There’s a lot we love about London, and the quality of the capital’s restaurants is high on our list of reasons. These are some of the Citizen Femme team’s favourite restaurants in London.
From street food-inspired spots to high-end, fine dining experiences, choosing where to book for your next team lunch or dinner with friends can feel overwhelming. Taking in vegan and gluten free diets, and serving up everything from Japanese to Italian, Mediterranean to Sri Lankan cuisine, these are some of the Citizen Femme team’s favourite restaurants in London.
MALLOW
Since opening its doors in Borough Market in 2021, Mallow – brought to you by the team behind plant-based pioneers Mildreds – has been a firm favourite for vegans of London. With a generous menu inspired by global cuisines, their dishes feature ingredients sourced from small, sustainable businesses, including those right on their doorstep in Borough Market. Dishes are bursting with flavour, but you can forget uptight fine dining, their relaxed, laid-back environment will make you feel at home. Following their inevitable success, you’ll find a second location in Canary Wharf too. Mallow will forever be a winner, for everything from a meet-the-parents dinner to a casual Sunday brunch. Gemma Louise Deeks.
The dish to order: Spinach Dahi Puri, Lime Coconut Sambol, Blackcurrant Tamarind Chutney.
Sticks’n’Sushi
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply satisfying a craving, Sticks’n’Sushi provides a memorable dining experience. Sticks’n’Sushi’s consistent ability to deliver exceptional food, coupled with its inviting ambience and design-conscious approach, truly sets it apart. It’s a restaurant that encapsulates the essence of culinary fusion, offering a blend of traditional sushi and delectable yakitori grilling. A fusion of Japanese and Danish influences is seamlessly integrated into both the cuisine and the decor, creating an immersive dining experience. Bibiana Obahor
The dish to order: Salmon Chirasi, Hiramasa Kataifi with Spicy Edamame Beans.
Plant Club
As someone who is gluten-free, I feel very lucky to live in London. The capital really does have world-leading options if you need to avoid wheat, and there’s an impressive range of cuisines on offer too. For me though, the very best gluten-free fare can be found at Plant Club, an unassuming outpost near Canonbury underground that a friend and I stumbled across as London was reopening post-pandemic. I knew I’d found an Italian food gold mine when I arrived to a chorus of Italian speaking patrons and I always leave having eaten the very best (and substantial) homemade gluten-free pizzas and pasta dishes. What I love most is the menu has so much choice and it’s all made in a small open kitchen. Becki Murray.
The dish to order: Gnocchi Pesto Pasta with Sicilian pistachio and basil pesto.
Madera at Treehouse London
Fusing Mexican cuisine with experiential dining, Madera restaurant at the top of London’s luxury Treehouse hotel boasts sweeping city views and incredible food, from the freshest guacamole to flavour-packed taquitos al gusto. The restaurant’s atmosphere is as electric as the dishes themselves. I doubt you’ll find anywhere else quite as colourful a selection of plates while fire breathers perform a short distance away from you every Tuesday and Friday night. Whether you’re celebrating or just craving some really good huevos rancheros and an enigmatic atmosphere while London’s skyline twinkles in the background, Madera is a top choice. The monthly fiesta brunch (on the first Saturday of every month) with live DJs is also a great way to kickstart the weekend. Grace Robson
The dish to order: Chef’s enchiladas with organic beef barbacoa
Orasay
I live in east London but love an excuse to jump on the central line and head over to Notting Hill. Orasay is that excuse. Headed by Brunswick House chef Jackson Boxer, Orasay is the acclaimed foodie’s first solo project. The restaurant, whose cobalt blue outdoor seating sweeps onto the relaxed west London streets, seeps an affable energy that’s mirrored in its menu. The friendly staff welcome you and talk through the dishes, their recommendations, and prime wine pairings. There are a stylish variety of sharing plates and larger servings on the menu, although not wide enough to compromise the taste of each dish nor the menu’s synergy. The elegantly subdued caramel-beige painted walls with canvas art and dried flowers really adds to the amiable ambiance. The rich terracotta-coloured cushions and thick ceramic plates when paired with the wood-fired prawns in miso butter almost transports you straight to a quiet Catalan coast. Oh, and one last thing: do not skip the dessert menu. Ella Mansell.
The dish to order: Grilled Potato Bread, Whipped Cod’s Roe, Citrus Kosho.
LPM Restaurant & Bar
LPM Restaurant & Bar will always be my favourite London haunt. It’s a date night spot, a family Sunday lunch spot, a pre-dinner cocktail at the bar spot. It really is a one-size-fits-all kind of restaurant that is consistently remarkable in its food, service and ambience. Expect light, utterly satisfying, delicate yet playful Mediterranean dishes presented in a selection of sharing plates, each one better than the next. It’s the kind of place that could easily welcome in pomp but manages to keep it at bay, still maintaining a real allure with a crowd you may want to just sit and watch all day long whilst tucking into your Dover Sole and signature Tomatina cocktail. Sheena Bhattessa.
The dish to order: Pissaladière, Onion Tart with Anchovies and Olives (hors d’oeuvres), Coquelete au citron confit, Baby Chicken marinated in Amalfi lemon (main), Crème brûlée à la Vanille (dessert).
Hoppers
I love Sri Lankan food and have found that historically, it hasn’t been very easy to find good versions of my favourite dishes in London. Enter, Hoppers. The first branch of this now three-strong restaurant group opened in Soho in 2015 (subsequent openings can be found in Kings Cross and Marylebone), changing the game for Sri Lankan dining in the capital. The menu includes hoppers – a thin, savoury, crispy, pancake-like dish – of course, as well as dosa dishes topped with spiced lentil or chilli cheese; breadfruit, prawn and chicken curries; lamb biriyanis and rolls; and plenty of delicious sides including shredded vegetables, dhals, rotis and rice. You can book online for up to four people at the Soho restaurant, or try your luck as a walk-in. Katie Silcox.
The dish to order: The restaurant’s namesake dish, the hopper; the egg version is probably the most well-known Sri Lankan export. The Brinjal Moju (a pickled eggplant dish) is also one to try, as is the Wattalapam Pudding, a custard-like dish made with coconut and spices.
Daphne’s
If given the choice I will always pick an Italian restaurant, and my favourite in London is Daphne’s. Old school charm mixed with the perfect traditional Italian menu make this elegant yet buzzy Chelsea spot one that I go back to time and time again. When I first moved to London I lived close by so used to pop in more often, but even now, years later, Daphne’s has retained its classic style and glamorous, but never pretentious, atmosphere. If I visit during summer, I’ll always start with a Bellini and zucchini fritte at one of the pretty little tables on the pavement before moving inside. In winter I love visiting during December to see the ceiling festooned with gorgeous baubles while enjoying a ravioli followed by a tiramisu. Daphne’s is stylish and timeless and my go-to when I want to guarantee a wonderful evening with family and friends. Morag Turner.
The dish to order: Veal Milanese with a squeeze of lemon, rosemary roasted potatoes and a rocket and parmesan salad on the side. A delicious little taste of the Amalfi Coast in the heart of Chelsea.
Bar des Prés
London is full of amazing restaurants but to find one that is always consistent and that you keep going back to is rare in such a fast-moving scene. I love Bar de Pres for its food and interiors; it never fails to disappoint with a chic crowd and intimate vibe. Nestled in the heart of Mayfair on Albemarle Street, I love sitting at the bar for good martinis and great service. A French-Japanese fusion from Cyril Lignac the atmosphere is warm and elegant. I would also suggest heading downstairs to the hidden bar for a night cap, it has the perfect mood lighting as the nights get darker and colder. Alexandra Carello
The dish to order: The Crispy Salmon Sushi and Crab Galette.
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