If you were to ask anyone in the UK what makes the best Sunday roast – well – the best, you’re likely to be met with a definitive opinion. Without wanting to generalise, the topic of the best Sunday lunch is a subject us Brits take very seriously, to the point where it’s still one of the most hotly contested culinary debates of today (a close second to the great scone debate: jam or cream first?).
It’s a talking point that restaurants and pubs across the capital have latched onto and now you’ll struggle to find a British restaurant or proper pub that doesn’t serve a Sunday menu dedicated to the dish. It might seem like a simple meal on the surface, but it’s a surprisingly easy thing to get wrong, which is why we’ve rounded up the best Sunday roasts in London, so you don’t have to go through the traumatic ordeal of experiencing a bad one.
A Sunday lunch can mean different things to different people. For some, the weekend ritual represents an excuse to gather the whole family and enjoy some quality time together, while for others, it’s a rather beautiful and indulgent way to cure Saturday night’s hangover. If you’re living in the capital and are sat Googling ‘best roast dinner near me’, listen up, because we’ve scoured the city in search of the ultimate Sunday roast London has to offer - in every area.
From traditional dishes with all the trimmings, to extravagant three-course affairs and more unconventional offerings, the humble roast dinner has been elevated to so much more than just meat and two veg at these top-notch establishments. We've whittled down the best roast in London to try in 2023, and we keep this guide updated throughout the year to make sure your roast dinner knowledge is always up to scratch.
So, rid yourself of the harrowing experience of overcooked beef and soggy roast potatoes at home (not that we’re doubting your cooking skills) and try out one of these epic Sunday lunches instead.
Best classic Sunday roast in London
Some things are at their best when they stick to the basics, and this is true of Sunday roasts. Check out our pick of the most traditional roasts you can find in London below.
The Blue Boar Pub, Westminster
What: The Blue Boar Pub at the Conrad St. James offers the classic staples of a Sunday Roast alongside some fresh new additions. Familiar favorites of roast rump beef and pork loin are served with fluffy Yorkshire puddings, crispy roast potatoes, green and root vegetables, as well as a luxurious bone marrow gravy. There are also additional sides with indulgent baked bone marrow, Montgomery cheddar cauliflower cheese, and grilled hispi cabbage. A real standout feature of their menu is the unique opportunity for guests to share their roast with their four-legged friend with their Sunday roast, dessert, and even 'wine' for your doggy pal (non-alcoholic of course).
Where: 45 Tothill Street, SW1H 9LQ
How much: £29.50 per person
Book now: The Blue Boar Pub
Jamie Oliver Catherine St, Covent Garden
What: New to London's dining scene this year, Jamie Oliver's Covent Garden restaurant has launched a Sunday service menu with succulent roast meats carved tableside from a roast trolley and bottomless crispy spuds! We were impressed at how well each element was executed, from juicy HG Walters roast beef to soft-on-the-inside and crisp-on-the-outside roast potatoes, all served with lashings of tasty gravy. Trimmings are served in a platter on the table for diners to help themselves, and we really do implore you to stick around for pudding. Head pastry chef Emma Jackson has created a superior version of an STP (sticky toffee pudding) served with toffee sauce and vanilla custard.
Where: 6 Catherine Street, WC2B 5JY
How much: From £26 per person
Book now: Jamie Oliver Catherine St
The Camberwell Arms, Camberwell
What: The Camberwell Arms pops up time and time again when it comes to the best Sunday lunch in London, and who are we to argue with the people? The vote is unanimous; this south east London gastropub is loved by many for its epic Sunday lunch offering, which is served sharing-style and designed to be taken by more than one person to encourage conviviality. Gather your nearest and dearest and head over. Pork belly with hispi cabbage, roast lamb rack with spring greens, and half a spit roast chicken with greens and schmaltz yoghurt are all up for grabs.
Where: 65 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8TR
How much: From £48 (for two to share)
Book now: The Camberwell Arms
The Parakeet, Kentish Town
What: The Parakeet opened to great acclaim just over a year ago and we’re rather pleased it’s decided to add a Sunday lunch menu to its roster. Starting from just £20 for the veggie option – a celeriac Wellington – it's pretty good value too. Meaty options include hay-smoked roast chicken, lamb and roast beef, and all are served with spring greens, roast potatoes, seasonal root veg, Yorkshire puddings and carrot and swede puree. Tickle your tastebuds with mackerel and kohlrabi to start, and you won’t go far wrong with a classic sticky toffee pudding to finish.
Where: 256 Kentish Town Road, NW5 2AA
How much: From £20 per person
Book now: The Parakeet
The Laundry, Brixton
What: The Laundry doesn't do a Sunday roast by halves, and you'll find a cracking selection of seasonal centerpiece mains on offer throughout the year; think pork belly with apple sauce, yorkshire pudding and crackling, or 28-day aged Hereford sirloin with creamed horseradish. But the best bit is that any main you choose comes with bottomless gravy and roast veg! This isn't your average roast dinner either - trimmings include roast squash, roast potatoes, glazed carrots and minted peas for a fresher take on the classic. Do NOT skip the warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Where: 374 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PL
How much: From £21 per person
Book now: The Laundry
Quality Chop House, Farringdon
What: The clue’s in the name of this lauded British chophouse, where the ‘quality’ of its ‘chops’ is paramount. Of course, its Sunday lunch menu is as traditional as they come, with a choice between lamb with mint sauce, rump and brisket with horseradish cream, and pork belly with apple sauce. Desserts end things with elevated but traditional classics such as their strawberry jam tart.
Where: 88-94 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3EA
How much: Three courses for £55 per person
Book now: Quality Chop House
Origin City, Farringdon
What: This bit of Farringdon and Smithfields is famously quiet on a Sunday, but that feeds into the charm of Sunday lunch at Origin City, which feels like having a slap-up roast in a sleepy little village. One thing is for sure - Origin City knows how to cook a piece of meat; the roast beef (40 day-aged pasture-raised, organic black Angus) is beautifully cooked, ruby red in the centre but cooked to perfect rare, and towering Yorkshire Puddings are some of the best we've had. If you're a group of four plus we recommend going with the 'Sunday Feast' where you and the crew get hulking piles of lamb, pork and beef delivered to the table, along with all the sides and accoutrements.
Where: 12 West Smithfield, EC1A 9JR
How much: From £32 per person
Book now: Origin City
The Princess of Shoreditch, Shoreditch
What: Truly an elite strain of pub, The Princess's Sunday lunch is just as impressive as you’d imagine. Starters include cured salmon with kohlrabi and horseradish creme fraiche while roast mains feature free-range roast chicken with sourdough bread sauce, an apricot and walnut nut roast and pork loin with apple sauce. Add cauliflower cheese for an extra six quid - it's utterly worth it.
Where: 76–78 Paul Street, EC2A 4NE
How much: From £34 for two courses
Book now: The Princess of Shoreditch
Sagardi, Old Street
What: There's only one option on Sagardi's Sunday roast menu, so you don't have to faff about with deciding what to have. It centres around a joint of dry-aged boneless Txuleton beef, which comes on a sharing board with beef dripping roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables, homemade Yorkshire puddings and its signature gravy. This one's designed to be shared, so bring a few mates and tuck in!
Where: 95 Curtain Road, EC2A 3BS
How much: £35 per person
Book now: Sagardi
The Audley, Mayfair
What: Despite having had a multi million pound makeover in conjunction with its smart sister restaurant upstairs, Mount St. Restaurant, The Audley retains a local boozer feel. Screens up high show sports, while the laidback, friendly team serve from behind the bar. Hints at the pub’s pedigree lie in the red and orange crazy paving style painted ceiling (done by artist Phyllida Barlow) and red lacquered bathrooms, as well as in the details of the Sunday lunch menu. Start with crudités and dip or a half pint of prawns before moving on to the main event. Roast chicken with bread sauce, and beef and Yorkshires are served with carrots, potatoes, cabbage and cauliflower cheese. Don’t skip pud - the bread and butter pudding is very good.
Where: 41-43 Mount Street, W1K 2RX
How much: From £31 per person
Book now: The Audley
Fallow, St James's
What: While it might not be the cheapest, Fallow's roast is certainly one of the best in London. This slick, sustainable restaurant has become a destination for foodies, and its Sunday menu is just as stellar as you would imagine. Start off with creative starters like the famous crudo (a must in our books) before moving on to the main event. Options are typically along the lines of, dairy cow rump, pork belly and rotisserie chicken, all served with roasties, a giant Yorkshire pudding, glazed carrots, buttered swede and delicious gravy. Order the smoked cauliflower and broccoli cheese if you can squeeze it in.
Where: 2 St James’s Market, SW1Y 4RP
How much: Around £32 per person
Book now: Fallow
The Light Bar, Shoreditch
What: The Light Bar Sunday roast brings a fresh new take on the traditional elements of the meal with Asian flavors that work in harmony with excellent British produce. This more unconventional but still hearty and comforting menu features beef sirloin with a miso bearnaise sauce, perfectly roasted pork loin in a sweet and sour sauce as well as lighter options like their spiced cured trout with shiso. Guests enjoy this exciting selection in the venue’s well-known vibrant setting of their repurposed historic Victorian power station.
Where: 233 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6PJ
How much: £30 per person for two courses and sides
Book now: The Light Bar
Hawksmoor, Various locations
What: Hawksmoor is taking over the world with its award-winning steakhouses, boasting seven sites in London alone, as well as restaurants in Edinburgh, Manchester, Dublin and New York. There’s only one Sunday roast offering here – slow-roast rump of beef – which comes served with beef dripping potatoes, Yorkshires, carrots, greens, roasted shallots and garlic and lashings of bone marrow and onion gravy. All Hawksmoor beef comes from British grass-fed cattle for the best quality and flavour.
Where: Various London locations
How much: £27 per person
Book now: Hawksmoor Borough, Hawksmoor Spitalfields, Hawksmoor Guildhall and more
No. Fifty Cheyne, Chelsea
What: Dining rooms don’t get much more gorgeous than Chelsea gem No. Fifty Cheyne, with its impressive floral arrangements, large paned windows, book-lined shelves and green banquette. A fine place to spend a Sunday afternoon, settle in for a spectacular roast featuring roast Cumbrian chicken, 36-day-aged sirloin of beef, cote de boeuf or chateaubriand to share, as well as roasted cauliflower for vegetarian guests. And for those who don't think roast dinners should be confined to Sundays, No. Fifty Cheyne offers a selection of Saturday roasts too, starting from just £25!
Where: 50 Cheyne Walk, SW3 5LR
How much: From £28.50 per person (on Sundays)
Book now: No. Fifty Cheyne
Best fancy Sunday roast in London
These restaurants have elevated the humble roast dinner into an extravagant affair, where no less than two courses is the norm. Naturally, all are delivered with plenty of style and flair, too!
Kerridge's Bar & Grill, Westminster
What: When we're dreaming of the ultimate Sunday roast, Tom Kerridge is one of the first chef's that comes to mind, so Kerridge's Bar & Grill at Corinthia London is high on our list of ultimate Sunday lunch venues. Prepare your stomach, because Sunday lunch here is not just about the roast - not only do you get a massive choice between roast beef, Barnsley lamb chop, honey roast ham and more, but there are starters galore, steaks, and seriously indulgent puds, including the famous Gary Rhodes bread and butter pudding, and an apple crumble souffle with Calvados custard.
Where: 10 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5AE
Book now: Kerridges Bar & Grill
The Lanesborough Grill, Hyde Park Corner
What: Trust The Lanesborough Grill to put on a show with its Sunday lunch menu, which revolves around a spectacular joint of roast beef. Said beef is carted to diners' tables on an antique silver trolley, and sliced before the beholder's eyes by an expertly-skilled waiter. Accompanying your perfectly pink beef is a crunchy Yorkshire pudding, horseradish and apple cream, a bowl of crispy roasties with veg and an addictive sticky sauce. Of course, Sunday lunch at The Lanesborough cannot simply begin and end with a single course. This three-course affair starts with the likes of Hereford beef tartare with crispy potato, egg yolk, shallot and sherry dressing, and ends with a whiskey and pecan brownie with praline ice cream.
Where: Hyde Park Corner, SW1X 7TA
How much: £75 for three courses
Book now: The Lanesborough Grill
The Wolseley City, City of London
What: The sister venue of the Piccadilly institution, Sunday roasts at The Wolseley City are certainly a special affair with guests enjoying their meal with the accompaniment of a three-piece live jazz band. The menu includes classic elements with a roast Herefordshire beef sirloin and corn-fed chicken and some newcomers such as their roast celeriac steak for vegetarian guests. These are served with luxurious trimmings and the meal finishes with a classic Eton Mess.
Where: 68 King William Street
How much: From £35 per person
Book now: The Wolseley City
The Game Bird at The Stafford, St James’s
What: Michelin-starred Lisa Goodwin-Allen leads the charge at British restaurant The Game Bird at The Stafford Hotel, so expect very good things if you’re dining here on a Sunday (or any day). A two- or three-course menu is served on Sundays, with mains including roast British beef with all the trimmings, followed by sticky toffee pudding with walnut ice cream.
Where: 16-18 St James’s Place, SW1A 1NJ
How much: From £50 for two courses
Book now: The Game Bird at The Stafford Hotel
The Harwood Arms, Fulham
What: The Sunday roast at Michelin-starred pub The Harwood Arms is both classic and fancy, but with the likes of slow-cooked fallow deer shoulder with bacon and horseradish cream on the menu, we’ve put it underneath the ‘fancy Sunday roast’ section. Needless to say, this isn’t your usual Sunday lunch. Starters, meanwhile, include a warm onion tart with goats cheese, Worcestershire and shallots, while desserts span from an apple parfait with shortbread and sherry, to a Pimm's trifle!
Where: Walham Grove, SW6 1QP
How much: From £55 for two courses
Book now: The Harwood Arms
The Savoy Grill, Covent Garden
What: If you find yourself dining on a slap-up roast at Savoy Grill on the Strand, go ahead and consider yourself a Sunday roast connoisseur. It doesn’t get much finer than this legendary British restaurant, headed up by Gordon Ramsay, and you can expect a Sunday lunch here to deliver the works. Dry-aged sirloin beef is accompanied by Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and a red wine jus. Extra sides include pomme puree, barbeque hispi and creamed spinach if you're feeling extra lavish.
Where: Strand, Aldwych, WC2R 0EU
How much: From £55 per person
Book now: Savoy Grill
Best cheap Sunday roast in London
When you've grown up eating Sunday roasts, it can seem a little absurd having to fork out all your cash to eat one at a restaurant. Luckily, there are still plenty of affordable Sunday lunches in London for those who want to enjoy the comfort of a roast dinner without having to make it yourself. Every single one of these places offers a Sunday roast for £25 or less - and yes, all the trimmings are included.
Mildreds, Victoria and Camden
What: We'll admit, it's tricky to find a decent vegan roast dinner in the capital, but Mildreds is here to fill the roast dinner-shaped hole. Every Sunday, 12-5pm, it's serving up a choice of three plant-based roasts, including a creamy leek dauphinoise lattice, mushroom and ale pot pie and a roasted pine nut cannellini loaf. All come with roasted carrots and parsnips, roast potatoes, broccoli, creamed cabbage, sweet potato carrot puree and gravy, and if you want to visit with the whole family, there's a kids roast for the excellent price of £8.50.
Where: 45 Lexington Street, W1F 9AN; 79 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4AA
How much: £16.50 per person
Book now: Mildreds Victoria; Mildreds Camden
Albert’s Schloss, Piccadilly
What: This raucous Bavarian hotspot that’s made a name for itself up north has moved to London’s Shaftesbury Avenue, and brought with it an epic Sunday Service menu complete with Cook Haus roasts, resident DJs, grooves and gravy. Tuck into roast chicken with truffle pain di mie and pork stuffing, caraway roasted pork knuckle with apple sauce, or the Schloss no-nut roast filled with mushrooms, celeriac and sun-dried tomato. You can also opt for the full Bavarian Feast which includes a meaty smorgasbord of pork, schnitzel, bratwurst, chilliwurst and pork belly, although you’ll need to bring a group to order it as it serves two to four people. Technically the menu starts at £26, but you get two courses for that price so we'd still mark it down as excellent value.
Where: 20-24 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EU
How much: From £26 for two courses
Book now: Albert’s Schloss
The Coach, Clerkenwell
What: British boozer The Coach Clerkenwell delivers everything you could want from a classic pub roast: roast potatoes, leek and cauliflower gratin, magnificent Yorkshire puds and lashings of gravy. Expect all the classics here, from Hereford sirloin to pork belly and apple sauce. Plus, every option on the menu is under £25 a head. Not bad.
Where: 26-28 Ray Street, EC1R 3DJ
How much: From £24 per person
Book now: The Coach Clerkenwell
Boxcar Bar & Grill, Marylebone
What: Boxcar has revealed an all-new Sunday roast menu for 2024 featuring monthly specials alongside classic favourites. Every month, the team will launch a seasonal roast special to keep things interesting, and of course, you can always expect a stellar line-up of signature sides. Alongside consistent favourites such as Hereford beef sirloin and free-range chicken with sage and apricot stuffing, you'll find standout specials like Tamworth pork belly, all served with charred hispi cabbage, roasted carrots, beef fat roasties, and a red wine jus.
Where: 23 New Quebec Street, W1H 7SD
How much: From £24 per person
Book now: Boxcar Bar & Grill
The Garrison, Bermondsey
What: A Bermondsey favourite amongst locals, The Garrison is a quintessentially British pub focusing on local ingredients and supporting Bermondsey suppliers. Its roasts need little explanation (they're as classic as it gets) and with prices starting at just £22 for roast chicken, are tough to say no to. If you want to make a full feast of it, start with a couple of dishes to whet your appetite, such as homemade focaccia and cheesy arancini.
Where: 99-101 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XB
How much: From £22 per person
Book now: The Garrison
Blacklock, Soho
What: Great British chophouse Blacklock specialises in all things meat-related, and as it is the stuff of legends, can get booked up weeks in advance, so make sure to book ahead to guarantee a space at one of its tables. Touted to be 'almost as good as mum’s', Blacklock roasts whole joints over open coals and English oak in the traditional way, before serving them with Yorkshire puddings, duck-fat roast potatoes, seasonal veg and the team's signature gravy. Go classic with 55-day aged beef rump, or try 28-day aged lamb leg or 21-day aged pork loin. There’s also an ‘all-in’ option for the really ravenous, which includes a mix of beef, lamb and pork with all the trimmings.
Where: 24 Great Windmill Street, W1D 7LG
How much From £23 per person
Book now: Blacklock Soho
Smokehouse, Islington
What: Smokehouse does what it says on the tin, focusing on serving the best slow-smoked and grilled food in London. Naturally, its Sunday roast menu reflects this commitment to smoky flavour, with the likes of Tanworth porchetta, 50-day-aged Hereford beef sirloin and more served with roast potatoes, greens, glazed carrots and Yorkshire puddings.
Where: 3-69 Canonbury Road, N1 2DG
How much: From £23 per person
Book now: Smokehouse
From The Ashes, Hackney
What: From their new permanent home at the Five Points courtyard in Hackney, From The Ashes offers up perfectly smoked cuts for their succulent Sunday Roast menu. Guests can choose from smoky beef rump accompanied by horseradish sauce, as well as porchetta with smoked apple sauce and smoked half chicken with stuffing all of which, of course, come with all the expected trimmings. Those looking for a feast can choose a bumper All in Roast which includes all three meats and all the trimmings.
Where: 61 Mare Street, E8 4RG
How much: From £19 per person
Book now: From the Ashes
Coin Laundry, Exmouth Market
What: Located amongst the hustle and bustle of Exmouth Market, Coin Laundry is a neighbourhood bar and eatery serving up natural wines, house cocktails and craft beers. But what of the food? On Sundays, it adds a line-up of roast dinner options to its regular menu, which are served family style for everyone to share at the table. Choose your joint, including chicken with garlic and sage stuffing, crispy pork belly or roast rump of beef, all of which come with roasties, carrots, summer greens, Yorkshire pudding and gravy.
Where: Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QP
How much: From £21 per person
Book now: Coin Laundry
Looking for more fine food served up with a huge dose of comfort? Take a look at our guide to the best gastropubs in London.