London – With 85 Michelin starred restaurants according to the Michelin Guide 2025, London is easily one of the top gourmet cities in the world other than New York City, Tokyo and Paris. As with most of our trips, our meals often take precedence over other attractions, and we don’t believe in visiting a Michelin restaurant for every meal as there is so much more to explore in the culinary scene which is not covered by Michelin.
If this is your first time to London, or maybe your second, here are some of the restaurants from casual to mid-range to Michelin Star restaurants which we recommend and won’t break the bank for its worth.
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Casual
Bancone
A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, Bancone only opened its flagship in Covent Garden in 2018 and has three outlets in London now. I visited the Golden Square outlet and am impressed by their affordable, hand-made pasta. The dining ambience is buzzy and informal which is great, along with good service. The Silk Handkerchiefs, Walnut Butter and Confit Egg Yolk is amazing.
Where: 39 William IV Street, London WC2N 4DD, United Kingdom
Manteca
Manteca is a modern Italian-inspired restaurant in Shoreditch, London, celebrated for its nose-to-tail ethos and hand-rolled pasta. Founded by chefs Chris Leach and David Carter, Manteca emphasizes whole-animal butchery, in-house salumi, and wood-fired breads, creating a menu that blends rustic Italian tradition with bold, contemporary flavours. The pasta selection is a standout, featuring dishes like spicy lumache shells in a tomato vodka sauce and fazzoletti with duck ragu and duck fat pangrattato.
Where: 49-51 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3PT, United Kingdom
Flat Iron
This probably needs no further introduction as Flat Iron has transformed into such a popular casual steakhouse brand that it now boasts multiple outlets across London. 13 pounds for a Flat Iron Steak, why not? You also get to enjoy complimentary popcorn at the start while waiting for your food, and don’t forget your complimentary soft serve ice cream after you billed.
Where: Various outlets across London
Legare
A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, Legare is an unpretentious Italian restaurant located in a converted Shad Thames warehouses near the iconic Tower Bridge. It features a changing menu of seasonal antipasti, pasta made by hand and natural wines from Italian producers. Expect the likes of Dorset Crab Risotto, Lemon Sole Fritti, Burrata and Duroc Pork Chop. 
Where: Cardamom Building, 31 Shad Thames, Tower Bridge, London SE1 2YR, United Kingdom
Burger & Lobster
The causal dining restaurant group started back in 2011 in Mayfair, London, and is now a popular chain in the city as well as a global presence in cities like Bangkok and Dubai. The lobster roll priced at 25gbp is the most popular and must try item, where you get a generous chunks of lobster meat in a delicious brioche bun.
Where: 36-38 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 4PS, UK (Various outlets)
Kiln
We read that getting a table at Kiln is not an easy feat, and we totally understood after our two hours wait. The small and casual restaurant in SoHo specialises in Thai cuisine and gain much popularity even though it has only been opened for slightly for than a year. The dishes are relatively spicy, don’t leave without trying the Claypot vermicelli.
Where: 58 Brewer St, Soho, London W1F 9TL, UK
Shoryu Ramen
A random craving and accidental discovery led us to Shoryu Ramen, a casual Japanese restaurant in Soho which serves up pretty good Hakata style tonkotsu ramen. The broth is rich and creamy, quite an ideal spot for a late night meal or supper. Shoryu Ramen is also recommend on the Michelin Guide 2014-2017.
Where: 3 Denman Street, Soho, London W1D 7HA, UK
Gold Mine
Roast duck in London? It is hard to believe that there are good Cantonese restaurants in London many years ago, but a visit to Bayswater is almost customary for me. You will find a few famous brands in Bayswater, but our favourite of the lot is Gold Mine which serves the most succulent and tender roast duck.
Find out where else you can have good Cantonese style roast ducks in London in our previous article.
Where: 102 Queensway, Bayswater, London W2 3RR, UK
Padella
Located right outside the popular Borough Market, Padella is an Italian pasta bar concept and space serving fresh, hand rolled pasta prepared right in front of you. No reservations are taken though we didn’t wait very long for our turn. The menu is extremely wallet friendly by London standards, with antipasti like the sourdough bread from £2, pasta like the gnocchi with nutmeg butter from £4, and the most expensive fettuccine at £12. It is not an ideal space for a big group as the restaurant is not big, but this is worth trying if you are looking for a good, no frills Italian restaurant in Central London.
Where: 6 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TQ, UK
Smokestak
Shoreditch neighbourhood exudes a hipster vibe and there are a few good restaurants in near the subway Overground line with Smokestak being one of them. Industrial chic look, smoked meats and the kind of casual dining ambience we fancy, don’t leave without trying the smoked pork.
Where: 35 Sclater Street, London E1 6LB, UK
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Mid-range
Brat
A One Michelin Star restaurant in the hip Shoreditch, Brat’s name is the Old English word for turbot and the dishes here take on a Basque influence where it is mostly prepared over charcoal fire. The space is rustic with beautiful window panes and nice natural lighting in the day. Flavours are robust, where you get good starters like the Velvet Crab Soup with Mussels and Moorland Beef Tartare.
Where: 4 Redchurch Street, London E1 6JL, United Kingdom
Mountain Beak Street
Mountain is a Michelin-starred restaurant located at 16–18 Beak Street in Soho, London. Helmed by chef Tomos Parry—also known for his acclaimed restaurant Brat—Mountain offers a menu that fuses Basque culinary traditions with Welsh ingredients, all prepared over open flames to create bold, smoky flavours. The restaurant’s interior combines rustic charm with modern design, featuring wooden elements and nature-inspired touches that create a refined yet cozy atmosphere. The open kitchen allows diners to witness the wood-fired cooking process, enhancing the dining experience.
Where: 16-18 Beak Street, London W1F 9RD, United Kingdom
Elystan Street
A One Michelin Star restaurant in Chelsea neighbourhood, Elystan Street is an elegant looking restaurant which is a collaboration between Philip Howard and Rebecca Mascarenhas. The spacious interior and windows add a nice touch to the ambience, along with good service from the crew. Expect Modern British cuisine and for the best value, there is the 3-course set lunch at £49.50 before taxes. 
Where: 43 Elystan Street, Chelsea, London, SW3 3NT
Gaucho
Argentinian beef in London? I first tried Gaucho many years ago and revisited recently again. You can’t go very wrong with the Argentinian beef cuts, which are good value for money for a steakhouse restaurant in central London. Not a beef fan? The juicy roast chicken is easily one of the best we have had too.
Where: 25 Swallow Street, Mayfair, London W1B 4QR, UK (Various outlets)
Hawksmoor Air Street
With a few outlets around London, Hawksmoor is a mid-range steakhouse in London which serves up pretty good beef mainly from the U.K. The ambience of the restaurant is casual, as we visited the branch at Air Street in Central London.
Where: 5 Air Street, Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 0AD, UK
Lyle’s
Similar to Smokestak, Lyle is also located in Shoreditch and is one of the rising restaurant in London, with One Michelin Star under its belt. The menu focuses on seasonal ingredients in a semi-formal and minimalist setting. It is also ideal to order a few small plates for sharing, though prices are relatively steep.
Where: Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ, UK
Frenchie
It is French sounding, and you are right, Frenchie Covent Garden is the offspring of popular Frenchie restaurant from Paris by Gregory Marchand who had previous stints in London such as the Savoy, Mandarin Oriental. The menu in London draws parallel comparisons with its Paris concepts, with simple and clean presentation and ingredients done prepared in sophisticated ways. There is an ala carte menu, or you can also opt for the 5-course Tasting menu which is also available everyday for dinner.
Where: 16 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8QH, UK
Leroy
A wine bar and restaurant concept in Shoreditch, Leroy is a One Michelin Star restaurant with a laidback dining vibe with a constantly changing menu and wine list. The menu goes by a series of snacks and sharing plates, which makes it ideal to head here in a small group to try a good variety of dishes, and wine by it. Interior is gorgeous.
Where: 18 Phipp Street, London EC2A 4NU, United Kingdom
The Ninth
The Ninth is a neighbourhood French restaurant on Charlotte Street by Chef Owner Jun Tanaka, where specialities include raw and cured dishes, chargrilled meat and fish, as well as beautiful vegetarian dishes. Set lunch is affordably priced at £28 for two courses and £32 for three courses. For the best experience, head here in a small group to try a varied selection of dishes from the sharing plates centric menu. 
Where: 22 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NB, United Kingdom
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Splurge
Akoko
Akoko is a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant in London’s Fitzrovia district, offering a modern exploration of West African cuisine. Founded by Aji Akokomi, the restaurant’s name means “time” in Yoruba. The menu, crafted by head chef Ayo Adeyemi, features a tasting format that takes diners on a gastronomic journey through countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal. Signature dishes include suya-seasoned squab pigeon, Senegambian mussel soup, and jollof rice paired with blue lobster in a spicy Senegalese rof sauce. Emphasizing fire, umami, and spice, many dishes are prepared over a custom wood-fired grill. The contemporary interior design features terracotta walls and West African art. While dinner is pricey, the short 4-course lunch at £55 is a steal.
Where: 21 Berners Street, London W1T 3LP, United Kingdom
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
Located in one of the poshest hotel in London, I wasn’t extremely impressed with Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester given that it is one of the Three Michelin Star restaurant in London, as I can’t help using Eleven Madison Park in NYC as a benchmark. You can expect opulence in the dining ambience and in fact the moment you stepped into the hotel, but the food was at best average for us for a Three Michelin Star restaurant. That said, it is still relatively value for money for its lunch set if you compare it against other similar restaurants of the same accolade in London like the insanely expensive Fat Duck. What’s more, you get servings of wine as part of the lunch deal too.
Where: 53 Park Lane, Mayfair, London W1K 1QA, UK
Petrus
Heading back to the same restaurant twice is quite a big deal for me as I like to try new ones. Petrus left an impression when I dined here about six years ago for dinner, and safe to say it is still what I remembered it to be from my recent lunch experience. Good service, extremely good value lunch set with a choice of wine and most importantly, the food is delicious. If you want to dine at a One Michelin Star Gordon Ramsey restaurant without breaking the bank, this is it.
Where: 1 Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London SW1X 8EA, UK
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Ranted by The Ranter
