Best Sunday Roasts In London

Roast potatoes in luxurious gravy; Yorkshire puddings so big they deserve their own postcode; hand-picked local vegetables that scream of seasonal crops; vegetarian roasts that celebrate the art of being meat-free. That's right, the capital knows a thing or two about the art of the Sunday lunch, and so do we. From laid-back London Bridge restaurants to gastropubs in Covent Garden where they're keeping things cosy by the fire, check out our guide to the Sunday roasts in London you really need to try.

Last edited by Jasmine Lee Kennedy

Last updated on 4th March 2024




The Great Exhibition

2-4-1 BURGERS MON-WED

The Great Exhibition is a laid-back Victorian pub where vintage rugs, detailed ceilings and quirky knick-knacks make up its bones, while beautifully prepared Sunday roasts run through its veins – making it a staple among hungry (and often hungover) locals. Though the 21 day-aged beef rump and slow-braised lamb sound mighty fine, it's the pork belly that's got us in a tizzy, showcasing beautifully soft meat and the hearty crunch of superbly roasted crackling. Plus, with sides like cauliflower cheese and creamed leeks, it's sure to be away with those impending Sunday scaries.

Barge East

Hop aboard Barge East, a historic Dutch boat-turned-restaurant that boasts two AA Rosettes for 'Culinary Excellence' under its belt, for one of the top Sunday lunches in London. Helmed by head chef Stefano Camplone, who is devoted to sustainable cooking, the Hackney Wick hangout uses only seasonal produce in their roasts, sourced from either their own garden or local suppliers. While you float idyllically on the River Lee, get your chompers around lamb leg with salsa verde, porchetta and apple sauce, beef topside complimented by horseradish or a flavour-packed shallot tart. As for the trimmings? Think roasted miso carrots, seasonal greens and potatoes so crispy we can almost hear them now.

Acme Fire Cult

Though it started out life as a pop-up in an old Hackney car park, Acme Fire Cult quickly lived up to its name by becoming a cult favourite, and has now found a permanent home in Dalston. The outdoor courtyard is kept cosy with fluffy blankets and hanging heaters, as well as the live fire that chefs Daniel Watkins and Andrew Clarke use to sizzle their locally sourced meats and vegetables to perfection. On Sundays, The Grilled & Smoked Meat Platter (£28pp) flies out of the kitchen, ensuring you get your fill of chicken thigh, pork belly, Highland beef rump and smoked cotechino sausage, paired with dripping toast, salad and plenty of sauces. Phwoar.

Drayton Arms

Sunday Roast and 2 other offers

If you're all about food, glorious food – then one place springs to mind: South Kensington's Drayton Arms. Perch yourself on one of the retro Chesterfield sofas, surrounded by nostalgic posters and photographs, and treat yourself to one of the best Sunday roasts in London. Whatever option you go for (beef sirloin, chicken, nut roast or pork belly), you'll be pleased to hear you'll also be served thyme-sprinkled potatoes, leeks, peas and roasted root vegetables, with more than enough red wine jus or vegetarian gravy to go around.

Rotunda

Bottomless Weekends and 3 other offers

When it comes to the very best Sunday roast in London, restaurants like Rotunda are making sure you end the week with an oh-so-delicious bang. The swish Kings Cross hotspot proudly totes a sun-soaked waterside terrace, featuring verdant astroturf and views of the boats tootling down the canal. Or if you fancy keeping cosy indoors? You'll be met with velvet and leather seating, as well as a lively open kitchen and a dry-ageing fridge where you can see the day's meaty delights on display. Speaking of, did you know that all Rotunda's lamb and beef roasts are sourced from their own Corneyside Farm, before being hung and butchered in-house? Pair that with crispy potatoes, cauliflower cheese, Yorkshire puddings, vegetables and gravy, and you're in store for one helluva Sunday.

The Cat and Mutton

Tuesday Quiz Night

The best roast in East London? The Cat and Mutton is undoubtedly a front runner. Just a short walk from London Fields, this legendary pub (which has been going since 1729, if you can believe it) is nursing those hangovers with its Sunday Recovery Sessions. While surrounded by traditional leather seating, vintage artwork, mismatched light fixtures and taxidermy mounts making eye contact with you across the bar, delve into pork, chicken, sirloin of beef or a mushroom and cashew Wellington. But it doesn't stop there, oh no; while you chow down, you can enjoy the smooth sounds of funk, disco and soul spun by a live DJ, as well as a potent bloody mary or two.

The Cleveland Arms

£15pp Sharing Menu

You'll be hard-pressed to find a more charming pub than The Cleveland Arms, located just off the beaten track in Paddington. Kick-start with a tipple in the bar area, a sultry, dark blue nook made up of traditional furnishings and luxurious draped curtains, before heading to the dining room for one of the top roasts in London. Here, you'll find burnt-orange textured walls and atmospheric antique light fixtures, not to mention choices like Suffolk chicken, beef topside, cauliflower and pork belly. And if the sides of potatoes, cabbage and Yorkshire puddings don't fill you up, the coconut panna cotta with caramelised pineapple certainly will.

The Lowback Bar by Hawksmoor

Cocktail hour

Hawksmoor's Sunday roast is practically the stuff of legend, and it's not hard to see why. One of the most famous steak restaurants across the nation, with a number of accolades under its belt, it knows what it's doing when it comes to prime cuts of meat, working with small British farms that use traditional methods to rear their cattle. Available from 12pm to 4pm on Sundays, the native beef rump (£27) is a tour de force, slowly spit-roasted over coals before being finished in the oven. On the side? Beef dripping roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, vegetables and a surplus of bone marrow gravy. Find Hawksmoor in Canary Wharf, Borough, on Air Street and beyond.

The Jugged Hare

Express Lunch

From the award-winning menus to the taxidermy-filled interiors, The Jugged Hare is a trendy gastropub near the Barbican that's just a little obsessed with game. The chefs celebrate seasonal British produce, pairing their fine cuts of meat with foraged ingredients. And if you manage to bag a table on a Sunday (lucky you), you'll get to choose between Longhorn beef, Tamworth pork belly, Welsh leg of lamb or Dorset rotisserie chicken for £32 each, all served with duck fat roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and vegetables. And thanks to its bare-brick walls adorned with quirky illustrations, low lighting and dark wooden furnishings, it offers the perfect atmosphere for what might just be the best Sunday roast in London.

The Spaniards Inn

Housed within a Grade II-listed building dating all the way back to 1585 (with ties to Keats and Dickens, we'll have you know), The Spaniards Inn is an iconic boozer if we ever saw one, and serves up one of the best Sunday roasts in London. As you'd expect from such a historic space, it showcases period interiors with a contemporary touch, from the wood-panelled walls and low beams to the tall windows that overlook the foliage-filled beer garden. So, after a ramble across Hampstead Heath (just a five minutes' walk away), grab a table by the open fire to dive head first into slow-cooked pork belly with red wine jus or a root vegetable nut roast, paired with thyme-roasted potatoes, buttered savoy cabbage and so much more.

temper Soho

temper Soho is a whole animal smokehouse where English, in-house-butchered meats cooked over live fire are the star of the show. When it comes to their Sunday offering, they rustle up options like smoked pork belly and baby chicken, but if you want to really go in? We recommend the family-style roast – the Three Beast Feast for £35pp – a droolworthy trio of aged roast beef, roasted pork and smoked lamb shoulder. There are plenty of sides to choose from too, including four cheese cauliflower, beef-fat roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and vegetables. Not in the area? You can also find temper in the City, Shoreditch, Paddington and Covent Garden.

Junction Tavern, Kentish Town

Situated between Tufnell Park and Kentish Town, Junction Tavern is a beaut Victorian pub slinging out stunning Sunday lunches to the North London masses. The dining room is snazzy yet low-key, flaunting classic wooden tables paired with pops of subtle colour from the velvet seats, as well as a luscious garden for the summer months. But, of course, you want to hear all about the roasts; from the most succulent sous vide pork belly and rump of dry-aged beef to the Cumbrian chicken supreme and a vegetable en croute, you'll be spoilt for choice. Oh, and did we mention there's also a sharing platter for four (£80), which features all of the above?

Holly Bush

A quaint, neighbourhood drinking den nestled in leafy Hampstead, Holly Bush is the dictionary definition of a traditional pub. Leather booths line the retro artwork-covered walls, while a roaring fireplace and flickering candles create a warm, intimate atmosphere. Adding to the quintessentially British experience is what many locals deem the best pub Sunday roast in London; South Coast loin of pork, sirloin of beef and a veg-packed Wellington all reign supreme on the menu, made all the merrier by beef dripping roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese, vegetables and glorious, glorious gravy.

The Heathcote and Star

Espresso Martinis £6 every Friday and 1 other offer

A far cry from your traditional pub, The Heathcote and Star is a Leyton favourite fronting bright teal walls, velvet banquettes, vibrant artwork and neon signs. And though kitchen residents Krapow! are renowned for their tantalising Thai food, the Sunday roasts, available from 12pm to 8pm, are equally as fantastic. Whether you fancy Scotch ribeye (served medium rare), Orchard Farm pork belly, butter-basted, corn-fed chicken or a crispy herb nut roast – just make sure to save room for the sticky toffee pudding.

Aviary

Grey Goose Winter Igloos and 1 other offer

Found on the 10th floor of The Montcalm Hotel, Aviary is (quite literally) elevating your Sundays. Make your way to the rooftop restaurant to enjoy unparalleled views of the City of London, either from the slick dining room, which features textured seating and golden accents, or the terrace, where Instagrammable private pods await. As you soak up the sophisticated ambience, fill your boots with bites like Somerset free-range chicken, native pork belly, Dorset rare breed ribeye or a wild mushroom and chestnut Wellington. While you're at it? Take advantage of the bottomless wine, cocktails or beer for just £35 more.

Jones & Sons

Let's be honest – any restaurant in this neighbourhood is a trendy one, but Dalston's Jones & Sons is a cut above the rest (and was even featured in the film Boiling Point for all you movie buffs). Finding its home in a converted Victorian textile factory, the venue is as chic as can be, with exposed industrial pipe ceilings, simple white-painted brick walls and mid-century seating. From 12pm 'til 7.15pm on Sundays, the centrepiece open-plan kitchen slings out superior roasts, such as a whole chicken to share, Welsh lamb rump, plus a beetroot, smoked tofu and mushroom Wellington. For dessert? It has to be the date pudding with butterscotch and clotted ice cream for us.

Cora Pearl

From the same team that brought us Kitty Fisher's, Michelin-recommended Cora Pearl (named after another infamous courtesan from the 19th century) champions British comfort food, slinging out what might just be the best Sunday roast in Central London. Sultry and sophisticated, nestled within a Covent Garden townhouse, it boasts rich, forest-green banquettes and low lighting; a slick boudoir-style space we're sure Cora Pearl herself would have been proud of. The Sunday menu? Similarly elevated, with options such as roasted stone bass, sirloin, chicken and celeriac. There's also a bountiful selection of sides on the cards, from crispy potatoes and spring greens to some of the biggest Yorkshire puddings you ever did see.

Camberwell Arms

If you're from south of the river, you'll of course heard of The Camberwell Arms. The independent, award-winning pub, run by the same team behind Peckham's beloved Frank's Cafe, whips up a thoughtful, seasonally focused lineup of British fare, which extends to their sumptuous Sunday menu. As it features six different roasts, hungry lunchers will be spoilt for choice, but most are made for sharing, so you'll hopefully avoid that dreaded food FOMO. Our standout dish? The slow-roasted lamb shoulder, elevated with creamed cavalo nero, mint and pine nut sauce, plus a hefty serving of roast potatoes.

The Audley

The Audley is as traditional as they come (bar the vibrant ceiling created by Phyllida Barlow), but just upstairs, you'll find something very slick indeed – the pub's stylish Mount St. Restaurant, designed by Studio Laplace. Here, an extraordinary collection of artworks, from the mosaic floor to the food-focussed sketches, mingle with tasteful red and maroon seating, creating a seriously sought-after spot for a Sunday meal. Rev up the stomach engines with caviar and blinis (when in Mayfair, eh?) before digging into the beef roast; beautifully pink slices come on a bed of seasonal vegetables, made all the better by fluffy Yorkshire puddings, a lovingly made gravy and those all-important roasted potatoes.

Marksman

As the first-ever London boozer to win the Michelin Pub of the Year award, it's no surprise that Marksman whips up one of the finest roasts in Hackney. Famished foodies flock here to mark the end of the week with beautifully executed British bites, including Hereford rump, whole chicken to share and wing rib accompanied by all the trimmings your heart desires. So, head down after a ramble around the neighbouring Haggerston Park and get cosy among the wood-panelled walls and teal leather booths, or for something a little more intimate? Grab a spot in the elegant first-floor dining room.

Roast

Perched on top of the iconic Borough Market, Roast is an elegant dining destination that's proving British fare is more than just baked beans on toast. They work only with local suppliers, including some of those from the market below, to create stunning plates of food, which on Sundays? Comes in the form of 100 day-aged beef, Herdwick lamb, Saddleback pork belly, Cumbrian chicken and an indulgent nut roast. And with sides like braised beef croquettes and pigs in blankets, not to mention gorgeous roasted potatoes, humungous Yorkshire puddings and a colourful array of veggies, it might just be the best Sunday roast near London Bridge.

The Harwood Arms

Upscale, contemporary British fare is the name of the game over at The Harwood Arms, which has earned them the status of the only Michelin-starred pub in the city. Head chef Josh Cutress and director Brett Graham (also the chef-owner of The Ledbury) have created a menu that celebrates the very best of local produce, placing a focus on wild ingredients and game. Perhaps the best Sunday roast in West London, the three-course set menu comes in at £70 – but let us tell you, it's entirely worth it. Think slow-cooked deer shoulder wrapped in bacon, plus loin and jowl of Cumbrian pork, to enjoy in the Scandi-chic dining room illuminated by atmospheric candlelight.

The Drapers Arms

Bringing a mix of long-standing locals and foodie fiends together with one thing in mind (a hearty roast, of course), The Drapers Arms in Islington provides the ultimate Sunday sanctuary. The friendly, neighbourhood pub and restaurant features black and white chequered floors, dainty wooden tables and golden accents in the way of chandeliers and ornate mirrors. Plus, there's plenty to please all palates from the ever-changing menu, including what might just be the best roast in North London: forerib of beef accompanied by Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, veggies and gravy for £80 – perfect shared between two or three hungry friends.

Blacklock

There's just something special about Blacklock. Not only do they use the whole animal, sourcing their meat from Cornwall's longest-running family of butchers and farmers (and boasting B Corp status), but the chefs? They really know what they're doing, especially on Sundays, when they roast these beaut cuts over open coals. Choose between 55 dry-aged beef rump, pork loin, lamb leg or a celeriac roast, plated up with all the trimmings, and let the flavours do the talking. Join them in Soho, Shoreditch, the City and Covent Garden.