The fanciest restaurants in London

Ikoyi is a West African-inspired restaurant focusing on sustainable, seasonal produce like line-caught fish and organic meat. The restaurant has earned two Michelin stars and is consistently ranked among the best in the world. The tasting menu features dishes that pair traditional West African ingredients with other international influences, such as plantain, jollof rice, and Peking duck. The modern decor features bold artwork, and private dining options make it a sought-after spot for foodies.

The one Michelin star Luca is by the team behind The Clove Club and is a popular spot for Italian cuisine made with exquisite British ingredients. It's led by chef Rob Chambers and provides a modern dining space with a spacious dining room, stylish bar, and elegant outdoor terrace. The menu includes a range of options, from quick lunch bites to comforting à la carte dishes like burrata and carbonara. Luca also offers tasting menus for private dining and a selection of Italian wines.

Hide is a Michelin-starred restaurant offering a luxurious place to wine and dine in the heart of the city. It offers three spaces for a range of dining and drinking experiences, including the modern dining room upstairs featuring seasonal tasting menus and an extensive wine list, a ground-floor all-day dining area serving breakfast and lunch dishes, and an intimate bar downstairs serving rare spirits and bespoke cocktails.

Endo Kazutoshi has created a Michelin-starred sushi hotspot On the 8th floor of the former BBC Television Centre. He's a third-generation sushi master and sources only the finest ingredients from across the globe—he even uses the pristine water from Fukuoka to prepare the rice. The restaurant houses a sleek ten-seat counter crafted from 200-year-old Hinoki wood, with a cloud-like light sculpture overhead and panoramic city views. Endo offers an omakase experience, guiding his guests through a refined, ever-evolving menu showcasing seasonal ingredients with elegance and artistry.

This Michelin-starred restaurant in Marylebone is all about Mexican techniques and British ingredients. Dishes have been crafted by Chef Patron Santiago Lastra here, who focuses on sustainable and seasonal practices. Highlights include langoustine tacos with smoked chilli and sea buckthorn, complemented by a wine list featuring Central and Eastern European selections. The downstairs Mezcaleria offers one of the most impressive varieties of Mexican spirits in the UK.

Aqua Shard, on the 31st floor of The Shard, offers stunning city views and an award-winning British menu. Highlights include dishes like venison carpaccio, grilled halibut, and leek and potato ravioli, with options for fish and vegetarians. The bar serves creative cocktails and a global wine list focusing on French wines. There's a glass-walled dining room for smaller groups wanting maximum luxe.

Each table at Bob Bob Ricard features a "Press for Champagne" button that delivers champagne at the touch of a button. The fancy Soho restaurant is designed by David Collins and features glam dining booths inspired by the Golden Age of Travel. The menu comprises a mix of British, French, and Russian dishes, including pies and Beef Wellington, as well as things like caviar. Wine lovers will appreciate the restaurant's capped fine wine markups, and for those who prefer spirits, chilled vodka shots are also available, though not at the push of a button.

Claridge's Restaurant is a historic London landmark relaunched in 2023 within the luxurious Art Deco setting of the five-star Claridge's Hotel. The menu boasts contemporary British cuisine served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, paired with fine wines and drinks. The setting is chic and fancy, with a mosaic floor, leather banquettes, and striking pendant lamps. It's the epitome of glitz and glam.

Maison François is often regarded as one of the best restaurants in the country, featuring semi-private booths in a light, spacious setting with dining available all day. Tuck into breakfast croissants or omelettes in the morning, or feast on hearty meat or seafood dishes in the evening. The restaurant is trendy, with signature terracotta-coloured walls and tasteful dangling lampshades. It also offers a pre-theatre menu and has an affiliated wine bar in the basement.

Sessions Arts Club combines a bar, restaurant, and performance that changes with the seasons via its curated collective program. It's set in the old judges' dining room at Sessions House, a grand Grade II listed building in Clerkenwell with a shabby-chic decor. Dishes are made with high-quality produce and come as a mix of small and large plates arriving as they're ready. Although the food is a hit, people flock here for the grand setting, adorned with dangling chandeliers, washed stone walls and lush plants.

The Ritz Restaurant is the height of luxury. This Michelin-starred restaurant delivers an exquisite fine dining experience in one of the world's most stunning settings, adorned with chandeliers, marble columns, plush drapery, and lavish golden accents. The restaurant is nestled within the five-star Ritz Hotel and features a menu that celebrates seasonal British ingredients that depend on the season.

French chef Hélène Darroze's London flagship at The Connaught Hotel is a masterpiece of design and culinary artistry. It has been awarded with a whopping three Michelin stars and it's not hard to see why. The warm wooden tones, soft pink accents, and flowing curves create a sophisticated and chic vibe, finished off by bespoke artworks from Damien Hirst. Men are personalised and crafted to suit individual tastes, making every meal truly unique. Securing a reservation well in advance is essential.

Langan's Brasserie is a renowned spot in Mayfair for refined Anglo-French cuisine. The menu showcases sophisticated dishes crafted from sustainable ingredients. There are options for all-day dining, including a healthy breakfast selection. The main menu highlights the finest seasonal and sustainably sourced ingredients. Head upstairs to the stylish cocktail bar for a perfect finishing touch.

Berners Tavern is one of Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton's iconic establishments. It's located within the London Edition boutique hotel and is a feast for both the eyes and the palate. It's decorated with paintings beneath an ornate ceiling and chandelier and is the height of luxury. This sophisticated spot offers all-day dining featuring contemporary British cuisine made with the freshest seasonal ingredients, with a focus on continuously refining each dish to ensure the best possible taste.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is a two-Michelin-starred restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in Knightsbridge. The renowned chef combines a creative approach to food with historical British recipes dating back to the 13th century. The decor reflects this theme, with porcelain sconces shaped like antique jelly moulds and a unique spit-roasting system in the kitchen. Guests can book the chef's table or private dining room for an exclusive experience or enjoy a lighter menu on The Hyde Park terrace during warmer months.

Plates is a vegan restaurant in East London by siblings Kirk and Keeley Haworth, serving sustainable, and balanced plant-based dishes in a chic setting. There are just 25 seats here, as well as an outdoor terrace for alfresco dining. The tasting menus are designed to transform guests' perceptions of fruit, vegetables, and plants. The decor is stylish and minimal, with candles on each tables and brass dangling lampshades.

The Midland Grand Dining Room is located in the former space of The Gilbert Scott and brings French flair to King's Cross with a dynamic menu of classic dishes crafted by chef Patrick Powell. The menu changes but dishes include things like crab and elderflower pain perdu, chicken liver parfait with truffle and Madeira jelly, and Grand Marnier soufflé. The glamorous venue oozes Victorian charm, featuring an iconic Gothic Bar at the front.

This Kyoto-inspired Michelin-starred restaurant in Mayfair combines Japanese cuisine with a stylish, Asian-inspired vibe. The menu features top-quality, line-caught fish from Cornwall and the British Isles, including sushi, sashimi, and daily seafood specials. Executive chef Ryo Kamatsu uses the traditional Ikejime method, a 17th-century technique considered the freshest and most humane way to prepare fish. Upon entering, all chefs stop what they are doing to greet you into the space. There's also an impressive menu of sake available to try.