The best restaurants for lunch in the City of London

The traditionally blue-and-white tiled Bar Douro provides a laidback Portuguese oasis in the heart of the City, where chefs prepare small plates of authentic delicacies in an open kitchen. Choosing from among options such as bacalhau and smoked Portuguese sausage, you can craft your own lunchtime getaway. For an even smoother journey, take a look at the award-winning, exclusively Portuguese wine list.

This classic British seafood restaurant deals in lunch and lunch only, served in a no-frills table-clothed interior. Over the more than 130 years of its existence, tens of thousands of oysters have been slurped down here, along with dishes steeped in nostalgia, from grilled, fried or poached fish to potted shrimps, Welsh rarebit and more. There’s a selection of classic sides and timeless desserts available as well.

Acclaimed chef Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Kitchen features a refined dining area in what was once a warehouse, complemented by an outdoor terrace for al fresco meals. The restaurant serves an affordable set lunch menu that showcases Singh’s innovative cooking that brings together Indian flavours and British influences. You can start off with stir-fried shrimps, continue with pan-seared sea bass and finish off with a ginger toffee pudding, for example.

Whether you’re looking to grab a quick lunch or want to take things slow with your team or business clients, the open-plan outpost of Italian eatery Lina Stores at the Bloomberg Arcade has you covered. Across two floors, the restaurant serves authentic Italian dishes, highlighted by fresh handmade pasta slathered in various sauces, parmesan cheese, truffles and more.

When the lunchtime burger craving sets in, Patty & Bun is ready to feed the urge with burgers made from the highest-quality beef, sourced from organic British farms. Halal and plant-based options are available as well. The group’s lunch deal includes any burger, with rosemary salted chips on the side. You can complement your meal with beer, cocktails and other drinks.

This British brasserie chain offers a varied menu throughout the day, highlighting seasonal dishes, lobster, steaks and more. The weekday set lunch includes mains such as steak frites, chicken & leek pie, fishcakes and sausage & mash. The opulent City eatery is located in a grand former bank with high ceilings and large windows.

From the team behind successful ventures such as Hoppers and Bao comes a barbecue restaurant and sports bar that’s inspired by military mess halls in India, but with presumably a touch more elegance and polished wood. You can choose between two or three courses on the weekday set lunch menu, which includes authentic options such as samosas and biryani. You might even catch your favourite team playing on one of the TV screens while you’re at it.

This is a popular spot for an authentic Vietnamese lunch in the City. The food is homemade from fresh ingredients and according to family recipes. Grab a classic noodle soup for a tasty midday meal, or choose toppings for your rice or noodles and enjoy. The simple yet richly flavoured food here means the place often gets busy, so be ready to queue.

Set up as a subterranean ode to the 17th century chophouses that were quite the thing in London back in the day, the City branch of Blacklock serves a broader menu than other locations. It still strives to serve the finest grass-fed meat at affordable prices, however, with a special selection of lunch-break-friendly dishes that are served swiftly, for example the Pork Belly Bun or the Blacklock Burger. On the other hand, if you’ve got extra time on your hands, try spending it at the separate cocktail bar.

At the sophisticated Mei Ume restaurant, you can choose between a lunch menu that includes a soup, two starters and one main dish, or go à la carte and select different dim sum. The former is especially well-suited for those who want a pan-Asian experience combining the best of Japan and China. The stylish restaurant has won awards for its design, and the meal can be further enhanced with the help of cocktails, sake and other drinks from the bar.

Whether you’re gazing out the 14th-floor window or taking in the glamourous verdant interior, there’s no shortage of ‘grammable set pieces at this chic eatery. The cuisine revolves around seasonal British ingredients and French influences, with a dedicated à la carte lunch menu that includes dishes such as lobster salad or Iberico pork chop. 14 Hills also has a deli counter with sandwiches, cakes and other quick bites. 

One of the capital’s most renowned rooftop establishments, Madison boasts unparalleled views of St. Paul’s Cathedral, along with spectacular wraparound views of the city skyline. Inspired by the dining scene in New York, the kitchen serves creatively reinvented American classics. The Love the City lunch menu includes two or three courses, with options ranging from fried chicken & waffles to steak, sea bass fillet and Mississippi mud pie. There's plenty to drink as well, whether in the restaurant proper or in the bar area.

For a long, leisurely gourmet lunch, head to La Dame de Pic, the Beaux Arts-style London outpost of the world’s most decorated female chef, Anne-Sophie Pic. Choose one of the multiple-course tasting menus to head off on a gastronomic voyage that features elegantly presented dishes with unexpected, imaginative flavour twists and turns. Pair your meal with wine from the Rhône Valley and enjoy.

Angler is chef Gary Foulkes’ elegantly mirrored restaurant perched atop the South Place Hotel. The seventh-floor restaurant features a Provence-inspired rooftop terrace with its own bar, as well as a private dining room. The food at this Michelin-starred eatery highlights sustainable British seafood and seasonal produce, with meat and vegetable options available as well. For lunch, they serve a set menu with dishes such as bouillabaisse or rabbit bolognaise.

For a quick, flavourful lunchtime bite, head to Assenheims 56 and try their authentic South American street food. The menu features comfy fare from all over the continents, such as grilled chicken, sandwiches from Uruguay and Argentina, Colombian egg dishes and more. The chain of simple eateries has been active for over 30 years, hitting the spot with its intriguing dishes that can be enjoyed as eat-in or grabbed to go.

The Guildhall branch of the popular Hawksmoor steakhouses serves seafood and meat in various forms, from lobster and T-bone steaks to ribs and burgers. Boasting an elegant wood-panelled dining room for private hire, as well as a tastefully furnished main dining area, the Guildhall branch offers two- or three-course lunch deals in addition to à la carte options.

Small plates are a lunch staple, letting you fill up but not overload, though usually they’re associated with warmer climates. Ekte Nordic Kitchen switches that up, offering a true taste of Scandinavia that just so happens to be tailor-made for lunch. Choose one of the traditional open-faced sandwiches or sit down around a table loaded with small plates of gravlax, red deer loin and more, with larger dishes available as well. Complete the experience with aquavit or schnapps.

For a quick, cheap and undeniably meaty lunch to go, drop in at this traditional family butchers. In addition to a broad range of meat, poultry and fish products, Porterford Butchers also serves hot lunch items on weekdays, for example baguette sandwiches, burgers, drumsticks and more. They even offer lunch boxes featuring a main, a side and a can of drink.

If you’re looking to make lunch a special event or hoping to impress a client, try booking Searcys at the top of the famed Gherkin building. The stunning 360-degree views of London are sure to leave an impression, as is the elegant contemporary interior. The menu celebrates British produce, with your choice of two or three courses including dishes such as chicken pie, pork loin or the market fish of the day.

The vast food hall next to Liverpool Street Station is a one-stop-shop for all things Italian, from pasta and cheese to charcuterie and wine. The venue also includes a food court with different restaurants serving Italian classics such as pasta, pizza, grilled specialities and more. Meanwhile, the on-site bars provide aperitivos, fine Italian wine and other suitable tipples.

Part of the popular Daisy Green Collection of Aussie-style brunch spots, the Beany Green café in Broadgate Circle has both interior and outdoor seating. The health-conscious menu features dishes from the land down under and is ideal for catching up with a colleague, charging up with artisan coffee, or grabbing a quick pick-me-up bite.

The Ivy brasseries are a mainstay of London dining, providing all-day service in a casual yet elegant setting. The City Garden branch has a stylish Art Deco interior as well as an outdoor terrace and serves the familiar Ivy array of British staples and global à la carte favourites. There’s also a daily two- or three-course set menu that often highlights a certain culinary tradition. You can treat yourself to a classic cocktail as well.

Los Mochis in The City offers an eclectic pan-Pacific culinary experience, merging the dynamic flavours of Japan and Mexico in creative taco and sushi pairings. This chic venue is adorned with vivid Mexican artwork. Patrons can enjoy a tasting menu and explore a selection of unique signature cocktails. The restaurant prides itself on having one of the largest collections of rare tequila and mezcal in Europe. Situated on the ninth floor, it also provides sweeping panoramic views of London.