No amount of Tod cheese pulls, Dove shout-outs, rippled deleting or breathy voiceovers can dampen London’s insatiable appetite for a burger. This is a city obsessed, whether blushing or smashed, comically loaded or proudly austere.
We’ve reached peak burger saturation, yet somehow the queues keep growing. Perhaps it’s because a truly great burger represents everything Londoners secretly crave: unpretentious comfort wrapped in just enough virality to justify the £15 price tag.
Whatever the reason, London’s burger game has never been stronger. The National Burger Awards just crowned their 2025 champion (congratulations, Black Bear), but the real winners are those of us glad to trek to Peckham for bone marrow magic or sweet-talk our way into one of Dove’s daily ten. You could argue that the capital has become burger ground zero, worldwide. Yep, we said could; we’re not wholly confident in that claim.
Nonetheless, these are the ten spots currently setting the standard – though by the time you read this, six new contenders may have already opened in your neighbourhood.
The Plimsoll, Finsbury Park
Ideal for a beautifully messy, pickle forward, cheese-dripping stunner, blissfully unburdened by any greenery…
Housed in a lovingly unrestored Victorian pub in Finsbury Park, The Plimsoll represents the apotheosis of the neighbourhood burger done right. Since 2021, chefs Ed McIlroy and Jamie Allan, operating under their Four Legs moniker, have brought their cooking to this classic Arsenal match-day pub, creating one of London’s most sought-after culinary destinations.
Their Dexter burger has drawn devoted followers through its deliberate simplicity and flawless execution. The lustrous bun is so glossy that you can almost see yourself in it. The smashed patty, crafted from premium chuck and brisket, combines a pink, juicy interior with crispy, caramelised edges; not an easy balancing act to pull off. American cheese melts seamlessly into the meat, while finely diced onion and house-made burger sauce provide sharp counterpoints to the richness. The inclusion of gherkins but deliberate omission of lettuce has led critics to describe it as resembling an extremely gourmet Big Mac, a comparison that captures its familiar appeal alongside its sophisticated execution.
The Infatuation has bestowed upon it their coveted VIB (Very Important Burger) status, and the burger has become so beloved that it’s frequently served with birthday candles for celebrations. Despite burger devotees treating this place like their personal Mecca, the pub atmosphere remains delightfully unchanged, with yellowing ceilings and estate sale crockery creating a stark contrast to the sophisticated food. The dining room takes reservations and has a wider menu that’s definitely worth checking out, but if it’s just a burger and a pint you’re after, your best bet is to walk in and score a spot at the bar area or grab a table outside.
Be aware that kitchen hours are limited, serving lunch Thursday through Saturday from 12-3pm and Sunday from 1-5pm. Dinner service is available Monday through Saturday from 6-10pm, with the notable exception of Arsenal home match days when they close entirely.
Instagram: @the.plimsoll
Address: 52 St Thomas’s Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4 2QQ
Read: 11 of London’s best gastropubs
Dove, Notting Hill
Ideal for burger fanatics who appreciate absurd exclusivity…
When Jackson Boxer decided to close his much-loved Orasay on 31 Kensington Park Road and create something more humble, more approachable in Dove, he brought with him a renewed philosophy that helped challenge London’s prevailing smashed burger orthodoxy.
The restaurant’s burger, which isn’t listed on the menu (when it’s this ubiquitous on the socials, does it even need to be?) and is limited to just ten servings per day, has quickly become the stuff of London dining lore among those fortunate enough to secure one before they inevitably sell out.
This is burger-making as haute cuisine, featuring 50-day dry-aged Highland beef that combines rib-eye cap, brisket, chuck, and suet in proportions that Boxer has refined to perfection. The Lyonnaise onions alone require six hours of patient cooking in champagne and butter, while the brioche bun is carefully toasted in aged beef fat. Crowned with pungent gorgonzola, the burger stands tall enough to require cutlery, a deliberate rejection of hand-held convenience in favour of indulgent complexity. But most importantly, it’s fucking delicious. Truly…
Critics have been unanimous in their praise, with many declaring it London’s finest burger despite (or perhaps because of) its scarcity and price point of £18. The theatrical element of having to request this off-menu item from your server only adds to its mystique, making what could be a simple transaction into a more intimate dining experience.
Website: dove.london
Address: 31 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2EU
Black Bear Burger, Multiple Locations
The story of Black Bear Burger reads like a modern entrepreneurial fairy tale: Liz, a burns specialist nurse, and Stew, an oil trader, abandoned their careers to pursue burger perfection, and became one of London’s best burgers in the process.
Indeed, their gamble has paid off spectacularly, with National Burger Awards judges crowning their Miso Bacon Burger as the UK’s champion for 2025, validating an operation that has grown from a single Broadway Market stall in 2016 to eight locations across the capital, with three dine in restaurants with full menus including an ambitious 100-cover site at Westfield White City
The secret to their success lies in meticulous sourcing and preparation. The beef comes from Stew’s family farm in Devon, where it’s dry-aged for 45 days before being made into patties with crispy exteriors and juicy interiors. Everything, from the fermented condiments to the signature sauces, is made in-house.
The award-winning Miso Bacon Burger demonstrates their gently innovative approach, incorporating umami-rich miso honey butter that reinvents the familiar smashed patty format, while their signature Black Bear burger remains a study in classic technique, featuring double patties given succour via onion jam, smoked bacon, and garlic mayo.
With prices ranging from £10.50 to £15, Black Bear has managed the delicate balance of maintaining quality while expanding rapidly. Their original location at 15 Atlantic Road in Brixton Market remains a pilgrimage site for burger enthusiasts, though the newer outlets in Camden, Exmouth Market and beyond maintain the same exacting standards. Most locations operate from noon until 10pm daily.
Website: blackbearburger.com
Locations: Paddington Market Halls, Shoreditch Box Park, Camden Box Park, Canary Wharf Market Halls, Victoria Market Halls, Brixton Restaurant, Westfield Restaurant, Exmouth Market Restaurant
Dumbo, Shoreditch
Ideal for Parisian simplicity meets Shoreditch swagger…
The arrival of Dumbo on Bethnal Green Road in June of this year marked a significant moment for London’s burger scene, as Paris’s cult smashburger specialists brought their radical simplicity to Shoreditch. Founded by Charles Ganem and Samuel Nataf in 2019, Dumbo built its reputation on an almost monastic dedication to perfection through limitation: they offer just two burgers, the Classic Cheeseburger and a vegetarian option.
This laser focus has allowed them to perfect every element of their craft. Working with the prestigious HG Walter butchers for their British dry-aged beef blend, they’ve mastered the crispy-edged smash technique that made them famous across the Channel. The Classic Cheeseburger, priced at £10, features two expertly smashed patties layered with American cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup, and mustard on a potato brioche bun that provides the ideal textural contrast.
While some critics have noted that the burgers can occasionally err on the side of dryness (we have to agree with them here), the industrial-chic interior and the enthusiasm of the Shoreditch crowd suggest this is a minor quibble. Or, perhaps, that the food doesn’t actually matter anymore…
Anyway, the focused menu is rounded out with hand-cut fries and tempura chicken nuggets, maintaining the establishment’s philosophy that excellence comes through specialisation rather than diversification.
Website: dumboparis.com
Address: 119 Bethnal Grn Rd, London E2 7DG
Bleecker Burger, Multiple Locations
Ideal for New York nostalgia and mysteriously good house sauce…
Zan Kaufman’s New York-style operation has grown into one of London’s most respected burger chains since its inception, with their Bacon Double claiming the National Burger of the Year 2024. From their original Old Spitalfields Market location to eight sites across the capital, Bleecker has maintained an unwavering commitment to substantial, char-grilled patties that arrive with those coveted crispy edges and a blushing pink centre. Their beef, aged for at least 40 days and sourced from UK native breed cattle, is transformed into a bespoke blend of cuts that packs every patty with exceptional flavour.
The award-winning double cheeseburger showcases everything that makes Bleecker special: hefty portions of this perfectly aged beef with caramelised exteriors, draped in cascades of molten American cheese that threatens to escape with every bite. Their mysterious house sauce – the recipe for which remains tantalisingly (or, perhaps, tediously) under wraps – combines with onions and is topped with bacon to create the perfect finishing touch to this substantial creation. Oh, and the bun, it’s some bun, and one that gets a boost from sesame seeds. This crowd-pleasing combination has become their calling card, proving that when it comes to a burger quality ingredients never go out of style.
The attention to detail extends to every element, from the precise cooking temperature that achieves that ideal char to the careful ratio of meat to bun that somehow holds everything together. Singles start at £9.75 while doubles reach £13.80, pricing that reflects genuine quality without venturing into maddeningly exclusive territory.
Operating from 11am to 10pm daily, Bleecker has mastered the art of consistency across multiple locations.
Website: bleecker.co.uk
Address: Spitalfields, Victoria, Bloomberg, Westfield, London Bridge, Seven Dials Market, Baker Street, Soho
Read: The best restaurants near London Victoria
Supernova, Soho & South Kensington
Ideal for a smash burger, and a media sensation…
When Supernova opened in London back in the heady days of 2023, it immediately transformed a quiet Soho corner into Instagram’s most photographed burger destination. Some would say that it was a smash hit (sorry, we had too).
BVC Hospitality’s creation offers a paired back menu that is so simple it’s printed on the back of every staff member’s T-shirt – like a culinary mantra made manifest. When it comes to the burgers, there are just two options: the Classic Cheeseburger and the House Cheeseburger, both priced at £9. What they lack in variety, they more than compensate for with exceptional execution and undeniable aesthetic appeal.
The interior, designed by Dorothée Meilichzon, features brushed aluminium surfaces and luminous ceilings that create the ideal backdrop for social media content. It’s a minimalist space to say the least. The burgers themselves are far from mere style over substance, with patties charred and caramelised on the outside while remaining miraculously juicy within, delivering what can only be described as smash burger heaven. The hand-cut fries at £3 and premium sundaes complete an offering that balances accessibility with aspiration, showing that good design and great food doesn’t have to break the bank.
Operating from 11:30am to 11pm, Supernova has proven that their hour-long queues during peak times weren’t merely opening week hype. While the original Soho spot remains tiny with just a few counter tops, they’ve more recently opened a Kensington location with proper seating for those who prefer to eat their burgers sitting down. Their planned expansion to Mayfair suggests a small menu of burgers done right is concept with staying power, built on solid foundations rather than fleeting trends.
Website: supernovaburger.com
Locations: Soho and South Kensington
Honest Burgers, Multiple Locations
Ideal for a classic, craveable burger done just right….
With over 30 London locations, Honest Burger could easily have succumbed to the corporatisation that typically accompanies such rapid expansion. While perhaps their burgers have gotten smaller over the years (just us?) they continue to butcher their own beef in Brixton, using 35-day dry-aged chuck that’s chopped rather than minced, sourced from regenerative farms that prioritise sustainability alongside flavour.
If you prefer thicker burgers, you will appreciate the patties here. The Beef burger exemplifies their philosophy of a classic, craveable burger done right, a sweet and succulent burger which doesn’t really need anything else. On the flip side, the Tribute embraces American excess with cheese, bacon, and pickles. Every burger comes with their signature rosemary chips, sourced from a single Sussex farm supplier whose potatoes have become almost as famous as the burgers themselves.
Each location features a signature burger that celebrates the local area, incorporating local ingredients and partnering with nearby businesses or showcasing original head chef creations. We’re particularly fond of the Brixton (Honest’s very first location) local burger, which has been created in collaboration with the legendary Ruben’s Rubens. It features a mustard-fried double smashed beef patty that delivers a tangy, caramelised crust. It’s layered with melted American cheese and tender salt beef, then finished with their signature burger sauce, sharp onions, and crisp pickles.
The Borough Market one is pretty special too – a classic beef patty is topped with spicy Brindisa chorizo that adds smoky Spanish flavours, rich Kappacasein London Raclette cheese that melts beautifully over the meat, creamy garlic mayo, and fresh peppery rocket. It’s a sophisticated celebration of the market’s renowned artisanal food culture. If you need a new focus in life, you could easily create your own culinary pilgrimage across London, visiting each Honest Burger location to taste their unique local burgers and discover how each neighborhood’s character is captured in a single, delicious bite – can we join you?
Ideal Tip: We couldn’t find an official stat to back this claim up, but we reckon the average price of a gourmet burger in London is approximately £15. If you’re reaching the end of the month, are craving a burger but can’t justified spending, Honest does a £9.95 lunch deal, Monday to Friday between 11am and 4pm at a handful of it’s London locations including Brixton, Clapham and Liverpool Street.
Website: honestburgers.co.uk
Address: London Locations
Burger & Beyond, Multiple Locations
Ideal for those seeking maximum indulgence and aren’t afraid of getting gloriously messy…
The journey from street food truck to multiple permanent locations across Shoreditch, Soho, Borough Yards, and Camden Market represents a success story built on uncompromising quality. Burger & Beyond’s use of 28 to 45 day dry-aged beef from Yorkshire Dales native cattle places them at the premium end of the market, a positioning they embrace rather than apologise for.
For the purists, you can’t get much better than the classic double cheese – probably the least messy burger on the menu (and, indeed, on this list) and a masterclass in letting exceptional beef speak for itself. The Bacon Butter Burger elevates the experience with a terrific burnt butter mayo that adds sophisticated nuttiness to complement the aged beef.
Then there’s the Bougie Burger – available exclusively for dine-in at Borough, Shoreditch, and Soho – which abandons all pretence of civilised eating. This is their most audacious creation – dry-aged beef drowning in bone marrow mayonnaise, beef-fat onions, and a generous helping of their signature steak sauce, with pickled onions providing the only defence against complete umami overload. The double American cheese ensures that every bite involves serious structural collapse, turning what should be a handheld meal into an exercise in controlled chaos that will leave your sleeves, the table, and quite possibly your dining companion splattered with evidence of your indulgence. Come prepared with extra napkins and abandon any hope of maintaining dignity – this is a burger that demands complete surrender to the mess.
The quality runs right through the menu, but it’s the signature sides that have really taken on a life of their own. Those Dirty Tots with bone marrow gravy? They’ve achieved cult status in their own right. And don’t sleep on the cocktails either – they’re genuinely good enough that you’d happily drink them at a real, relatively (let’s not go overboard here!) swanky cocktail bar.
Those creative cocktails and a commitment to quality that extends to every element of the meal justify prices of £13-18 per burger. Most locations operate from noon to 10pm. They also have a canal-side kiosk in Camden Market if you’re keen to enjoy a burger with your feet dangling over the river bank.
Website: burgerandbeyond.co.uk
Locations: Shoreditch, Soho, Borough Yards, Camden
Manna, Arcade Food Hall & Battersea Power Station
Ideal for a smash burger that delivers American diner perfection…
When chef and food writer Feroz Gajia, the mastermind behind the beloved Bake Street, opened Manna inside Arcade Food Hall, he brought with him a laser-focused vision: to serve the perfect American-style smash burger. Boy, has he succeeded. Operating from both the Tottenham Court Road location and Battersea Power Station, Manna has quickly established itself as one of the capital’s most sought-after burger destinations.
The smash burger here is executed faultlessly – juicy on the inside and charred on the edges. The Infatuation described it as “a McDonald’s cheeseburger put to the soundtrack of Fergie’s Glamorous”, a comparison that perfectly captures its familiar comfort elevated to gourmet standards. The classic construction features a smashed beef patty topped with American cheese, thick cut pickles, diced onions, ketchup, mayo, a squeeze of mustard, all nestled in a glossy brioche bun that provides the ideal textural contrast.
The fact that these are halal-certified burgers makes their authenticity all the more impressive – Gajia has managed to nail that classic American taste without any of the usual compromises. The Single Manna Platter, priced at £15, offers exceptional value for central London, combining the signature smash burger with a generous portion of what may be the world’s crispiest waffle fries and a Nashville hot chicken tender. These waffle fries, dusted with Manna’s signature seasoning are so damn good with an IPA, delivering maximum surface area for flavour and crunch while maintaining a perfectly fluffy interior. They are just joyous.
Operating hours are Monday to Saturday 11am-9pm and Sunday 11am-8pm, with delivery available through Deliveroo for those unable to make the pilgrimage to either location, making Manna an exclusive affair, too.
Website: mannaburgers.co.uk
Address: Arcade Food Hall and Battersea Power Station
Whole Beast Kitchen, Peckham
Ideal for a burger that champions most burgers…
The Montpelier pub in Peckham is home to the 2024 Champion of Champions burger, following Whole Beast Kitchen’s triumph at the National Burger Awards last year. Husband-and-wife team Sam and Alicja Bryant defeated 26 previous national winners with their £12 Aged Cheeseburger, a victory that validated their nose-to-tail, live fire cooking philosophy.
Their winning formula combines an aged beef patty with bread and butter pickles made to Alicja’s nan’s Polish recipe, adding a personal touch to professional excellence. The inclusion of smoked bone marrow provides an umami depth that completely changes the entire composition, while Whole Beast burger sauce, diced white onions, and American cheese on a milk bun complete what some have dubbed the intellectual’s Big Mac. Or, in the words of Jay Rayner; “a Big Mac that’s been tutored by Henry Higgins so it can pass in polite society”.
As a nose-to-tail operation, they demonstrate respect for their ingredients by utilising every part of the carcass, making everything from sausages to hot sauces in-house. While reservations aren’t required, tables fill quickly, particularly since Jay Rayner’s enthusiastic review brought them to wider attention.
Address: Unit 107E, 95A Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST
Website: wholebeast.co.uk
Hey, since we’re in Peckham, why not join us as we check out the best restaurants near Peckham Rye Station? Go on, you know you want to…
