London's best Michelin-star restaurants
London is in the top cities in the world when it comes to fine dining – 85 spots across the capital have been recognised as the best Michelin star restaurants. But which spots out of the best London restaurants do our well-fed editors recommend trying at least once? Below, we've compiled the 17 Michelin-backed tables to book across the city. They include a Mexican restaurant from an ex-Noma chef, the only three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Britain to be helmed by a female chef, a Shoreditch wine bar and a West African dining room in St James. Read on for the inside track on these starry spots, and then read more about the Michelin-star winners across the UK in 2025.
Ian WaltonCornus, Belgravia
One Michelin star
Eccleston Yards is renowned for its carefully curated laid-back vibe, but head into the far corner and you’ll find an epitome of elegance. Walk down a prettily lit marble hallway and up a private elevator to arrive at Cornus, a new rooftop restaurant from the team behind Chelsea’s Medlar. Interiors are complete with crisp white tablecloths, an earthy-toned colour palette and an impressive selection of art (spy the Tracey Emin as you walk past the bar). The food is as refined as the interiors – the seasonal menu showcases executive chef Gary Foulkes’ skill (he previously worked at Michelin-starred restaurant Angler and under Phil Howard at two-Michelin-starred The Square). Try the hand-rolled spaghetti in a bisque and lemon sauce, topped with lobster and caviar – a show-stopper of a starter – or the Cornish bluefin tuna, where a smoked almond pesto works beautifully with sharp blood peach and sweet tomatoes. The roast Newlyn cod main dish seems simple, but the flavour packed into the fillet is incredible. The lamb, with kofte on the side, olives, capers and a punchy Romero pepper piperade, is similarly impressive.
Address: 27c Eccleston Place, London SW1W 9NF
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Tom BirdLita, Marylebone
The dining room at Lita – short for ‘abuelita’, which means ‘granny’ in Spanish – is much more considered than the name might suggest. A far cry from grandma-chic, interiors lean elegantly rustic: think velvet banquettes, terracotta floors, earthy colours and lots of curved lines. The open fire in the kitchen is the centrepiece, a hive of The Bear-esque energy coming from behind the flames. Irish chef Luke Ahearne, formerly head chef at Corrigan’s Mayfair, oversees things here – his menu looks towards southern Europe. Dorset clams with artichokes alla Roma; linguine with St Austell mussels, Cornish cockles; South Coast cod with caviar and champagne – the menu spotlights lots of seafood, of course, but also Cornish lamb, Yorkshire pork chop and Devon duck. Puddings like strawberry mille-feuille and Amalfi lemon meringue pie are just as much of a highlight as the rest of the menu. Book for a romantic supper date, and go in expecting a hefty bill – prices here aren't shy and retiring, but they're worth it for a (very) special occasion. Lauren Burvill
Address: Lita, 7-9 Paddington Street, London W1U 5QH
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Sam Harris64 Goodge Street, Fitzrovia
One Michelin star
From the team behind Portland and Clipstone, two of London’s most beloved restaurants, comes another reason to lose an afternoon in Fitzrovia: a classic-leaning bistro that’s the latest opening from the Woodhead Restaurant Group. The menu is all French comfort: frog’s legs lollipops, snail, bacon and garlic bon bons, crème brûlée. The team cooks confidently, writing the à la carte menu daily to spotlight seasonal ingredients: think beef sirloin with green asparagus or courgette with Piattone beans and rocket pistou. Prices have, naturally, gone up since the restaurant won a Michelin star – these days, three courses at dinner cost £85. For those watching the clock or the purse strings, the £59 prix-fixe lunch is a bit of a triumph. But whether you’re stopping in for a swift midday bite or sinking in for the evening, this is the kind of place that makes you feel looked after in all the right ways.
Address: 64 Goodge Street, London, W1T 4NF
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Andrew UrwinPlates, Shoreditch
One Michelin star
Kirk Haworth isn’t trying to change how people eat. “This is about flavour,” he says of his plant-powered Shoreditch opening, Plates, which made history this February as the first vegan restaurant in the UK to win a Michelin star. “This is food that doesn’t need to be labelled vegan – it’s almost about eradicating that word. I’m trying to open a window and let people come and have a look at an alternative.” The overly earnest boom in plant-based cuisine of years past might be slowing down, but in its wake comes a fresh take on eating greener: less pompous, more creative. Haworth’s 2016 Lyme disease diagnosis triggered a total health overhaul, including taking up a plant-based diet. But at Plates he deftly transforms humble British produce (leeks, chestnuts, sour apples) into dishes that lean more towards fine dining than detox, and spotlights zeitgeisty ingredients such as lion’s mane and kimchi. The seasonal menu might include wild garlic soup with potato dumplings or barbecued tomato broth – creative, innovative dishes which might just change how people eat yet. Cass Farrar
Address: Plates, 320 Old Street, London EC1V 9DR
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©johncarey2020Akoko, Fitzrovia
One Michelin star
West African flavours have been in the spotlight in London over the past few years – largely thanks to Joké Bakare, chef-founder of Chishuru, and executive chef Ayo Adeyemi, of Akoko. In the dining room, terracotta wraps walls, chairs with curved backs that emulate the horns of African cattle are pushed into weighty wooden tables; a show-stopping work from Nigerian artist Niyi Olagunju sits on one wall. From the open kitchen, guests can choose from the full tasting menu (available at lunch and dinner) and a shorter version (lunch only), at £125 and £59 respectively. Dishes might include moi moi (Nigerian bean puddings, served here with mackerel, tiger prawn and black bean sauce) or jollof rice with Lake District beef and Shito XO. Adeyemi’s dishes aren’t imitations; they’re reinterpretations, elegantly rooted in the culinary traditions of West Africa. This is not simply supper; it’s an immersion in the rich textures and cultures of this region.
Address: Akoko, 21 Berners Street, London W1T 3LP
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AngloThai, Marylebone
One Michelin star
I’d said I wouldn’t drink this evening but the allure of a fig leaf Negroni proved too much for my weak will, and boy did it not disappoint. The wine list is also not to be slept on: an extensive showcase of European wines from classic pairings to trendy skin-contact showstoppers. For the food, we started with a crab bisque amuse-bouche to whet the whistle. The bisque is made up of the remnants of crab from one of the a la carte dishes – bonus points for waste reduction. This was followed by the freshest Irish oysters drizzled in a slap-in-the-face kind of hot fermented chilli sauce. Our pillowy cuttlefish buns were as light as air but couldn’t hold a candle to the flavourful chalk stream trout crudo that came after. For main, we enjoyed pollock fish balls in a sour orange curry sauce and our first foray away from seafood for the evening, a glistening and succulent pork chop. I’d advise you to leave some room for dessert, too; the cacao ganache will be haunting my dreams for some time to come. This is delicious escapism at its best. Lucy Bruton
Address: AngloThai, 22-24 Seymour Place, London W1H 7NL
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Humo, Mayfair
One Michelin star
In a smart corner of Mayfair, Humo – a restaurant thoroughly committed to wood-fired dining – hums with convivial conversation and the scent of slow-burning oak. In the kitchen, there's no gas or electricity; just the primal charm of fire at the four-metre-long grill. The team uses different types of wood to achieve different cooking techniques, with the menu split accordingly. ‘Ignite’, described as the first step in lighting a fire, presents raw dishes that take inspiration from Japanese sashimi, which makes sense when you learn that Chef Miller Prada cut his teeth under the watchful eye of Endo Kazutoshi. ‘Smoke’ presents vegetables from the grill, while ‘flame’ presents dishes cooked over whisky barrels, and ‘embers’ spotlights aged fish and meat. Even the wine list defies tradition, categorising bottles not by country, but by the landscapes that shape them. Just a year after opening, Humo had earned its first Michelin star – this is a genuinely unique experience, bang in the centre of London’s most sophisticated neighbourhood. Olivia Morelli
Address: Humo, 12 St George Street, London W1S 2FB
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John CareyIkoyi, The Strand
Two Michelin stars
Ikoyi built a solid reputation for itself at St James’s Market. Now nestled on the streets of Temple, Ikoyi’s larger location expands on its existing earthy copper and butter-yellow decor. Additional elements of boldness are obvious as light glows in the curved walls and steel mesh ceilings maximise the space. The modernity of the atmosphere is reflected in the tasting lunch or dinner menus, which change with hyper-seasonal and local ingredients that are served in their optimal state. Superchef Jeremy Chan’s experience and takes on flavour are mirrored in dishes such as the smoked beef served with coal-roasted pumpkin, or the crowd-pleasing plantain garnished with roasted peanut and served with a spiced efo emulsion. Choose between the wine or tea pairings for five or eight courses, or select one of their balanced cocktails like the malt & apricot sour made with ogogoro and barley. Reservations open two months in advance to accommodate demand, so booking is essential. Vivienne Dovi
Address: Ikoyi 180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA
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Eleonora BoscarelliEvelyn's Table, Soho
One Michelin star
The humble exterior of Evelyn’s Table, among the bustle of central London, starkly contrasts the eye-popping colours of Chinatown. We are ushered down a staircase below the Blue Posts pub, and greeted by an inviting and cheerful ambience in the tasteful, intimate space. Diners chat with one another while head chef James Goodyear welcomes everyone to the experience. We start by choosing our drinks pairing. The sommeliers are approachable and knowledgeable, inviting us to choose between two wine pairing styles - the ‘Firm Favourites’ and ‘The Path Less Trodden’. There are also ‘Half & Half’ or ‘No & Low’ options for those who don’t fancy boozing.
Each dish is presented beautifully, from the Iberico pork with winter vegetables and pumpkin seed miso to the Ike Jime trout with smoked pine and turnips. Our favourite, the Scottish langoustine with celeriac and koshihikari rice, is delicately sweet and tart simultaneously. Goodyear likes to keep his guests on their toes by surprising them with a few off-menu dishes like a malt sourdough with rose and beet trifle. And lastly, for pudding, jerusalem artichoke paired with truffle honey and tonka bean – an interesting take on the often neglected course. The team at Evelyn’s Table work together seamlessly, bringing their passion to the forefront of every dish and delighting guests with their unique and beautifully sourced menu. Amber Port
Address: Evelyn's Table, The Blue Posts, Cellar, 28 Rupert St, London W1D 6DJ
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Stefan JohnsonSt John, Smithfield
One Michelin star
St John is around for a long time, not just a good time. Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver opened their first restaurant (they now helm a handful across London), in 1994, and won their first and only Michelin star in 2009. Menus change daily, but nearly always include the roast bone marrow with parsley salad (one of our most iconic dishes in London) and a number of other nose-to-tail dishes that make a serious effort to be zero-waste, making this one of the first London restaurants to champion what’s now an on-trend ethos. It’s not just worthy, though – all the plates are delicious, from starters of crispy pig cheek to Welsh rarebit to buttermilk pudding.
Address: St John, 26 St John Street, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY
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Hide, Mayfair
One Michelin star
The first restaurant from young gun Ollie Dabbous – his eponymous Dabbous opened more than 10 years ago. It was an instant hit, winning a Michelin star just eight months after opening. In 2017 Dabbous, plus his other two London outposts, closed so he could focus his attention on Hide – an ambitious Mayfair restaurant in partnership with Hedonism Wines. It opened in spring 2018 – a three-floor behemoth with a ground-floor restaurant, a sultry basement bar and a more formal upstairs dining room. The risk pulled off – Hide, too, gained a Michelin star just months after opening.
Address: Hide, 85 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NB
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Pétrus, Knightsbridge
One Michelin star
On a polished side street in Knightsbridge sits Pétrus by Gordon Ramsay. It is the perfect date spot: the intimate circular restaurant simultaneously fits 40-60 covers, centred around a glass-cased wine cellar in the room’s centre. There are several menus, including the à la carte, a separate lunch offering and two tasting menus showcasing imaginative British dishes. We recommend the Prestige menu with the wine pairings – a seven-course menu full of surprises. It begins with fragrant tomato consommé poured from a little teapot, followed by a tart filled with fresh tomato and basil, topped with creamy burrata and a ponzu sauce. Our highlight was the beautiful Herdwick lamb served with a flower-shaped pea garnish and intricately placed purple flowers. Supper finishes with a raspberry sorbet palate cleanser in a deep hollowed ceramic dish, followed by a highly indulgent plaisir sucré layered with gooey, decadent chocolate and hazelnut. For a special occasion, book the chef’s table downstairs, where there’s room for up to eight guests to dine on an eight-course menu prepared in front of you. Sophie Knight
Address: 1 Kinnerton Street, London SW1X 8EA
Website: gordonramsayrestaurants.com
The River Café, Hammersmith
One Michelin star
The River Café might just be the most revered restaurant in London. Ruthie Rogers opened the spot in the late 1980s in Hammersmith to feed staff from her husband’s architecture firm. Since then, it’s gained a dedicated contingency of super fans who count the restaurant as one of the best in the world. There’s a beautiful terrace, a pizza oven that’s a shock of bright pink in the centre of the dining room, and a tried-and-tested Italian-flavoured menu that shifts seasonally – expect fresh pasta with asparagus and herbs in spring, perhaps, or lamb with chickpeas and horseradish in autumn. The restaurant was awarded its Michelin star in 1998, and has hung on to it for more than 20 years.
Address: The River Café, Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, London W6 9HA
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Food Story MediaCore by Clare Smyth, Notting Hill
Three Michelin stars
Clare Smyth was the first – and the time of writing, still the only – female British chef to win three Michelin stars at her first solo restaurant in Notting Hill. The dining room is serene – no tablecloths, clean white walls but with plenty of knick-knacks to keep it from seeming cold. The seasonal tasting menu might include scallop tartare from Scotland's Isle of Harris or Hardwick lamb with sheep's curd. There is an a la carte option (lunch is marginally less expensive than supper) with dishes such as crispy veal sweetbread and beef and oyster. For those with seriously deep pockets, the chef's table can be booked for private parties of up to 10.
Address: Core by Clare Smyth, 92 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2PN
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HDG PhotographyKol, Marylebone
One Michelin star
Santiago Lastra’s Kol was probably the most anticipated opening of 2020. Lastra – who headed up the Noma pop-up in Tulum – has a plan to introduce London to real Mexican cooking. He shows off an array of different textures, tastes and heat – the way in which he uses chillies is special, varying from course to course while never blowing your head off. Things kick off with a seaweed and chilli broth that has a warm and hearty spice, while UK-grown pistachios make up the mole served with homemade corn crisps and an array of pretty British herbs and pickled crudités. A delicate ceviche turns out to be made with kohlrabi – the strength of flavour coming from a peanutty chilli sauce which you can spoon on at your leisure. Expect a wine list that's mostly biodynamic and sourced from Central and Eastern Europe, plus a carefully curated list of mezcal and agave spirits – and the spot won its first Michelin star in 2022. Tabitha Joyce
Address: KOL, 9 Seymour Street, Marylebone, London W1H
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Chris TerrySabor, Mayfair
One Michelin star
Bilbao-born Nieves Barragan led Soho tapas joint Barrafina to a Michelin star in 2013 – so it follows that her first solo spot, Sabor, would join the ranks as well. Set on foodie Heddon Street, set just back from Regent Street, the two-floor Spanish restaurant is dominated by a long bar where diners can watch the chef’s work to plate immaculate monkfish tempura, seared tuna, octopus and croquetas. Upstairs in El Asador, the team leans on recipes from the Galicia and Castile regions – confit lamb shoulder, grilled squid, suckling pig to share. Our favourite spot might be the bar, where you can order Spanish vermouths, gins and sherries with plates of pintxos, tortillas or olives to share.
Address: Sabor, 35-37 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BR
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Brat, Shoreditch
One Michelin star
Brat has proudly kept its Michelin star since 2018, when the restaurant – helmed by ex-Kitty Fisher’s chef Thomas Parry – got a nod from the Michelin team. Since then, as well as serving Basque-accented plates (including the incredible whole turbot, for which the restaurant is named – Brat means turbot in Old English) at the Redchurch Street flagship, the team also cook at Climpson’s Arch in London Fields. The wine list focuses on small producers, with a monthly spotlight on winemakers from across Europe. It’s softer and far less buttoned up than many Michelin-awarded spots, dressed down for an East London crowd who want stellar menus without stiff service.
Address: Brat, 4 Redchurch Street, London E1 6JL
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