April is here with the promise of long weekends, festive Easter indulgences and the first glimpses of al fresco season. These are the London restaurants to book in April 2025.
Whether you’re plotting a long lunch with friends, entertaining family over the school holidays or simply craving something new, April offers plenty of ways to celebrate the season through food. From chocolate-laced tasting menus and Parisian pop-ups to London-inspired afternoon teas and a truly iconic chef collaboration, these are the tables worth booking now.
Yannick Alléno x Raymond Blanc: Two Culinary Icons At Pavyllon
Two titans of French gastronomy – Yannick Alléno, the world-renowned chef behind 15 Michelin stars, and Raymond Blanc OBE, the chef patron of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons – will, for one night only, be cooking together at Pavyllon London at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. This exclusive event, taking place on 16 April, is part of the restaurant’s Counter-Culture dining series, which gives guests the chance to enjoy a front-row seat at the counter, where they will have the unique opportunity to meet the culinary icons and experience their artistry up close. The six-course menu has been specially chosen to reflect each chefs’ signature styles, combining Alléno’s modernist techniques with Blanc’s deep respect for seasonal, ingredient-led cooking, to create a harmonious menu fusing both traditional and innovative. The evening, one of many events planned to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the hotel, promises to be a celebration of craftsmanship, innovation and exceptional French cuisine.
Gill to Tail: A Sustainable Seafood Collaboration At Dinings SW3
Now in its second season, Gill to Tail is the standout sustainable seafood series from Dinings SW3, a unique dining experience that celebrates using every part of the fish. Hosted at the restaurant’s intimate 12-seater sushi counter, the series is curated by executive chef Masaki Sugisaki, who collaborates with guest chefs from across the UK and beyond to create inventive, zero-waste menus. Following a sold-out February launch with Jamie Lee of Copenhagen’s Fiskebar, don’t miss the April edition which will see Masaki team up with Kyu Jeong Jeon and Duncan Robertson of Bristol’s Korean restaurants Bokman and Dongnae. Over two nights, the husband-and-wife duo will present a series of bold seafood dishes rooted in Korean techniques and flavours, spotlighting underused fish and shellfish from the south west. Each chef will create four courses, with each fish or cut served two ways, plus dessert. Expect inventive pairings, wine matching, and Masaki’s signature fish-tail infused sake.
Sunday Chilling With Fire Cooking & Vinyl Beats At Caia
Notting Hill’s Caia launches a new weekly experience this April with Sunday Sessions, laid-back long lunches set to an all-vinyl soundtrack and centred around bold, fire-cooked sharing dishes. From 1–4pm every Sunday, the restaurant invites guests to ease into the day with magnum wines by the glass, standout cocktails and a weekly changing menu made for feasting. Enjoy dishes such as pumpkin hummus with rose petal dukkah, slow-baked lamb leg with salsa verde and baked Golden Cenarth with rosemary honey and roast potatoes. Dessert is a nostalgic delight of a dolly-mixture ice cream pie. Downstairs in The Green Room, co-founder Tim Lang will be curating a lineup of DJs covering soul, jazz, funk and dub for the ultimate Sunday soundtrack. Priced at £38 per person, this is the perfect way to wrap up your weekend.
Paris Comes To Peckham With Levan
Another Sunday date for your diaries, as Peckham restaurant Levan and its sibling Bar Levan bring some Parisian flair to south London with Paris à Londres, a brand-new residency series welcoming some of the French capital’s most exciting independent restaurants for one-day takeovers. Running one Sunday a month from April to July, the series is a love letter to Paris’ bistro and wine culture. Each monthly event sees a revered Paris-based restaurant take over Levan for a lunch service from 12–4pm, followed by an afterparty at Bar Levan. The series kicks off on Sunday 27 April with Minibar, a cult bistro from Paris’ 10th arrondissement known for bold small plates and killer wine pairings. Guests are invited to enjoy the offering at both venues but can also choose to book in for lunch only or just come by for the after party from 6pm.
What’s It All About At Alfie's
Just minutes from Harvey Nichols and Sloane Square, 14 April sees the launch of Alfie’s, an elegant new dining room upstairs at The Alfred Tennyson pub in Belgravia. Created by entrepreneurial duo Sam and Georgie Pearman, alongside chef director Ben Tish, Alfie’s brings a much more refined take to the pub experience. Working with head chef Stevie Phillip (formerly of Soho favourites Blanchette and The Dorchester), the menu blends British and French classics with contemporary flair. Expect dishes like Hereford beef tartare served tableside, slow-cooked lamb shoulder and grilled monkfish. Wines are a key part of the experience too, curated by Charles Beaini, previously of Kerridge’s at The Corinthia, and with access to the restaurant’s exclusive ‘black book’ of rare and exceptional bottles.
A Sophisticated Mexican Spin On Easter At Zapote
Zapote, the modern Mexican restaurant from Tony Geary (whose previous experience includes Sketch and Hutong) and chef Yahir Gonzalez, will be celebrating Easter with a twist, putting on a cocoa-feast inspired by Mexico’s deep-rooted connection to chocolate. Running for a limited time from 8 to 26 April, the Mayan Easter menu pays homage to the ingredient’s ancient origins, weaving chocolate into each dish as a tribute to its sacred place in Maya and Aztec culture. Dishes include roasted corn and recado negro, a traditional Yucatán spice blend enriched with dark chocolate, roasted guinea fowl served with hoja santa, peanut, and a rich chocolate mole and the always crowd-pleasing churros paired with dark chocolate and salted caramel ice cream. This is very much an elevated alternative to traditional Easter dining.
Family-Friendly Easter Treats From Rick Stein
This Easter Sunday, Rick Stein Restaurants are serving up a fresh take on tradition with a series of seasonal lamb specials across their UK sites. At Rick Stein Barnes in London, the star of the show is lamb ribs with dauphinoise potatoes, spring vegetables and foraged wild garlic – a refined, coastal twist on the classic Sunday roast. And for those dining at Rick Stein restaurants with younger family members during the Easter holidays, there’s an extra treat: from 7 to 17 April, kids eat for just £1 if it rains while you’re dining. The offer runs across select locations including Barnes, Bournemouth and Padstow. A clever way to make the most of April showers and turn them into a reason for pudding.
London Calling For Afternoon Tea At Brumus, Haymarket Hotel
Brumus, the British brasserie at the Haymarket Hotel, has launched a delightful new afternoon tea concept inspired by the iconic London landmarks right on its doorstep. A celebration of the capital’s charm, this quintessentially English affair pairs savoury classics with a playful selection of pastries, each crafted as an edible tribute to the city’s most recognisable sights. Tuck into a dark chocolate and orange Big Ben, a cinnamon and cream-cheese London Eye, and a Trafalgar Square Victoria Sponge, all served in relaxed yet refined surroundings. After eating, guests are invited to explore the real thing and enjoy a self-guided walking tour curated by Blue Badge Guide Katie Wignall of Look Up London. The illustrated map and QR-linked audio provided means you can take in the sights at your own pace.
Crown & Sabre Sandwiches At The Wellington Lounge
An equally impressive but very different afternoon tea experience awaits guests at The Wellington Lounge at InterContinental London Park Lane this spring with the launch of The Crown & Saber Afternoon Tea. In a lounge overlooking the Royal Parks –and once the site of Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood home – the experience brings a theatrical twist to tradition with free-flowing Veuve Clicquot Champagne, presented from a roaming trolley and opened tableside by sabrage. The afternoon tea menu blends elegance with indulgence and makes the most of seasonal British ingredients. Guests can also enjoy an accompanying live pianist (Thursday to Sunday) and premium tea blends from The East India Company – including a bespoke ‘Ode to the Commonwealth’ blend to complete the elevated experience.
Champagne Dinner & Masterclass At Kitchen Table
Champagne fans might also be interested in another exclusive event this month. The two Michelin-starred Kitchen Table is hosting a Champagne Dinner & Masterclass on 22 April, an evening of rare pours and refined pairings, led by the restaurant’s co-founder and sommelier, Sandia Chang. Sample eight exceptional grower Champagnes, handpicked by Sandia, including standout bottles such as Lancelot Royer RR Blanc de Blanc and Cramant, Grand Cru from one of the few Champagnes still made entirely by hand, and the Cedric Bouchard Val Vilaine from one of the region’s most elusive producers. Alongside a deep dive into Champagne’s storied terroir, diners will enjoy a Champagne-focused tasting menu crafted by chef and co-founder James Knappett. An evening that promises to be both exceptional and educational.
Wine And Cheese Delights At Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar
Fans of a tasting experience should check out Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar at The Trafalgar St. James, which every Thursday evening invites just six guests to take a seat at the bar for an intimate Wine & Cheese Tasting designed for both the curious and the connoisseur. This exclusive guided tasting, led by an in-house expert, includes a welcome drink followed by four premium wines, each artfully paired with an artisanal cheese to enhance every sip and bite. Part of the hotel’s £6 million renovation, Rockwell is a newly launched bistro and wine bar designed to be an all-day destination. With a laid-back neighbourhood feel (despite its luxurious location) Rockwell offers wines from 15 countries, with a strong focus on showcasing England’s finest bottles. Priced at £45 per person for a 90-minute guided tasting, their Wine & Cheese tasting is a relaxed, flavour-rich experience that pairs perfectly with a spring evening in the city.
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Lead image: Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar
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