The 10 best West London restaurants
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West London's restaurant scene isn't just buttoned-up suppers: find modern Scandi plates, neighbourhood bistros and Andean flavours among the best tables to book in Notting Hill, Chelsea and South Kensington. If you're hoping to explore the food scene beyond West London, then look no further than our definitive list of the best restaurants in London.
The Ledbury
If you weave your way through Notting Hill's Richard Curtis-ready back streets, you might not look twice at this tucked-away spot. But those in the know are well aware that The Ledbury is one of those places that needs to shout its whereabouts. Inside, soothing, pared-back interiors let the real star of the show take the limelight. Chef Brett Graham's menu is nothing short of spectacular, showcasing a skill sought after by many but so perfectly executed by few. The chalk stream trout is served cubed atop of an Isle of Wight tomato consomme and a soft quenelle of green shiso ice cream, while the shiitake mushrooms (grown in a fridge below the dining room) are barbecued and plated up on a bed of silken tofu and truffle shavings. Staff have that omnipresent / barely there combination down to a tee – plus, there isn't any of the pretension that so often accompanies a Michelin-starred establishment (never mind a two-Michelin starred one). Olivia Morelli
Address: 127 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AQ
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Zēphyr
When friends ask for restaurant recommendations, it can be hard to choose from the myriad of incredible restaurants in London. But once in a blue moon, you come across one of those immediate top-of-the-list ones – and for me, Zēphyr was it. In this Mediterranean spot, upbeat tunes and candy-coloured trinkets and artwork adds exciting pops to the sandalwood interiors. You feel like you’ve been transported to a beach club in Mykonos during summer. Except we’re not in Greece, we’re amid Portobello Road’s bustling lunch crowd. The menu though is classically Greek, split by soil, sea and land sections.
Start by dipping house-made bread in the tzatziki and tarama, a salty yet tangy cod roe emulsion with lime. For a refreshing hit, order the Greek salad with feta, capers and crunchy rusk, which is found in the soil section with the creamy baked butter beans and kalamata olives. Our favourite was the tender octopus with fava purée and a kalamata olive mayo but the soutzoukakia, a spiced minced beef dish topped with cumin yoghurt and paprika oil, also made it to the clean plate club.
At dinner, other than a few additions, the menu is essentially the same. The vibe though is different at this time. Lights are dimmed and the music slows down, making it a perfect setting as one of the most romantic restaurants in London. Zahra Surya Darma
Address: Zēphyr, 100 Portobello Rd, London W11 2QD, United Kingdom
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Dorian
Nestled seamlessly between the painted shopfronts of Notting Hill’s Talbot Road, Dorian confidently serves an assortment of bistro classics with a side of neighbourhood charm. Comfy, quintessential bistro-style sofas are met with white-clothed and candle-lit tables to create an intimate space where industrial ceilings and an open kitchen manned by seven chefs ground the classic interior with a paired-back local cool. The team offer a mixture of small plates and mains – a simple yet alluring menu that lets quality sourcing and seasonal ingredients sing – with many making the journey west for the open-grilled T-Bone steak alone. If steak isn’t so much your thing, there’s still an arsenal of noteworthy dishes on offer. The bite-sized rostis topped with Cornish mackerel made for a memorable starter upon our visit and teed us up perfectly for shared portions of the sweet lobster tail and Dover sole. Just make sure to book in advance, as despite no longer being the new kid on the block (it opened in October 2022), Dorian has kept its energetic buzz – comfortably filling its 44 seats even on a weeknight. Holly Johnson
Address: Dorian, 107 Talbot Rd, London W11 2AT, United Kingdom
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J W HowardStudio Frantzén, Knightsbridge
Harrods is undergoing a revolution. After years in the wilderness of mediocre department store dining, devotees are being treated to a foodie transformation. First came fish and chips from Tom Kerridge, burgers from Gordon Ramsey and a restaurant from Jason Atherton. A glossy, glassy Moet Champagne bar opened in the summer of 2022, quickly followed by a patisserie overseen by Angelo Musa, former head of pastry at Plaza Athènée. Now, Stockholm-born Björn Frantzén is the latest splashy chef to arrive on Brompton Road.
Frantzén opened his eponymous restaurant in his hometown in 2008, and in the two years following picked up two Michelin stars. Its third followed almost a decade later, in 2017 – in the meantime, he opened a clutch of restaurants and bars across the world, including Michelin-starred Zen in Singapore. Studio Frantzén, which unspools across the blushing fifth and sixth floor of Harrods, is his first London opening. Here, Frantzén plucks ideas from both of his most-starry restaurants, mixing Nordic ingredients with Asian influences. Diners wedge into intimate, curvy booths carved into the walls or scoot up to the open kitchen for a glimpse of how their supper is cooked.
It's a gleaming scene; coiffed shoppers lounge below perfectly dimmed lights in the bar or pull up a pew on the sprawling terrace. So gleaming that the food, somehow, is almost an afterthought. All the hallmarks of a smart restaurant are present and correct on the menu: Rockefeller Oysters, caviar. Veal tartare is tossed with punchy truffle aioli and toasted almonds, and cold poached lobster is pretty-as-a-picture in sweet tomato water, cut through with pink peppercorns and lemon verbena. Order from a curated menu of mains or a longer list of dishes from the fireplace: rosy Lake District lamb comes with wasabi and mint for dolloping; salmon tataki is served with daikon, cabbage salad, and ponzu. The stars of the show, really, are the bread – warm, croissant-like laminated milk bread with an almost liquidy blond miso butter; and the sides – I'd go back for the Hasselback potato, deep fried and doused in whipped browned butter and cream cheese alone. Finally, Harrods is a dining destination worth knowing about. Sarah JamesAddress: 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge Fifth Floor, Harrods, London SW1X 7XL
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Polly WebsterChurch Road, Barnes
Church Road filled the sentimental void left by neighbourhood favourite Sonny’s Kitchen, where local families and thirsty A-listers once rubbed shoulders. Open since September 2019, the restaurant brings fresh energy and a bright-eyed ethos to the leafy borough of Richmond, shaving off the pretentious fine-dining trappings and honing in on what matters: provenance and no-fuss (but well-cooked) food. The interiors feel less homespun with sumptuous fabrics softening otherwise sharp, minimalist shapes, all warmed by a contemporary fireplace playing to the area’s residential feel. A moody, marbled bar greets guests at the entrance with its condensed à la carte sharing plates, setting a more grown-up tone than its predecessor, albeit with the same community ambition. Church Road’s menu is rigorously seasonal, using produce from a select group of small suppliers through relationships that Howard and Astley-Dean have amassed over the years. Be prepared for creative twists and turns that don’t venture too far from the expected, but just enough to show off the Church Road team’s gastronomic finesse. The smooth, cool-hued bar area – worlds away from the red-wine-stained woody surroundings that a classic British menu may suggest – mixes bucolic-inspired cocktails from berry syrups and gives locals a cosmopolitan alternative to Barnes’s otherwise village-esque offering.
Address: Church Road, 92-94 Church Road, Barnes London SW13 0DQ
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Issy CrokerVardo, Chelsea
When Kiwi trio Laura Harper-Hinton, Chris Ammermann and Miles Kirby opened their Exmouth Market café, Caravan, back in 2010, it proved phenomenally successful – a revelatory brunch destination. Since then they’ve expanded across London, and even run their own ‘croissanterie’. But, deciding against just continuing the winning formula they’ve gave things a new spin with Vardo – described as no-boundary dining. Their sixth restaurant, and first West London outpost, Vardo is just off the King’s Road, set in a doughnut-shaped building smack in the middle of Duke of York Square. Retractable glass walls create an alfresco feel even in winter, and the structure is topped by a garden. Inside, it’s cosy, the glass walls giving the impression of dining directly in the square, and tables and banquettes are spaced at exactly the right distance from each other – close enough to take a peek at other people’s order, far enough so you can hold your own conversation without being distracted by others. Vardo is the ideal destination for people who can’t make up their minds. We kicked things off with chickpea and salted cucumber, whipped smoked cod's roe and garam masala labneh. For pudding there’s an incredible dark-chocolate cake served with crème fraîche, which has the perfect consistency but is – like most things on the menu –best shared unless you’re starving. The drinks menu is taken as seriously as the food here, with a concise aperitif list – the Alpine spritz with elderflower is subtle and beautifully presented, taking the edge off a long day.
Address: Vardo, 9 Duke of York Square, London SW3 4LY
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Wild by Tart, Belgravia
Friends Lucy Carr-Ellison and Jemima Jones made a name for themselves feeding the fussy fashion world in the early days of their boutique catering company, Tart London. They cooked for Stella McCartney and Kate Moss, catered for shoots for British Vogue and Dior and served on-location lunches to Tim Walker and Mert and Marcus. And from there, they’ve grown: launching a weekly recipe column in ES Magazine; publishing their very own cookbook; and, a few years ago, opening Wild by Tart, a part-deli, part-photography studio, part-event space and part-homeware store in a former power station in Belgravia. It’s a place to pick up a fresh juice or a jar of homemade chutney, to pop in for a yoga session or floristry workshop or to buy the pretty crockery used in the deli – and an all-day restaurant too. The menu doesn’t bow down to gimmicks or trends; instead, it’s a showcase of seasonal, locally sourced high-quality ingredients. Kick off with a few small bites – squidgy sourdough with whipped Marmite butter or crispy vegetable tempura with a herby crème fraȋche to dunk into are good places to start. Small plates include stringy burrata with sweet pickled grapes to offset the cheesy richness, crab served in a pool of buttermilk and tarragon oil, and wafer-thin slices of beef carpaccio with pickled Asian mushrooms and a drizzle of citrussy ponzu sauce. There are a lot of different components to each dish – some of which would probably be too fiddly to recreate at home – but they’re all packed with bold flavour. Arrive early for a drink at the bar and order a cocktail; each one blends quirky flavour and botanical combinations with spirits infused with the likes of lemongrass, ginger and coriander. A wonderfully laid-back spot to graze or splurge on brilliant farm-to-table cooking.
Address: Wild by Tart, 3-4 Eccleston Yards, Belgravia, London SW1W 9AZ
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Steven JoyceBibendum, South Kensington
Chef Claude Bosi came to London from his home town of Lyon via Ludlow in Shropshire. Claude Bosi at Bibendum which occupies the landmark Michelin tyre headquarters, and has been awarded two stars to boot. The menu is unashamedly French in spirit. An olive pissaladière amuse-bouche pops in the mouth, salty green. Foie gras is handed round in mini waffle cones, sweetened with mango sauce, crisps of chicken skin disappear fast. Want to go really French? Order the tripe and cuttlefish gratin, made to Claude's mum's recipe and paired with a cake of pig's ear and ham. Classic cocktails can be made on request but really it's all about the wine. This is a starry restaurant from a French top chef. Rick Jordan
Address: Bibendum, Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, South Kensington, London SW3 6RD
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No. Fifty Cheyne, Chelsea
Set just back from the river on one of London’s most charming streets, Cheyne Walk Brasserie was a long-standing Chelsea institution – a crowd-pleasing classic, packed to the rafters with loyal well-heeled residents who refused to be distracted by the brighter-eyed restaurants popping up all over the capital. A few years ago, it announced a nine-month closure – but thankfully owner Sally Greene (better known as the proprietor of Ronnie Scott’s and The Old Vic) was staying put. She’s led the restaurant through a top-to-toe makeover. The trusty wood-fire grill remains – but elsewhere it’s had a total spruce, transformed into a deeply civilised and grown-up space with thick swishy curtains, fabric-covered wall sconces, ornate chandeliers and long stripy banquettes scattered with cushions. It’s the sort of place that works just as well for date-night supper as it does for a multi-generational family celebration. Bag a banquette seat for all eyes on the grill smoking and smouldering away in the middle of the room – the whole menu revolves around it, and even the bread’s given a once-over on the charcoal before being brought to the table. A nicely curated wine list includes a good selection by the carafe, including a super crisp Chardonnay from Kent’s very own Hush Heath Estate. One of London's smartest neighbourhood spots has a new lease of life.
Address: No. Fifty Cheyne, 50 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London SW3 5LR
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John CareyHarry's Dolce Vita, Knightsbridge
Harry’s Dolce Vita is the antithesis of every locally sourced, farm-to-fork hipster hangout in London, every cleverly modern twist on a new genre of food, each mottled, hand-thrown ceramic bowl in a palette of taupe, mud and gloom. The restaurant, on the narrow sliver of a site behind Harrods where Café Rouge held the fort for the past two decades, is a new-fangled, old-school sanctuary of smoky mirrors, mahogany panelling, shiny brass and soft tan leather. Classic Slim Aarons photographs and portraits of Sophia Loren hang on the walls, and white tablecloths topped with white plates complete the picture. It may be a nod to the iconic Venice original, but Harry’s comes not from the Cipriani Group. Instead it is one of the Caprice Holdings stable (Scott’s, Sexy Fish, The Ivy, J. Sheekey), which has its own ready-built horde of fans. The crowd here flocks for deliciously reliable Italian comfort food, and they eat late. A reservation for two at 8pm? No problem. At 9:30pm? No chance. So get in early. Or book ahead. This is old-fashioned fill-‘em-up feeding, but elegantly done, tried and tested, loved and adored. Puddings are more adventurous, with a white-chocolate and mascarpone-cream toadstool topping the bill, surrounded by a pistachio gravel and icing-sugar-snow-sprinkled raspberries. But there’s also tiramisu for the traditionalists. A reliable Italian wine list runs the gamut from a very drinkable £19.50 Sicilian house red to your finest 2002 Barolo at £1,755. Will it lure the Zafferano die-hards? Probably not, but what’s most extraordinary about this instant hit is its price point – barely more expensive than the brasserie chain it succeeded. No wonder it is packed to the rafters day and night.
Address: Harry's Dolce Vita, 27-31 Basil Street, Knightsbridge, London SW3 1BB.
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Chicama, Chelsea
This Peruvian tapas restaurant in Chelsea is named after a beach with a killer surf break in northern Peru; every pastel-coloured plate is artfully dotted with Pop-bright splashes of sauce and Monet-worthy edible petals. But, as you'd expect from the sister joint of Marylebone's brilliant Pachamama, the flavours are pretty masterful too. Citrussy sea-bass ceviche, tapioca marshmallow (more feather-light cheesy puff than the gooey sweet treat you'd imagine), fried aubergine with plantain miso, charcoal-grilled sea bream with spicy ají panca (Peruvian red pepper) and - the knockout dish - blackened octopus with sun-dried-tomato chimichurri. To watch the precision plating of the chefs' team up close, there's a pink-marble counter facing the open kitchen with fuzzy-peach seating and glowing copper-pipe shelves overhead. On a balmy late-summer evening, nab a table on the cactus-filled terrace, order a round of cocktails and imagine you can feel the seaside breezes. Well, maybe by round two.
Address: Chicama, 383 King's Road, Chelsea, London SW10
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