Best Restaurants Near Carlton Gardens (Devon)
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The best restaurants near Carlton Gardens
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- Closest to Carlton Gardens
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87 restaurants
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Pizza4.8★15,088 reviews
Pizza Pilgrims
Pizza Pilgrims Carnaby is a busy, casual Neapolitan pizzeria in Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street. It is built for a straightforward meal rather than a long sit-down, with quick service, a compact dining room, and a lively courtyard setting that fills at lunch, dinner, and weekends. Expect central London prices, a social atmosphere, and a reliable stop for pizza in Soho.
Mon–Sat 11:30–23:00 · Sun 11:00–21:00Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
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British4.6★11,827 reviews
Bill's Soho Restaurant
Bill’s Soho is a busy, easygoing all-day restaurant on Brewer Street, set among the theatres, bars, and retail streets of central London. It draws a mixed crowd of shoppers, office workers, families, and visitors looking for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or cocktails without fuss. Expect a lively room, quick table turnover, and a menu built for broad appeal rather than culinary surprises.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
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Seafood4.6★10,023 reviews
Burger & Lobster Soho
On Dean Street in the middle of Soho, Burger & Lobster pairs a compact seafood-led menu with burgers, cocktails, and brunch in a busy, urban dining room. It is less a sightseeing stop than a practical meal choice: straightforward, social, and built for lunch, dinner, or drinks before a night out. Expect a lively central-London pace, indoor seating, and occasional outdoor tables.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–2 hrs
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Steak4.6★7,795 reviews
Flat Iron Covent Garden
Flat Iron Covent Garden is a popular steakhouse located on Henrietta Street, London, known for its simple, high-quality flat iron steaks and rustic sides. Housed in a building with an original 1892 tiled frontage and mosaic floor, it features an in-house butcher crafting premium UK-sourced beef. The restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere with friendly service, a limited but well-executed menu, and a signature complimentary salted caramel ice cream cone on departure.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–2 hrs
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Vegan4.7★7,476 reviews
Mildreds Soho
Mildreds Soho is a long-running vegan and vegetarian restaurant in Carnaby, serving polished, casual meals in the middle of London’s busiest West End streets. Open since 1988, it draws breakfast, brunch, lunch, pre-theatre diners, and evening cocktail crowds rather than sightseers. Expect a lively indoor setting, quick turnover at peak times, and a menu built for mixed-diet groups as well as committed plant-based travellers.
Mon–Sat 9:00–23:00 · Sun 9:00–22:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–2.5 hrs
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Irish pub4.4★7,128 reviews
The Porterhouse
The Porterhouse is a large, independent Irish pub on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, spread across several floors with mezzanines, a terrace and a beer-garden feel. It draws crowds for craft beer, whiskey, live music, sports screenings and pre-theatre drinks, so expect a fast-moving, sociable atmosphere rather than a quiet pint.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–4 hrs
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Vegan4.8★6,067 reviews
Mildreds Covent Garden
Mildreds Covent Garden is a polished, fully plant-based restaurant on St Martin’s Lane, a short walk from the theatre district and Leicester Square. It draws mixed-diet groups as well as vegans with a broad menu that works for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Expect a busy West End room, shareable plates, cocktails, and a sit-down meal that suits pre-theatre plans.
Mon–Sat 9:00–23:00 · Sun 9:00–22:00Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
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Wine bar4.6★6,137 reviews
Gordon's Wine Bar
Gordon’s Wine Bar is a compact, historic cellar bar off Villiers Street, known for its vaulted rooms, candlelight, oak barrels and long, unhurried wine sessions. Established in 1890, it feels more like a preserved London drinking room than a modern bar: intimate, low-lit and best enjoyed with cheese boards, charcuterie and a glass of sherry or port. Expect a wait at busy times.
Mon–Sat 11:00–23:00 · Sun 12:00–22:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–3.5 hrs
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Steak4.5★6,059 reviews
Gaucho Piccadilly
Gaucho Piccadilly is a polished Argentine steakhouse in a townhouse off Regent Street, where lunch, dinner, cocktails, and pre-theatre bookings unfold over multiple floors and terrace spaces. This is a place for a planned meal rather than a casual drop-in: expect premium steaks, wine-led dining, and a central London setting that feels businesslike by day and social after dark.
Price level $$$Time to spend 1–3 hrs
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British4.4★5,209 reviews
The Original Ivy, West End
The Original Ivy on West Street is a long-running Covent Garden restaurant with a formal-smart room, pre-theatre energy, and a place in London dining history. Expect polished service, a busy central location, and a meal that feels more occasion-led than casual. It works best for lunch, brunch, dinner, or drinks before a show.
Mon–Sat 11:00–24:00 · Sun 11:30–23:30Price level $$$Time to spend 0.8–3 hrs
The Duck and Rice
The Duck and Rice is a Soho dining room with a pub on the ground floor and a restaurant upstairs, serving Chinese dishes in a polished, lively setting. Opened in 2015, it mixes British pub cues with a contemporary Chinese kitchen, so the visit feels part meal, part West End night out. Expect a sociable crowd, drinks at the bar, and a compact urban interior rather than a leisurely landmark stop.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–3 hrs
Riviera
Riviera is a polished modern French restaurant and bar on St James’s Street, built around a Côte d’Azur mood rather than local tradition. Expect a seated, meal-led visit with cocktails, a lounge, and a covered heated terrace that extends the experience beyond the dining room. It suits lunch, dinner, and longer social evenings in one of central London’s most formal districts.
Price level $$$Time to spend 1–3.5 hrs
Shoryu Ramen Soho
Shoryu Ramen Soho is a compact, full-service ramen restaurant on Denman Street, set amid the theatres, bars, and late-opening eateries of central Soho. It specialises in Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, with a broad line-up of sake, shochu, and umeshu, plus buns, small plates, desserts, and a kids’ menu. Expect a lively, urban dining room rather than a lingering destination.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–3 hrs
The Admiralty, Trafalgar Square
The Admiralty is a central London pub and restaurant on Trafalgar Square, set up for drinks, pub meals, and a break between landmarks. Expect cask ales, screens for sport, and a busy, tourist-heavy atmosphere rather than a quiet local pub. Its appeal is practical as much as scenic: you can step in from the square, sit down, and look back out toward Nelson’s Column and the surrounding monument cluster.
Mon–Sat 11:00–23:00 · Sun 11:00–22:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–3 hrs
YiQi
YiQi is a walk-in-only Pan-Asian restaurant on Lisle Street in the middle of Chinatown, built around a visible order-and-cook format. Seafood, vegetables, and meats are displayed before being finished with techniques such as binchotan grilling, sous vide, and teppanyaki. The room is relaxed rather than theatrical, making it a practical stop for lunch, dinner, or a pre-theatre meal in central London.
Mon–Sat 12:00–23:00 · Sun 12:00–22:30Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–2.5 hrs
Blacklock Soho
Blacklock Soho is a vibrant basement chophouse located at 24 Great Windmill Street, London. Known for its expertly cooked grass-fed meats and casual yet lively atmosphere, it offers a menu focused on quality steaks, chops, and the famous 'All In' sharing platter. The restaurant blends historic charm with a modern, rustic interior, making it a popular destination for meat enthusiasts seeking indulgent British fare in a buzzing Soho setting.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
Steak and Company - Covent Garden
On Garrick Street, this central London steakhouse trades on theatre-district energy and a table-top hot-stone format. You order steak, sides and cocktails, then finish cooking the meat yourself at the table. The room is geared to pre-show dinners, group meals and quick, well-timed lunches rather than long, quiet evenings. Expect a busy, casual-smart atmosphere in the middle of Covent Garden's restaurant circuit.
Daily 11:00–23:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–2.5 hrs
Dumplings' Legend
On Gerrard Street in the middle of London’s Chinatown, Dumplings’ Legend is a busy, no-nonsense Chinese restaurant built around dim sum, soup dumplings, and shared plates. It is a place to eat, not linger for ambience: tables turn over quickly, the room stays lively, and the appeal lies in a focused menu served in the thick of West End foot traffic.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–2.5 hrs
Tokyo Diner
Tokyo Diner is a long-running Japanese restaurant in Leicester Square, serving sushi, udon and straightforward set meals in a compact, multi-level room. Open since 1992, it draws theatre-goers, office workers and visitors who want dependable Japanese food without ceremony. Expect a lively, informal setting, possible waits at busy times, and a central location that makes it easy to fold into a West End evening.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–1.5 hrs
Le Bab
Le Bab turns the familiar kebab into a polished sit-down meal in the top floor of Kingly Court, right in the Carnaby and Soho dining grid. Expect a compact, contemporary room, shared mezze, cocktails, and a steady flow of lunch and dinner trade from shoppers, office workers, and West End crowds. It is best treated as a social meal rather than a quick bite.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–3 hrs
ZIMA Soho Restaurant
ZIMA Soho is a multi-floor Russian and Eastern European restaurant on Frith Street, built around sit-down dining, house-made nastoyka, and a lower-ground bar. The setting is urban and compact, with a design-led interior that feels more like a cultural townhouse than a standard Soho brasserie. Come for lunch, dinner, or a longer evening that may stretch into drinks and karaoke.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–4 hrs
HIDE
HIDE is a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant located at 85 Piccadilly, London. Renowned for its innovative Modern European cuisine by chef Ollie Dabbous, it offers a sophisticated tasting menu experience in an elegant setting overlooking Green Park. The restaurant features a stylish, wood-panelled interior inspired by a wildlife observation hide, combining refined dishes with attentive service in a tranquil urban oasis.
Time to spend 1.5–3 hrs
Bob Bob Ricard Soho
Bob Bob Ricard Soho is a luxurious restaurant in central London’s Soho, famed for its opulent interiors inspired by the Orient Express and its signature “Press for Champagne” button at every booth. Serving a refined British and French menu featuring classics like Beef Wellington and Chicken Kyiv, it offers an elegant dining experience perfect for special occasions. The venue includes private dining for up to 18 guests and maintains a smart casual dress code.
Mon–Wed 17:00–24:00 · Thu–Sun 12:00–24:00Price level $$$Time to spend 1.5–3.5 hrs
NOPI
NOPI, located in London's Soho, is a celebrated restaurant by renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi, offering a vibrant Mediterranean menu infused with Middle Eastern and Asian influences. Known for its seasonal, shareable dishes, creative vegetable plates, and bold flavors, NOPI provides a lively dining atmosphere with an open kitchen and communal tables. The restaurant is perfect for lovers of innovative, complex flavors and offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options in an elegant, contemporary setting.
Price level $$$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
Maison Bertaux
Maison Bertaux is a compact, old-school French pâtisserie and tea room on Greek Street, serving pastries, cakes, tea, and coffee in the middle of Soho. Founded in 1871, it feels more like a working slice of London food history than a polished café: counter service, close seating, and a steady flow of locals, shoppers, and pastry-seekers. Expect a short, informal stop rather than a lingering meal.
Daily 9:30–18:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.3–2 hrs
temper Soho
Temper Soho is a central London steakhouse built around live-fire cooking, smoked meats, tacos and cocktails. In Soho’s dense grid of bars and restaurants, it feels more like a high-energy dinner spot than a sightseeing stop: dark interiors, open flames, and a social buzz that suits dates, small groups and business meals. Expect a premium bill and a meal that revolves around the grill.
Price level $$$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
The Real Greek - St. Martin's Lane
A central London branch of The Real Greek, this St Martin's Lane restaurant serves meze, grills, wraps and salads in a busy West End setting near Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square. It is built for lunch, pre-theatre dinners and shared plates rather than lingering over a quiet meal. Expect a compact, indoor dining room, steady turnover and a mixed crowd of tourists, office workers and theatre-goers.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–2.5 hrs
Chinatown Bakery
Chinatown Bakery is a compact Chinese bakery on Newport Place, built for quick stops rather than lingering. Expect a counter lined with taiyaki, custard buns, BBQ pork buns and other sweet or savoury pastries, then a fast takeaway-style handover. The shop sits in the middle of London’s Chinatown food cluster, so queues are common at lunch and early evening, but they usually move steadily.
Daily 10:30–21:00Price level $Time to spend 6–45 min
Cafe Boheme
Cafe Boheme is a French-inspired bistro on Old Compton Street, set in the thick of Soho’s restaurant-and-bar circuit. It is less a destination for sightseeing than a place to sit down for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or late drinks in a compact, lively room that feels firmly tied to West End dining culture. Expect a social, seated meal rather than a rushed café stop.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–3 hrs
Brewmaster
Brewmaster is a busy Greene King pub-restaurant on Cranbourn Street, a few minutes from Leicester Square. It is set up for quick lunches, pre-theatre meals, after-work drinks, and sports screenings rather than lingering over a quiet pint. Expect a compact, indoor-heavy room, steady footfall, and West End prices that match the location.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–4 hrs
Blue Boar Pub
Blue Boar Pub is a contemporary Westminster gastropub inside Conrad London St. James, set up for seated meals rather than casual drop-ins. Expect polished pub interiors, British dishes, whisky, brunch, Sunday roast, and a steady flow of hotel guests, office workers, and sightseers. Its appeal lies in the mix of central location, comfortable dining, and a faintly historic Westminster backstory.
Daily 12:00–23:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–4 hrs
Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill
Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill is a long-running seafood restaurant in Mayfair, a short walk from Piccadilly Circus. Open since 1916, it pairs a ground-floor oyster bar with a more formal grill room upstairs, making it a polished stop for oysters, seafood lunches, pre-theatre dinners, and drinks. Expect a compact, indoor setting, premium pricing, and a steady West End buzz rather than a leisurely sightseeing stop.
Price level $$$Time to spend 1–3 hrs
J Sheekey
J Sheekey is a long-running seafood restaurant in Covent Garden, known for oysters, shellfish and pre-theatre suppers in a polished, old-school room off St Martin’s Court. The setting is compact and urban rather than scenic, but the appeal lies in its theatre-district rhythm, heritage frontage and dependable, table-service dining. Expect a formal-leaning meal, not a casual stop.
Mon–Sat 12:00–22:45 · Sun 12:00–21:45Price level $$$Time to spend 1–3 hrs
The French House
The French House is a compact Soho pub and upstairs dining room with a long bohemian reputation, wartime Free French associations, and a loyal local following. Downstairs, the bar feels close and conversational; upstairs, meals unfold at an unhurried pace in a room that keeps the old-school mood intact. It is less a sightseeing stop than a place to sit, drink, eat, and absorb a slice of central London history.
Daily 12:00–23:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–3.5 hrs
Kricket Soho
Kricket Soho is a vibrant modern Indian restaurant located at 12 Denman Street in London’s Soho district. Known for its innovative small plates inspired by South Indian and Goan flavors, it offers a lively atmosphere with a counter seating area overlooking an open kitchen and a spacious basement dining room. A Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient, Kricket Soho combines bold, fragrant dishes with a fun, buzzy vibe, making it a popular spot for casual dining and social gatherings.
Daily 12:00–14:30, 17:00–22:30Price level $$Time to spend 1–2 hrs
Singapulah London
Singapulah London brings Singapore’s hawker-centre energy to Soho, serving laksa, nasi lemak, wonton mee and kopi in a compact, themed dining room on Shaftesbury Avenue. It is a straightforward meal stop rather than a lingering attraction, but the concept is distinctive: a central London restaurant built around Singaporean street-food culture, with a lively, casual atmosphere that suits lunch, dinner or a pre-theatre bite.
Mon–Sat 12:00–22:00 · Sun 12:00–21:00Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
Bon Gusto
Bon Gusto is a straightforward sit-down Italian restaurant in Westminster, a short walk from St James’s Park and Buckingham Palace. It suits travellers who want a proper meal rather than a quick stop: pasta, pizza, seafood, meat dishes, desserts, coffee, and wine in a casual-to-smart-casual room. The setting is urban and busy, but the draw is practical—central location, table service, and a dependable place to pause between sights.
Mon–Sat 11:30–22:30 · Sun 11:30–21:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–2.5 hrs
Kulu Kulu Sushi
Kulu Kulu Sushi is a long-running Soho sushi restaurant where plates glide past on a conveyor belt, making the meal feel brisk, casual and distinctly central London. Set on Brewer Street, it suits travellers who want a straightforward Japanese lunch or dinner without a drawn-out sit-down experience. Expect a compact room, quick turnover and a focus on sushi rather than ambience.
Mon–Thu 12:00–14:30, 17:00–21:30 · Fri–Sat 12:00–14:30, 17:00–22:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Lobos
Lobos is a central Soho tapas restaurant built for a proper meal rather than a quick stop. On Frith Street, it serves Spanish small plates in a busy, urban setting shaped by theatre traffic, late dinners, and the steady hum of West End footfall. Expect table service, a social dining room, and a menu that leans toward sharing.
Mon–Sat 12:00–23:00 · Sun 12:00–22:00Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
Mele e Pere
Mele e Pere is a vibrant Italian trattoria nestled in Soho, London, renowned for its authentic cuisine, extensive vermouth selection, and warm, inviting atmosphere. Located downstairs on Brewer Street, it offers a cozy basement dining experience with a menu focused on traditional Italian dishes made from seasonal, high-quality ingredients. Ideal for pre-theatre dinners, romantic dates, or casual lunches, it combines rustic charm with sophisticated flavors.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
The Ritz Restaurant
Inside The Ritz London on Piccadilly, this formal dining room delivers old-school London luxury rather than casual restaurant energy. Expect polished service, a strict dress code, live piano music and a room built for long, ceremonial meals. It suits lunch, dinner or tea when you want a classic Mayfair setting with real theatre.
Price level $$$Time to spend 1.5–4 hrs
Vantra Vegan
Vantra Vegan is a central Soho restaurant built around an all-vegan menu, with buffet and à la carte options, juices, teas, and a calm, health-focused feel. It suits a quick lunch, a casual dinner, or a low-key stop between West End plans. The setting is urban and practical rather than scenic, but its long-running presence since 1999 gives it unusual continuity in a fast-changing part of London.
Mon–Sat 12:00–23:00 · Sun 12:00–20:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
New Loon Fung Restaurant
A sprawling Cantonese restaurant occupying multiple floors in London's Chinatown, New Loon Fung has served diners for over three decades with a menu spanning more than 100 dishes. Known for its dim sum, fresh seafood, and traditional Cantonese fare, the restaurant features a grand banqueting hall with ornate chandeliers and can accommodate hundreds of guests. Despite its dated interior, it remains a popular destination for both tourists and locals seeking authentic Chinese cuisine at competitive prices.
Price level $Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
Com Viet
Com Viet is a sit-down Vietnamese restaurant on Garrick Street in Covent Garden, serving pho, bun, rice plates, shared set menus, and vegan dishes in a busy West End setting. It is a practical choice for lunch, pre-theatre dinner, or a straightforward meal between sightseeing stops. Expect table service, a compact urban dining room, and a pace that can be quick at lunch and slower in the evening.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–2.5 hrs
Mountain Beak Street
Mountain is a polished Soho restaurant built around open-fire cooking, Basque-leaning flavours and a lively, modern dining room. Set on Beak Street, it draws food-focused travellers for lunch or dinner rather than a quick bite. Expect smoke, heat and theatre from the kitchen, a premium bill, and a pace that suits a proper meal.
Mon–Sat 12:00–22:30 · Sun 12:00–21:30Price level $$$Time to spend 1–4 hrs
The Eight Restaurant
The Eight Restaurant is a central London Cantonese spot on Shaftesbury Avenue, set in the thick of the West End’s Chinatown dining scene. It draws diners for HK-style comfort food rather than atmosphere: wonton noodles, roasted meats, lo mein, baked rice and dim sum-style plates served in a casual, compact room. Expect a straightforward meal stop, busy evenings, and a practical location near Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
Daily 12:00–22:30Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–1.8 hrs
Thai Tho Soho
Thai Tho Soho is a long-running Thai restaurant on Rupert Street in the West End, set among theatres, bars and late-opening eateries. It is a practical stop for lunch, pre-theatre dinner or a late meal after a night out, with seated service and a compact, urban feel. Expect a busy room, classic Thai dishes and a central location that prioritises convenience over spectacle.
Mon–Sat 12:00–23:00 · Sun 12:00–22:00Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
OKA Restaurant Soho
A compact Soho sushi restaurant on the first floor of Kingly Court, OKA serves handmade sushi, robata and pan-Asian plates in a busy central-London dining court. It is a practical stop for lunch, pre-theatre dinner or a late evening meal after shopping in Carnaby. Expect a lively indoor room, close tables and a steady turnover rather than a lingering destination.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–2 hrs
Ippudo Villiers St
Ippudo Villiers Street is a compact Japanese ramen restaurant on a busy central-London street, drawing lunch and dinner crowds with tonkotsu broth, noodles, and quick, casual service. It suits travellers who want a reliable bowl near Embankment, Charing Cross, and the Thames rather than a long sit-down meal.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–1.5 hrs
MNKY HSE
MNKY HSE is a polished Mayfair restaurant-lounge that blends Latin American fusion cooking with cocktails, DJs, and a late-night crowd. Set on Dover Street, it is less a sightseeing stop than a carefully staged evening out: dinner first, then a shift into music, low light, and a more social bar atmosphere. Expect an adult-oriented room, premium prices, and a fashionable central-London audience.
Price level $$$Time to spend 1–4 hrs
Crumbs & Doilies
Crumbs & Doilies is a specialist cake shop in Kingly Court, Soho, known for cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and celebration cakes made on site. Visits are brief, busy, and focused on takeaway rather than lingering over coffee. The setting is central and urban, with the shop drawing dessert hunters, fans of modern London baking, and anyone after a quick sweet stop between West End errands.
Price level $$Time to spend 12–42 min
Gauthier Soho
Set in a charming Georgian townhouse in London’s Soho, Gauthier Soho offers an innovative vegan twist on classic French cuisine. Chef Alexis Gauthier transformed this once traditional French restaurant into a celebrated plant-based fine dining experience, featuring seasonal tasting menus served in elegant, intimate surroundings. Known for its meticulous presentation, creative dishes, and attentive service, Gauthier Soho is a must-visit for gourmets seeking sophisticated vegan gastronomy in a discreet and atmospheric setting.
Tue–Fri 17:00–21:30 · Sat 12:30–15:30, 17:00–21:30Price level $$$Time to spend 1.5–3 hrs
Olives and Meze Soho
Olives and Meze Soho is a compact Mediterranean restaurant and takeaway on Great Windmill Street, a few minutes from Piccadilly Circus. It suits a fast lunch, a pre-theatre bite, or a no-fuss dinner between Soho bars and shops. Expect counter-service pace, meze, shawarma, and a casual room built for turnover rather than lingering.
Price level $Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Andrew Edmunds Restaurant
Andrew Edmunds is a long-running Soho restaurant set in an 18th-century Georgian townhouse on Lexington Street. Inside, wood panelling, close tables and low light create a compact, old-world room that feels far removed from the noise outside. The seasonal modern European menu changes often, and the wine list is known for restrained markups. It suits unhurried lunches, pre-theatre dinners and quiet meals for two.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–3 hrs
Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen
Ichikokudo Hokkaido Ramen is a compact, street-level ramen restaurant on Wardour Street in Soho, serving chicken-based Hokkaido-style bowls in a brisk, urban setting. It is a place for a focused meal rather than a long sit-down, with quick turnover, casual seating, and a steady flow of lunch and dinner trade. Expect a modern Japanese chain feel, central-London prices, and a practical stop between the West End and Tottenham Court Road.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Meet Fresh
Meet Fresh, situated at 100 Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s vibrant Chinatown, offers an immersive experience of Taiwanese dessert culture. Known for its chewy taro balls, silky tofu pudding, and refreshing shaved ice, this lively dessert restaurant combines traditional flavors with modern twists. Its colorful, contemporary interior and generous portions make it a popular spot for casual social gatherings and bubble tea lovers seeking a sweet escape in the heart of London.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–1.5 hrs
Breadline Cafe
Breadline Cafe is a compact, budget-friendly central London stop for breakfast, coffee, sandwiches and takeaway, a few minutes from Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross. It is built for speed rather than lingering: order at the counter, eat briefly, and move on. The setting is practical and busy, with the appeal coming from location, not ambience.
Price level $Time to spend 0.2–1 hr
Royal Artisan Bakery
Royal Artisan Bakery is a central Westminster bakery-café on Petty France, best used for a quick breakfast, coffee break, or light lunch. Expect a compact, urban room with counter service, display cases of bread and pastries, and a steady flow of office workers, locals, and visitors moving through St James’s and Victoria. It is practical rather than leisurely, with most people staying only long enough to eat or take away.
Mon–Fri 7:00–19:00 · Sat–Sun 8:00–19:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.2–1 hr
Chinatown Bakery - Tong Tea
On busy Wardour Street in Chinatown, this compact bakery-and-tea shop serves Hong Kong-style buns, bubble tea, and sweet snacks in a fast-moving, takeaway-first setting. It is the sort of place you visit between Soho and West End plans: brief, practical, and often crowded, with queues building at lunch, late afternoon, and evening. Expect a small indoor counter, limited lingering space, and a steady flow of dessert runs rather than a sit-down meal.
Mon–Sat 12:00–22:00 · Sun 12:00–21:00Price level $Time to spend 15–45 min
The Burlington Arms
The Burlington Arms is a central London pub on Old Burlington Street, a short walk from Savile Row and the West End. It feels more Mayfair than nightlife: a smart, indoor place for a pint, lunch, or an unhurried early-evening meal. Expect a mixed crowd of office workers, couples, and solo drinkers rather than late-night revelry.
Mon–Thu 12:00–23:00 · Fri–Sat 12:00–24:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–2.5 hrs
The American Bar
Inside The Stafford London in St James’s, The American Bar is a polished, old-school cocktail room with a hotel-lounge pace, memorabilia-lined walls, and a serious drinks list. It suits a long, seated visit rather than a quick stop: classic cocktails, wine, and American-style bar food are the draw, with a quiet courtyard adding a little extra space in fair weather.
Price level $$$Time to spend 1–3.5 hrs
Larry's
Larry’s is the National Portrait Gallery’s café bar, set in the restored vaults beneath one of London’s best-known museums. It works as a practical stop for coffee, brunch, light meals, and cocktails before or after a gallery visit. The setting is sheltered, contemporary, and central, with easy access from Trafalgar Square and the West End.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Bantof
Bantof is a vibrant, intimate restaurant and cocktail bar located on Great Windmill Street in London’s Soho district. Celebrated for its inventive sharing plates, expertly crafted cocktails, and rotating art exhibitions, Bantof offers a unique blend of culinary creativity and cultural experience. With a menu curated by Michelin-starred chef Asimakis Chaniotis, it’s a hotspot for pre-theatre dining and social gatherings in a stylish yet relaxed setting.
Tue–Sat 11:00–0:30 · Sun 11:00–18:00Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
Ormer Mayfair Restaurant
Ormer Mayfair, nestled within Flemings Mayfair hotel in London, is a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant renowned for its inventive modern British tasting menus. Led by chef Sofian Msetfi, it offers exquisite 5- and 7-course menus featuring seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and a dedicated kitchen garden. The intimate, oak-paneled 1930s-style dining room provides a refined atmosphere complemented by impeccable service and expertly paired wines.
Tue–Sat 18:00–21:00Price level $$$Time to spend 1.5–3.5 hrs
Q Beef Noodles
Q Beef Noodles is a compact Soho restaurant focused on Lanzhou-style beef noodles, hand-pulled strands and knife-cut textures, with a menu built for a fast, filling meal. Set on Romilly Street near Chinatown, it suits lunch or dinner rather than lingering. Expect a busy, informal room, hot broth, skewers and a steady turnover of diners.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–2 hrs
Great British Restaurant
Nestled within the refined Dukes Hotel in London’s St James’s, the Great British Restaurant offers an elegant all-day dining experience showcasing traditional British cuisine with a modern twist. Known for its high-quality, UK-sourced ingredients and attentive service, GBR serves dishes like Cumbrian lamb, Yorkshire Wagyu burger, and Cornish mackerel in a sophisticated yet relaxed setting. The restaurant’s understated decor and tranquil atmosphere make it a distinguished spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in central London.
Daily 7:00–11:00, 12:00–21:30Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
Lima Cantina
Lima Cantina brings Peruvian cooking to Garrick Street in Covent Garden, with a casual, food-led room built for lunch, dinner, and a quick pisco-fuelled stop. Expect ceviche, rotisserie chicken from the Rotombo charcoal grill, and the kind of central London bustle that fills tables fast around theatre time.
Mon–Sat 12:00–23:00Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
Kwãnt Mayfair
Kwãnt Mayfair is a compact, design-led cocktail bar in Mayfair, built for serious drinking rather than casual drop-ins. Expect a seated, service-led evening of inventive cocktails, bar snacks and close attention to detail in an intimate room with a tropical-colonial mood. It works best as a pre-dinner stop or a focused night out.
Daily 17:00–1:00Price level $$$Time to spend 0.5–3 hrs
Sushi Kyu
Sushi Kyu is a compact, chef-led sushi restaurant on Brewer Street in Soho, built around an intimate 10-seat counter and a set omakase-style meal. It suits travellers who want a focused, reservation-based dining experience rather than a casual drop-in sushi bar. Expect precise service, seasonal Japanese dishes, and a calm room that feels far removed from the noise outside.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–2 hrs
Ku Lounge
Ku Lounge is a compact cocktail bar in the West End’s Chinatown-Leicester Square corridor, built for pre-theatre drinks, late-night meetups, and lively socialising. Expect an indoor lounge with a polished, nightlife-first feel rather than a quiet bar. Its appeal lies in location: a short walk from major theatres, busy restaurants, and the constant foot traffic of central London after dark.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–3.5 hrs
Caxton Grill
Caxton Grill, located within the elegant St Ermin’s Hotel in Westminster, London, offers a refined yet relaxed dining experience focused on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Known for its expertly prepared dry-aged steaks grilled on a Josper charcoal oven, the restaurant also features fresh produce from its rooftop kitchen garden. The atmosphere balances warmth and sophistication, making it ideal for lunch, dinner, or pre/post-theatre meals.
Price level $$Time to spend 1–2.5 hrs
Davy's at St James'
Davy’s at St James’s is a central London wine bar and restaurant set in a former champagne cellar off Pall Mall. The underground rooms, vaulted ceilings, and clubby St James’s setting give it a more formal, old-school feel than a typical bar. Expect seated drinks, lunch, dinner, and private dining rather than a quick stop.
Mon–Fri 12:00–22:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–3 hrs
Champagne Charlies
Under the arches off Villiers Street, Champagne Charlies is a compact Davy’s wine bar with a cellar feel, brick walls, low light and a steady pre-theatre crowd. It works best for a drink, a dinner, or a long conversation rather than a quick sightseeing stop. Expect central London prices, close seating and a distinctly old-school atmosphere.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–3 hrs
The Sanctuary House pub
A smart-casual Fuller’s pub in Westminster, The Sanctuary House pairs pies, pub classics and breakfast with hotel convenience just steps from London’s political core. It is less a sightseeing stop than a reliable place to pause between Whitehall, St James’s Park and the Houses of Parliament. Expect a busy lunch trade, steady evening drinks and a practical, indoor setting that works year-round.
Daily 12:00–23:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.8–3 hrs
Evelyn's Table
Evelyn’s Table is a tiny Michelin-starred dining room in the basement of The Blue Posts on Rupert Street, where a fixed tasting menu unfolds at a chef’s counter. The room is intimate, quiet, and tightly run, with around a dozen seats and a strong focus on precision rather than spectacle. It suits planned evenings, not casual drop-ins, and feels most rewarding for diners who want a concentrated modern European meal in central Soho.
Mon–Sat 18:00–23:00Price level $$$Time to spend 2–4 hrs
Seven Park Place by William Drabble
Seven Park Place by William Drabble is a compact, reservation-led French fine-dining restaurant inside St James's Hotel and Club, a few streets from Green Park and St James's Street. Expect a quiet room, formal-to-smart-casual service, and a meal paced over several courses rather than a quick stop. It suits couples, business diners, and travellers looking for an upscale London lunch or dinner.
Price level $$$Time to spend 1.5–4 hrs
Ekstedt at The Yard
Ekstedt at The Yard brings Niklas Ekstedt’s wood-fire cooking to a polished hotel dining room in Westminster. Expect a booked, slow-paced dinner built around smoke, flame, seasonal produce, and an open kitchen rather than casual drop-in dining. The room is intimate and urban, with a date-night feel and a premium bill to match.
Tue–Sat 18:00–21:00Price level $$$Time to spend 1–4 hrs
The Pem
Nestled in the heart of London’s Westminster at 22-28 Broadway, The Pem offers an elegant modern British dining experience with a focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Led by acclaimed chef Sally Abé, this fine dining restaurant pays homage to suffragette Emily Wilding Davison, blending culinary precision with a rich historical ambiance. Guests enjoy expertly crafted tasting menus and a sophisticated atmosphere within the Conrad London St James hotel.
Price level $$Time to spend 1.5–3 hrs
Wonderful Patisserie by Oriental Delight (UK) Ltd)
On Gerrard Street in the middle of London’s Chinatown, Wonderful Patisserie is a compact takeaway bakery selling Chinese pastries, cakes, and packaged snacks. It is not a place for a long sit-down meal; the experience is brief, busy, and practical. Expect a small counter, a fast-moving queue at peak times, and a steady stream of people using it as a snack stop between Chinatown and Soho.
Daily 11:00–22:00Price level $Time to spend 15–45 min
Pub on the Thames
Moored on Victoria Embankment, PS Tattershall Castle is a 1930s paddle steamer turned pub, restaurant, and events venue. You come for drinks, pub food, and a close-up river setting with Westminster and the London Eye in view. The ship’s compact cabins, deck seating, and late-night social atmosphere make it feel unlike a standard London pub.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–3 hrs
The Garden
The Garden at Corinthia London is a polished courtyard restaurant and bar in Whitehall, set inside a luxury hotel a short walk from Trafalgar Square and the Thames. It is built for lunch, dinner, and drinks rather than long browsing: floral planting, table service, and a calm, seasonal atmosphere define the experience. Expect a central-London stop that feels more private than its location suggests.
Daily 12:00–24:00Price level $$$Time to spend 0.8–3 hrs
Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese
Inside Corinthia London, Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese is a compact, low-lit cocktail bar aimed at adults who want a refined drink rather than a long night out. Expect polished service, Champagne, bar snacks, and a lounge atmosphere shaped by live music on selected evenings. It suits date nights, solo stops, and pre- or post-dinner drinks in central Westminster.
Tue–Sat 17:00–1:00Price level $$$Time to spend 0.8–3 hrs
The Munster Tavern
The Munster Tavern is a narrow central-London pub on Bear Street, a few minutes from Leicester Square. It is built for quick drinks, pre-theatre stops, and late-night meetups rather than lingering meals or heritage-pub nostalgia. Expect a busy, informal room, bar-led service, and a crowd that shifts with West End theatre times, weekend nightlife, and event nights.
Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–3 hrs
Ben & Jerry's Leicester Square
Ben & Jerry’s Leicester Square is a compact, branded ice cream stop in one of London’s busiest entertainment districts. Expect a short, casual visit rather than a lingering dessert session: choose a cone, cup, or sweet treat, then head back into the flow of Leicester Square, Soho, and the West End. The appeal is convenience, recognisable flavours, and a central location that fits neatly between theatres, cinemas, and late-afternoon sightseeing.
Mon–Sat 9:00–23:00 · Sun 9:00–22:00Price level $$Time to spend 0.2–1 hr
The Delany Drawing Room at DUKES London
The Delany Drawing Room is a compact, design-led hotel bar inside DUKES London in St James's, built for whisky flights, cocktails and unhurried conversation. Inspired by Mary Delany's botanical art, it pairs heritage-hotel formality with a more contemporary, intimate feel. Expect seated service, a quiet-to-sociable mood, and a premium bill rather than a casual pub stop.
Mon–Sat 15:00–23:00Price level $$$Time to spend 0.5–3 hrs
Paella Shack Soho
Paella Shack Soho is a compact Spanish food outlet on Berwick Street, set in the middle of Soho’s lunch traffic and market energy. Expect a brief, informal stop rather than a long sit-down meal: order at the front, wait for the paella or other Spanish dishes, then eat nearby or carry on through the West End. It suits travellers who want a fast, central London lunch with a street-food feel.
Mon–Fri 11:30–15:00Price level $Time to spend 0.2–1 hr
Central Café
Inside Picturehouse Central on Great Windmill Street, this café-restaurant-bar is built for pre-film drinks, post-screening meals, and quick West End pauses. Expect a compact, contemporary interior spread across several levels, with casual café seating below, a restaurant upstairs, and a members’ bar and roof terrace that looks toward Piccadilly Circus. It is busiest around screenings and meal times, and works best as part of a wider evening out.
Daily 10:00–19:30Price level $$Time to spend 0.5–3 hrs
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Elegant Regency architecture and serene gardens meet rich wartime history in the heart of London’s prestigious Carlton Gardens.
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