Central London is a melting pot of culinary excellence, home to a diverse array of restaurants that cater to every palate and preference. While often coined as touristy, there’s no doubt that there are some incredible food spots to explore if you’re in town.
From Michelin-starred fine dining establishments to cozy neighbourhood eateries, whether you’re in the mood for traditional British fare, or something more, these restaurants are sure to impress.
How we handpick London’s best restaurants in Central London
Each restaurant on this list has been carefully chosen by a member of our team. Our editors and the Secret London team rely on personal experiences, recommendations, editorial reviews, customer feedback, and thorough research to bring you the finest dining spots in the city. We are constantly on the lookout for new places with delicious food and excellent service. This list is regularly updated as we discover new openings and revisit established favourites.
So without further ado, these are the best restaurants in Central London:
1. The Devonshire
Cuisine: British, Pub & Grill
Opened by Oisin Rogers, Charlie Carroll, Ashley Palmer-Watts and led by head chef Jamie Guy, The Devonshire is a highly anticipated restaurant in Soho. It boasts luxuriously traditional pub interiors with Chesterfield banquettes and dark woods, a daily changing menu prepared over a live fire, and a rooftop terrace near Piccadilly Circus. The team behind this restaurant is renowned for their hospitality and culinary expertise, making it a standout in central London.
Address: 17 Denman Street, Soho, W1D 7HW
2. Clipstone
Cuisine: Modern British
Clipstone is a versatile restaurant that suits any occasion and dining companion. It is the more relaxed sibling of the Michelin-starred Portland. The restaurant features bright, understated interiors and a three-course modern British menu. Dishes include venison tartare with pickled beetroot and stuffed poussin with black garlic and girolles. The drinks menu is also noteworthy, with an interesting wine list and refined cocktails.
Address: 5 Clipstone St, London W1W 6BB
3. Gymkhana
Cuisine: Indian
Gymkhana, in Mayfair, is a luxurious Indian restaurant with two Michelin stars. The restaurant is designed to resemble India’s exclusive Raj-era country clubs. It offers modernised versions of prized Indian dishes from across the region. The dark-timbered cocktail bar and private dining rooms add to the lavish atmosphere.
Address: 42 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JH.
4. Bubala Soho
Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Vegetarian
Bubala Soho is a Levantine eatery with a meat-free menu that is so delicious, you might not even notice the absence of meat. The restaurant features an open kitchen, candlelit tables, and a vibrant playlist. Dishes include cauliflower and oyster mushroom skewers, all prepared on a yakitori grill.
Address: 15 Poland St, London W1F 8QE.
5. Akoko
Cuisine: West African
Akoko is a Michelin-starred West African restaurant in Fitzrovia. Head chef Ayo Adeyemi creates breathtaking 10-course tasting menus using traditional recipes from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. The restaurant features textured clay walls and ceramics by the Nigerian ‘Queen of Pottery,’ Ladi Kwali, and offers exquisite wine or cocktail pairings.
Address: 21 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 3LP
6. HUMO
Cuisine: Fine Dining, Live Fire Cooking
HUMO, located in Mayfair, is known for its sophisticated live fire cooking. Chef Miller Prada uses reclaimed whisky barrels to add unique flavours to dishes like scallops and cauliflower. The restaurant offers a £60 lunch menu, making Michelin-starred dining more accessible. Downstairs, there is ABAJO, which provides a full chef’s table experience.
Address: 12 St George St, London W1S 2FB.
7. KOL
Cuisine: Mexican
KOL, founded by Santiago Lastra, who previously worked at NOMA, offers high-end Mexican dining. Lastra’s experience in European restaurants and his residency in Tulum inspired the menu, which features indigenous produce and techniques. The restaurant has a Michelin star and offers an intimate chef’s table experience and a subterranean mezcaleria.
Address: 9 Seymour St, London W1H 7BA.
8. Sabor
Cuisine: Spanish
Sabor, founded by Nieves Barragán Mohacho, combines the best of tapas dining and traditional Spanish asador cooking. The restaurant offers a unique dining experience with dishes that blend modern and traditional Spanish cuisine.
Address: 35-37 Heddon Street, Mayfair, W1B 4BR
9. Fallow
Cuisine: Eco-Friendly Fine Dining
Fallow in St James’s Market is known for its sustainable and innovative approach to fine dining. The restaurant features dishes like cod’s head brined and cooked over charcoal, lion’s head mushrooms grown in-house, and a chelsea tart made from leftover whey. It sets a high standard for eco-friendly restaurants.
Address: 2 St. James’s Market, SW1Y 4RP
10. Kiln
Cuisine: Thai
Kiln in Soho offers a unique dining experience with front-row seats to the kitchen, where chefs prepare dishes like cured Yunnan sausages and pigs head in claypots. The restaurant is inspired by roadside stalls in northern Thailand and features a sleek stainless-steel kitchen.
Address: 58 Brewer Street, W1F 9TL
11. Tendril
Cuisine: Mostly Vegan, Plant-Based
Tendril, in Mayfair, is a restaurant that showcases the excitement of plant-based cuisine. Rishim Sachdeva’s menu is globally influenced and features a Discovery tasting menu at an affordable £49 per head. The restaurant is known for its innovative and delicious vegan dishes, making it an excellent choice for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
Address: 5 Princes St, London W1B 2LQ
12. Quo Vadis
Quo Vadis is a legendary restaurant on Dean Street, Soho, with over a century of history. After a recent renovation, it maintains its glamorous appeal. Head chef Jeremy Lee’s menu includes classics like smoked eel sandwiches and pie of the day. The restaurant also features a QV Members’ area upstairs with priority access to exclusive supper clubs.
Address: 26-29 Dean St, London W1D 3LL
13. Bob Bob Ricard
Cuisine: British-Russian
Bob Bob Ricard is known for its opulent decor and the infamous Champagne button at each table. The menu includes fancified British-Russian dishes, an abundance of caviar, and swanky decor reminiscent of the Orient Express. The restaurant offers a luxurious dining experience with a touch of excess.
Address: 1 Upper James Street, W1F 9DF.
14. Maison Francois
Cuisine: French
Maison Francois in St James’s is the epitome of a French restaurant. It features a wine bar downstairs called Frank’s, brasserie-style banquettes, and a menu filled with Gallic classics like pâté en croûte and beef onglet with sauce bordelaise. The dessert trolley is a highlight, offering macarons, eclairs, truffles, and madeleines.
Address: 34 Duke Street, St James’s, SW1Y 6DF.
15. Paradise
Cuisine: Sri Lankan
Paradise in Soho offers traditional Sri Lankan family recipes using British ingredients. The menu includes dishes like grilled Cornish monkfish with spiced Yorkshire rhubarb and langoustine curry. After a brief refit, the restaurant now offers a tasting menu-only approach, ensuring a streamlined dining experience.
Address: 61 Rupert Street, Soho, London W1D 7PW
16. The Palomar
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
The Palomar in Soho is a modern interpretation of traditional Jewish, Southern Spanish, and North African foods. It offers a lively counter dining experience with a focus on seafood and other dishes like lamb’s neck and octopus. If you can’t get a seat here, consider its Covent Garden cousin, The Barbary.
Address: 34 Rupert Street, Soho, W1D 6DN.
17. Darjeeling Express
Cuisine: Indian
Darjeeling Express, located in Kingly Court, is run by superstar chef Asma Khan. The restaurant transports diners to the Indian subcontinent with 14-dish Royal Thali feasts, slow-cooked tamarind dal, and fiery goat curry. The dishes are inspired by traditional wedding celebrations and are cooked by Asma and her team of culinarily-gifted ‘housewives.’
Address: Kingly Court, Carnaby, W1B 5PW
18. Blacklock Soho
Cuisine: Chophouse
Blacklock Soho, founded by former Hawksmoor employees, offers a concise menu of top-grade meats seared on a huge grill using an old Blacklock foundry iron. The restaurant is known for its well-priced drinks, lively atmosphere, and quirky setting in a former strip club.
Address: 24 Great Windmill Street, Soho, W1D 7LG
19. La Bodega Negra
Cuisine: Mexican
La Bodega Negra is a secret subterranean Mexican restaurant and cocktail den located beneath a charmingly nondescript Soho sex shop. It offers a unique and illicit dining experience with tequila-infused cocktails.
Address: 9 Old Compton Street, Soho, W1D 5JF.
20. Barrafina
Barrafina is one of central London’s most renowned Spanish tapas restaurants. With locations in Covent Garden, Soho, Borough, and King’s Cross, it offers a brilliant white dining counter where chefs prepare dishes like cuttlefish croquetas and milk-fed lamb’s brains.
Address: Locations in Covent Garden, Soho, Borough & King’s Cross