Searching for somewhere in London to chow down on your big day? There are plenty of options out there. Whether you're after a venue that'll host a super swanky celebratory supper, or a modest spot that won't bat an eyelid when you unashamedly sink into a self-induced food coma (don't worry, it's the one day you shouldn't feel bad about it - we're not judging you), we've got you covered. Here's our list of the best birthday restaurants in London.
Last updated on 22nd November 2018
Looking for a cool restaurant that can cater for casual drinks and dinner combined? We've just the space. Join Asburd Bird for not only the best in chicken themed bites, but cocktails, craft beer and a buzzing atmosphere to boot.
For your next birthday, unleash your inner child at this weird and wacky London bar. Insatiably Instagrammable, full of quirky cocktails and delicious food, it's a prime party spot. For the full package, book yourself a bottomless session with unlimited ball pit play and all the pizza you can handle.
@ Rascals on Saturday 15th December 2018 and 6 other Saturdays
Get ready to party this weekend as Rascals kick things off with a raucous bottomless brunch. The bar and restaurant is serving up massive portions of bottomless espresso martinis, all you can eat buffets, and interactive game shows.
This trendy tiki restaurant-bar brings the full, fiery flavours of French-Polynesian cuisine to the capital. Tuck into the likes of Volcano shrimp or Massaman red curry before washing it all back with some tropical tipples. Boasting kegs of rum to share between friends and the best Mai Tai available in the ol' smoke, Trader Vic's is one of the best party restaurants in London.
Who doesn't want to spend their birthday in the community hot spot? Even if Farringdon isn't your stomping ground, Coin Laundry has such a homegrown feel inside it will be hard to shake it. Spend the night celebrating with old friends and mingling with new in this community restaurant and bar.
Sprinkle your birthday celebrations with a little bit of Spanish sass by heading to Salvador & Amanda in Holborn. This restaurant-cum-cocktail bar serves a tasty tapas menu alongside an authentic list of Spanish cocktails and wines. A fantastic private dining space for a birthday party in London, book a table and indulge on a spread of small Spanish plates to share with your amigos.
Sporting a cute-and-quirky 'Roald Dahl-esque charm', this boutique restaurant bar is a unique venue for a birthday meal in London. And there's a lot of substance behind the style too. Please your palate with the likes of the 45-day aged Dexter Sirloin, and while you're at it, pair it with a side of the droolworthy Duck fat chips too. Once you're done with the food, continue the birthday celebrations with some punchy cocktails and a big birthday blowout in the ballroom.
So you want a delicious meal in London for your birthday but you also want to go out afterwards? Well, the notorious London club Tiger Tiger invite you to their contemporary restaurant inside their mega club. Sit down for a fab, laid back dinner and drinks affair at Haymarket Kitchen and then Tiger Tiger is ripe for the taking come dessert.
Festive sharing menu with an Amalfi lemon and grapefruit Bellini: £45 pp
Give your birthday a fancy Central London twist this year as May Fair Kitchen open their doors. The spot has a range of private hire spaces, along with a stylish dining room and menu full of delicious items such as ceviche, seafood and pizza.
Located on the ground floor of one of London's most iconic buildings, this is an unashamedly decadent restaurant and cocktail bar made for birthday dinner parties. Surround yourself with your closest pals and enjoy a stunning menu in a space known for its washed green marbles and rich wooden panelling. Head upstairs to the mezzanine after, where stylish cocktails are served against a backdrop of relaxed house tunes.
In search of a restaurant that'll fit a large group without compromising on quality dishes and attentive service? This is where The Coal Shed comes in. Hailing from Brighton, this grill-fired restaurant serves up sustainably sourced steaks and grilled fish, with wine and cocktails to boot. Large parties can even hire private dining rooms or the whole space.
Not to be confused with a table-tennis focused hangout, Ping Pong is in fact one of the most stylish and chic restaurants in Covent Garden. With three floors each abuzz with a feel-good vibe it certainly suits a birthday celebration, with the seasonal dim sum menu designed to be shared around and an array of refreshing cocktails and theatrical flowering Chinese teas served from the bar.
Prefer something laidback and unstuffy for your birthday celebrations this year? Aside from the fact that they serve red velvet pancakes, there's also a whole host of reasons to love this stateside favourite in Soho. Surround yourself with your mates and dig in - there's an all-American menu of pancakes, burgers and chilli dogs to feast on and a menu of beers and boozy shakes to toast your big day.
Hidden away somewhere in the hustle and bustle of Brixton is The Courtesan - a delectable dim sum restaurant with a cracking selection of cocktails. Serving up dishes like Spiced Mango Chicken and Honey Barbecued Pork Buns, this Oriental eatery is ideal for a delicious but affordable birthday meal in London. Add to that the fact that they rustle up some truly delectable house cocktails, The Courtesan ends up being one of the best restaurants in London for a birthday celebration.
The Cinnamon Bazaar in Covent Garden is an Indian restaurant that's perfect for an intimate birthday celebration. Run by the renowned restaurateur Vivek Singh, the kitchen offers its guests a range of different Indian dishes that originated in the various towns along the trade routes between the old and new world. The venue's private room, called the Khari Baoli room, can cater for between 12 and 30 diners.
Celebrate your favourite day of the year (you can admit it) in a restaurant bar like Bermondsey Bar & Kitchen. This restaurant was built in an disused car park and has an interior to reflect that. This vibe is unlike any other and will be sure to be a birthday to remember. Unless you don't want to remember it, then take a peak at their drinks menu with plenty of ales, wines, and craft cocktails to pair with your craft plates.
Set in the gorgeous surrounds of Clerkenwell, Palatino is a lively and atmospheric restaurant that brings an authentic taste of Rome to London. Stevie Parle - TV chef and restaurateur - is the man behind the joint, using his kitchen magic to infuse Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours for fresh pastas, fish and tasty meat.
If there's one thing you want for your Birthday meal in London, it's amazing food. So it's great that these guys offer a wonderful array of British dishes, including steak supplied from a Royal warrant holder. Meanwhile, you can wash everything down with expertly made cocktails from their stylish bar.
With a quirky mix of stripped back interiors and swanky vintage features, Lokhandwala is a modern and stylish venue in Fitzrovia. The restaurant and bar is perfect for everything from date night through to family evening as they whip up fruity cocktails and serve a selection of mouth-watering sharing dishes.
Sea Containers is a striking place for dinner and drinks designed under the creative direction of visionary Tom Dixon. Part of the Mondrian London, there's more than the occasional nod to the Golden Age of transatlantic travel here, as well as stunning views of the Thames and a riverside terrace for al fresco dining.
Gather up the gang and head down to this gorgeous gastropub in Kings Cross for your birthday bash. Serving up more than just your standard pub grub, expect to satiate your tastebuds with some top-quality cuisine at The Fellow. On top of that, throw in a solid selection of beers, a genuinely exceptional wine list and some premium spirits to boot, and you've got yourself the ideal spot to start a big night out in the capital - an excellent restaurant for a birthday party in London.
A boutique venue balancing modern elegance with a timeless sense of style, The Driver offers an excellent spot for a birthday meal out in King's Cross. Feast on indulgent sirloin steak, classic beer battered fish & chips or catch of the day fishcakes, then continue the celebrations in one of The Driver's three lounges complete with private bars.
With a focus on quality Thai food, this Belgravia-based restaurant offers a plethora of delicious dishes; from a la carte offerings to a luxury set menu. Bring a group of your closest mates and gather for an evening of tasty food and speciality cocktails.
Festive sharing menu with Guava and Hibiscus Bellini: £40 pp
Celebrate your birthday in London at Leicester Square Kitchen, where you'll be treated to delicious Mexican and Peruvian sharing plates and wonderful South American cocktails in the West End.
A charming hideout featuring funky tables, marbled pillars, cosy booths and velvet armchairs, The Botanist is a swanky city restaurant ideal for intimate birthday gatherings. It's a sophisticated venue right in the heart of the city, serving British and European cuisine at its best, with some signature cocktails awaiting in the Soda Room lounge downstairs.
With the charm of Venetian backstreet wine bars and a menu of tasty small plates designed for sharing, Polpo is an ideal choice for a birthday restaurant. Add in their selection of great Italian wines and you're looking at a great time.
Go big this year with a meal at Booking Office. Located in the famous St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, there's dreamy Victorian architecture, a modern interior design and most importantly, a mouth-watering menu where seasonal dishes are complemented by brandy, sherry, real ales and classic cocktails.
3 course set menu and a glass of prosecco or beer £25 and 3 other offers
Go for something a little different this year and head east where this floating barge awaits. With stunning views and glowing lights, you can dig into contemporary British plates alongside delicious wines and cocktails at a unique location. This is one birthday you won't forget.
Targeting south of the river, Rosa's Thai Cafe serves its range of traditional dishes to Brixton's hungry crowds. Having been created by a husband and wife that were inspired by their travels across Asia, the restaurant will take a handful of traditional recipes and subtly infuse them with modern flavours. Grab your mates, relax and enjoy a delicious birthday dinner at this South London restaurant.
Unpretentious and decked out with classic British style that's both homely and sophisticated, Mabel's is a favourite for birthday restaurants in London. If you're celebrating and looking for somewhere ultimately charming, a bit cute and completely laid back to host a wonderful meal then get everyone together at Mabel's for their menu of British cuisine.
Celebrate your birthday at Drake and Morgan for delicious, fresh food in the form of grilled meat, fish and veggie dishes and great drinks in quirky cocktails and wonderful wines. You can either relax in their luxurious restaurant or book out one of their kitchen 'pods' for a more intimate affair.
This opulent Islington-based diner is the ideal venue for anyone looking for an elegant birthday dinner in London. The Hoxley and Porter sports a striking interior that marries surrealist jungles vibes with the charm of a Victorian gentleman's club. Their traditional British menu contains the likes of pork belly and rabbit pie - each offering here is charmingly British and always delectable. You'll also find fine wines, decadents spirits and outstanding cocktails, which are rustled up by the expert mixologists behind the bar.
Lost & Co is a fun bar and restaurant based on Battersea Park Road in South London. Priding itself as something of a jack-of-all-trades, the venue serves Australian coffee in the morning in addition to the hand-crafted cocktails and ice-cold craft beers. Alongside a great selection of brunch dishes, the kitchen plates up great tasting pizzas and cheese-heavy burgers. Perfect for a wild birthday celebration, dull evenings are few and far between at Lost & Co.
Standing out in the crowd thanks to its iconic black exterior and with a reputation for serving some of London's most refreshing cocktails, the Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings is a quirky bar in North London based just a short stroll from Angel station. Perfect for anyone looking for a restaurant for a birthday dinner, the menu of delicious food and stunning interiors will make this a birthday you won't forget in a hurry.
With delicious tacos and amazing margaritas this fun Camden bar is the perfect London birthday restaurant. With a fun and friendly atmosphere, have a couple of tacos and a tequila and let the night unfold.
Try out Balans Society Seven Dials for your birthday restaurant in London. You'll be hosted in the centre of the city, but this little venue has the personality of quirky bars found in other parts of the city, while retaining that sophisticated edge. Perfect for when you tuck into their tasty British dishes washed down by great cocktails.
Get the gang down to Bababoom Battersea, or their Islington restaurant, for your birthday meal and treat yourself to a wonderful array of Iranian food. Their Persian flatbreads come topped with hearty portions of high welfare, charcoal grilled meats topped with punchy vegetable sidekicks. The fun environment is welcoming, while the great selection of drinks helps everything go down great.
Located in Dalston, Rotorino is a seriously cool spot that has transformed a bank into a gorgeous restaurant. The brainchild of TV chef Stevie Parle, the restaurant serves delicious Italian plates, from pasta through to steak, along with amazing cocktails, all guaranteed for a very happy birthday indeed.
Looking for something fun and accessible right in the heart of Leicester Square? Ruby Blue brings a stylish dining out experience to one of the most sought-after locations in town, and there's no need to spend big. The venue serves a mix of comfort dishes and moreish finger food, with happy hour discounts up for grabs and a pumping party atmosphere once the late-night DJs takeover.
If there are two foods you'd consider birthday food, it's Steak and Lobster. Come to the titular restaurant for a mouth-watering range of lobsters, steaks, and salads, washed down by a variety of wines, cocktails and Champagne. There's also restaurants in Marble Arch and Bloomsbury.
