Got a milestone birthday coming up? Just received a promotion at work? Booking a surprise bash for your best friend? When it comes to marking a special occasion, nothing beats coming together over fantastic food and drink in a totally exclusive space. That's where our guide to the best private dining rooms in London comes in, which features gorgeous spaces all over London perfect for your next event or private dinner.
Hiring a private dining room can be a spectacular way to mark an occasion, whether it’s an important client lunch, birthday or anniversary. That’s why our round-up of London’s best private dining rooms includes everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to sky-high spaces with exclusive rooms for hire. Many offer dedicated set menus for the table at a fixed price per head, but if you have any dietary requirements or a meal in mind, then simply ask the team who are usually very happy to accommodate special requests.
That being said, it’s a common misconception that private dining rooms are purely for big-moment events. Sure, they’re a great way to impress a client or toast a special occasion, but booking an exclusive room is also a really lovely way to spend some quality time with your nearest and dearest. You’ll find plenty of casual private dining rooms in this list suited to those spur-of-the-moment occasions, when you just want a space all to yourself to enjoy some tasty food and drink.
Whatever your reason for searching for a private dining room in London, you’ll be glad to know that the capital has options to suit every style, function and budget. To help you get to the bottom of what the capital has to offer, we’ve pulled together a little guide to private dining in London - scroll down for options in London's most popular areas, and click through to see more great private dining rooms in your chosen area.
Private dining in the City of London
What: The City of London has long been a bastion of private dining in London, after all, these long lunches and business dinners don’t just host themselves. Although the City covers a wide area and you get a rather wider subset of restaurants than you once did, private dining in the City is still geared towards City workers, bankers and big business, and you can expect a bit of formality alongside weighty wine lists and peerless service.
Book now: Mansion House; The Don
See more: Private dining rooms in the City of London
Private dining in Covent Garden
What: One of London’s busiest areas, Covent Garden is much more geared towards the transient tourist population. That said, it’s also home to some of the best restaurants in the entire city, and many of the restaurants around here also have neat little pavement terraces where you can watch Covent Garden life go by.
Book now: Clos Maggiore; 3 Henrietta Street; Cinnamon Bazaar
See more: Private dining rooms in Covent Garden
Private dining in Soho
What: In many ways the centre of the city, Soho will always be right at the epicentre of what’s good and cool in food. This is where you come for those celebration dinners that’ll be followed by big nights out, and though Soho is home to some of the best new-school food in London, it also has its fair share of historic dining rooms for hire too.
Book now: Inko Nito; Blanchette; Bocconcino Soho
See more: Private dining rooms in Soho
Private dining in Mayfair
What: London’s glitziest, most upmarket neighbourhood is a natural port of call for anyone booking something a bit special. Towering portland stone townhouses and world-class hotels sit on every corner, and many of them boast private dining spaces that are sure to impress clients, coworkers or guests.
Book now: Benares; The Maine Mayfair; The Beaumont
See more: Private dining rooms in Mayfair
Private dining in Knightsbridge
What: Famously home to Harrods and yet more of London’s most glamorous hotels and boutiques, Knightsbridge is another of London’s more affluent neighbourhoods. Restaurants and venues here are all about experience - expect world-class service and food that’ll leave a lasting impression.
Book now: Cantinetta Antinori; Sale e Pepe;
See more: Private dining rooms in Knightsbridge
Private dining in King's Cross
What: King’s Cross is dominated by the comings and goings of the Eurostar, as thousands arrive in London every day from Paris and beyond. As a result, King’s Cross and St. Pancras has its own little restaurant ecosystem, which includes some rather nice hotels and excellent restaurants with private space. Holding a little party before you depart for Paris? We’ve got you covered.
Book now: Barrafina Coal Drops Yard; The Carriage & Lounge
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Private dining in Shoreditch
What: Shoreditch has grown swiftly into the home of London’s achingly-cool restaurant set, not just home to uber-minimal concrete wine bars and Insta-hyped holes in the wall, but also its fair share of high-end, Michelin-starred restaurants too. It’s handily close to Liverpool Street, too.
Book now: Casa do Frango Shoreditch; The Princess of Shoreditch; Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch
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Private dining in London Bridge
What: London Bridge’s high calibre restaurants traditionally appeal to the formal, businessman crowd that passes through here everyday. Don’t forget, though, that Borough Market is just a stone's throw away, and these days it’s home to a selection of London’s most exciting restaurant upstarts.
Book now: The Coal Shed; The Listing; Glaziers Hall
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Private dining in Marylebone
What: All the glamour of Mayfair with slightly less of the rep, Marylebone manages to suit all occasions, and between Oxford Circus and Baker Street you’ll find more than a handful of London’s very best restaurants and hotels.
Book now: Chotto Matte Marylebone; The Marylebone
See more: Private dining rooms in Marylebone
Planning a private dinner for specific size group? We've got a guide for that. Check out our lists of the best private dining rooms for groups of six, 15, 25, or 40 people. We have more groups too, just give your party size a search!