Best Michelin-Starred Restaurants in London
La Dame de Pic
London is one of the world’s greatest cities, buzzing 24/7 with so much to see and do. I’ve been dining out in London for decades and it is home to no less than sixty-nine wonderful Michelin restaurants. It’s the global centre of fine dining in my opinion and there isn’t a restaurateur that doesn’t want to showcase here. The result is an ever-evolving restaurant scene – this is a food lovers paradise, and here are a few of my must visit Michelin star restaurants in London for 2023
La Dame de Pic - Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square. 10 Trinity Square, London, EC3N 4AJ
Cuisine – 2* Classical French
Tube – Tower Hill – District/Circle lines
Booking – essential
Dress – smart casual
Web – www.ladamedepiclondon.co.uk/
This is excellent cookery, and it delivers a major palate stimulation through every course. On our last visit there were three options 4, 6 or the full 8 courses. We enjoyed snails, west country crab, sole, venison and Pic’s signature dessert, a white millefeuille which was exceptional. The dining space is majestic, and it has a kind of formal vibe although not in an uncomfortable way.
Service is impeccable and the staff understand the dishes that they serve. French dominated wine list and why not! We really love the Rhone and Burgundy wines that the sommelier team have an encyclopaedic knowledge of, importantly though, only if you ask.
This is a great experience by the most decorated female chef in the world, and you will be in no doubt why.
Core by Clare Smyth – 92 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2PN
Cuisine – 3* Modern British
Tube – Chauffeur/taxi is best
Booking – essential
Dress – smart casual
Web – www.corebyclaresmyth.com
Having been responsible for the kitchen at the 3* Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea, it’s little wonder that Clare has rightly achieved the same Michelin 3 star status. In my book Core is culinary perfection. Her sourcing is superb, with fantastic shellfish and wild game, think Isle of Harris scallop tartare, Scottish estate venison with pearl barley and Lagavulin, Cornish turbot with mussels’ leeks and fennel, and Highland wagyu beef with Porthilly oysters.
We loved the a la carte option, so often dismissed by chefs in favour of a tasting menu only. The restaurant vibe is calming, relaxed and with a super-efficient team. The sommelier was outstanding and matched our table’s menu selections perfectly with a stunning 1er Cru Nuits Saint Georges, they have an impressive wine list with some excellent vintages, especially the champagnes!
Mere - 74 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4QH
Cuisine – Classic/modern
Tube – Goodge Street – Northern Line
Booking – essential
Dress – smart casual
Web – www.mere-restaurant.com
This is not Michelin starred at the time of writing, but it will be!! This is Michelin standard food prepared and presented by the fantastic Monica Galetti and her team. Monica ran the kitchen at the 2* Le Gavroche for many years and was a favourite of ours when we were in town. I’ve eaten at Mere on several occasions, and this is exceptional fusion cooking.
There’s an ever-changing menu always interesting, with fish, shells, usually veal and lamb and beautiful vegetarian options. The desserts are unbelievably good and their presentation superb. David Galetti knows a thing or two about wines and has put together a very nice list without it needing you to allocate 20 mins to read it. Cocktails and champagne upstairs before dinner are a must!
Helene Darozze at the Connaught – The Connaught, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London, W1K 2AL
Cuisine – 3* Classic/modern
Tube – Chauffeur/taxi is best
Booking – essential
Dress – smart casual
Web – www.the-connaught.co.uk/restaurants-bars/helene-darroze-at-the-connaught/
I’ve always loved the Connaught since my first visit (a few decades ago now) sitting in the bar overlooking Mount Street. A generous “three fingers” free pour dry gin served with impeccable style alongside numerous dishes of delicious nibbles. I just love top drawer service when it is the norm and not forced in any way.
Little has changed in the levels of customer care and attention; however, the standard food most certainly has with one of the five Michelin 3 star dining experiences in the capital now resident in the hotel. Helene Darroze and her very capable team give your taste buds a sensory delight, this is quite remarkable cuisine. Seasonal dishes sourced with great provenance, fish and shells from Cornwall wild game and estate venison from Wales. There is a chef’s table overlooking the pass and open to the kitchen, if you book it please let me know how good it is!! There is also a sommelier table in the wine cellars – very tempting for our next visit.
Marcus– The Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, London, SW1X 7RL,
Cuisine – 1* British/contemporary
Tube – Knightsbridge/Hyde Park – Piccadilly Line
Booking – essential
Dress – smart casual
Web – www.marcusrestaurant.com
Back in the 90’s I used to regularly eat in Petrus, his restaurant just off Piccadilly prior to it becoming Michelin rated, and I loved Marcus’s menus and his style of cooking. Now, at The Berkeley, my opinion has not really changed, if anything he’s lifted the finesse to another level and delivers a perfect menu content. We’ve eaten from the small a la carte, and the five-course tasting menu, there’s also a seven course.
Fish, game, and beef cookery are superb, the best dishes on our recent visit were the Scottish Gigha halibut and Galloway beef. This is modern British, but you can see the classical influences, it oozes Michelin and attention to detail. We love the old school button back chesterfield style banquette seating, they are super comfy, and it adds to the relaxed restaurant vibe in my opinion.
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