London’s dining scene is as eclectic as the city itself. From buzzing Soho to leafy Richmond, you can eat brilliantly well, or leave disappointed if you pick the wrong spot. Here’s my round-up of ten reviews: seven you should try and three you might want to approach with caution.
Updated August 2026 with a year’s worth of new reviews.
⭐ Must-Try Restaurants in London
Roast bone marrow, toast and salt. Thirty years of doing the same thing and doing it properly. If you only eat one meal in London, this is a serious contender, and an almost biblical experience.
Don’t go to Moro. Go today. Exmouth Market’s long-standing Moorish-Spanish kitchen is still operating at the top of its game and there is no good reason to keep putting it off.
Goes without a hitch. Reliable in the best sense: an all-day menu that doesn’t overreach, done well every time. A rare thing in a city where consistency is usually the first casualty.
A first visit, and a second attempt at a good lunch with the friend who had taken me to Riding House. Lightning did strike twice. Ravinder Bhogal’s cross-cultural cooking is as distinctive as anything in London.
Towers over the competition, and proof that you don’t have to go into town for a genuinely good meal. Easily the best thing happening in Richmond right now.
6. Delamina East, Spitalfields
So good, it warranted a return visit that absolutely delivered. Middle Eastern flavours done with flair and authenticity. Highly recommended if you want something vibrant and different in Spitalfields.
Clinging on to this list by its fingertips. Nowhere in London beats that view, and for the craic it is hard to fault. But the food and the wine are not really the point here, at least not in the evening. Come for the room and the Thames, keep your expectations in check on the rest.
⚠️ Proceed with Caution
Fits somewhere, just not here. The formula might work elsewhere in the group, but this branch never quite justified itself. Plenty of better options within a five minute walk.
We had a great set meal here with friends, but in a pretty empty restaurant, and we really enjoyed it. But since my review, the same friends have gone back and had much less for much more and left with a very nasty taste in their mouths, figuratively and literally.
10. Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, Soho
A warm, welcoming space with a compelling backstory and plenty of charm. But the hospitality sucked, the food can be uneven, and the price point feels steep compared to Soho’s other Middle Eastern gems. Worth a visit for the location, but temper expectations.
🎯 Final Thoughts
London’s food scene is constantly shifting, sometimes thrilling, sometimes frustrating. Stick to the must-tries above for a memorable meal, and tread carefully with the others unless you’re feeling adventurous.
Looking for something a bit more occasion-specific? Try my ten places to take your mum in London.
Have your own London hits or horror stories? Share them in the comments: I’d love to hear where you’ve been eating.
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