For those of you who crave a smooth saline treat, London has a shellfull of places well worth their salt serving magnificent pearls of the ocean. Whether you’re an aficionado or looking to lose your virginity, the capital is truly your oyster. Here are our IDEAL picks for the best London restaurants to enjoy beautifully fresh oysters.
HIX OYSTER AND CHOP HOUSE –THE IDEAL PLACE FOR OYSTER HAPPY HOUR
Hix Oyster and Chop House is as good a it gets during happy hour. Come here and pull up a stool between 4 and 6 p.m week-daily and slurp down oysters for just £1.25 each. That’s 8 for a tenner! You’d be hard-pressed to find better value anywhere in the capital.
Address: 36-37, Greenhill Rents, Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6BN
Website: www.hixrestaurants.co.uk
PRAWN ON THE LAWN –THE IDEAL PLACE FOR PADSTOW’S BEST PRODUCE
Split between a fish mongers and sit-down restaurant, Prawn on the Lawn has been making waves with their fish in the capital for a while now. The shellfish come into the restaurant everyday from local suppliers in Padstow (where their sister restaurant is) and there is a real family-feel charm to this joint. Take a front row seat at the bar where you can watch the chefs at work for that little extra theatre.
Address: 292 – 294 St Paul’s Rd, Highbury East, London N1 2LL
Website: prawnonthelawn.com
RICHARD HAWARD’S OYSTERS – THE IDEAL PLACE FOR MARKET FRESH OYSTERS
Borough market can be crowded and a little overwhelming, but a respite can be found at Richard Howard’s mollusk market stall. This place has stood the test of time and still remains one of the best places to enjoy oysters . The owner is a seventh generation oysterman and his family have been harvesting oysters in Essex since 1742. Richard specializes in cultivating Colchester native and Gigas oysters. Here, the oysters are shucked before your eyes, confirming freshness.
Address: 7 Stoney St, London SE1
Website: www.richardhawardsoysters.co.uk
WHEELER’S OYSTER BAR & GRILL ROOM –THE IDEAL PLACE FOR OYSTERS AND CHAMPAGNE
If you’re in the mood for oysters and bubbly this is the place to come. Every weekday between 5 and 7pm you can enjoy the two famous aphrodisiacs for just £10. For this price you can enjoy 2 oysters, a glass of champagne and a whole lot of fun with your partner when you get home.
Address: 5 Threadneedle St, London EC2R 8AY
Website: www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk
WRIGHT BROTHERS – THE IDEAL PLACE FOR AN OYSTER MASTERCLASS
No list on the capital’s best oyster bars would be complete without the Wright Brothers. Delicious fresh seafood and a veritable “oyster experience” is on offer and a reputation for amazingly fresh seafood is well deserved. Now having five outposts across the capital, no one can argue with the sway these siblings hold. For £60, you can enjoy an oyster masterclass, with a regional tasting of various oysters from around Britain and France, as well as plenty of theory for those wishing to expand their knowledge of these great molluscs. A two hours of shucking and scoffing very well spent.
Website: www.thewrightbrothers.co.uk
