They say that nothing quite compares to Paris in the Spring. But if you can’t manage a trip to the City of Love, there’s still a chance to get a taste of France in London. Roundup your monsieur or mademoiselle du jour, and take them to one of these romantic French restaurants in London listed below:
Table Of Contents
Michelin-starred French restaurants
The crรจme de la crรจme of French restaurants in our beloved capital.
1. Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester
The only one of London’s French restaurants to rack up the maximum three Michelin stars, the seven course tasting menu here will set you back an eye-watering ยฃ285. But then again, quality rarely comes cheap… The seafood here is absolutely incredible, and they’ve also got some fabulous wines too. Oh darling.
๐You’ll find Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester at 53 Park Lane, London, W1K 1QA.
๐ Nearest station is Green Park.
2. Le Gavroche
It translates as ‘the urchin’, not that you’ll see many of them at this place. Le Gavroche is run by frequent Masterchef guest Michel Roux Jr, and currently holds two Michelin stars. If you’re wanting to go all out, make sure you go for the seven-course tasting menu, which has everything from cheese soufflรฉ to glazed langoustines.
๐You’ll find Le Gavroche at 43 Upper Brook Street, London, W1K 7QR.
๐ Nearest station is Marble Arch.
3. Hรฉlรจne Darroze at The Connaught
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a fancy London hotel must possess an equally fancy dining option. So it goes at The Connaught, where Hรฉlรจne Darroze heroes British ingredients to the tune of two Michelin stars.
๐You’ll find Hรฉlรจne Darroze at The Connaught, Carlos Place, London, W1K 2AL.
๐ Nearest station is Bond Street.
4. Pied ร Terre
Gorgeously gourmet, and surprisingly reasonable amongst French restaurants with Michelin stars. Pied ร Terre’s four-course lunch menu is just from ยฃ55 per person, and the ten-course tasting menu is ยฃ120, which is likely as cheap as you’ll get for this standard of cooking.
๐You’ll find Pied ร Terre at 34 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London, W1T 2NH.
๐ Nearest station is Goodge Street.
5. Galvin La Chapelle
The first of two award-winning French restaurants from the brothers Galvin. Under the high ceilings of the magnificent St. Botolph’s Hall, the seven-course Menu Gourmand will satisfy your appetite for ยฃ125. If that’s breaking the bank a bit, then make sure you go for the weekday lunch, which is just ยฃ43 for two courses and ยฃ48 for three. Merci!
๐You’ll find Galvin La Chapelle at 35 Spital Square, London, E1 6DY.
๐ Nearest station is Liverpool Street.
6. Le Dame De Pic
Top of Tower Hill’s French restaurants, Anne-Sophie Pic has conquered the French cooking scene despite having no formal chef training. Her London joint earned a Michelin star by exploring the ‘encounters that take place throughout the sensory process‘.
๐You’ll find Le Dame De Pic at the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten, 10 Trinity Square, London EC3N 4AJ.
๐ Nearest station is Tower Hill.
7. Club Gascon
South-west France is the dining destination here, with seasonal ingredients forming the backbone of the menu. As French restaurants go, this one is trรจs magnifique. Standouts on the menu include their eight-course tasting menu and their excellent selection of wines โ all of which hail from South West France.
๐You’ll find Club Gascon at 57 West Smithfield, London, EC1A 9DS.
๐ Nearest station is Barbican.
8. La Trompette
Bring on the trumpets for La Trompette, Chiswick’s answer to the 8th arrondissement. Fine French cooking with the cream of British ingredients make this spot the best of both worlds. A mighty fine reason to head West we say…
๐You’ll find La Trompette at 3-7 Devonshire Road, Chiswick, London, W4 2EU.
๐ Nearest station is Turnham Green.
9. Galvin at Windows
The Galvin clan’s second Michelin starred offering is a confluence of everything fancy. Think the five-star Hilton Hotel, Park Lane, with views of Hyde Park from the 28th floor. Amongst the foodie highlights are a seven course dรฉgustation menu from head chef Joo Won.
๐You’ll find Galvin at Windows at 22 Park Lane, London, W1K 1BE.
Other French restaurants in London
The Michelin guide may not have picked them up yet, but these French restaurants are also amongst London’s best.
10. Clos Maggiore
It’s raked in the awards for most romantic restaurant in London, and the food ain’t bad either. Although a Michelin star eludes Clos Maggiore, the modern take on Provenรงal cooking is a delicious crowd-pleaser. This is definitely one you’ll want to share on your old Instagram or Tik Tok account.
๐You’ll find Clos Maggiore at 33 King Street, London, WC2E 8JD.
๐ Nearest station is Covent Garden.
11. LPM Restaurant & Bar
The menu at the LPM Restaurant & Bar lends itself to leisurely lunches and balmy London evenings, with fantastic French Riviera-inspired dishes on the bill such as artichoke with lemon and caviar vinaigrette, warm prawns drizzled with olive oil and mouthwatering pan-fried sole with fiery grain mustard. The all-encompassing destination itself is also inspired by the affectionate culture off the coasts of the South of France, where you can expect to find bold yet refined flavours, daring and irreverent energy, and outstanding hospitality โ thereโs also a fantastic al fresco terrace here, which is great to while away the hours during the Summer months.
๐Youโll find the LPM Restaurant and Bar at 53-54 Brook’s Mews, London, W1K 4EG.
๐ Nearest station is Bond Street.
12. Blanchette
Happily satisfying two demands โ being among the best of Londonโs French restaurants and best Soho restaurants โ Blanchetteโs Soho spot heads straight down the Parisian route. Think charcuterie, moules mariniรจre, and cheese and honey pairings at this lovely eatery.
๐ You’ll find Blanchette at 9 DโArblay Street, London, W1F 8DR.
๐ Nearest station is Oxford Circus
13. Medlar
A charming French restaurant on the Kings Road, Medlar has wowed critics over the years. It’s a bit of a medley, with British ingredients and French cooking married to some distinctly international influences.
๐ You’ll find Medlar at 438 King’s Road, London, SW10 0LH.
๐ Nearest station is Imperial Wharf.
14. L’Escargot
Coco Chanel, Mick Jagger, and Princess Diana have all dined here, so you know it’s going to be good. A fixture in Soho since 1927, you can’t leave without trying the dish the restaurant is named after: the snails. It’s also got artworks by Miro, Warhol and Picasso decking the walls. Fancy schmancy! Note that it’s currently being refurbished and will open its doors once more in May 2023.
๐You’ll find L’Escargot at 48 Greek Street, London, W1D 4EF.
๐ Nearest station is Tottenham Court Road.
15. Casse-Croรปte
Now this is one that you really don’t want to miss. Despite being in Bermondsey, this place is so determinedly French that they don’t translate the menus here. They also change said menus every day, so your chances of ending up with the same thing twice are rather slim.
๐You’ll find Casse-Croรปte at 109 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3XB.
๐ Nearest station is London Bridge.
16. Bleeding Heart Bistro
A lovely laidback bistro set right in the heart of Farringdon, the Bleeding Heart is charmingly rustic. They boast a cute little courtyard, and a wine list of 450 bottles โ you’re already on the way, aren’t you? ร ta santรฉ.
๐You’ll find Bleeding Heart Bistro at 7 Bleeding Heart Yard, Greville Street, London, EC1N 8SJ.
๐ Nearest station is Farringdon.
17. Le Pont de la Tour
Hidden amongst the warehouses and walkways of Shad Thames, Le Pont de la Tour gives you stunning views of the iconic landmark Tower Bridge. The food is equally luxurious, blending traditional methods with modern innovation.
๐You’ll find La Pont de la Tour at 36D Shad Thames, London, SE1 2YE.
๐ Nearest station is London Bridge.
18. Mon Plaisir
Somewhat bemusingly, it claims to be the oldest French restaurant in London despite only being founded in the 1940s. Still, the menu is brimming with classic French dishes, so we’ll forgive this apparent fib. It’s also right by Seven Dials Market which is a draw in itself…
๐You’ll find Mon Plaisir at 19-21 Monmouth Street, London, WC2H 9DD.
๐ Nearest station is Tottenham Court Road.
19. The Orrery
You’ll come for the giant cheese trolley, but you’ll also be seduced by inventive starters and a truly magnificent steak. The Orrery is a fabulous reason to make the journey to Marylebone. It’s also based in a converted stable block which has it’s own roof terrace with sweeping church views โ oh I say!
๐You’ll find The Orrery at 55 Marylebone High Street, London, W1U 5RB.
๐ Nearest stations are Regent’s Park and Baker Street.
20. Gauthier
Whilst French restaurants are often known for meat and cheese, Gauthier does things differently. There are two entirely vegan menus to choose from, including an eight-course vegan tasting menu for ยฃ95 per person. You’ve also got the option to add a Sommelier-chosen wine pairing here โ and let’s face it, why the hell wouldn’t you?!
๐You’ll find Gauthier at 21 Romilly Street, London, W1D 5AF.
๐ Nearest station is Leicester Square.
So there you have it โ a roundup of the best French restaurants in London. From cheese and wine to moules mariniรจre and boeuf bourguignon, there’s something for everyone here. What will you go for?
Also published on Medium.