciest looks. If you’re looking for restaurants with stunning surrounds, consider Berners Tavern for glamorous chandeliers and cornicing to befit a stately home, Bob Bob Ricard for pie and champagne in sumptuous booths, The Dover for seventies Sophia Loren-style splendour or Booking Office 1869 for vast interiors and indoor palm trees.

Dining in London: Dos and Don’ts

Dos:

Black

There is no need to wear black if you usually don’t. But if you own a chic black jacket, dress or pair of pants that makes you feel fabulous, consider it the key to your capsule wardrobe. You can go in any direction you please from there.

 A good coat (or jacket, or indeed shacket)

If your restaurant manager is kind enough to help you slip your coat from your shoulders on to a hanger, you want to feel really good watching it disappear into the closet. In London, for obvious reasons, you cannot underestimate the power of a good coat – it almost doesn’t matter what’s underneath.

Comfy shoes

As we’ve established, even Claridge’s wants you to feel at home. Nothing mars an unforgettable meal like a pair of blisters. Wear the good trainers, or the boots you know like the back of your … foot.

 A woollen jumper

When autumn arrives, knitwear is practically a sport in London. Whether it’s a classic navy cashmere number, or a bright, oversize piece, wearing a jumper you love is the cosiest way to express yourself, and to feel fully ensconced at the table.

Don’ts:

Grey

I’m sure Stanley Tucci could pull it off, but we don’t need to try. If there’s one thing we have enough of here, it’s grey – in the sky and in the hue of people’s sun-deprived skin as winter prattles on. Please consider Londoners by leaving your grey suits at home. 

Tiny umbrellas

I’ve lost more of those soggy minis under restaurant tables than I can bear to think about, but I have a big, gold leopard print (hard to miss) one that’s been with me for almost 10 years.

Worry

You will not “look like a tourist” – there is no such thing here. Even the classic look (cycling shorts, baggy souvenir t-shirt, socks and trainers) looks great in the right establishment (not one that hates sportswear). And everyone is using Google Maps to navigate Soho (although when in Rome – or London – Citymapper is the preferred app of choice).

Overthink

Londoners can smell outfit insecurity a mile off. You just pulled this old thing out of the suitcase and threw it on – right? 

What about Crocs and flops?

One has to operate some discretion when it comes to open toes and so forth. It’s a no to your old Havaianas, a yes to your key lime platform Crocs. But that’s just common sense.