Best London Hotel Restaurants
Smart, chic and refined – the best luxury hotels in London have every opulent amenity guests need, including restaurants. From those established names run by celebrity chefs to up-and-coming stars that are just breaking onto the scene, here’s a rundown of the most creative restaurants which luxury hotels in London have to offer and which will make dedicated foodies swoon.
Best for celeb spotting: The Dorchester Hotel, Mayfair
If eye candy is what you’re looking for in a restaurant, the old favourite Dorchester Hotel has had a recent facelift and is now the chicest place in the city.
There are several dining options – China Tang is the popular celebrity hotspot with a 1920s Shanghai flavour. Enjoy incredible Chinese cuisine in a glam setting amongst the antiques and stylish waitresses. The Grill, meanwhile, has more classic English dishes and is an excellent place for a Sunday lunch where the meat is served up fresh from the whole joint by confident waiters.
For a truly classy setting, however, there is no way to beat the signature menu at The Dorchester which is presided over by the famed Alain Ducasse and provides an unparalleled menu and setting that epitomise French chic.
Best for fusion: St Martins Lane, Covent Garden
The hip and stylish St Martins Lane is a blend of funky retro colour and ultra-cool design by Philippe Starck. And when it comes to food and drink, it certainly doesn’t disappoint. The Asia De Cuba restaurant is as buzzy as it is cool – make sure you book a table in advance or London’s cool crowd will fill up all the spots fast. Although the atmosphere is relaxed, a quirky taste suffuses the décor with photographs, crooked lighting and bookshelves, whilst the food is a fun mix of Asian and Latin influences.
Later on, guests move into the talked about Light Bar where the multi-coloured lighting and huge projected images are as off-beat as the cocktails. For something truly unique, you can even order a bespoke creation from the resident mixologists. For a more energetic evening, hotel guests can also choose to explore the usually members-only nightclub next door, Bungalow 8.
Best for afternoon tea: Claridge’s, Mayfair
Claridge’s is an institution in London and beyond, and it’s easy to say why when you’re sitting in the Grand Foyer. Accompanied by violins, a classic Afternoon Tea here offers the kind of elegance and spread which the hotel prides itself on. Surrounded by marble floors and glamorous guests, it’s a place which attracts as many grand-aunts as celebrities and is definitely a hallmark of English traditional dining.
Other options here include the relaxed Reading Room, which serves up contemporary cuisine, and TV star Gordon Ramsey’s flagship eatery for a formal experience. Ramsey’s restaurant is a draw in itself, thanks to modern European flavours which are served up with exciting creativity.