Whatever way you cut it, lobster signifies luxury. The crustacean has a reputation for being pricey and often demands top-billing on the most opulent menus across London. This exclusivity might be part of its appeal, but we have to admit, we are quite fond of a lobster or two ourselves when we’re feeling like we really deserve a treat.
But guess what? You don't have to wait for a special occasion, because London has options to satisfy all your lobster cravings at any time. Whether you're up for fancy lobster dishes at high-end restaurants, or prefer easygoing bites at bar and grill joints, you'll find London serving up creative and flavourful lobster dishes to suit every taste, and at a surprising range of price points, too.
Lobster's natural sweetness means it suits all sorts of dishes and cuisines. You can have it stirred into a luscious, Mediterranean-style tomato pasta, stuffed into a toasted, buttered brioche with plenty of mayo, or tempura battered and deep-fried for that tantalising combo of tender lobster and crunchy coating.
So, if you’re looking for the best lobster in London, these lovely spots deliver over and above. And we’d also be so bold as to suggest working your way through all of them – so that you get the full shellfish experience. Our list ranges from casual restaurants like Burger & Lobster (which made its name based on offering good lobster at a reasonable price) all the way through to the most luxurious lobster in London, perhaps the lobster pelmeni at Bob Bob Ricard, or whole lobster at Claude Bosi's magnificent Bibendum Oyster Bar.
The beauty of rounding up the best lobster restaurants in London is that, there isn’t really a bad choice - if you book one of these beauties we’d be pretty confident in saying you’re going to have a good time (unless the company is under par, but for that we can’t be held responsible).
Wiltons, St. James's
What: At over 275 years old, Wiltons is thought to be London’s oldest restaurant. Having started as a shellfish-mongers, it comes as little surprise that the restaurant champions lobster in all forms – you could have three courses of the stuff here. Start with a decadent lobster cocktail, before moving onto a rich, velvety lobster bisque and then finishing up with a main of grilled, Newburg or Thermidor lobster.
Where: 55 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6LX
Book now: Wiltons
Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill, Mayfair
What: With a whole section on its menu dedicated to lobster, you know Bentley’s takes its crustacea seriously. You could start with something like a lobster bisque, but we’re here for the main event really aren't we? Enjoy fresh native lobster grilled or served Thermidor, tossed through spaghetti, cooked in a tempura batter or served cold with mayonnaise.
Where: 11-15 Swallow Street, W1B 4DG
Book now: Bentley’s
Scott’s, Mayfair and Richmond
What: Scott’s is a high-end seafood specialist with a Champagne and oyster bar in Mayfair that happily includes a whole lobster section on their menu for when your cravings strike. There are loads of options, but have a look at the other tables and you'll likely see lots of grilled lobster, dripping in garlic butter. Scott's are kind enough to supply a few vegetables on the side to make you feel slightly better about your indulgence. If you're further west, head to Scott's Richmond, which is equally fantastic but with riverside views.
Where: 20 Mount Street, W1K 2HE; Whittaker House, 4 Whittaker Avenue, TW9 1EH
Book now: Scott’s Mayfair; Scott's Richmond
Louie London, Covent Garden
What: Just minutes from Covent Garden, Louie London is serving some of the best lobster in the capital. It’s a French-leaning restaurant but with the soul of New Orleans and the sophistication of Mayfair. Start with a classic brioche lobster roll with a zippy dill mayonnaise and seasoned potato crisps, before moving onto the main event: whole New Orleans style barbecued lobster with confit lemon, toasted baguette and a moreish creole-spiced butter sauce. All the while, you’ll be serenaded with live music in Parisian style.
Where: 13-15 West Street, WC2H 9NE
Book now: Louie London
Mount St. Restaurant, Mayfair
What: The lobster pie that launched a thousand imitations, Mount St was an instant hit when it opened in 2022, combining luxury gastropub fare with a staggering collection of artwork and gorgeous art deco interiors. The menu is packed with delicious things but the dish that launched Mount St to social fame was the lobster pie, a generous sharing pie for two with cheeky lobster head poking up through the middle.
Where: 41-43 Mount Street, W1K 2RX
Book now: Mount St. Restaurant
Burger & Lobster, Various locations
What: Burger & Lobster brought reasonably-priced lobster to a whole new crowd, and for that we’ll be eternally grateful. The restaurant’s famous lemon and butter sauce is dangerously delicious and accompanies various sizes of lobster – pick from between 1½lb to their daily ‘giant’ lobster. Elsewhere on the menu, you can choose a beef burger and half a lobster combo, some very moreish lobster croquettes or a classic lobster roll.
Where: Various locations
Book now: Burger & Lobster Soho
Big Easy, Various locations
What: Big Easy champions affordable lobster for all, dedicating a whole section of their menu to this delicious shellfish. The signature lobster is steamed whole and served with garlic butter, or you can choose to have the same meat tossed through an indulgent mac ‘n’ cheese or stuffed into a roll. If you’d like to go one better, there’s a 200g fillet steak that comes accompanied by half a lobster for all-out indulgence.
Where: Various locations
Book now: Big Easy Chelsea
Royal China Club, Marylebone
What: The Royal China Club is a London dim sum institution, and there's plenty of lobster dim sum to try here. Crispy lobster dumplings combine sweet meat, herbs and garlic, and there's more on the à la carte too, with wild Scottish lobster cooked in a huge variety of sauces; try the punch black bean, or a classic, aromatic spring onion and ginger. Alternatively, you can sample other extremely good dim sum options like their steamed Wagyu mince beef balls or the fried duck bun.
Where: 40-42 Baker Street, W1U 7AJ
Book now: Royal China Club
The Ritz, St James's
What: If you’re going all out, there's no better place to do it than The Ritz. The world-famous, high-end hotel is a sanctuary for the rich and famous, so of course there's plenty of lobster going around. Lobster a la nage is Ritz signature dish, where sweet morsels of lobster meat are presented swimming (hence the 'a la nage' moniker) in a pool of lobster bisque, accompanied by seasonal vegetables. If you want the best of the best, this might just be the best lobster dish in London.
Where: 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR
Book now: The Ritz
45 Jermyn St, St. James's
What: This highly-Instagrammable hot spot not only offers up old-school glamorous surroundings to celebrate but also dishes up a decadent lobster dish. At first, the price tag might seem punchy, but as it’s for two people this is actually a reasonable offer compared to some of the other options in our round-up (believe it or not, this stuff doesn’t come cheap). For added theatre, this rich shellfish spaghetti dish is flambéed tableside and is sure to impress your dinner companion.
Where: 45 Jermyn Street, SW1 6DN
Book now: 45 Jermyn St.
Bob Bob Ricard, Soho and City of London
What: When a restaurant has a ‘press for Champagne’ button, you know you can expect the finer things in life. Sure enough, Bob Bob Ricard has a couple of lobster options on its menu including a generously-stuff lobster, crab and shrimp pelmeni (a traditional Russian dumpling) served with trout roe and a lobster bisque, and a crowd-pleasing lobster mac ‘n’ cheese. Whether you decide to go for lunch or dinner for sure it's going to turn your day into a special one.
Where: 1 Upper James Street, W1F 9DF; The Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street, EC3V 4AB
Book now: Bob Bob Ricard Soho; Bob Bob Ricard City
Hawksmoor, Various locations
What: Primarily known for its steak, Hawksmoor also does a good line in lobster. Hawksmoor is all about simple, no-frills cooking - go for the grilled lobster and garlic butter, treat yourself to a side of beef-dripping fries, and you won't look back. If you're really pushing the boat out, plump for a juicy fillet steak and lobster surf and turf.
Where: Various locations across London
Book now: Piccadilly Circus, Seven Dials, London Bridge, City of London, Knightsbridge, Spitalfields, Canary Wharf
Bibendum Oyster Bar, Chelsea
What: The beautiful Bibendum Oyster Bar is housed in the old Michelin building in Chelsea, and is decked out with art deco mosaics and large arched windows. Chef Claude Bosi oversees the entire culinary experience, from the exquisite two-Michelin-starred restaurant to the more casual yet sophisticated Oyster Bar, both on the ground floor. Enjoy a large seafood platter, which includes a half lobster, or treat yourself to a full one from the iced display, which comes with homemade mayonnaise and lemon. For something hot, you can’t beat a lobster roll, packed with juicy pieces of lobster and accompanied by fries, or a whole grilled lobster slathered with tarragon butter.
Where: Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, SW3 6RD
Book now: Bibendum Oyster Bar
Meraki, Fitzrovia
What: If you’ve tried all the various usual incarnations of lobster dinners then you may be on the hunt for something a little more unusual. Here, Meraki provides. This Greek restaurant serves up a whole lobster giouvetsi style, which is a traditional dish of orzo pasta in a tomato sauce. Rich and indulgent, this is one of those meals that will stay with you for a long time afterwards, and happily Meraki has a great wine list that helps to round off your experience.
Where: 80-82 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7QT
Book now: Meraki
China Tang, Mayfair
What: Located in the Dorchester Hotel, China Tang was one of the original fine dining Chinese spots in London. In keeping with its address, the restaurant serves up a whole host of luxurious dishes and has a whole section just for its blue lobster noodles, which come steamed and served with glass noodles, stir-fried with ginger and spring onions, tossed through black bean sauce or served on crispy noodles with a spicy sauce. Alternatively, for those seeking a low-carb option, there is a delightful warm belly lobster and spinach soup available.
Where: 53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA
Book now: China Tang
The Shell French Seafood Restaurant, Holborn
What: Two passionate seafood lovers opened the Shell French Seafood Restaurant to bring classic French seafood to the UK, and the restaurant offers a balance between accessibility and quality that won't dent your wallet. There are lobster gems hidden among the appetisers and mains, including a flavorful tomato-based soup with half lobster, and cold seafood platters with various sauces. For a lighter option, there's a refreshing lobster seafood salad with avocado and greens.
Where: 124 Southampton Row, WC1B 5AA
Book now: The Shell
The Seafood Bar, Soho
What: Straight from the Netherlands, the Seafood Bar is a legendary Soho seafood joint run by the De Visscher family, who boast 27 years of experience as respected fishmongers. Whether you're craving a luscious lobster soup or prefer the lobster to take centre stage, grilled to perfection with a side of garlic butter, they've got you covered. And if you're in the mood to mix it up with other seafood delights, why not pair it with a side of creamy mac 'n' cheese? The menu is packed with excellent wine recommendations too.
Where: 77 Dean Street, W1D 3SH
Book now: The Seafood Bar
Steak and Lobster, Various locations
What: Located in Radisson hotels, Steak and Lobster takes simplicity to a whole new level without compromising on quality. They source their top-notch ingredients directly from Northern Ireland, and the food does what it says on the tin - expect steak and lobster cooked on the grill and paired with paprika fries or zesty lemon salad. Most people go for this option given the name but don't sleep on the excellent brioche lobster roll with horseradish garlic mayo.
Where: Various location across London
Book now: Steak and Lobster
If you’re a seafood fan, we're going to assume you also like oysters. If we’ve hit the nail on the head, we think you'll love our round-up of the best places to eat oysters in London.