London Restaurants

It is hardly a revelation to announce that one of the best-loved cities in the world is home to an enormous variety of excellent restaurants, with the finest global cuisine offered in a multitude of highly original, imaginative venues.

According to a recent survey of the world’s best restaurants, over a fifth of the top 50 are in London- a reflection of the new standards being rolled out across the capital’s dining scene. Eating out in the capital has never before offered such quality or choice, with star chefs such as Gordon Ramsey,Tom Aikens, Richard Corrigan, Nobuyuki Matsuhisa and Hywel Jones helping push London past Paris, New York and Los Angeles in the gourmet cuisine stakes.

It comes as a pleasant surprise to learn that traditional English cooking is as popular here as its international counterparts. The set menu features prominently at even the most exclusive restaurants, often offering superb value for money - three-course connoisseur lunches can be had for under £20.

The more recent growth of the 'gastropub' serving restaurant quality dishes, and the range of ethnic restaurants, is also significant –it is said there are more Indian restaurants in London than Delhi, and London's Indian restaurants were the first to gain Michelin stars.The Edgware Road and Kensington are great for Middle Eastern food, Soho for Chinese, East London's Brick Lane for curry.

London's leading hotels have also undoubtedly raised the bar on their restaurant fare - standout cuisine is served at venerable hotels such as The Dorchester, Claridges and The Ritz, whilst the popularity of the traditional Afternoon Tea shows no signs of waning at these historic venues, where sipping tea becomes an occasion to savour in the opulent surroundings.

The message has certainly got through to the world wide public about dining in London - tables at the more exclusive restaurants need booking weeks, sometimes months in advance. Some restaurant critics may argue that the market for haute cuisine in London is close to saturation point, begging the question of how much improvement is left. So why not make the most of London’s restaurants while they are at the top of their game?

Leading London Restaurants:

The Rib Room & Oyster Bar

The Carlton Tower on Cadogan Place, London SW1X 9PY

Tel: +44 20 7858 7053

Grissini-london

The Carlton Tower on Cadogan Place, London SW1X 9PY

Tel: +44 20 7858 7171

Deca

23 Conduit Street, London W1S 2XS

Tel: +44 20 7493 7070

The Wolseley

160, Piccadilly, London W1J 9EB

Tel: +44 20 7499 6996

Axis

One Aldwych, 1 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BZ

Tel: +44 20 7300 0300

The Winter Garden

The Landmark London, 222 Marylebone Road, London NW1 6JQ

Tel: +44 20 7631 8000

The Restaurant

The Stafford, St James's Place, London SW1A 1NJ

Tel: +44 20 7493 0111

Gordon Ramsey

68-69 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HP

Tel: +44 20 7352 4441

Le Gavroche

43 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7QR

Tel: +44 20 7408 0881

The Restaurant

The Ritz Hotel, 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR

Tel: +44 20 7493 8181

Tatsuso

32 Broadgate Circle, London EC2M 2QS

Tel: +44 20 7638 5863

Joe Allen

13 Exeter Street, London WC2E 7DT

Tel: +44 20 7836 0651

The Square

6-10 Bruton Street, London W1J 6PU

Tel: +44 20 7495 7100

The Grill Room

The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London, W1A 2HJ

Tel: +44 20 7629 8888

Oxo Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie

Oxo Tower Wharf, Bargehouse Street, London SE1 9PH

Tel: +44 20 7803 3888

The Ivy

1-5 West Street, London WC2H 9NQ

Tel: +44 20 7836 4751

Rules

35 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7LB

Tel: +44 20 7836 5314

Zafferano

15 Lowndes Street, London SW1X 9EY

Tel: +44 20 7235 5800

Bibendum

Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, London SW3 6RD

Tel: +44 20 7581 5817

The Oriental Restaurant

The Dorchester, Park Lane, London, W1A 2HJ

Tel: +44 20 7629 8888

Aubergine

11 Park Walk, London SW10 0AJ

Tel: +44 20 7352 3449

Simpsons-In-The-Strand

The Savoy Hotel, 100 Strand, London, WC2R 0EW

Tel: +44 20 7836 1626

Quo Vadis

26 - 29 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 3LL

Tel: +44 20 7437 9585

Locanda Locatelli

8 Seymour Street, London W1H 7JZ

Tel: +44 207 935 9088

Angela Hartnett at The Connaught Hotel

16 Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL

Tel: +44 207 499 7070

Tom Aikens

43 Elystan Street, Chelsea, London SW3 3NT

Tel: +44 207 584 2003