Maybe you’ve dropped in for tea with the King and her Chas’s sandwich selection didn’t quite hit the spot. Perhaps your early morning swim in the Serpentine has triggered its usual hunger response. Or you prepared for your visit to Poet’s Corner by reading ‘The Lotos-Eaters’ and it’s got you craving lunch?
That’ll do for an introduction…
Not to be overshadowed by its famous neighbours in Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and Westminster Abbey, the sophisticated squares, boutique shops and chic, stucco townhouses of Belgravia, London have so much to offer both the hungry tourist and world-weary Londoner.
One of London’s most exclusive and affluent districts, the options for a quick breakfast, a late and languid lunch or a fancy dinner are seemingly endless here. But with such choice comes a certain paradox; just where to eat in Belgravia that will actually live up to the hype and be worth the money? We’re here to help with that; here are Belgravia’s best restaurants.
Theo Randall at the Intercontinental
Ideal for deceptively simple, beautifully composed plates of regional Italian food…
Just beyond Belgravia, across Hyde Park Corner and into Mayfair, Theo Randall at the Intercontinental has been doing deceptively simple, beautifully composed plates of Italian precision for two decades now, and the cherished chef shows no signs of slowing down.
Few folk in London have such a stirling pedigree where the capital’s own take on Italian cuisine is concerned; Randall cooked at the River Café for 16 years, earning the restaurant its first Michelin star as head chef in 1997.
In 2006, Randall decided it was time to strike out on his own, and opened his eponymous restaurant at the prestigious No. 1 Park Lane address, within the InterContinental Hotel. This is a man who bleeds sugo di pomodoro, and the daily changing menu at his restaurant is reflective of his love of regional Italian cuisine, nurtured by regular team trips to Bel Paese.
This is most succinctly realised through the restaurant’s monthly changing ‘regional tasting menu’, that is currently celebrating the food of Lazio. Next month, Randall and team turn their attention to the relatively unexplored cuisine of Le Marche, the east coastal region just south of San Marino.
On the menu for that one (which costs £75 per person, by the way, including wine pairing), poached octopus with fennel and potatoes makes way for a ravioli of ricotta that’s been dressed in a rich, robust beef ragù. A slow cooked rabbit with autumn truffle completes the savoury dishes, and a fig and almond cake with dark chocolate gelato seals the deal. Woof.
Beyond his restaurant, Randall has published three successful recipe books and regularly appears on national television, including BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen. Despite his fame, he remains true to his culinary roots and can often be found at the restaurant during service hours most days.
Website: theorandall.com
Address: One Hamilton Place, Park Ln, London W1J 7QY
Enoteca Turi
Ideal for expertly executed, opulent Italian dishes and the finest of wines…
To say that Enoteca Turi is a Belgravian institution might actually be an understatement; this old-school Italian restaurant founded by Pamela and Giuseppe Turi has been delighting the well-heeled diners of London for over three decades, standing the test of time as global chains and identikit coffee shops and bakeries have continued to muscle in on the territory.
Giuseppe, originally from Puglia, worked as sommelier at London’s prestigious Connaught hotel before opening Enoteca Turi, and a love of fine wine is apparent from the moment you step into the restaurant-cum-wine bar, with a huge transparent wine case housing Enoteca Turi’s extensive range, chosen by Giuseppe himself, dominating the far end of the dining room. It’s a dining room that has a distinctively traditional feel, with starched white tablecloths and dark oak furniture and floorboards. We’re very much here for it.
That said, Enoteca Turi hasn’t always been a Belgravia restaurant. Actually, its journey began on Putney High Street, where it quickly gained a reputation for its comforting Italian food with the most gentle of modern flourishes. In 2016, due to the development of flats above their restaurant, the Turis relocated Enoteca Turi to Pimlico Road, just a stone’s throw away from Sloane Square.
The menu offers a wide variety of regional Italian dishes, from Tuscan-style handmade square spaghetti with duck ragù and dried peppers to lamb supreme with courgette ‘alla poverella’ and oven-dried tomatoes, hailing from Turi’s native Puglia. The diversity of Italy’s regionality is clearly celebrated here, with dishes labelled by their origins on the menu. Dinner and an education? Sign us up!
After more than three decades at the helm, Pamela and Giuseppe announced their retirement last month (August 2023). However, the legacy of Enoteca Turi continues under the new regime, with head chef Giampiero Giuliani and general manager Daniele Siro remaining in post. The restaurant’s commitment to excellence remains unwavering, making it a must-visit for any food lover exploring Belgravia.
Website: enotecaturi.com
Address: 87 Pimlico Rd, London SW1W 8PH
Wild by Tart
Ideal for seasonal produce cooked with a diverse range of culinary influences…
Wild by Tart is a unique dining experience that – for better or for worse – pushes the boundaries of traditional restaurant concepts. Founded by Jemima Jones and Lucy Carr-Ellison, the dynamic duo behind the successful catering company Tart London (the former is now married to Ben Goldsmith, Jay Electronia’s nemesis, incidentally), Wild by Tart is a testament to their innovative approach to dining.
Housed in a former power station and coal store, this multifaceted venue combines a restaurant, bar, retail store, events space, and even a photography studio, though it’s the restaurant that we’re here for today, so we might skip the photoshoot after!
The menu at Wild by Tart reflects the founders’ passion for seasonal produce and broad-ranging culinary influences. From piquant, perfectly cured citrus trout with sesame furikake and wasabi, to tamworth pork chop with salsa verde, sashaying through an aubergine satay along the way, the dishes are as diverse as they are decent.
Their unconventional approach to running a restaurant, which includes juggling multiple business aspects under one roof, has proven to be transformative and successful. Their commitment to sustainability is evident in their sourcing practices. Where possible, ingredients are sourced from their respective family farms in Somerset and Northumberland, ensuring the freshest produce for their dishes. Wild by Tart is not just a restaurant; it’s an experience that showcases the creativity and passion of its founders. Buy into it, and you’ll be richly rewarded with an invigorating feed.
Website: wildbytart.com
Address: 3-4, Eccleston Yards, London SW1W 9AZ
Ottolenghi Chelsea
Ideal for grabbing a picnic for Hyde park…
Open from 8 am to 6 pm, iconic chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s outpost places its focus on breakfast and lunch. You can dine in here, but the restaurant/bakery doesn’t have onsite toilets or take reservations, so it’s largely a grab and go type of place. What better excuse, then, to enjoy a picnic in the grounds of Hyde Park, which is just a two minute walk away?
The cooking here is classic Ottolenghi; chargrilled vegetables, vibrant, piquant salads, expert spicing and a wide variety of freshly baked breads and pastries, and prices are very reasonable for the quality. Bliss.
Website: ottolenghi.co.uk
Address: 261 Pavilion Rd, London SW1X 0BP
Zafferano
Ideal for upscale Italian…
The iconic Belgravia restaurant Zafferano, meaning ‘saffron’, has stood on Lowndes Street for a quarter of a century, and has held its reputation for upscale, expertly cooked Italian food pretty much since the kitchen’s first mantecatura of their now famous risotto Milanese.
Opened by renowned chef Giorgio Locatelli in 1995, the restaurant won a Michelin star four years later. Though it has since lost that accolade and Locatelli has moved on, standards at this stalwart remain high, with regional Italian cooking with little fuss or frippery still the restaurant’s MO. Prices are in keeping with Belgravia’s rather exclusive reputation.
Interestingly, the restaurant used to present guests with bill covers custom made using saffron woven into its fibres, but the practice was deemed far too expensive, even for this part of town!
Address: 16-18 Lowndes St, London SW1X 9EY
Website: zafferanorestaurant.com
Salloos…
Ideal for trying one of London’s oldest, most glorious Pakistani restaurants…
One of London’s most longstanding Pakistani restaurants, Salloos has been doing its thing in Belgravia since the 70s. That thing is upmarket, refined takes on the food of North India and Pakistan all housed in one of the mews townhouses that define Belgravia’s architecture.
Before Belgravia, the owners ran a restaurant of the same name in Lahore between 1966 and 1976, and that pedigree shows in the delicate spicing of Salloos’ signature lamb chops. Stay for the homemade kulfi, which is excellent.
Once again, the high prices here reflect the restaurant’s exclusive location.
Address: 62-64 Kinnerton St, London SW1X 8ER
Website: salloos.co.uk
Roof Garden at Pantechnicon
Ideal for panoramic views of Belgravia…
When considering where to eat in Belgravia, one rarely casts their eyes skywards. But away from the tangle of cobblestone streets, exclusive mews and the noise of racing supercars, Roof Garden, which sits atop the five story Pantechnicon, is an oasis of calm and tranquillity. It’s also one of the best restaurants in Belgravia.
The restaurant boasts a gorgeous roof terrace with panoramic views of Belgravia, as well as both Hyde and Green Park beyond, and this airy setting is the perfect place to enjoy light, deceptively simple plates.
The menu is abundant with locally sourced vegetables, homemade pastas, fresh fish and sharing cuts of meat grilled over open flames. Elsewhere in the building you’ll find Sachi where you can get a fix if sushi and saki and Café Kitsuné which sells top knotch pastries with a Japanese bend – think caramel miso rice pudding brioche or a double-baked matcha croissant.
Address: 19 Motcomb St, London SW1X 8LB
Website: pantechnicon.com
Amaya
Ideal for groundbreaking, contemporary Indian food…
Widely regarded as being London’s most influential fine dining Indian restaurant, Amaya isn’t your average korma and Kingfisher curry house. Instead, you can expect some seriously sophisticated cooking at this Michelin starred hotspot, with the restaurant’s three grills – a tandoor, tawa and sigri – used to particularly thrilling effect.
Expect to leave with the aroma of smoke in your hair and turmeric stains on your white shirt, sure, but also, expect to be wowed; there’s a whole lot of theatre – and even more flavour – going on inside this revered restaurant.
Website: amaya.biz
Address: Halkin Arcade, Off Lowndes St, London SW1X 8JT
Muse By Tom Aikens
Ideal for avant-garde fine dining…
If you’re looking for Belgravia’s best restaurant, this might well be it. Just this week, Muse by Tom Aikens was named ‘London’s Top Gastronomic Experience’ by hospitality experts Hardens, with the intimate, 25 cover restaurant praised for its ‘bijou and cosy’ setting.
That setting is a small corner house in one of Belgravia’s distinctive mews (muse, mews…geddit?). Here, the cute, compact surroundings play host to one of the capital’s most celebrated restaurant openings in recent years.
Having opened in January 2020, just a couple of months before everything changed, it’s impressive that Muse is already winning accolades, including a coveted Michelin star. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s a tasting menu only affair at Muse, costing £130 for 8 courses, though you can enjoy lunch at the relative steal of £75.
Considering Aikens is one of the most exciting chefs in the country when he’s on form, we can’t wait to see where Muse goes next.
Website: musebytomaikens.co.uk
Address: 38 Groom Pl, London SW1X 7BA
Abd El Wahab
Ideal for a slice of lebanon in Belgravia…
Abd El Wahab has already flourished in the Middle East, with outposts in Beirut, Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Belgravia rendition of the restaurant, the first in Europe, is perfectly placed to serve the district’s large Lebanese community, as well as hungry tourists and anyone else who loves the food of the Lebanon.
For us, Abd El Wahab is a perfect mid afternoon spot. The Sambousek – deep fried dough stuffed with minced meat, yoghurt and pine nuts – is superb here and it wouldn’t be a Lebanese meal without ordering a selection of fatteh, the country’s famous grilled pita adorned with gently spiced, comforting toppings. Order a glass of Lebanese white wine from the Bekaa Valley, and you’ve got yourself the ideal grazing lunch.
Website: abdelwahab.co.uk
Address: 1-3 Pont St, London SW1X 9EJ
La Poule Au Pot
Ideal for taking comfort in the French classics…
A Belgravia institution since 1964, La Poule Au Pot wouldn’t look out of place on Paris’ Rue des Martyrs. This charming, old school bistro is all about the French classics; expect snails with garlic butter, frogs legs, grilled calves liver, terrine of foie gras with Sauternes jelly, rabbit with mustard sauce…you get the picture, and it’s a very pretty one to paint.
With nooks and crannies, trinkets and even, whisper it, tablecloths, this is a spot best enjoyed in winter, when the candles are flickering, there’s a carafe of drinkable red breathing on the table, and the food is at its most hearty and comforting. That said, it’s pretty blissful on a summer’s day, too…
Read: 5 IDEAL tips for dining in Paris on a budget
Address: 231 Ebury St, London SW1W 8UT
Website: pouleaupot.co.uk
Hunan
Ideal for a no choice, small plate experience with unique Chinese dishes that have a Taiwanese influence….
Just a short walk from Victoria Station and lauded by London food critics for some time now, Hunan offers a slightly different proposition to other Chinese joints in the capital offering. There’s no menu, just a selection of (very) small plates sent from the kitchen, tailored to your needs only in the sense you specify allergies and the level of spice you can handle.
With the usual paradox of choice so common in Chinese restaurants not present here, all you need to do is sit back, occasionally open your mouth, and enjoy the ride.
Address: 51 Pimlico Rd, London SW1W 8NE
Website: hunanlondon.com
And since you’re close by, why not check out our article on the best restaurants near London Victoria. Better loosen up that belt!