A Food Lover’s Guide to London’s Trendiest Restaurants

Despite the abundance of niche pop-ups and temporary fads driven by Instagram, the best restaurants in London emphasize permanent quality ingredients and skilled preparation, whether it’s hand-rolled pasta or fiery clay-pot cooking. After reading this article about some of the trendiest restaurants in London, you should be ready to book ahead of time (or wait, in some cases), but rest assured that the wait will be well worth it. Whatever you do, arrive hungry.

A Braccetto

This is the perfect place to relax and spend quality time with your loved ones. In A Braccetto Italian Restaurant Earls Court, you’ll find only simple, authentic Italian flavors- no complicated descriptions or dishes. They are made carefully and from the heart, using only the finest Italian and British ingredients. Known for their ‘Romana’ style pizzas that are handmade, they only purchase high-quality ingredients to support sustainable agriculture. St. Ewe eggs, salsiccia Calabrese, D.O.P. buffalo mozzarella, Sicilian anchovies, and slow-rise organic flour are used as toppings for Romana style pizzas, while lamb ragu, vodka-salmon, and lemon & cime di rapa are just a few of the distinctive sauces that go well with their artisanal, handmade pasta.

20 Berkeley

Set in a Georgian house just off Berkeley Square, 20 Berkeley—the newest venture from the same group that brought Sumi and HUMO—offers a setting that is both picturesque and understated, with its verdant banquettes, stained glass windows, and acres of polished wood. It has an air of unmistakable maturity, much like the menu. Despite the fact that every single restaurant in London boasts about being “inspired by seasonal British produce,” the chef of this restaurant brings new life to the idea with dishes like coronation chicken pie, which is complemented by kohlrabi remoulade and mango piccalilli, and black pudding agnolotti topped with wild garlic velouté.

Kiln

Guests may see the preparation of Chef Meedu Saad’s rustic Thai dishes, such as the cumin-dusted aged lamb skewers that are usually ordered upon arrival, while they are cooked over fire and embers. Everything on the limited, ever-changing menu is sourced with the utmost care, from the fresh seafood from Cornwall that arrives daily to the Thai and Chinese herbs produced in the UK. If you see turmeric-laced red mullet or raw langoustines spiced with mint and Kaffir lime on the menu, you must order them.

Sessions Art Club

It may take a few furtive strolls to find the secret red door, but once you go up the stairs, this restaurant will catch your breath. Huge arch windows, peeling mint green paint, artworks and sculptures, plants, and velvet couches all together make up what is often considered the most beautifully decorated restaurant in London and provide a blend of opulence and warmth in the two-story area. Despite having just opened in 2021, it has already become a classic in London and has an air of well-worn charm. The modest menu is a real treat; Chef Florence Knight draws inspiration from all around Europe to make her lovely, unassuming dishes.

London is a city that caters to food lovers, but it might be overwhelming to choose among many restaurants. So, there you go! If you plan a visit to London soon, book in advance and do not skip the treasures mentioned above.