Best Historic Restaurants in London

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

ItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndianJapanese

Regions

City of LondonEast LondonNorth LondonNorth West LondonSouth East LondonSouth West London

Neighborhoods

AldwychAngelBankBanksideBarbicanBelgravia

Top Rated

CharmingDog-friendlyFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasions

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

113 restaurants available nearby

1. Kettner’s

4.6

Exceptional(979)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• French • Leicester Square

Booked 17 times today

Kettner’s Townhouse is a restaurant and Champagne Bar with 33 bedrooms, in a historic Georgian building in London’s Soho. Established in 1867 by Auguste Kettner, Kettner’s was one of the first restaurants in London to serve French food. The French restaurant at Kettner’s Townhouse has a menu inspired by the history of the building, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, using locally sourced ingredients from the UK.

A photo of Piccolino - Mayfair Heddon Street restaurant

2. Piccolino - Mayfair Heddon Street

4.2

Awesome(448)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Mayfair

Booked 23 times today

There’s a reason that Mayfair is the most expensive square on the Monopoly board. This upscale London borough is filled with exclusive boutiques, stylish eateries, and top hotels. Mayfair is located within the central London borough of the City of Westminster, part of the iconic West End and neighbouring historic St James’s and artsy Marylebone.Piccolino, an authentic Italian Restaurant, is a proud fixture of the London dining scene. Piccolino located on Heddon Street, boasts an open kitchen, large lower ground Cicchetti bar and an extensive terrace to the front of the restaurant for the ultimate dining experience.Italy’s diverse cuisine is the heart and soul of Piccolino in Heddon Street. We visit the regions, meet the producers and are committed to sourcing the best quality ingredients. As you’d expect from the best Italian restaurants, Piccolino in Heddon Street offers a menu of Italian classics with a distinctly modern twist.

3. Brasserie Zedel

4.4

Awesome(3548)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• French • Piccadilly

Booked 18 times today

Located in Central London in Piccadilly Circus and adjacent to Soho, Brasserie Zédel is a grand Parisian brasserie with a café and bar. The restaurant serves traditional French food at remarkably good value with a lively atmosphere.Brasserie Zédel is open throughout the day, serving lunch and dinner and all through the afternoon. You can also experience live music which is played in the brasserie in the evenings for diners to enjoy until close.Within close proximity to Shaftesbury Avenue and Regent Street, Brasserie Zédel is the ideal location for a meal before or after a day of sightseeing. Alternatively, you can join for a pre or post theatre meal as it is located within walking distance from the West End including the Piccadilly Theatre and the Harold Pinter Theatre.If you cannot find the table you are looking for, please visit the restaurant's website directly, or call 020 7734 4888.

4. 100 Wardour St

4.2

Awesome(748)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• European • Soho

Booked 26 times today

Welcome to 100 Wardour St, the historic music destination in the heart of Soho. Join ins in our Restaurant & Club and enjoy live music every Wednesday through to Saturday alongside your dinner. Our menu features eclectic dishes from around the world such a seafood paella or our Thai green curry. Enjoy live music four nights a week, with late night dancing, and of course, our imaginative cocktail list that is designed to fuel your night perfectly.

A photo of Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill restaurant

5. Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill

4.6

Exceptional(2722)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Seafood • Mayfair

Booked 1 time today

Nestled on Swallow Street, Mayfair, Bentley's epitomises timeless elegance with a century-long tradition of celebrating Champagne and Oysters. Still shucking over 1000 oysters a day, Chef Richard Corrigan has led Bentley's since 2005, curating a menu that pays homage to its heritage with a diverse selection of oysters, wild seafood, and premium cuts sourced from the British & Irish Isles. Bentley's stands as an iconic London restaurant restored in 2005 under Corrigan's visionary leadership. The acclaimed venue offers a warm, friendly ambiance with linen-clad tables, wooden floors, an enviable art collection and a heated terrace.Explore our four exclusive private dining options, from The Crustacea accommodating up to 14 guests, while the Swallow Street Rooms, with a private bar and street entrance, host events for up to 60. Experience Bentley's, where history, gastronomy, and hospitality converge for an unforgettable dining experience.

6. Blanchette

4.6

Exceptional(185)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• French • Soho

Booked 15 times today

Blanchette Soho is a French bistro serving simple, classic and inventive French food. Our concept is based on the idea of sharing, from smaller snacks such as, charcuterie and cheese, to larger traditional dishes with a Blanchette twist. A fine selection of drinks, including a variety of French wines and classic cocktails, are also available.Founded in 2013 by brothers Maxime, Malik and Yannis, the quintessentially Parisian restaurant is named after their mother. Maxime and Yannis have, between them, almost 30 years of experience in hospitality having worked in top restaurants across London, New York and Paris.Music also plays a big part at Blanchette, with Malik, founder of sound design company La Musique du Faubourg, providing the soundtrack to ensure a buzzing and convivial atmosphere.

7. Café Royal Grill

4.6

Exceptional(559)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• British • Piccadilly

Embark on a culinary adventure at Café Royal Grill, where British elegance blends seamlessly with timeless sophistication in a historic setting. Situated in one of the most iconic rooms of this Grade II listed building, the Grill offers a refined all-day dining menu crafted from the finest ingredients, alongside a renowned afternoon tea experience. Underneath its ornate ceilings and surrounded by gilded details, every meal becomes an unforgettable journey of style and flavour. Ideally located in the heart of London on Regent Street, Café Royal Grill invites you to indulge in the very best of both classic and contemporary British cuisine.All-day dining served from 12pm to 10pm.

8. Ember Yard

4.3

Awesome(135)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Tapas / Small Plates • Soho

Booked 18 times today

Ember Yard is the fourth restaurant from Salt Yard Group and has been influenced by our travels around Spain and Italy and their methods of cooking over charcoal and wood.We commissioned and custom built a bespoke, Basque-style grill and sourced some amazing single species sustainable charcoal and wood from Kent to cook with. We use only the finest seasonal produce, and introduce – as has become our style – our spin on flavours of Spain and Italy.Ember Yard is located in the heart of Soho and is a lovely two storey restaurant and bar, with an open plan kitchen on the ground floor and a cool and cosy bar on the lower ground floor. The same delicious menu is available throughout and we encourage you to come along before you dine to sample one of our specially created Ember-themed cocktails.For groups reservations and Private Hire enquiries, contact us directly at bookings@saltyard.co.uk

9. Dehesa

4.3

Awesome(85)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Tapas / Small Plates • Soho

Booked 15 times today

Dehesa is a charcuterie and tapas bar inspired by the cuisine of Spain and Italy. Dehesa opened in January 2008 and is the sister restaurant to Salt Yard in Fitzrovia, Opera Tavern in Covent Garden and Ember Yard in Soho, offering sharing dishes served in a relaxed environment.The restaurant is named after the Dehesa- a unique woodland area in Spain which is home to the black-footed Ibérico pigs – said to produce the best Jamon in the world. This reflects our commitment to quality and provenance and our dedication to carefully sourced products.For groups reservations and Private Hire enquiries, contact us directly at bookings@saltyard.co.uk

A photo of BAFTA 195 Piccadilly: Bar & Restaurant restaurant

10. BAFTA 195 Piccadilly: Bar & Restaurant

4.8

Exceptional(3)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• British • Piccadilly

Booked 3 times today

195 Piccadilly is the home of BAFTA, the independent arts charity best known for its prestigious annual awards.As an academy, its expert global membership of film, games and TV professionals use BAFTA 195 Piccadilly to take in screenings, attend masterclasses and build their creative networks. The stunning Members’ Bar and Restaurant, situated on the top floor of this historic building, serves only the highest quality, locally sourced produce in an intimate and welcoming space.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

M
Mannie
London •10 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
A great music venue with tasty food too. Attentive and helpful staff.
More info
100 Wardour StPrice: Very Expensive• European• Soho
•
4.2
TE
TElise
London •14 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
We love coming to Kettners. It’s an oasis of calm in busy London. Service was not as good as usual. Had to keep asking for drinks and top ups of water. Portions small. But we come for the atmosphere and very relaxed setting. It’s a tradition we hold to always meet at Kettners, but would love a little more bang for our buck. We will be back as it’s great. Preferred the food when the previous chef was in charge. French food doesn’t need to be fussy and expensive.
More info
Kettner’sPrice: Expensive• French• Leicester Square
•
4.6
Z
Zainab
Essex •1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Food was beautiful - I would reccomend the calamari
More info
Piccolino - Mayfair Heddon StreetPrice: Expensive• Italian• Mayfair
•
4.2
D
Daniel
Mid Wales •1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
From start to finish the experience was 1st class. The head waiter knew everything there was to know about the restaurant and menu and made it and amazing experience. The amazing food and oysters were only topped by the service we experienced. Highly reccomend
More info
Bentley's Oyster Bar & GrillPrice: Very Expensive• Seafood• Mayfair
•
4.6
R
Rosaleen
London •8 reviews
5.0
Dined on Feb 5, 2025
Always a pleasure to lunch at Zedel. The setting is opulent, the service excellent and the delicious "prix fixe" option outstanding value in the heart of Piccadilly.
More info
Brasserie ZedelPrice: Moderate• French• Piccadilly
•
4.4

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