These are the best restaurants in the West End
Segue seamlessly from shopping to theatre to dining with our guide to gastronomically exceptional eating in the West End
Hakkasan forever glamorous
Age certainly hasn't withered the original Hakkasan. Swooshing into the basement dining room always feels uplifting like being effortlessly transported to glam Shanghai.
The food is invariably polished and assured whether indulging in one of their most luxurious dishes: seabass cooked in champagne or cannily opting for the taster plates of dim sum and main dishes for a speedy pre-theatre dinner. The cocktails are sophisticated too as is their new Orchard list offering the most cosmopolitan choice of no-alcohol drinks anywhere from unusual juices and kombucha to fine alcohol-free wine.
Roasts usurp brunch at Berner's Tavern, London Edition
Dining with real wow factor. Berners Tavern is inspired by
the classic muted colours of Johannes Vermeer paintings and American artist Donald Judd, yet overall it is anything but subdued. Two large custom bronze chandeliers, reminiscent of those at NYC's Grand Central Station, create amazing light to better show off the Trunk Archive: a curated series of portraits, landscapes and still life works in the manner of a private collection.
Both 3-course weekend roasts and afternoon teas are on offer side-by-side. Both defy convention. There's Buccleuch estate beef tartare with egg yolk jam, definitely a first, and Roast belly of Dingley Dell pork with apple and mustard sauce as well as a vegetarian friendly option. The ultra-sweet-toothed could move discreetly straight into tea and bacon scones with whipped goat's cheese followed by individual lemon merigue tarts scattered with sesame
Both Weekend lunch and afternoon tea £39.95
Michelin dining at Social Eating House
Simply good food overseen by chef Paul Hood – very much Jason Atherton's man on the ground as Atherton is so often on the move. It's a dream menu of thoughtfully sourced British ingredients put together in an unexpected yet wholly seductive manner. Start with the beautifully light swordfish carpaccio with cucumber juice and gin, or scallops with smoked avocado and horseradish. Then saunter on to lamb with turnips and salad Nicoise sauce. The peanut butter, cherry and almond dessert has become a Social Eating House classic. For a real piece of action in the kitchen, book to sit at the chef's table – it really does immerse you.
Dinner for two including wine: £160
Michel Roux jr showing how he does modern and informal at Roux at The Landau
Luxurious, yet laidback dining in a hotel without any of the pomp and ceremony is still a rare find. Roux at The Landau just north of Oxford Circus within the decidedly grand The Langham has nailed it.
Having ingredient and provenance led Michel Roux junior directing the culinary vision, combined with an elegantly informal re-styling by David Collins Studio, has worked wonders on a previously somewhat intimidatingly grand dining experience.
Grazing at the bar with superb snacks is encouraged as is making an extensive sampling of their cheese cabinet.
The five course tasting menu is a stunner too and includes exquisite desserts by head pastry chef Andrew Gravett, long recognised as one of the best in the business.
Counter dining for two: £60
Healthy gut-friendly cafe within an indoor garden: Helmsley Helmsley at Selfridges
Funky in the best possible sense, Helmsley Helmsley infuse all of their dishes with good food that is good for the mind, digestion and health, which means plenty of green and gut-healthy, fermented foods.
The laid-back atmosphere of this café and bubbly staff make it an oasis among the activewear in Selfridge's Bodystudio.
Breakfast on blueberry muffins made with coconut flour, lunch on miso soup, tagines and couscous and have a virtuous afternoon with cannelini bean cakes topped with avocado icing!
Look out too for events hosted by Melissa and/or Jasmin Helmsley.
Breakfast for two: under £20. Lunch for two: £40
No reservations taken, click here for more information
Canneles with coffee, Wild Honey a classic culinary gem that featured in Phantom Thread - the movie
Discreet yet buzzy with genial and highly knowledgeable service and exceptional food, Wild Honey is a bastion of what Modern European food should be about. Anthony Demetre mixes classic technique with British seasonal ingredients to bold, harmonious effect.
At lunch and pre-theatre (6pm-7pm) there's a £35 three course set menu featuring dishes from the a la carte which may include ultra plump and creamy Cornish mussels with blood orange and sea purslane, sweet spice lacquered quail with freekah, ksweetcorn and heritage carrots and wild honey ice-cream with honeycomb.
Tarte tatin is served for two, three or four and it is legendary: dark amber, luscious with the finest pastry. What's more coffee is accompanied by freshly baked canneles. A true treat.
Seafood spaghetti at Harry's Dolce Vita
Harry’s Dolce Vita inspired by its namesake, the Mayfair private members' club, is a brand new large all day dining destination set in glamorous 1950s style surroundings. A special cicchetti menu – small plates traditionally served in Venetian Bacari bars – is a highlight, and especially enjoyable on the terrace on balmy days.
Affordable classics on the menu run from a glorious seafood linguine to chicken Milanese and a textbook tiramisu. The kitchen is headed up by Diego Cardoso, whose creative approach has impressed diners at the original Knightsbridge, Harry’s Dolce Vita, since its opening last December. Diego's impeccable CV stars working alongside Angela Hartnett at her Michelin-starred Italian Murano, in Mayfair.
Dinner for two: £50 including drinks
Dinner date with Fred Sireix at Galvin at Windows
Be your own dinner date when Fred Sireix is running front of house at Galvin at Windows where his career started long before the smash hit dating series. Unsurprisingly, service is taken very seriously here and is as classy as the glittering views over Hyde Park and beyond.
Food is classic French technique lightened and made more contemporary by the Asian inflection of Korean head chef Joo Wun. A Korean banquet menu with accompanying wines can be prepared for the whole table with advance notice.
Brand new is the brunch menu running the gamut from cinnamon croissants to decadent lobster egg benedict.
The star choice Joo's Super Breakfast including soft polenta, eggs, maple-cured rib eye bacon, stir-fried chilli oyster, mushrooms, boudin noir. For the committed Francophile, who simply doesn't do brunch, there's Chateaubriand steak with red wine jus and French fries and salad. Plus luscious desserts including Paris Brest with hazelnut cream & chocolate sauce.
Savvy diners also love the Menu du Chef available until 31 October £58 menu including three courses, half a bottle of wine, water, coffee offering enticing dishes that may include a classic game terrine, coq au vin and walnut cafe with Armagnac chocolate cream and honey ice cream. It is available at lunch and early evening 5.30-6.30pm and from 9pm Mon-Wed and from 9.30pm Thurs-Fri.
For a truly speedy pre-theatre bite, simply revel in the breathtaking views over a posh bar snack and a cocktail in the bar.
Breakfast at Burberry
Homemade crumpets for breakfast with elderflower and gooseberry jam. Forget Holly Golightly, this is the place for Hollywood-style glamorous breakfasts among the iconic plaids.
It is all very, very quintessentially British, highly seasonal and produce is chosen with scrupulous integrity. Hansen & Lyderman smoked salmon, check, Lalani & Co. tea with Calabrian bergamot, check.
Go for tea when there is a stylish trolley of delicate sandwiches and enticing cakes available into the evening too – it is always a civilised haven for post shopping rejuvenation.
Breakfast for two: £50
Eastern Mediterranean plant-filled exoticism: Delamina
Modishly decorated with hanging plants and wicker, Delamina is inspired by the owners' East European heritage. Besides intensely flavoured mezze, there are gorgeous hearty, colourful salads such as grilled aubergine with sesame, goat's cheese, almonds, tamarind sauce; grilled chermoula cod on Israeli couscous with artichokes. Desserts are irresistible especially cheesecake foam in katafia pastry with caramelised pecans. Shakshuka is their signature brunch dish. Affordable, friendly and relaxed, this is a surprising find in the West End,