Diners' Choice: Contemporary British restaurants in London

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary British cuisine in London? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Little Mercies

4.9

4.9 (29)

£25 and under

Contemporary British

Crouch End

About the restaurant

Our kitchen will be closed from the 11th March until reopening on the 18th March, apologies for the inconvenience.

Little Mercies is a multi award wining local neighbourhood restaurant and bar, serving delicious cocktails and playful seasonal small plates.

Winner most sustainable bar for 3 years

Moro Margarita - Distilled House Preserved Blood Orange, Volcán Blanco Tequila, Blood Orange Salt
"Snickers" Old Fashioned - Peanut Butter, Cacao Nib, Salted Chocolate, Evan Williams Bourbon

Top review

John

Dined on Mar 1, 2025

Such a wonderful experience as ever with Mercies. The new Beetroot on the menu was exquisite, genuinely one of the tastiest things I've ever eaten. The smokiness of the smoked potato tarama with the beetroot was simply divine. Alongside that, the sirloin was amazing, the incredible carrot with its fantastic sauce and oh so tasty focaccia...this place is a foodie and cocktail aficionado's heaven. I urge you and anyone you know to book a table immediately and enjoy this Crouch End gem.

The Lanesborough Grill

4.8

4.8 (912)

£41 and over

Contemporary British

Knightsbridge

About the restaurant

The Lanesborough Grill is home to Executive Chef Shay Cooper’s modern and innovative British cookery, with a focus on seasonal produce from around the country. Signature dishes include Coronation Crab Salad, Dover Sole and Beef Wellington presented table side to share.

A richly decorated dining room, naturally illuminated during the day by a domed glass roof while seductively aglow under softly lit chandeliers in the evening, this grand Regency restaurant offers a truly memorable fine dining experience. On Thursdays, enjoy live entertainment from a jazz trio, whilst on Sundays one of the best Sunday Roast Lunches in London can be found here. An exhibition of modern art by British based artists adorning the walls adds to the ambience.

The Lanesborough Grill is located with the five star Lanesborough hotel located at Hyde Park Corner where Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Mayfair meet.

Top review

Andrew

Dined 1 day ago

Good food, great ambience, superb staff as always!!

Discover more

Stem and Stem - Restaurant and Florist

4.8

4.8 (58)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

St Paul's

About the restaurant

Michelin-trained chef Edward Boarland along with business partner Dee Reid have launched a new concept restaurant, wine bar and florist at 12 Bow Lane in London, called Stem and Stem.

The concept of Stem + Stem champions British produce, both in the kitchen and the
florist, where possible sourcing as many local ingredients and products from South
East Farmers who advocate sustainability so they can bring the best product to the
table for their guests.

Guests should expect a dynamic menu at Stem + Stem, which changes more than
seasonally. Ed often seeks inspiration from everyday life transporting this straight to
the kitchen with new menu additions every few weeks.

Top review

Parag

Dined 3 days ago

Great service and good food Enjoyed it and would recommend

Discover more

Experience

Mothers Day Lunch & Flowers

Half Cup Bartholomew Close

4.7

4.7 (29)

£25 and under

Contemporary British

London Bridge

About the restaurant

Close to the beautiful St. Paul's Cathedral, our mission is for all to experience brunch the way we love: homemade, tasty and pretty! From the decadent Oreo French Toast, to the Fried Chicken & Waffle to the classic with a twist Hash Benedict we've got it all for the best casual brunch experience.

Top review

Minesh

Dined 4 days ago

Service was great food was delicious had banana pancakes and veg half cup breakfast had a luvly time thank you

Smoke & Salt

4.7

4.7 (84)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Tooting

About the restaurant

We love the simplicity of seasonal and local ingredients. Modern dining and ancient techniques such as smoking, curing and preserving are at the heart of our restaurant. These aspects motivate us as well as bringing in other global flavours, ingredients, and cuisines. In this way, we try to reflect the diversity and multiculturality of South London and the UK through our food. We are a Catey and Time Out Love London award-winning restaurant with mentions in the Good Food Guide and the esteemed Michelin Guide.

We are pleased to offer one of the cheapest tasting menu experiences in London too - so don't hesitate to book us for your next special occasion.

Guests will be offered our five OR seven course sharing menus only with options available for dietary requirements only.

If no tables are available do give us a call on 07421327556, we may have something extra available!

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 1 day ago

Wow! The food was amazing , we had the 7 course tasting menu and every course was delicious. I have dietary restrictions and the chef went way above and beyond to accommodate me , but in such a lovely way . All the staff had a detailed knowledge of ingredients and were great. Would 100% recommend this place to anyone.

Discover more

Experience

Mothering Sunday at Smoke & Salt

Experience

Wednesday Burger Night - APRIL

Experience

Natural Wine Dinner.

Roe

4.8

4.8 (61)

£41 and over

Contemporary British

Canary Wharf

About the restaurant

Roe is a modern and spacious restaurant in the heart of Wood Wharf from the trio behind the critically-acclaimed sister restaurant Fallow St James’s and FOWL.

The extensive a la carte menu is divided into nibbles and flatbreads, skewers and grilled options, with larger plates and sides also available. As well as championing modest, British ingredients, Roe’s dishes showcase underused and underappreciated produce. Rare breed meats and carefully sourced fish from the British Isles are central to the menu, as well as regenerative crops like Wildfarmed native grain.

Top review

Samuel

Dined 6 days ago

Delicious, refined and approachable. Brilliant flavours. Service could have been faster.

Discover more

4.7

4.7 (474)

£25 and under

Contemporary British

Belgravia

About the restaurant

With gorgeous rustic interiors and a stunning country garden, The Buttery has become a local institution in the heart of Belgravia perfect for breakfast, brunch, or just a slice of cake and a cup of tea. Featured in CN Traveller as one of London's top brunch spots, The Buttery is unique, fun and intimate. Our menus combine creative seasonal dishes with traditional favourites, using the very best of British ingredients.

Our food is unpretentious, fresh and beautifully served with super-friendly service. Our drinks hit the spot too, with the finest London-roasted coffee from The Gentlemen Baristas, classic cocktails and a carefully curated wine list featuring produce from some of the pre-eminent British vineyards.

The summer months in particular is when The Buttery comes into its own with our stunning walled garden perfect for laid back al fresco dining. We look forward to welcoming you soon with attentive service and a big smile.

No dogs allowed inside!

Top review

Anne

Dined 3 days ago

A delightful little cafe in a small hotel. It was very relaxed with very friendly helpful staff.

Gallery

4.7

4.7 (8216)

£41 and over

Contemporary British

Covent Garden

About the restaurant

Welcome to Gallery, a vibrant space at the heart of The Savoy, where luxury dining meets relaxed elegance. Here, guests can experience a seamless blend of our iconic heritage with a contemporary touch, all while enjoying impeccable service in a warm and inviting setting. Whether you’re joining us for a leisurely breakfast, an indulgent afternoon tea, or an intimate dinner, every visit to Gallery is an occasion to remember.

Our talented culinary team has crafted an innovative menu that puts a modern twist on classic British dishes. Using the finest seasonal ingredients, we celebrate the best of British flavours, keeping it both nostalgic yet exciting.

Our delectable lunch offering is available between 12:30pm and 5:30pm on a walk in basis

Dress code: smart casual.

Top review

MichaelVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Service was top notch, tea was amazing and the sandwiches and cakes were next level. It’s expensive, but you get what you pay for. An amazing experience!

Discover more

Experience

Pre-Theatre Menu

The Hawke Pub

4.4

4.4 (17)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Hackney

About the restaurant

The Hawke is a cosy neighbourhood pub in Lauriston Village, known for its incredible small and medium plate dishes, as well as its delicious Sunday Roast options. With a focus on quality, the pub offers a welcoming atmosphere perfect for a relaxed meal.

The kitchen is open from Wednesday to Sunday, giving locals and visitors a range of opportunities to enjoy their food offerings throughout the week, especially on Sundays when the roast is likely to be a popular choice.

It sounds like a great spot to unwind with some good food in a laid-back setting!

Top review

KatieW

Dined 6 days ago

The best burger! Delicious every time. A small menu, but they do everything well and the staff are so friendly. Nice little beer garden too, perfect for a summers eve.

The Garrison

4.6

4.6 (2461)

£26 to £40

Contemporary British

Bermondsey

About the restaurant

The Garrison Public House is a bustling neighbourhood restaurant at the heart of Bermondsey Streets creative community and just a short skip from the comestible delights of Borough Market. We take full advantage of being an independent restaurant; from our quirky, inimitable interior to our considered wine list and engaging staff, we make sure everything we do is done with The Garrison style. We are open everyday for lunch and dinner and our menu focuses on seasonal produce from our favourite artisan suppliers. Downstairs, our Cinema Room is available for private hire

Top review

NeilVIP

Dined on Feb 26, 2025

Welcoming visit. Excellent food and fantastic service. All round a very enjoyable lunch. Thank you, Garrison Team.

Explore Diners' Choice best of London

Explore more Diners' Choice lists