Maybe you’ve dropped in for tea with the King, and Chas’ 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, we’ve lost our way here…
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.
Wildflowers
Ideal for sophisticated seasonal cooking with Mediterranean flair…
Wildflowers brings a breath of fresh air to Belgravia’s occasionally (okay, quite regularly) dusty dining scene with its sun-drenched approach to modern European cuisine. The restaurant takes its name seriously, with a menu that reads like a love letter to the warmer seasons and a dining room adorned with fresh blooms that change weekly – though thankfully the quality of the cooking remains consistently excellent.
Interior stylist Laura Hart, in collaboration with Studio Found, has created quite the space here; a liminal, shapeshifting room that’s elegant, bright and breezy, with natural textures and soft lighting that complement chef Aaron Potter’s ingredient-led plates.
Not that the lighting needed to be engaged the last time we dined here. On one of the UK’s many recent record-breaking, mercury-baiting days, the dining room at Wildflowers felt like the perfect refuge; sun-soaked, sure, but appropriately dappled with shade too, with pink-trousered diners spilling out onto courtyard tables and everything feeling decidedly continental.
The stage was set synergistically to showcase Potter’s deft touch with Mediterranean influences in its very best light. And so it came to pass. Dishes like Vesuvius tomatoes with sun sweet melon gazpacho, basil and mojama captured the essence of impeccable British produce through the sepia-tinged lens of a Sevillian summer, all sweet-saline interplay and a suave brightness. Running with a similar theme, a carpaccio of red prawn came with an ajo blanco-adjacent almond puree and cherries was a pinpoint balancing act of gentle counterpoints and complements.
Mains continue in this vein of sophisticated simplicity. The grilled sugar pit Iberico pork presa arrived perfectly (for your grandma, alarmingly) pink, the meat’s natural richness offset by the freshness of almond, white peach and a vibrant mojo verde that adds just the right amount of punch. These are dishes that read so confidently, so beautifully, and deliver on that promise on the plate, too.
Equally impressive was the sea bass with lardo, girolles, Amalfi lemon and a soft herb pil pil – the fish cooked with precision, sure, but also the kind of intuitive feeling that the grill brings, its skin blistered rather than uniformly bronzed, and all the better for it. Ask maître d’ Alex for his wine recommendations here (what an affable fella he is), his encyclopaedic knowledge of the list meaning you’re in safe hands whether you’re after a crisp Albariño, a buttery oak-aged white Rioja or something altogether more adventurous.
This is a restaurant where vegetables are king – the room and weather demands it – and the Grezzina courgettes with honey and pecorino showcase Potter’s restraint, letting quality ingredients sing with minimal intervention. The holiday potatoes (apt in the 30 degree heat, in such a gorgeous room) have already achieved cult status amongst regulars, national restaurant reviewers, and now with us, too. Should you have any left over, take them home and, on Alex’s recommendation, fry them up with an egg for breakfast.
Dessert keeps things refreshingly simple with a flamboyantly towering fior di latte gelato that’s elevated higher still by good olive oil, sea salt and grape balsamico, and a selection of sorbets that feel obligatory given the environment. They offer proof that sometimes the best desserts are those that trust in the quality of their components and deliver on the mood of the dining room, rather than the vision of the chef.
With its thoughtful cooking and warm service, Wildflowers feels like the kind of neighbourhood restaurant you’d be lucky to have as your local – assuming your neighbourhood happens to be one of London’s most exclusive postcodes, naturally. This is definitely one of London’s best openings in recent times, and we can’t wait to visit in the cooler, darker months to see the restaurant in a whole different light.
Website: wildflowersrestaurant.co.uk
Address: Newson’s Yard, 57 Pimlico Rd, London SW1W 8NE
Cornus
Ideal for refined French technique meets seasonal British ingredients…
Tucked away in Eccleston Yards’ Ice Factory building (the clue’s in the name – it really was one), Cornus is the sophomore venture from the team behind Chelsea’s acclaimed Medlar. This fourth-floor sanctuary feels removed from Victoria’s bustle – its airy, cloud-like dining room dressed in crisp whites, designer wooden furniture, and gauzy curtains that flutter in the breeze firmly places the restaurant in Belgraiva territory instead.
Executive Chef Gary Foulkes (formerly of Michelin-starred Angler) delivers precision-driven plates that showcase the best of British and European produce. The hand-rolled spaghetti with native lobster and N25 oscietra caviar is already becoming a signature, while the Landes chicken with truffled sweetcorn (priced somewhat enthusiastically at £54) shows the kitchen’s commitment to sourcing exceptional ingredients and charging for them.
With prices that might make your eyes water (yes, that really is £54 for chicken, albeit an exceptionally good one), those looking for a more gentle entry point should go for the set lunch menu at £60 for three courses, which might include heritage tomatoes with Ribblesdale soft curd, or roast red mullet with salsa verde. The wine list, curated by celebrated sommelier Melania Battiston, starts at £38 for a Soave Classico, though you can certainly scale the heights if your wallet permits.
Pastry chef Kelly Cullen, one of British gastronomy’s rising stars, creates desserts that walk the line between comfort and innovation – the rice pudding with plums and a almond milk ice cream (£16.50) is already drawing devoted followers. Count us as one of them.
The restaurant has recently introduced a tasting menu at £165 per person for those seeking the full experience, though the à la carte feels to us like the main event. While the prices firmly plant Cornus in special occasion territory (somewhat justified by their recently awarded Michelin star), it’s the kind of place where the cooking and service aim to let the ingredients speak for themselves rather than dazzle with unnecessary theatrics. This straightforward, ingredient-led approach has become something of a hallmark for O’Connor and Mercer Nairne’s restaurants, even if the bill at the end might require a deep breath. Don’t waste a single egg of that oscietra when you exhale.
Website: cornusrestaurant.co.uk
Address: 27c Eccleston Place, London SW1W 9NF
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.
There’s also a fantastic lunch deal, one of the best in Mayfair, which sees two hearty, generous courses clocking in at £28. Add dessert for an extra fiver.
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
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
Pantechnicon
Ideal for panoramic views of Belgravia…
You could easily spend the day at Pantechnicon, bouncing between its café, restaurant and bar, and frankly, why wouldn’t you? This remarkable venue represents one of London’s most ambitious hospitality projects, transforming a former Edwardian arts & crafts warehouse into a sprawling, multi-level destination that feels part department store, part cultural centre, part restaurant empire.
The building itself tells quite the story. Originally constructed in 1830 as a furniture repository (the name ‘Pantechnicon’ derives from the Greek for ‘all arts’), it stored the worldly possessions of Britain’s wealthy elite when they travelled abroad. Today, it houses an equally eclectic collection of culinary experiences that would make those Victorian travellers positively swoon: Japanese restaurant SACHI, French bistro Amélie, cocktail lounge LUUM, and the chic Café Kitsuné.
SACHI serves contemporary Japanese cuisine that goes far beyond your typical sushi counter, with standout dishes sea bream and miso vinaigrette and their signature black cod marinated in plum honey. The sake selection is particularly impressive, featuring bottles you’d struggle to find elsewhere in London.
Occupying the building’s most romantic corner, Amélie boasts a sun-drenched terrace that offers some of the finest views across Belgravia’s rooftops. The menu reads like a postcard from the south of France – think bouillabaisse rich with saffron and a tarte tatin that’s worth the inevitable food coma.
Café Kitsuné delivers some of the capital’s finest pastries with a distinctly Japanese twist – caramel miso rice pudding brioche and double-baked matcha croissants that sound bonkers but taste sublime. We’re rather fond of their egg sando too. The coffee, sourced directly from their Parisian roastery, is exceptional.
Come evening, LUUM transforms the building with its dramatic top floor and panoramic views across London’s skyline. The cocktail menu focuses on the flavours of Mexico – we’re particularly fond of their hibiscus spice margarita, whilst small plates like elote croquettes are upgraded with a touch of caviar.
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 £180 for ten courses, though you can enjoy lunch at the relative steal of £70 on Thursday and Fridays.
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!
