With award-winning steak and a traditional pizza oven should be enough reason to visit this cool New York style city restaurant. But the extra touches of an extensive wine list – including some from the renowned Rothschild estate – wonderful craft beers, cocktails and the speciality coffee makes the whole experience worth the trip.
Restaurants in the City of London
In the very heart of the capital, the City of London is a hub of amazing food and drinks spots. Exploring the best restaurants in the City of London is a great way to witness some of the surviving fragments of the city wall, as well getting to try the best foodie delights in the capital. If you are looking for a London restaurant you should read our recommended guide to the top restaurants in the City of London and discover the culinary delights the ancient metropolis holds for yourself.
Last updated on 2nd March 2020
Housed on the ground floor of one of the city's most notable skyscrapers, The Drift offers a sanctuary of calm in which to gather your thoughts after a long day. Filled with quirky collectibles and snug alcoves, it's open from breakfast through to dinner and drinks, serving seasonal delights perfectly offset by quirky cocktails and a wide choice of wines.
A botanically inspired bar with unmatched cocktails, The Folly is a unique spot with many hidden private areas to host parties. The menu is made up of feel-good comfort foods like steak, hand beer-battered haddock and Peking duck flatbread. With colourwheel to help you choose your ideal cocktail, you can now pick a perfectly matched drink for your palate. For a real surprise try the Goldfish in a Bag , served with little bird gin, manderin vodka, rhubarb bitters, 'fish' tonic and edible lily pads.
The Gable is a buzzing city pub with a quirky decor throughout and is an ideal spot to grab a bite to eat before going out partying or enjoying a long lunch. A traditionally British menu leaves plenty of options for meat eaters, with slow roasted pork belly and black pudding, as well as vegetarians, with the feta and Mediterranean salad and many more options.
Just, look at those prawns. Using innovative techniques and nothing but the freshest in seasonal ingredients, the Cinnamon Kitchen is an obvious favourite when it comes to restaurants in the city of London. Make yourself at home in a super stylish city location and let head chef Vivek Singh tantalise those tastebuds, these guys have won multiple awards and it's pretty easy to see why.
Nestled in Clerkenwell's Exmouth Market, Coin Laundry can be found hustling and bustling with a variety of guests. The Farringdon area saloon mixes up great original cocktails and serves us equally original gourmet grub in its retro/old school decorated restaurant. More Cauliflower Cheese and another round of Grasshoppers please!
Serving a variety of modern and innovative Indian Cuisine, Mint Leaf Lounge and Restaurant blends traditional flavours of India with an ethnic edge. This is a fantastic place to experience classy dining right next to the famous Bank of England in the City of London. For an exclusive dining treat, check out the chef's table; a private area for up to four where you are treated to a truly unique tasting menu accompanied by gorgeous wines paired to match each dish perfectly.
Perched almost exactly between Liverpool Street and Bank, Balls Brothers Austin Friars offers a serene escape from the city. Truly a place for those who appreciate the finer things in life, Balls Brothers Austin Friars offers a versatile and exciting menu that changes on a daily basis. Position yourself close to the open kitchen to get the full theatre of the experience; this place is a welcoming joint whether you're dropping in for a business lunch, informal gathering or dining out with your mates.
Looking for a bite to eat around Liverpool Street? Nip down to Corney and Barrow in Old Broad Street and wrap your chops anything from their mouthwatering contemporary menu - everything here is made up from fresh, seasonal, locally-source ingredients! Mix and match mains with small dishes for a contemporary blend of flavours. Sriracha & honey marinated chicken wings with a 100% Caterbridge beef burger? Don't mind if we do!
An all-day bar and restaurant with an anything goes attitude, whether you want to wake up with a coffee or a delicious skinny cocktail, that's your choice. The modern design is light, yet the place retains a comfortable calming vibe. Luckily, the food here is as good as the decor, with moreish nibbles to share leading up to an a la carte menu of mainly British influence, including a malaysian vegetable curry and chargrilled London pork sausages with mashed potatoes and red onion gravy.
Falling somewhere between your parents basement that you've turned into a chill out layer and an actual bar, Core is quite the cool place for dinner in London that's an alternative style to the usual city swank you find around Bank. Set in a dark and cosy feeling basement space, Core fits the bill for both a social hangout and somewhere to grab some classic pub style gastronomy.
Looking out onto New Street Square with all its greenery, Corney and Barrow is a fantastic venue to grab a spot of lunch in the city. Plonk yourself down at a table and have a scan through their classic-yet-simple British menu. And while you're there, you may as well treat yourself to a glass of wine from their affordable yet quality selection!
Kenza means 'treasure' in Arabic, and we'd say that's a pretty fair reflection of this rich and refined eatery. An ideal option if you're looking for a night of luxury, relax into a venue featuring satin cushions and fountains that brim with roses, with sumptuous Lebanese dishes enjoyed on the side of belly dancing entertainment until dawn.
This popular gastro-pub is located right on the bank of the River Thames and offers some unbeatable views of London. Decked out with wooden flooring throughout and a variety of cosy seating options this is a wonderful place to come in the evening and see the Thames all lit up, or even soaking up the sun in the summer. Wonderful waterside drinks, plenty of sharing dishes and homely British food, The Oyster Shed is a first choice for many restaurant goers.
With a range of cider belly pork, racks of ribs, burgers and grilled steaks cooked to perfection, there's one hell of a feast to be had at Forge. A polished crowd of City-types are at the tables, chowing down on hand-picked meats cooked via the open plan kitchen. There's a catalogue of beers, wines, champagnes and spirits to team with your dinner too, and a bit of singing and dancing in store later if you fancy it.
A cool, casual hangout with plenty of strings to its bow, Abbey is a restaurant serving classic gastro foods in the centre of the city. The kitchen team promise a refreshed menu with seasonal specials and a few new inventions, it's open for lunch, dinner and casual drinks with nibbles and transforms into a happening bar in the evenings.
Nestled in the heart of St Paul's, sophisticated all-day dining spot Bread Street Kitchen is the place to go if you're looking to impress. With high ceilings, yellow banquet seating, chequered flooring and golden age glamour, this Gordon Ramsay restaurant also serves all the classics from it's European menu.
Aviary is a rooftop bar and restaurant in Finsbury Square offering visitors everything from a refreshing cocktail on their stylishly designed rooftop terrace or a hearty meal in the swanky restaurant. The work of the ETM group, expect excellent design, a lively atmosphere and special quirks at this sleek venue.
Underneath an icon of the London skyline, the Gherkin, is a stylish, modern restaurant with an expansive terrace. The Sterling is a welcome home to English culinary influence, made with local, seasonal produce. From monkfish and rack of lamb to a 28 day aged rib-eye, the food is both substantial and wholesome.
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