The best restaurants for big groups

Ave Mario in Covent Garden pays homage to Italian culture and dining in an elaborate setting designed to be Instagrammed. The restaurant doesn't look that big from the outside, but head indoors, and you'll find that it stretches back and covers another two floors – ideal for larger groups. They're another venture from the Big Mamma Group, the legends behind Gloria, Circle Popolare and Napoli Gang (yes, it's ok to dream about that lemon meringue pie every day). Ingredients are sourced from Italian family-run suppliers and crafted into a menu of classic Italian favourites. They take bookings for up to 20 people and offer private hire for more than 20 guests.

If you're looking for a restaurant to take a large group of people to let their hair down, then Tayyabs is it. This no-frills spot in Whitechapel is perfect for larger groups of up to 30 or 40. They're strictly BYOB (bring your own booze), so you don't need to worry about forking out for a huge drinks bill, you can bring along a bottle or ten of your own. The Punjabi menu is ideal for sharing, and features their famous dishes like fragrant lamb chops and dry meat curry, with plenty of vegetarian options too. Expect it to get a little rowdy in here come evening, everybody is out to have a good time.

Ollie Dabbous' Michelin-starred restaurant Hide houses three dining rooms in the underground vaults of the restaurant that are perfect for group dining – The Shadow Room and The Reading Room, which can seat six to eight people and Hide & Seek, which can be booked as two rooms of ten in each or combined for 20. The restaurant oozes luxury with a varied à la carte menu showcasing the best seasonal British produce.

Stylish Stratford restaurant and bar Darkhorse is able to accommodate groups of any size. There's a private hire space for up to 100 guests, hire of the entire restaurant is available, and there are special menus for groups of ten or more. The smart restaurant serves refined Northern Italian cuisine and offers great views of the park. Natural wines and distinctive cocktails are served.

Whether it's daytime or evening, seeing a large group of diners celebrating in Selale is hardly unusual. This vast Turkish restaurant in Green Lanes has plenty of space for groups of all sizes and its diverse but authentic menu means there's something for every appetite. The attentive staff will give you complimentary bread and salad to begin, but the varied menu includes mezze, kebabs, falafel, and pides.

Cheli, located near Elephant & Castle Station, offers an elegant fine dining experience focused on the flavours of Zhejiang province in eastern China. The menu highlights seafood specialities like lychee sweet & sour bass, alongside classic dishes such as Peking duck and Shanghai drunken chicken. With stylish marble-top tables, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a chic cocktail bar, Cheli provides a refined yet welcoming setting for both intimate meals and larger gatherings.

Not only is Dishoom an excellent choice for larger groups thanks to its huge dining areas, but it's always a winner in terms of what's on the menu. The food takes inspiration from the bustling Irani cafés and aromatic dishes you can eat all over Bombay, like the mattar paneer, the deep red chicken ruby and their creamy signature black daal best served with a cheesy naan for dipping, dunking and mopping. The dishes are perfect for sharing amongst a group, with a range of meat and vegetarian options to choose from.

It might not have a reputation for serving the very best Italian food in London, but the food is still tasty, and really you’re coming here for the experience. This Italian spot maxes out on entertainment, especially on Saturday nights, when the atmosphere is borderline rowdy, and there’s a man called Norman tinkling on the piano. Order their seafood spaghetti served in a bag if you want to take it up a notch but make sure to call them ahead of visiting if you're looking to secure a group booking. Swing by the The Lamb pub next door for a few more pints post-pasta.

Brigadiers is inspired by India's military mess halls and features a sophisticated interior of deep brown and polished wood. They serve a barbecue-inspired menu with all of the classics, like ribs and chops, alongside a range of draft beers. They can accommodate up to 18 guests in their private Pot Luck dining room, 16 in the Bidi room, and ten in the Kukuri Room. For really big groups (up to 200 people), you can book out the entire restaurant.

This old-school Chinese restaurant around the corner from Liverpool Street is delicious, reasonably priced and perfect for larger groups, with a roomy downstairs basement and plenty of big tables. The menu consists of hundreds of pages of Sichuan dishes, from the classics to the more adventurous, like the duck’s tongue with chilli oil or the cucumber with jellyfish. Everything here is jam-packed with spice and flavour, so expect to come away with a fiery mouth and a full belly.

German Gymnasium is split across two floors with a Grand Café downstairs, a restaurant, a bar area and a semi-private dining room. There's also a large heated outdoor terrace if you prefer to wine and dine al fresco. The semi-private dining area seats up to 32 guests for larger events, but you can book for up to ten online, with the option to email ahead if your party is larger than that. The food is inspired by Mittel-European cuisine, like Vienna schnitzel with lingonberry compote and chopped steak tartare with triple-cooked chips.

It’s all about the lovely atmosphere and authentic Mexican food at Mestizo in Camden and Chelsea. The food is perfect for sharing, with dishes available to order as banquets, like the taco tray, where you can construct your tacos from a tray loaded with various fillings. The margaritas also come as giant pitchers; we'll take five, please. For larger groups, request to book by sending them an email.

Mare Street Market might be the coolest spot in East London, adorned with neon-lights, leafy plants and a centrepiece bar, with a DJ usually spinning some tracks in the background. The dining room can accommodate larger groups; request it on their website. It's a stylish spot, decked out with Art Deco furniture and vintage chandeliers and a menu that changes based on what's in season.

The Record Room at Caravan in Fitzrovia was the stomping ground of Fearne Cotton and Zane Lowe in their BBC Radio 1 heyday, with small touches like a record player and recording lights still in place. These days, it houses a banquet table surrounded by smaller booths, perfect for dining with a large group of around 40 people. The menu is fresh and varied, with dishes like sea bass with truffled soy and spiced cauliflower with harissa, as well as large sharing plates of Dingley Dell pork schnitzel and more.

Bistrotheque in Bethnal Green is located in an old warehouse with whitewashed walls and minimalist decor. The menu is inspired by European fare, focusing on fresh, seasonal produce. You can book for up to six people online, but they also have several spaces ideal for private events suited for larger parties, starting at 24 and going up to 100.

Megan's is one of those places that ticks all of the boxes: it's delicious, trendy and has a lively atmosphere, whatever the time of day. The restaurant is famous for its brunches, but the dinner menu is also impressive, with dishes like deconstructed kebabs and sourdough pizzas. The interior is Instagram-friendly; think plenty of wicker and hanging plants. They have different restaurants around the city, so it's best to check their website to see how many can be seated at each one, and they also have options to hire private dining rooms for larger parties.

This chic restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton offers all-day dining with a menu chock with contemporary British cuisine, like grass-fed Scottish steak and line-caught seafood. The restaurant is spacious and sophisticated, with high ceilings, dangling chandeliers and paintings hung wall-to-wall. You can book to sit in the restaurant or request to book the private dining area with a centrepiece walnut table that seats up to 12.

Riding House Fitzrovia is a casual all-day eatery serving a wide variety of Modern European dishes, like grain bowls with skewers and truffle mac ’n’ cheese. The space is modern, bright, relaxed and suitable for group bookings, with the option to dine in the restaurant or any of their stylish private dining rooms, which can seat from 14 to 55 guests.

This barbecue restaurant specialises in butchered meats, steaks and traditional corn tacos in a contemporary setting with a central open kitchen which offers a glimpse at your food being prepared. The menu is chock-full of unique dishes, like cheeseburger tacos and lamb kimchi carnitas, and a creative cocktail menu of moreish drinks. Dine with up to 24 of you around the Restaurant Feasting Table, or hire The Den on the lower level for up to 30.

Murano is the place to take your group when you’re celebrating something seriously special. This Michelin-starred Italian spot serves a seasonal menu of modern dishes in an elegant and sophisticated setting. You can enjoy a chef’s table experience, dine inside the main restaurant or request to book the private dining area, which seats 12 guests and features a retractable curtain and window offering a direct view into the kitchen.

Enjoy a slice of Latin America at this buzzy Peruvian restaurant in the City. It’s ideal for group dining, especially if you’re celebrating something special. The restaurant has three open kitchens and multiple dining areas, including two private rooms. The larger plates are perfect for sharing amongst a group, with everything from ceviche and carnitas to a range of tacos. The restaurant is vibrant, maxes out on entertainment with live dancers and music, and offers a meal to remember in a colourful and buzzing atmosphere.

If you're really looking to luxe out, then Frog by Adam Handling in Covent Garden is the place to go. This lavish restaurant is elegant and intimate and serves a menu of simple, seasonal British dishes, like veal sweetbread tortellini with truffle and bread with chicken butter. Though you can dine inside the restaurant, there's a private dining room accessed via a secret entrance with its own kitchen, sommeliers, and waiting staff, seating up to 34 guests.

This funky 70's Capri-style trattoria in Shoreditch brings a slice of Italy to the bustling streets of Shoreditch. The menu features old Italian classics crafted using ingredients sourced from 180 small producers in Italy, like the iconic carbonara served in a wheel of pecorino cheese or their giant slab of lemon meringue pie, which you've probably seen posted all over Instagram. You can book for up to eight people online or enjoy a set menu for eight to 16 guests. Have an even bigger group to cater for? They also offer private hire.

This 19th-century pub in the trendy borough of Peckham is run by the team behind the renowned rooftop bar Franks, only a mere stroll away and perfect for a post-meal sunset cocktail. The menu is all about seasonal produce and is designed to be shared family-style, with large dishes like whole roast chicken and slow-roasted lamb shoulder. You can book for up to eight people on their website, but for anything larger, you'll have to send them an email.

Olle Korean Barbecue is a restaurant in the heart of Leicester Square offering traditional and modern Korean dishes with in-table grills. It's all about high-quality ingredients paired with a bustling and lively atmosphere and the chance to cook your food together at your table. You can book for up to eight guests online, but for larger groups, you can call them ahead of visiting. They offer a set menu for groups of eight or more guests.

This Covent Garden Indo-Chinese spot is best enjoyed with lots of hungry friends who love dishes like lamb chops, just-made Nepalese momos and fresh seafood.  The menu here caters to all palettes, so you needn't worry if you have a few fussy eaters amongst you. The restaurant spans two floors, so the staff can easily make room for larger groups, including a number of booths.

Frigideira, located in Kensal Rise, transports diners to Brazil with its vibrant menu of authentic Brazilian dishes. The interior includes portraits of Brazilian icons and famous past visitors, creating a lively atmosphere that embodies the spirit of Brazil. For group gatherings, the sharing platter is an ideal choice to get a taste of the diverse flavours of Brazilian cuisine.

Hotto Potto on Leman Street, around the corner from Liverpool Street, is the perfect place to visit with a big group. The restaurant's focus is a central hot pot, which is customised by the group with a wide selection of broths and fresh ingredients. It's a social experience where everyone can pick and choose what they fancy eating. Plus, if you feel like carrying on your night post-hot pot, there are karaoke booths with state-of-the-art equipment and an extensive song list.

This Turkish restaurant in Dalston has made a name for itself over the years for its succulent meats cooked on the front central grill and mezze. It's laid-back and lively, with long tables for larger groups. There's plenty on the menu, so there's something for every kind of diner, and it's also BYOB, which is always great for keeping the cost down.

Diyarbakir Restaurant offers Turkish cuisine with unique flair. This intimate and lively local eatery is located in Green Lanes and boasts a cosy vibe. Enjoy dining in a social environment with a larger group by sharing platters, or explore the diverse main menu featuring appetisers like baba ghanoush or creamy mushrooms, followed by a selection of meat and veggie kebabs, pide, and tasty seafood dishes.