Quick Reference Guide: London Restaurants for Business Eating & Drinking
This is a list of my preferred spots in London. Most of these places could (and should) fit in several categories. They’re all great. New entries indicated with **NEW**. (Last updated 22 February 2025.)
There’s a Google Maps custom map with all of the restaurants from the guide. I can’t embed it, annoyingly, but you can explore it here.
Breakfast
Must have table seating and serve eggs plus a few healthy options.
The Wolseley. London’s holy of holies for breakfast. Impeccable service. Great food. A chance to spot people more famous than you. Must book. St. James. ££££
The Delauney. London’s second most classic breakfast spot. An arena for serious morning chat or deal-making. Booking advised. Aldwych. £££ Full review.
Roast. Superb breakfast near London Bridge & Waterloo. Wander Borough Market before the madness. Booking advised. Borough Market. £££
The Regency. London’s most famous throw-back greasy café. Full English or don’t bother. Walk-in. Victoria. £
Fortnum & Mason @ Royal Exchange. Excellent city breakfast in attractive atmosphere in atrium of the Royal Exchange. Booking advised. City / Bank. ££
Caravan. Small chain with solid breakfast options. Key location in the City across from Cannon Street Station. Booking advised. City / Cannon Street. ££
Dishoom. Epic, unusual Indian-led breakfast. Bacon naan roll? Yes, please. Booking advised. Various locations. ££
Coffee
Must have indoor seating that would allow two or more people to have a quiet conversation. Warning: I am not a coffee-lover, so the coffee may be bad.
Grind. Comfortable spot super-convenient to London Bridge station. Good for a laptop session or quiet chat. Excellent coffee. Better pastries. Booking advised. London Bridge. £
Delauney Counter. Little brother to Delauney. Austro-German pastries and superb coffee. Very comfortable in a great location. Excellent wifi. Walk-in. Aldwych. £
Fortnum & Mason @ Royal Arcade. Great for breakfast, but perfect for coffee, too. Highest job interviews per square foot in London. Walk-in for coffee. City / Bank. ££
Quick Lunch
Must be able to get in and out in less than an hour, allowing for a 10-minute walk before and after.
The Black Penny. Fresh salads, add chicken or salmon, available every day. Pleasant service and great coffee. Walk-in. Multiple locations. £
Ruebens. You’ll think you’re in New York City. London’s best kosher deli. Salt beef on tissue thing rye bread. Stunning strudel. Booking advised. Baker Street. ££
Bancone. Fresh pasta and Italian delights. Sharing portions. Mostly counter seating. Quick turnaround, but still pleasant. Booking advised. Covent Garden or Borough Market. ££
Seven Dials Market. A bevvy of food stalls recalls a Singapore hawkers’ market. Options for everyone. Grab a communal table and graze. Walk-in. Covent Garden. £
Dom’s Subs. Authentic NY-style hoagies. You can’t eat there. Sorry. Order a party platter and have it delivered to your conference room. Order. Ludgate. £
L’Antipasto City. Uncomplicated Italian fare with a comfortable, welcoming vibe. Booking advised. City. ££. Full review.
Kleinsky’s. Great bagels, perfect for breakfast or lunch, with all sorts of NY-inspired fillings. Walk-in. Mayfair. £. Full review.
Padella. Delicious homemade pasta so good you’ll think you were in Italy. Booking advised. Borough Market & Shoreditch. £££. Full review.
Farmer J. Healthy. Tasty. Places to sit. The perfect quick lunch spot.Walk-in or order online. Various locations. £. Full review.
Pleasant Lunch
Allow for about 75-90 minutes including a short walk before and after.
Brasserie Blanc. Solid, thoughtful French cooking. Go hungry. Swift attentive service means nice lunch in an hour if required. Booking advised. Waterloo or Chancery Lane. ££
Margot. Excellent Italian. Enthusiastic, engaged service. Great wine list for anyone having ‘just a glass.’ Booking essential. Covent Garden. £££
The 10 Cases. On trend with a daily-updated menu, sharing plates, and (some) natural wines. Great service. Doors open on nice summer days. Booking essential. Covent Garden. £££
Sweetings. Total throwback to old school London. Lunch among the bankers. Superb fish, classically prepared. Well-crafted wine list. Booking advised. St. Paul’s / City. ££. Full review.
Parsons. Same owners as The 10 Cases, this one specialises in fish. Lots of lighter options. Outside space. Excellent by-the-glass selections. Booking advised. Covent Garden. £££ Full review.
Chez Antoinette. Delightful classic French bistro contrived into a new building. Lovely service and well-made food. Feels like you got lost on the way to Lyon. Booking advised. Victoria. ££
Cafe Murano. Wonderful range of Italian classics. Affordable, quick for lunch, three convenient locations. Booking advised. Covent Garden, Bermondsey, St. James. ££. Full review.
Bistro Union. Ultra-pleasant neighbourhood spot on a quiet street with excellent food, attentive service, and a well-crafted wine list. Booking advised but there is usually space for walk-ins. Clapham. ££. Full review.
Camille. The best modern, regional French fare, inspired and energised, in a bustling bistro setting. Booking essential. Borough Market. £££. Full review.
Thirty7. Solid, ultra-convenient, comfortable, bistro-style spot fills a void in the Covent Garden lunch scene. Booking advised, but you can walk-in (for now). Covent Garden. ££. Full review.
Summer House. Fish-focused and boat-themed, but excellent quality at a decent price. The solution to all of your place-near-Paddington needs. Booking advised. Paddington / Maida Vale. ££. Full review.
Akara: Spicy, intriguing “West African via Brazil” inspired tidbits full of fun and delight. Share everything or hoard your own. Booking advised. Borough Market. ££. Full review.
Four Seasons. Go for the duck. Experience a wide array of great Cantonese cooking and open your mind to the world beyond London.Booking advised. Bayswater and other locations. ££. Full review.
The Park. Italian-influenced American cuisine with a great wine list and clever cocktails in an appealing venue. Booking essential. Bayswater. £££. Full review.
Oma. Delightful modern Greek cuisine. Gobs of options, great breads, and a stellar wine list. Booking essential. Borough Market. £££.
Full review.
Cloth. Lovely, modern cooking and insightful, surprising wine. A great place for lunch or anything else. Booking essential. Farringdon / City. £££. Full review.
Lupins. Simple cooking. Fresh ingredients. A pleasant spot. Perfect London destination in the Bankside sea of sameness. Booking essential. Bankside / Southwark Bridge. £££. Full review.
Henri. Intriguing take on French classics in the heart of Covent Garden. Booking advised. Covent Garden. £££. Full review.
Marceline. NY-accented French bistro offering big, reliable flavours. Booking advised. Canary Wharf. £££. Full review.
Café Francois. Dirty French with a Montreal accent. Decadent but not fancy. The kind of place you’d drink wine at 10:00 a.m. and write your novel — longhand — at the counter. Booking advised. Borough Market. £££. Full review.
Ibai. Basque tapas, amazing steaks, prime location, excellent atmosphere. Booking advised. City / Farringdon. ££££. Full review.
Llewelyn’s. Colourful plates deliver fabulous seasonal flavours. Booking advised. Herne Hill. £££. Full review.
** NEW ** The Ninth. A Michelin star place that you could visit every week. Booking essential. Fitzrovia. ££ (set lunch) £££ (a la carte). Full review.
** NEW ** Luc’s. City stalwart delivering quality brasserie fare. Booking essential. City. £££. Full review.
** NEW ** Anchor & Hope. Solid, classic gastro-pub in Southwark. Booking essential. Southwark. ££. Full review.
** NEW ** M Restaurant. Japanese-influenced steak spot with a focus on Wagyu. Booking essential. City. £££. Full review.
Long Lunch
Block the whole afternoon in the diary. You aren’t going back to the office.
Noble Rot. Constantly changing, diverse, French-influenced menu. Superb wine. Original Lamb’s Conduit location remains my favourite. Booking essential. Holborn, SoHo, St. James. £££
Hawksmoor. London’s definitive steak destination. Great non-steaky options too. Can be quick, but better if you can linger. Booking advised. Many locations. £££
Hide. Delightful a la carte menu from genius Chef Ollie Dabous. Set lunch option, too. Among the best wine lists in London. Booking essential. Green Park. £££ (a la carte)
Otto’s. Straight out of 1978. Unapologetically classical French. Duck or lobster a la presse available. Delightful service with a sense of humour. Booking essential. Chancery Lane. £££
Andrew Edmunds. Ask for a table on the ground floor. Sublime Modern British. Time machine to old SoHo. Great value wine list. Superb. Booking Essential. £££
Smith’s of Smithfield. Target the 3rd floor restaurant, although other bits are good. Wide assortment of well-made dishes, including great steaks. Booking Essential. Farringdon. £££
Brooklands. Fine dining with altitude. Great food to equal great views. A space-age experience that will have you looking for your long-promised flying car. Booking essential. Belgravia. ££££. Full review.
Sollip. Clever, sophisticated, and artistic Korean fusion cooking that delivers great tastes and new experiences. Booking essential. London Bridge. ££££. Full review.
Sola. Fantastic take on California cuisine in the heart of Soho. Booking essential. Soho. £££. Reviewed as part of my conversation over lunch with Nick Lander.
Roe. Innovative, creative, and delicious, it’s the leading light in Canary Wharf’s dining scene and a reason head east on the Lizzie Line. Booking essential. Canary Wharf. £££. Full review.
La Trompette. First-rate French-inspired modern cooking, engaged service, and stunning desserts. Booking essential. Chiswick. ££££. Full review.
A. Wong. Top-flight Chinese delivered in wondrous bites of delight. Booking essential. Pimlico. ££££. Full review.
Moor Hall. Top-class everything. Fun without being stuffy. Not far off perfection. Booking essential. Aughton, near Liverpool. ££££. Full review.
** NEW ** Josephine Bouchon. Faultless Lyonnaise food and experience. Booking essential. Chelsea. £££. Full review.
Healthy Lunch
Slabs of meat aren’t always right. Allow 60-75 minutes including a short walk before and after.
Rovi. From Yotam Ottelenghi. Super fresh, veg-driven Mediterranean and Middle Eastern creations. Small plates for grazing. Walk-in. Oxford Circus / Fitzrovia. ££
Nopi. Another Ottelenghi masterpiece. Same concept as Rovi, closer to Piccadilly. Soho. ££.
Mallow. Vegan / vegetarian with diverse range of flavours. Amazing produce and stunning preparations. Who needs meat? Booking advised. Borough Market. ££
Fish! The freshest seafood. Constantly changing menu. Reasonable prices. Great views of Southwark Cathedral and the market. Booking advised. Borough Market. ££
Farmer J. Healthy. Tasty. Places to sit. The perfect quick lunch spot.Walk-in or order online. Various locations. £. Full review.
Sushisamba. Japan-inspired delights accessible to anyone. Booking advised. City & Covent Garden. £££. Full review.
Foodie Wine Bars
Lower Wine Bar. Excellent on every detail from its brilliant wine selection to perfect charcuterie and homemade delicacies. Walk-in. Waterloo. ££. Full review.
Quality Wines. Chalkboard menu changes constantly. Share plates, or not. Epically great wine selections. Be adventurous. You won’t regret it. Booking essential. Farringdon. £££. Full review.
Working 1-2-1 Dinner
It shouldn’t feel like a date.
The Ivy. Only the original on West Street will do. Skip the chain copies. Covent Garden institution. Hang out with actors and feel the spotlight. Booking essential. Covent Garden. £££
Canto Corvino. Excellent Italian in a comfortable environment. Fabulous pasta and great wine list. Booking advised. City. £££
The Thomas Cubitt. First floor restaurant, although the pub is great too. Classic gastro-pub with great food. Booking essential. Victoria / Chelsea. £££. Full review.
Sael. Polished brass, polished marble, and polished food. Booking essential. St. James. ££££. Full review.
For Visiting Americans
When you want a little cliché with your dinner. Play it ironic, or not.
Rules. Oldest in London. Wildly old school menu and vibe. Jacket required. Outstanding, secret cocktail bar upstairs. Booking essential. Covent Garden. £££
Wilton’s. Feels like a Pall Mall members club. Super food with an emphasis on fresh fish and game. Classic wine list. A true London experience. Booking essential. St. James.. ££££
Rowley’s. Quick and reasonably priced, but still has the classic, throw-back feel. Lots of English classics, great steaks, and reliable choice of Claret. Walk-in. St. James. ££
Langan’s. Brass plated brasserie with a French accent and a sense of humour. Recently restored to former glory. You’ll eat well and have fun. Booking essential. Mayfair, ££££
Special Dinner
Places to celebrate a big success or mark a significant moment.
Scott’s. Rub shoulders with famous and merely British famous. Stunning fresh seafood. Slightly haughty and can be a tough booking. You won’t care. Booking essential. Mayfair.££££
J Sheekey. A London institution, and another fish specialist. More entertaining to sit at the bar. Great pre-theatre. Booking essential. Covent Garden. ££££
Fallow. Hot spot. Chic. Foraged everything. Pushing culinary boundaries. Thumping, party atmosphere. YouTube famous. Booking essential. St. James. £££.
Hide. Full 9-course tasting menu of Michelin starred magic. Few better, and if you’re nice, view of Green Park from 1stfloor window. Booking essential. Green Park. ££££ (tasting menu)
Quality Chop House. Epic meat and potatoes. Big red wines. History lesson decor. Don’t shirk. Go big or don’t go. Booking essential. Farringdon. £££
Trivet. Two Michelin stars. Genius chef & sommelier, both ex- Fat Duck. Food is simple, accessible, modern. Unsurprisingly delicious. My #1. Booking essential. London Bridge. £££. Full review.
** New ** Mountain. Big slabs of meat, well treated seafood, and unconventional nibbles at the heart of Soho. Booking essential. Soho. £££. Full review.
Team Dinner
Good for groups of 6+ with a focus on fun.
Mercato Metropolitano or Mercato Mayfair. Hawkers market style spaces with food for every taste. Big tables for easy-going gathering. Walk-in. Tower Bridge & Mayfair, ££
Lahpet. You didn’t know you liked Burmese? Trust me. You do. Delicious sharing plates to suit any palate. Comfortable vibe with latitude for raucous or focused. Booking advised, ££
Hoppers. Their ‘rice and curry’ will make you homesick for Sri Lanka, even if you’re not from there. Spicy food and lovely service. Booking advised. Several locations. ££
Texas Joe’s. London’s best and only authentic Texas barbecue joint. Superb brisket and ribs. Admirable sides. Great cocktails. Booking advised. London Bridge. ££. Reviewed as part of my Chat Over Lunch with Charlotte Ivers.
El Pastor & Casa Pastor: Fantastic tacos, flaky fish, and delicious slow-cooked meats. Nibble or gorge. Great place for laughs. Perfect for groups. Booking advised. Borough Market & others. ££ (or £££ if you drink lots of Margaritas). Full review.
Kolae. Bold Thai flavours that encourage and reward exploration. Booking advised. Borough Market. £££. Full review.