The Best Restaurants In London For 2026

The London restaurant scene is one of the capital city’s most powerful draws. Not only does it produce world-class chefs and institutions that intrigue, inspire and delight, but it is also one of the places that the best of the best come to experiment. London is second only to Paris for European cities boasting the most Michelin-starred eateries. All of this is to say that we could not easily produce a list of all the best restaurants to visit in London. This, instead, is a 2026-centric list of new places to try, some standout old faithfuls among the fashion crowd, plus those with some hype, a change of chef or a fresh update you should be aware of.

This is really one of those ‘if you know, you know’ occasions. At Cece’s, the Italian-American wave that swept London over the last year finds a very seductive outpost. Opened in March 2026 by the dominant Public House Group (the team behind cult addresses such as The Pelican), Cece’s leans into moodiness and escapism. Its green velvet booths, palm-fringed corners and low lighting all scream late-night energy – and the fashion crowds have quickly anointed it the place to be this year. The menu delivers on indulgence, from caviar-topped bream carpaccio to fonduta agnolotti and aubergine parmigiana, while old-school, white-jacketed service adds a layer of theater. Come for the caviar, stay for the after-hours gossip. And now you know…

At Tobi Masa, in The Chancery Rosewood, three-Michelin-starred chef Masayoshi Takayama brings his quietly radical vision of Japanese cuisine to Mayfair, trading strict tradition for something more fluid, expressive and idiosyncratic. Dishes like toro tartare caviar with truffle or jalapeño-laced Cornish squid set a curious and exciting tone, but the real intrigue lies in its 2026 announcement: Masa pasta, a cult favorite reimagined entirely from fish. Crafted from surimi and served with both signature and new sauces, it reflects a broader shift towards high-protein, ingredient-led cooking, which is also proof that, even after four decades, Takayama is still writing a new culinary language.

The Belmond Cadogan on Sloane Street has given its restaurant a makeover with the opening of Willett’s this spring. In typical Belmond fashion, the focus is firmly on heritage; here, it’s an all-out celebration of British classics with a nod to nostalgic home comforts and family recipes. Think mini sourdough crumpets with dressed Dorset crab, ‘scampi’ breaded scallops, chicken pie, and desserts rarely seen on menus, like jam roly-poly and trifle. While it may sound like a pastiche, everything is elegantly executed under executive chef Michael Turner, who has worked in some of London’s most iconic restaurants. At Willett’s, his ambition is to create a true neighbourhood bistro – refined without ever feeling fussy – making it perfect for a girls’ dinner, family Sunday lunch or business breakfast. Plus, the bar offers a lineup of cocktails that champion British ingredients at their best – Yorkshire-rhubarb martini, anyone?

The Beaumont hotel might be a longstanding institution, but high-shine restaurant Rosi is new, as of late last year. At Rosi, the capital’s renewed appetite for British cooking finds a confident new expression. Opened in late 2025 within the Art Deco calm of one of London’s favorite hotels, the restaurant is helmed by Lisa Goodwin-Allen, the Michelin-starred force behind Northcote and a long-time standard-bearer for modern British cuisine. She is also a former recipient of the coveted Female Chef of the Year award. At Rosi, her menu reworks the comfy and familiar, but with a touch of wit: think sticky lamb kebab, truffle-laced spinach and leek agnolotti, a cleverly elevated chicken Kyiv. A masterclass in care for seasonality, provenance and a quietly assured sense of craft.

At recently opened Pyro, chef Yiannis Mexis brings a sun-soaked, flame-led take on Greek cooking to south London, shaped as much by his upbringing as his time in kitchens such as The Ledbury and Pétrus. The restaurant centers around fire, with its name drawn from the Greek word ‘pyr’, and has an open kitchen turning out ‘flame-kissed’ seafood, meats and seasonal vegetables designed for sharing. The setting leans into escapism: olive trees, wicker lighting and a buzzy terrace give it the feel of a bohemian island taverna, while the Baraki bar keeps things moving and convivial with Mediterranean-leaning cocktails.

Luca is one of London’s most consistently elegant Michelin-starred dining rooms. Here, Italian tradition is treated with both reverence and playfulness. Under head chef Rob Chambers, the menu balances warmth and generosity with hearty classic touches: Italian dishes subtly reworked through British produce and sensibility. As it approaches its 10th anniversary this fall, Luca is marking the moment in suitably historic fashion, partnering with Belmond’s British Pullman train for a one-off journey through the Kent countryside, where a four-course menu will be served against the backdrop of one of Britain’s most storied locomotives.

As Jamavar marks its tenth anniversary this year, the Mount Street institution is celebrating throughout 2026 with a series of special moments, from a limited-edition Alphonso mango menu in May to an elegant Onam feast in August honoring Kerala’s harvest festival. London’s Michelin-starred Indian dining scene is renowned, but this place is the embodiment of ‘special sauce’. Founded by Samyukta Nair and led by executive chef Surender Mohan, the restaurant has been a Mayfair mainstay since 2016, earning its star in 2018. The menu moves deftly from Mughal-influenced northern dishes to the brightly spiced rhythms of the south – lobster idli sambhar, Old Delhi butter chicken and aloo tikki among its signatures – while British seasonal produce is woven through. Interiors nod to the intricate Kashmiri shawls from which it takes its name, with a drinks list that runs from Indian single malts to a tingling, spiced achari margarita.

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