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Restaurant list

The Most Fun Restaurants in London

A photo of Red logo
by The OpenTable Team
Updated November 09, 2023
There are tens of thousands of restaurants across London, representing every imaginable cuisine, budget, and atmosphere—and when it comes to a night out on the town with friends, this city brings its A-game. Happy hours, bar menus, and shared plates coexist with gourmet tasting menus and award-winning wine lists for custom experiences to fit everyones expectations for a fun meal. But where are the smartest, savviest diners eating out? Welcome to the Tastemaker 20. We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among OpenTable's most expert, seasoned diners. You’ll find everything from neighborhood gems to classic fine dining, airy bistros to modern Japanese—all vetted by the types of tastemakers who know the best spots around the city. Impress your friends and score a table; we wish we could join you.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
4.6 (6570)
£41 and over
British
Knightsbridge
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, a two-Michelin-star restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, presents menus devised around the concept of Britain’s long culinary history. Noted on the menu are the eras of every dish’s source of inspiration. The roast venison with pickled cherries and red cabbage, for example, dates to 1850. Dinner’s most famous item, the “meat fruit” appetizer of chicken liver mousse made to look exactly like a mandarin orange (or a plum if it’s around Christmastime) has its provenance circa 1500. This is high gastronomy indeed, but there’s a playfulness to the experience, as in the ice cream cart equipped with a hand-cranked mixer hooked up to liquid nitrogen. It’s brought to the table side, where fresh vanilla cream meets the drama of dry ice flurries, turning into ice cream in moments.
Top review
AmericoFerrara
Dined on Aug 9, 2022
great service! great food! great views! few restaurants have theme into it
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, a two-Michelin-star restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, presents menus devised around the concept of Britain’s long culinary history. Noted on the menu are the eras of every dish’s source of inspiration. The roast venison with pickled cherries and red cabbage, for example, dates to 1850. Dinner’s most famous item, the “meat fruit” appetizer of chicken liver mousse made to look exactly like a mandarin orange (or a plum if it’s around Christmastime) has its provenance circa 1500. This is high gastronomy indeed, but there’s a playfulness to the experience, as in the ice cream cart equipped with a hand-cranked mixer hooked up to liquid nitrogen. It’s brought to the table side, where fresh vanilla cream meets the drama of dry ice flurries, turning into ice cream in moments.
Top review
AmericoFerrara
Dined on Aug 9, 2022
great service! great food! great views! few restaurants have theme into it
Portland Restaurant
4.9 (2280)
£41 and over
British
Marylebone
London’s restaurant critics can’t seem to get over the lack of pretentiousness at Portland—the comparison of its dining room’s understated decor to a cafeteria often comes up in reviews—but they universally praise its food as thoroughly gourmet. Its approachability makes Portland a great dinner destination for a fun time with friends; that is if those friends appreciate the finer side of British cuisine. A popular snack is the crispy chicken skin with liver parfait and candied walnuts, and if you don't see game pithivier on the menu (it’s a pie filled with spiced, mixed game) be sure to order the often-recommended dish.
Top review
Julia
Dined 1 day ago
A wonderful meal, with charming service. We had a terrific time.
London’s restaurant critics can’t seem to get over the lack of pretentiousness at Portland—the comparison of its dining room’s understated decor to a cafeteria often comes up in reviews—but they universally praise its food as thoroughly gourmet. Its approachability makes Portland a great dinner destination for a fun time with friends; that is if those friends appreciate the finer side of British cuisine. A popular snack is the crispy chicken skin with liver parfait and candied walnuts, and if you don't see game pithivier on the menu (it’s a pie filled with spiced, mixed game) be sure to order the often-recommended dish.
Top review
Julia
Dined 1 day ago
A wonderful meal, with charming service. We had a terrific time.
Angler - London
4.7 (1137)
£41 and over
Seafood
Liverpool Street
It’s arguably the most fun to dine at Angler, a Michelin star-winning fish and seafood restaurant atop the City’s South Place Hotel, on a sunny summer day when the rooftop terrace promises cool cocktails and unmatched views. But at any time of year, the dining experience is certainly noteworthy, offering the artistically plated fish and seafood creations of acclaimed chef Gary Foulkes. The signature here is top-quality ingredients, sourced sustainably from British waters, prepared simply but with the utmost care and precision.
Top review
Lee
Dined 4 days ago
We went there Saturday the 8th and had the chefs table there were 8 of us and we had the special tasting menu which was absolutely stunning the service is impeccable the food absolutely the best fresh inventive cooked to perfection becoming one of my favourite restaurants love this place
It’s arguably the most fun to dine at Angler, a Michelin star-winning fish and seafood restaurant atop the City’s South Place Hotel, on a sunny summer day when the rooftop terrace promises cool cocktails and unmatched views. But at any time of year, the dining experience is certainly noteworthy, offering the artistically plated fish and seafood creations of acclaimed chef Gary Foulkes. The signature here is top-quality ingredients, sourced sustainably from British waters, prepared simply but with the utmost care and precision.
Top review
Lee
Dined 4 days ago
We went there Saturday the 8th and had the chefs table there were 8 of us and we had the special tasting menu which was absolutely stunning the service is impeccable the food absolutely the best fresh inventive cooked to perfection becoming one of my favourite restaurants love this place
Kai Mayfair
4.7 (1873)
£41 and over
Chinese
Mayfair
Kai, a plush and sophisticated two-story restaurant in Mayfair, has since their 1993 opening consistently ranked among the best restaurants in London and top Chinese restaurants in the world. Chef Alex Chow earned Kai a Michelin star with his beautifully presented repertoire of classic Nanyang dishes from the South Seas region of China and his creative contemporary interpretations of traditional Asian cuisines. Kai’s most famous dish is wasabi prawns, but the menus are lengthy so it makes sense to try many items and share between your group. Kai’s attentive staff will happily make suggestions to best fit your personal preferences.
Top review
Roni
Dined 4 days ago
Once more, a great experience at Kai: food was excellent, team kind and attentive and overall vibe fun and welcoming. Highly recommend for a special occasion
Kai, a plush and sophisticated two-story restaurant in Mayfair, has since their 1993 opening consistently ranked among the best restaurants in London and top Chinese restaurants in the world. Chef Alex Chow earned Kai a Michelin star with his beautifully presented repertoire of classic Nanyang dishes from the South Seas region of China and his creative contemporary interpretations of traditional Asian cuisines. Kai’s most famous dish is wasabi prawns, but the menus are lengthy so it makes sense to try many items and share between your group. Kai’s attentive staff will happily make suggestions to best fit your personal preferences.
Top review
Roni
Dined 4 days ago
Once more, a great experience at Kai: food was excellent, team kind and attentive and overall vibe fun and welcoming. Highly recommend for a special occasion
som saa
4.7 (414)
£26 to £40
Thai
Shoreditch
Before som saa transformed a former fabric warehouse in Spitalfields into a trendy and spacious restaurant specializing in elevated regional Thai cuisine, it was a tremendously successful pop-up. A crowdfunding campaign raised funds for the permanent venue, where the original exposed brick and beams lend an industrial edge to the warmth of rustic wood and cozy booths. Rotating, seasonal menus showcase bold flavors, high on spice, heat, smoke, and salt in elegant and complex preparations. An old favorite from the pop-up days, deep-fried seabass with Isaan herbs and roasted rice powder, remains on the menu. The moreish bar snacks, craft beers, and creative cocktails often infused with culinary herbs and spices are a big draw for a crowd seeking an informal fine dining experience.
Top review
Emily
Dined on Oct 15, 2024
Warm welcome, 4 of us for lunch. There was a la carte and a set menu to choose from, but the set menu is only provided for the whole table. Luckily, the dishes on the set menu today were cashew nuts with chilli and lime leaves, a beautiful, crunchy salad, duck curry, excellent mixed vegetables in garlic and oyster sauce, plus sticky and jasmine rice. We paid a supplement for a whole sea bass, fried. Dessert was also included.
Before som saa transformed a former fabric warehouse in Spitalfields into a trendy and spacious restaurant specializing in elevated regional Thai cuisine, it was a tremendously successful pop-up. A crowdfunding campaign raised funds for the permanent venue, where the original exposed brick and beams lend an industrial edge to the warmth of rustic wood and cozy booths. Rotating, seasonal menus showcase bold flavors, high on spice, heat, smoke, and salt in elegant and complex preparations. An old favorite from the pop-up days, deep-fried seabass with Isaan herbs and roasted rice powder, remains on the menu. The moreish bar snacks, craft beers, and creative cocktails often infused with culinary herbs and spices are a big draw for a crowd seeking an informal fine dining experience.
Top review
Emily
Dined on Oct 15, 2024
Warm welcome, 4 of us for lunch. There was a la carte and a set menu to choose from, but the set menu is only provided for the whole table. Luckily, the dishes on the set menu today were cashew nuts with chilli and lime leaves, a beautiful, crunchy salad, duck curry, excellent mixed vegetables in garlic and oyster sauce, plus sticky and jasmine rice. We paid a supplement for a whole sea bass, fried. Dessert was also included.
Blacklock Soho
4.7 (6036)
£25 and under
Steak
Soho
The original Blacklock restaurant in Soho (it later gained sister venues in the City and Shoreditch) famously occupies the basement of a former brothel a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus. Promoters certainly don’t shy away from mentioning the building’s ignoble heritage, but there’s no need to titillate to draw a crowd. Instead, there’s Blacklock’s menu, built around signature chops seared over charcoal, and great deals on cocktails and wine on tap. The décor is industrial-cool with communal tables and whitewashed brick, plus a chalkboard displaying the night’s choices of chops. The meat is of the finest quality, and you can sample it all by opting for the “all in” mixed pile over charred flatbread plus some sides to share.
Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined on Mar 4, 2025
Very nice and they made us feel special for our anniversary
The original Blacklock restaurant in Soho (it later gained sister venues in the City and Shoreditch) famously occupies the basement of a former brothel a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus. Promoters certainly don’t shy away from mentioning the building’s ignoble heritage, but there’s no need to titillate to draw a crowd. Instead, there’s Blacklock’s menu, built around signature chops seared over charcoal, and great deals on cocktails and wine on tap. The décor is industrial-cool with communal tables and whitewashed brick, plus a chalkboard displaying the night’s choices of chops. The meat is of the finest quality, and you can sample it all by opting for the “all in” mixed pile over charred flatbread plus some sides to share.
Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined on Mar 4, 2025
Very nice and they made us feel special for our anniversary
Yauatcha Soho
4.5 (6836)
£26 to £40
Chinese
Soho
Yauatcha, an all-day dim sum restaurant in Soho boasting a Michelin star, takes inspiration from a traditional Taipai tea house, yet the vibe of this basement venue is modern, trendy, and almost club-like. Bring a group to dine on top-notch (and pricey) dim sum at a steady or leisurely pace, enjoying dumplings, noodles, soups, buns, salads, rolls, and confections that arrive like little gifts. The desserts, from Yauatcha’s own patisserie next door, are handmade, French-inspired things of beauty. And the ground floor does house a tea room where you can sip exotic brews from China, Taiwan, Japan, and India. The teas are available in the main restaurant as well.
Top review
SarahVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Delicious food and very well presented, the cocktails were great too!
Yauatcha, an all-day dim sum restaurant in Soho boasting a Michelin star, takes inspiration from a traditional Taipai tea house, yet the vibe of this basement venue is modern, trendy, and almost club-like. Bring a group to dine on top-notch (and pricey) dim sum at a steady or leisurely pace, enjoying dumplings, noodles, soups, buns, salads, rolls, and confections that arrive like little gifts. The desserts, from Yauatcha’s own patisserie next door, are handmade, French-inspired things of beauty. And the ground floor does house a tea room where you can sip exotic brews from China, Taiwan, Japan, and India. The teas are available in the main restaurant as well.
Top review
SarahVIP
Dined 3 days ago
Delicious food and very well presented, the cocktails were great too!
COYA Mayfair
4.5 (1758)
£41 and over
Peruvian
Mayfair
Is COYA Mayfair the only Incan-Peruvian fine-dining restaurant in London? Actually, no. But they're certainly the best in a new genre of their own making, the result of chef Sanjay Dwivedi’s year-long journey through Latin America that ended with his full immersion in the culinary world of Peru. COYA’s menu promises the best of Peruvian traditions, prepared with incredible ingredients native to the Andes and the Amazon and the diverse influences of Spain, Asia, and Africa. Char-grilled steaks and the freshest ceviches are highlights of the menu. Sipping at least one of various versions of a Pisco sour is almost obligatory.
Top review
Jay
Dined on Feb 22, 2025
Wonderful service and guidance to the menu and food was out of this world. My whole family really the new experience of Peruvian food
Is COYA Mayfair the only Incan-Peruvian fine-dining restaurant in London? Actually, no. But they're certainly the best in a new genre of their own making, the result of chef Sanjay Dwivedi’s year-long journey through Latin America that ended with his full immersion in the culinary world of Peru. COYA’s menu promises the best of Peruvian traditions, prepared with incredible ingredients native to the Andes and the Amazon and the diverse influences of Spain, Asia, and Africa. Char-grilled steaks and the freshest ceviches are highlights of the menu. Sipping at least one of various versions of a Pisco sour is almost obligatory.
Top review
Jay
Dined on Feb 22, 2025
Wonderful service and guidance to the menu and food was out of this world. My whole family really the new experience of Peruvian food
Park Chinois
4.6 (759)
£41 and over
Chinese
Mayfair
Covering two floors in the heart of Mayfair, Park Chinois comprises the glitzy Club Chinois downstairs and the main dining room, Salon de Chine, and bar upstairs, both taking their distinctive and unforgettable design inspiration from the decadence of 1930s Shanghai. Think gleaming red lacquered doors, lavish velvet and marble accents, gold, and mirrors to emphasize all that shines, with live music to complete the hedonistic vibe. The menus, packed with gourmet versions of Chinese dishes from every region, is lengthy and pricey. Regulars recommend ordering the Peking duck in advance.
Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined on Feb 25, 2025
I have allergies and they were able to accommodate. The food was lovely and fresh. I will be returning
Covering two floors in the heart of Mayfair, Park Chinois comprises the glitzy Club Chinois downstairs and the main dining room, Salon de Chine, and bar upstairs, both taking their distinctive and unforgettable design inspiration from the decadence of 1930s Shanghai. Think gleaming red lacquered doors, lavish velvet and marble accents, gold, and mirrors to emphasize all that shines, with live music to complete the hedonistic vibe. The menus, packed with gourmet versions of Chinese dishes from every region, is lengthy and pricey. Regulars recommend ordering the Peking duck in advance.
Top review
OpenTable Diner
Dined on Feb 25, 2025
I have allergies and they were able to accommodate. The food was lovely and fresh. I will be returning
St. JOHN Smithfield
4.8 (4174)
£41 and over
British
Farringdon
Upon the opening of the original St. John in 1994, the restaurant taking over a former bacon-smoking house in Smithfield, head chef Fergus Henderson launched an entire movement as the pioneer of “nose to tail” cuisine. Offal, unusual cuts, and game got St. John’s menus noticed, while their top-notch versions of British classics solidified their status as a critical darling. Menus change daily but the roast bone marrow on house-made sourdough with a pinch of parsley salad is a signature, as is the side/starter of Welsh rarebit. Approachable cuts of meat, beautiful fish from British waters, and even some stand-out vegetarian dishes feature on the lunch and supper menus too. The long list of desserts is a highlight, including heritage puddings like spotted dick, treacle tart, and a Northern English Eccles cake with Lancashire cheese.
Top review
Carol
Dined 2 days ago
Every time we visit London we make sure we eat at St. John! Excellent in every way!
Upon the opening of the original St. John in 1994, the restaurant taking over a former bacon-smoking house in Smithfield, head chef Fergus Henderson launched an entire movement as the pioneer of “nose to tail” cuisine. Offal, unusual cuts, and game got St. John’s menus noticed, while their top-notch versions of British classics solidified their status as a critical darling. Menus change daily but the roast bone marrow on house-made sourdough with a pinch of parsley salad is a signature, as is the side/starter of Welsh rarebit. Approachable cuts of meat, beautiful fish from British waters, and even some stand-out vegetarian dishes feature on the lunch and supper menus too. The long list of desserts is a highlight, including heritage puddings like spotted dick, treacle tart, and a Northern English Eccles cake with Lancashire cheese.
Top review
Carol
Dined 2 days ago
Every time we visit London we make sure we eat at St. John! Excellent in every way!

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