It’s easy to think that your dad will be more than happy with a trip down the pub for a pint, a card and a present (AKA a refill of his socks drawer) for Father’s Day. But why not show how much you appreciate old daddy-o by taking him out to a nice lunch in one of London’s great restaurants?
We think the below – from traditional to more adventurous (and to suit all types of budgets) should do the job. ![]()
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Apologies of going all stereotypical here, but most dads enjoy a good steak, right? And Hawksmoor (which has several sites across the capital) does a good one. The interiors are also distinctly traditional, which your old fella might appreciate. There’s great seafood here too, but for Father’s Day (which is a Sunday) we would go for one of its hearty breakfast dishes or its cracking Sunday roast. Large slabs of slow-roast rump are cooked on real charcoal before being finished in the oven to gain that optimal open-fire flavour. Roasts all come complete with beef-dripping roast potatoes, Yorkshire puds, carrots, greens, roasted shallots and a gravy of bone marrow and onion.
How much will I have to fork out? You can get a roast all-in for the neat sum of £22pp.
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The dining room of Berners Tavern can easily be described as one of the most handsome in London. Its walls are covered in gold-framed paintings ranging from century-old to modern ones, which perfectly match the elaborately ornate, white-painted ceiling. Chef Jason Atherton’s restaurant is a spot for big occasions, and Father’s Day is one of those, right? There is a Weekend Roast on offer from 12-4pm on Sundays, which includes three courses. Choose between delights such as beef tartare or smoked Dingley Dell ham hock and herb terrine to start, before getting stuck into the likes of Beef Wellington, pork belly or roasted cod with shared sides for the table. Finish with a choice of desserts – we would go for the Tunworth cheese served with pear and saffron chutney and seeded crackers.
How much will I have to fork out? The three-course weekend roast menu is priced at £39.50pp with an £8 supplement for the Beef Wellington.
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The moment you hear Grade II-listed and Michelin-starred, you know you’re in for a treat. Interiors are swanky (it’s in an old, converted Victorian chapel), food is outstanding (we gave it a Gold Award) and the prices are (you would never guess it) affordable. At least for the three-course special Father’s Day menu, which features delights such as duck liver parfait with soft herb salad, fig and caper puree to start, and slow-cooked pork belly, pomme puree and spring cabbage for mains. End on a sweet note with the divine-sounding chilled coconut rice pudding with mango and coconut sorbet. Have little’uns with you? There’s a children’s menu of roast chicken or pork with mash potato and French beans with a dessert of sorbet for £12.50.
How much will I have to fork out? The three-course Father’s Day menu is priced at £39.50pp. Throw in a carafe of wine for an additional £10.
Roast, London Bridge
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This popular spot (booking ahead is absolutely essential) above Borough Market offers wrap-around windows to overlook the bustle of the market below. It also serves up a cracking three-course Sunday Market Menu, which is just the ticket for a Father’s Day lunch. It changes with the season, so expect summery dishes on your visit – risotto with spinach, mozzarella and toasted hazelnuts; seabream with baby gem, samphire, cucumber and butter sauce; nectarine, honey frozen yoghurt with meringue and honeycomb. Does dad want something heartier? Don’t fret, there’s also pork, sage and onion Scotch eggs with piccalilli; slow-roasted lamb shoulder studded with rosemary and garlic; and sticky date pudding with toffee sauce, almond brittle and clotted cream.
How much will I have to fork out? The Sunday Market Menu is priced at £39.50pp.
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Verging into stereotype land again (we promise we do realise that not all fathers are like Homer Simpson), but sometime all it takes to make your dad happy is a quality burger, a quality beer and some quality time with you. Burger & Beyond deliver proper dirty burgers as well as a range of interesting and local brews. There are also cocktails and a decent selection of wines. The classic Cheeseburger won’t disappoint, but there’s definitively room to be adventurous. The lamb nugget starter is worth a try, too, and don’t leave without having a taste of the fries with bone marrow gravy and cheese!
How much will I have to fork out? Unsurprisingly, you can get away with a meal for two with drinks for roughly £60 (this means you can throw in a pack of socks for him, after all).
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Ok, dads love pubs – it’s in the dad handbook – so why deny him this simple pleasure on Father’s Day? But we think you should at least take the opportunity to visit one of the nicer boozers in town, such as this City gastro pub, specialising in game. With its taxidermy animals dotted around and a signature dish that gave it its name, this pub is a celebration of all things carnivorous. The jugged hare dish is rich and served with heaps of creamy mash, bacon and cabbage. The Sunday Roast is decent too, and the drink offering is varied.
How much will I have to fork out? Prices are steep for a pub – expect to pay around £100 for three courses and drinks.
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Brigadiers’ main concept consists of two elements that are guaranteed to make the old man happy; Indian barbeque and sports. There are two bars to choose from, a pool room with a self-service whiskey dispenser and TVs showing nothing but Sky Sports. Name a better Father’s Day activity – we’ll wait. On weekends, the Brigadiers Weekend BBQ offers a variety of dishes ranging from £20 to £35 – the mixed seafood sizzler is priced at the higher end of the scale, but sounds undeniably mouth-watering. There’s the option of going bottomless, too, with free-flowing Brigadiers Lager, sparkling wine or Paloma. All dishes are served with papadums and chutneys, as well as Goan piri piri masala chips and sigri masala corn on the cob.
How much will I have to fork out? If you go for the mixed seafood sizzler and bottomless drinks, worst case scenario is roughly £120 for two people.
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City hotel The Ned quickly became a diner’s hot spot when it transformed the old (and giant) bank hall into a new (but equally giant) food hall featuring no less than eight restaurants. On Sundays, half of them team up to offer the all-you-can-eat Sunday Feast, where luxuries such as lobsters, oysters and roasts with all the trimmings are to be expected. It doesn’t end there. Classic brunch dishes, salads and a cheese bar are also up for grabs, not to mention plenty of puddings. Time to see if you can out-eat daddy dearest. There’s even a Bloody Mary corner and a mimosa trolley.
How much will I have to fork out? The Ned’s Sunday Feast is priced at £48pp – drinks are charged separately.
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This is for the ones looking for a more alternative Father’s Day celebration – you will, after all, have to take your dad via a sex shop front in order to enter this dark-lit Mexican restaurant (and we can appreciate that’s not everyone’s cup of tea). But the urban-chic interiors, great service and supreme tacos are worth it. There are distinct party vibes here - it’s Tequila galore and there are 50ml shots of mescal - so if children are coming along, perhaps look elsewhere (you have to be 18 to get in). But if you’re looking to treat your dad to a proper party come June 16th, you’ll know where to go.
How much will I have to fork out? Prices are reasonable here, so no more than £60 for the both of you for two courses and drinks.
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The Weekend Feast available throughout Camino’s London locations is a celebration of Spanish meats and tapas treats. Enjoy a range of sharing meats for the table alongside one side each. Barbeque short ribs, beef hanger steak, Ibérico pork secreto, chicken skewers and chorizo riojano are all there for the taking, with tapas faves such as patatas bravas, croquetas and padron peppers to complement. Wash it all down with jugs of sangria – it’ll be like taking your dad on holiday!
How much will I have to fork out? The Weekend Feast is £20pp and kids eat for free at the Bankside site.
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If your dad is a lover of seafood, invite him to shuck London’s freshest oysters at this century-old joint in Piccadilly. The fish and chips here is equally as enticing as the oysters and the fish pie is as posh as you can get. But the menu doesn’t limit itself to staples – there’s caviar, ceviches and tartares, not to mention soups, lobster bisques, shellfish cocktails and crab. Interiors are slick, and although it has a sophisticated atmosphere, it’s a comfortable and informal palace to bring dad.
How much will I have to fork out? The seafood here is premium, so expect to pay around the £150 mark.
How much will I have to fork out? Prices start from £45pp with a drinks pairing option available for another £32pp
Fancy taking your dad for a drink after lunch? Here are the best places to go for a G&T
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Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port
A superb example of the aged tawny style. Mellow and elegant, combining delicate wood and nutty notes with rich aromas of mature fruit, it is bottled for immediate drinking. Perfect, served chilled, with puddings made with chocolate, coffee and almonds, or with cheese – a great gift for Father’s Day!
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From £20, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco