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Restaurant list

London Chefs' Guide to Restaurants

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by OpenTable
Updated November 09, 2023
London has some of the best restaurants around, thanks to the world-class chefs running the kitchens and creating culinary masterpieces across the capital. But where do the city’s best chefs dine when they're not the ones cooking up a storm? In an exclusive Chef’s Guide video series, OpenTable speaks to 6 top London chefs on their local restaurant recommendations across London. Who made the list? Scroll down to find out!
Pataka
4.4 (108)
£26 to £40
Contemporary Indian
Soho
Selected by Lawrence Gomez. In Hindi, Pataka means firework, and you can expect an explosion of flavours in this contemporary Indian restaurant with dishes like slow-roasted butter chicken and naans from the naan bar.
Top review
TaraH
Dined on Feb 9, 2023
The best Indian food I have had in a long time. So inventive and tasty
Selected by Lawrence Gomez. In Hindi, Pataka means firework, and you can expect an explosion of flavours in this contemporary Indian restaurant with dishes like slow-roasted butter chicken and naans from the naan bar.
Top review
TaraH
Dined on Feb 9, 2023
The best Indian food I have had in a long time. So inventive and tasty
Green Bar at Hotel Cafe Royal
4.6 (112)
£26 to £40
Bar / Lounge / Bottle Service
Piccadilly
Selected by Lawrence Gomez. Inspired by the Café Royal Cocktail Book compiled in 1937, Green Bar is a bustling cocktail bar serving botanicals and tonics along with classic cocktails, such as margaritas.
Top review
JimY
Dined on Feb 14, 2023
Love this place. Wonderful atmosphere. Quiet with some ambient music
Selected by Lawrence Gomez. Inspired by the Café Royal Cocktail Book compiled in 1937, Green Bar is a bustling cocktail bar serving botanicals and tonics along with classic cocktails, such as margaritas.
Top review
JimY
Dined on Feb 14, 2023
Love this place. Wonderful atmosphere. Quiet with some ambient music
Meraki Restaurant
4.6 (180)
£41 and over
Greek
Fitzrovia
Selected by Monica Galetti. Inspired by the Aegean islands, Meraki serves Greek dishes, including hot meze. The word 'Meraki' translates to fulfilling a vision with unwavering devotion and zeal.
Top review
KunitaVIP
Dined on Jan 7, 2025
Great location, service and food.
Selected by Monica Galetti. Inspired by the Aegean islands, Meraki serves Greek dishes, including hot meze. The word 'Meraki' translates to fulfilling a vision with unwavering devotion and zeal.
Top review
KunitaVIP
Dined on Jan 7, 2025
Great location, service and food.
SOLA SOHO
4.5 (495)
£41 and over
Californian
Soho
Selected by Alexis Gauthier. Take a trip to California without leaving Soho and book a table at SOLA, where Soho meets Los Angeles and offers a high-end tasting menu with cheesesteak and Kindai bluefin, Japan’s rarest tuna.
Top review
SatyaVIP
Dined 2 days ago
This is a lovely little restaurant. The staff are friendly and service is not overly formal. Staff engage with customers and make the experience enjoyable. The food is inventive and delicious. We had the lunch tasting menu with standard wine pairing. Sommelier was very knowledgeable and the wines are ones you wouldn’t normally get a chance to taste. Thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
Selected by Alexis Gauthier. Take a trip to California without leaving Soho and book a table at SOLA, where Soho meets Los Angeles and offers a high-end tasting menu with cheesesteak and Kindai bluefin, Japan’s rarest tuna.
Top review
SatyaVIP
Dined 2 days ago
This is a lovely little restaurant. The staff are friendly and service is not overly formal. Staff engage with customers and make the experience enjoyable. The food is inventive and delicious. We had the lunch tasting menu with standard wine pairing. Sommelier was very knowledgeable and the wines are ones you wouldn’t normally get a chance to taste. Thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
Yauatcha Soho
4.5 (6831)
£26 to £40
Chinese
Soho
Selected by Alexis Gauthier. Yauatcha Soho sets the tone with its modern interpretation of old Chinese teahouses. Stop by for all-day dim-sum and a wide variety of vegan dishes.
Top review
SarahVIP
Dined on Mar 9, 2025
Delicious food and very well presented, the cocktails were great too!
Selected by Alexis Gauthier. Yauatcha Soho sets the tone with its modern interpretation of old Chinese teahouses. Stop by for all-day dim-sum and a wide variety of vegan dishes.
Top review
SarahVIP
Dined on Mar 9, 2025
Delicious food and very well presented, the cocktails were great too!
Café Murano - St James
4.3 (1714)
£26 to £40
Italian
St. James's

Selected by Sally Abé. If you're after handmade pasta, Cafe Murano is the place. Expect excellent cooking with a regional focus and modern takes on timeless Italian dishes.

Top review
Anthony
Dined on Mar 2, 2025
Amazing Sunday roast and lovely staff, look forward to returning!

Selected by Sally Abé. If you're after handmade pasta, Cafe Murano is the place. Expect excellent cooking with a regional focus and modern takes on timeless Italian dishes.

Top review
Anthony
Dined on Mar 2, 2025
Amazing Sunday roast and lovely staff, look forward to returning!
Cinnamon Bazaar - Covent Garden
4.5 (3601)
£25 and under
Contemporary Indian
Covent Garden
Selected by Adam Handling. Full of colour and vibrancy, Cinnamon Bazaar offers a happy and uplifting vibe and features dishes inspired by Indian heritage mixed with urban London.
Top review
MaryVIP
Dined 6 days ago
Shepherd’s Pie and Aubergine Chaat were amazing! Lively place with a fun atmosphere.
Selected by Adam Handling. Full of colour and vibrancy, Cinnamon Bazaar offers a happy and uplifting vibe and features dishes inspired by Indian heritage mixed with urban London.
Top review
MaryVIP
Dined 6 days ago
Shepherd’s Pie and Aubergine Chaat were amazing! Lively place with a fun atmosphere.
Margot Restaurant - Covent Garden
4.6 (2799)
£26 to £40
Italian
Covent Garden
Selected by Adam Handling. Margot celebrates the glamour and charm of Italian design, offering elegant Italian dishes and 300-plus wines to sample.
Top review
Jabd
Dined 3 days ago
A lovely restaurant let down by a poor wine list. An uninspiring selection with excessive mark-ups. And no corkage policy.
Selected by Adam Handling. Margot celebrates the glamour and charm of Italian design, offering elegant Italian dishes and 300-plus wines to sample.
Top review
Jabd
Dined 3 days ago
A lovely restaurant let down by a poor wine list. An uninspiring selection with excessive mark-ups. And no corkage policy.
Chourangi
4.6 (682)
£26 to £40
Indian
Marylebone
Selected by Sameer Taneja. Taste flavours of India at Chourangi, which is just a stone's throw away from Marble Arch. The menu features contemporary takes on dishes eaten in Calcutta, with options including laal murgi kebab and bhapa hilsa, Calcutta's queen of fish.
Top review
Argha
Dined on Mar 15, 2025
Best bengali dishes in London. It was our anniversary dinner and loved it. We are definitely coming back again.
Selected by Sameer Taneja. Taste flavours of India at Chourangi, which is just a stone's throw away from Marble Arch. The menu features contemporary takes on dishes eaten in Calcutta, with options including laal murgi kebab and bhapa hilsa, Calcutta's queen of fish.
Top review
Argha
Dined on Mar 15, 2025
Best bengali dishes in London. It was our anniversary dinner and loved it. We are definitely coming back again.
123V
£25 and under
Vegan
Oxford Circus
Selected by Sameer Taneja. 123V is a 100% plant-based restaurant from chef Alexis Gauthier where you grab a vegan burger or order sushi and salads. Find it at Fenwick of Bond St.
Top review
OpenTable DinerVIP
Dined on Jan 1, 2023
Absolutely fantastic! Food is great and service outstanding. Thanks
Selected by Sameer Taneja. 123V is a 100% plant-based restaurant from chef Alexis Gauthier where you grab a vegan burger or order sushi and salads. Find it at Fenwick of Bond St.
Top review
OpenTable DinerVIP
Dined on Jan 1, 2023
Absolutely fantastic! Food is great and service outstanding. Thanks

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