Where to eat oysters in London

Grand café The Wolseley is a classic dining destination in London. This sophisticated spot gives you an elegant setting for a meal and a menu of British and European favourites. Jersey rock oysters and Rossmore Irish rock oysters are available here, as well as other types of shellfish like clams and crab. A second branch opened in The City in 2023.

Escape to the Med at Amalfi Ristorante in Soho. This modern restaurant opened in 2022 and features tiles, terracotta, draping leaves, and bursts of colour. Italian food is on the menu, including Maldon rock oysters, bruschetta, sourdough pizza, pasta, and risotto. The restaurant has a children's menu and also does private dining and bottomless brunch.

An independent restaurant in Covent Garden, The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen is an award-winner. In a simple and modern space with big windows, this restaurant serves a regularly-changing menu of fish and seafood. It's well-known for its oysters; you can try them dressed or cooked in a variety of ways. Other dishes include anchovy risotto and spicy crab thermidore.

Red-fronted seafood restaurant J Sheekey is a London classic. This sophisticated spot specialises in all kinds of fish and seafood recipes from comforting fish pie to lobster. Caviar and oysters are served here – you get a choice of several varieties of oysters and there are also mixed seafood platters that include oysters and other treats.

Claude Bosi at Bibendum serves up Michelin-starred French cuisine, and is housed in the famous Michelin building to boot. Enjoy modern dishes in an Art Deco space or visit the oyster bar. This is a place for relaxed seafood feasting. Eight varieties of oysters are served here, all accompanied by shallot vinegar.

One of the capital's favourite seafood restaurants is Sweetings. This blue-fronted restaurant is only open for lunch and has a traditional bill of fare rather than a menu. A wide range of fish and seafood dishes are available, with oysters on the list to kickstart your meal. Other choices here include crab bisque, various fish fillets, and fish pie.

You can eat oysters in Borough Market at Richard Haward's Oysters. This bustling market stall sells oysters to try at home as well as freshly-shucked ones to eat on-site with a chilled glass of wine. A few tables are dotted about for you to sit and soak up the busy market atmosphere. This fuss-free spot serves Colchester and Gilgas oysters.

Randall & Aubin specialises in Anglo-French cooking with a focus on lobster and steak. This glitzy brasserie has marble-topped counters and a contemporary look. An array of seafood is on the menu including four types of oyster – choose from six, 12, or 24, or try them all in a mixed platter. Prawns, crab, and lobster are served too.

Family-run restaurant The Seafood Bar started out in The Netherlands and now has a location in Soho. The interior is bright and contemporary with on-theme artwork. The restaurant is committed to sustainable, fresh, and top-quality seafood. Five types of oyster are served or you can try a mixed platter. Tempura oysters with Asian dressings are served too.

A-listers head to Scott's when they're in the mood for seafood. The venue is smart and luxurious and there's a sophisticated menu to choose from. Several types of oyster are offered – try yours naked or tempura-fried. On the menu you'll also see caviar, seared scallops, lobster, and fish on the bone. Veggie options are available too.

Oyster lovers get a treat at Wright Brothers. There are a number of these modern fish and seafood restaurants around town, each with a distinctive feel. Sample fresh oysters here, served naked on the half-shell or cooked and dressed with various international flavours. A number of varieties are on offer but it's subject to change depending on availability.

Art Deco-style eatery Brasserie Zédel is a favourite for French cuisine in London. This grand setting encompasses a number of spaces, including a cabaret theatre. In the main brasserie you can enjoy classic French dishes, with à la carte choices and prix-fixe menus. Deluxe Irish oysters are served here plus traditional recipes like French fish stew.

Being the second oldest restaurant in London, Wiltons is a classic dining destination. It started as a fishmonger in 1742 and still specialises in fresh fish and seafood today. You'll feel like part of history in the timeless interior. The main menu includes several types of oyster plus potted shrimps, caviar, smoked fish, and lobster. Meat and veggie options are also served.

The Guinea in Mayfair is a pub and steakhouse that serves fine grass-fed British beef. You can begin a meal in these traditional pub surroundings with half a dozen rock oysters or try your oysters baked into a pie with beef and horseradish. Various steak cuts are served plus dishes like risotto and fresh-daily fish.

Located near Paddington station, Smith's Bar & Grill is a contemporary British restaurant housed in a bright and airy space. There's also a canalside terrace here. Start your meal with oysters served with mignonette sauce and lemon. Main dishes include seafood risotto, Thai beef salad, and truffle tagliatelle. The restaurant also has a cheese trolley.

Compact restaurant Parsons really gets seafood fans excited. It's simple and traditional with sleek white tiles and oak panelling. Fish and seafood are the focus but the menu changes depending on the catch of the day. You can expect at least one type of oyster, plus dishes like the signature fish pie, fried sardines, and monkfish tail. There's a well-considered choice of wines too.

Enjoy seafood with a view at Seabird. This 14th floor restaurant boasts stunning views of the skyline as well as the longest oyster list in the city. Amongst towering plants and rattan furniture you can try oysters from England, Scotland, Ireland, and France, and there's an oyster happy hour. The main menu features other fish and seafood dishes with Spanish and Portuguese influences. 

Indulge in oysters with views of the Thames at Sea Containers Restaurant. This is a relaxed modern restaurant with a terrace serving seasonal food. Begin your meal with fresh bread and English coastal oysters before trying international recipes like pasta, cheeseburgers, or British hotpot. House cocktails and a global wine selection are available.

Prawn on the Lawn serves freshly-caught seafood in Islington. Fish is delivered from Devon and Cornwall to this light-filled contemporary restaurant every day. Exactly what's available varies depending on the daily catch but you can usually expect oysters, served either raw or deep-fried. Other dishes include small plates like Szechuan prawns or buttermilk-fried fish.

Head to The Colony Grill Room at The Beaumont for a sophisticated meal. This timeless space is decked out with red leather seating, table lamps, and vibrant art pieces. Classic transatlantic cuisine is on the menu. It's renowned for steak but Jersey oysters and two types of caviar are served too. Other dishes on the menu include steak tartare, Cobb salad, and roast pollock.

You'll get warm hospitality and a traditional Irish experience at Daffodil Mulligan. This lively spot in Shoreditch specialises in charcoal grilling and has eclectic dishes on the menu. Rock oysters are served either natural or dressed as a way to begin your meal. Then you can try options like baked wild cod, pig cheek skewers, or suckling pig to share. 

Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill has been serving fine seafood in Mayfair since 1916. The interior is elegant and there's a popular heated terrace too. Options at the oyster bar depend on the daily catch but you can try them naked, dressed, or cooked. Oyster masterclasses where you can learn all about oysters also take place here.

In a historic space beneath the Royal Exchange, The Libertine is an indulgent spot for favourite British recipes. It's an atmospheric venue with hanging plants, chequered floors, and smooth archways. Start your meal with plates of six or 12 market-fresh oysters, scallops, or arancini before trying the likes of cod and chips, burgers, or lamb rump.

Darby's is a lively NYC-style restaurant with a buzzing atmosphere. On the menu you'll find international dishes, with food served all day. Oysters are served and there's an oyster happy hour Wednesday - Saturday. Other dishes include Cornish crab salad, beef and bone marrow pie, and slow-cooked ham hock for two. There's regular live music here too.

The Maine brings Londoners an authentic taste of New England. It's a refined venue set across three floors and with an outer terrace. Three types of freshly-shucked oysters are served here and there's a shuck fest with discounted oysters every weekday. You'll find other Maine-inspired dishes on the menu too like lobster rolls and sirloin steak.

Perched next to the Thames, The Oyster Shed is an award-winning contemporary pub. This place is just as popular for meals as it is for drinks, and the seasonal food menu focuses on sustainable fish and seafood. You can get platters of fresh or cooked oysters, as well as mixed platters of fresh seafood. Other choices on the menu include mussels and fries, burgers, and lighter sandwiches.

Boisdale is proudly Scottish, from the tartan decor to the menu of traditional dishes, including haggis. There's regular live music here to keep the buzzy atmosphere going. Several types of oyster are served here with your choice of dressing. Other dishes include cullen skink, pickled Orkney herrings, and wild venison sausages.

Try oysters in a bustling market setting at South London's Sea Garden & Grill. These modern seafood eateries have a buzzy atmosphere and receive fresh deliveries of fish each day. The menu is always evolving and focuses on seafood plates to share, including fresh oysters. Simple sides and desserts, and a concise pick of wines, are available to enhance the seafood flavours.

You'll find a great selection of oysters in Marylebone at contemporary seafood bar La Petite Poissonerie. This restaurant has French and Japanese influences, and serves eight different oyster varieties in addition to other shellfish, seafood-based tapas dishes, and seafood pasta. There's also a fishmongers on-site.

Savour oysters and sashimi with a crisp glass of wine at Oeno Maris. This is a fishmongers and wine shop selling sustainable fine produce. There are a few eat-in tables where you can sample a variety of freshly-shucked oysters as well as sea urchins when they're in season. Fresh slices of sashimi are available too alongside daily-changing selection wines.

If you love oysters and shellfish then trendy Shoreditch venue Pearly Queen is worth visiting. This place is a bar and restaurant where seafood is the focus, paired with specially-developed oceanic cocktails. A pint of Guinness with freshly-shucked oysters is served, or you can enjoy yours along with the distinctive cocktails. Other snacks like shellfish hummus are served.

Soho seafood restaurant Manzi's loves oysters. So much so, the restaurant runs an oyster happy hour every day where you can enjoy freshly-shucked bites at low prices. You don't need to book ahead either and are welcome to just turn up. This spacious restaurant has a nautical theme and also serves a menu of fishy light bites to accompany your specially-priced oysters.

Faber, a charming and light-filled seafood eatery, is located near Hammersmith Station. This restaurant is committed to offering the freshest sustainably-caught fish and seafood from the UK, with a menu that varies daily based on the catch. Its house oysters come straight from Maldon and are shucked, not turned, and served with lemon, shallot vinegar, and tabasco. You can order as many as you like, one after another.