Best restaurants in St James's

Old meets new at this chic French bistro founded by restaurateur and sommelier Richard Weiss. Guests are invited to dine from a menu of classics executed with precise attention to detail and a few modern flourishes.  

Nobody goes to the unimaginably opulent Ritz Restaurant on the off-chance – this is proper special-occasion dining. The pay-off is, of course, Michelin-starred food served in a truly exquisite dining room marked by sparkling chandeliers, towering marble columns and soaring floor-to-ceiling windows. 

A glass-fronted, minimalist cube set in the St James’s Market development, Ikoyi’s interior is clad in blond-wood panels for a Scandi-cum-sushi vibe. The two-Michelin starred gem has had its praises sung serving up an inspired tasting menu of inspired West African cooking. 

Named for the old English for ‘season’ Sael represents a new direction for Michelin-starred Jason Atherton whose seasonal flavours and budget-friendly menus have found home in the former Aquavit restaurant site. Expect indulgent, comfort foods, as well as returning favourites from Atherton’s repertoire.

Gouqi might just serve the glossiest peking duck in London, and it’s one of the many things that draws in diners to this high end Chinese eatery. Opened by Chee Hwee Tong who has seven Michelin stars under his belt, it’s no wonder his latest venture is an absolute knockout too.

The San Carlo group are known for delivering casual yet elegant dining via familiar dishes and opulent interiors worthy of a place on the ‘gram. This particular branch celebrates the Venetian custom of small sharing dishes – enjoyed together.  

Michelin-starred Lisa Goodwin-Allen is one of the most skilled female chefs of her time and now she’s bringing her talent and vision to The Game Bird. Here, her menus celebrate the best of British produce served simply but with flair.  

Whether you’re here for the all-conquering breakfast, afternoon tea or a late-night pick-me-up, the barnstorming Wolseley always delivers. This grand European café-restaurant offers all-day dining served with extra razzmatazz – just wait until you see the dining room.

All aboard the caviar trolley! That oscietra and beluga-loaded vehicle is just one luxury on offer here; other treats include potato, jamón and a fried duck egg for breakfast, a trio of Alba truffle dishes and a boozy ice-cream float for afters.  

Scully is ex-Nopi head chef Ramael Scully’s first solo venture where he draws on influences from his own layered heritage as well as global cuisine. Grab a seat at the marble-topped chef’s counter if you can, to watch Scully and his team slice ingredients with expert precision. 

Formerly residing on the King’s Road, Chutney Mary is now one of St James’s sumptuously decorated jewels. Expect a namely “high Indian cuisine” overlaid with judicious spicing and luxurious touches in both the food and decor.

Decked out in terracotta tones, Al Duca’s looks are modest, but that’s all part of the venue’s ongoing appeal. A genuine neighbourhood restaurant, find classic crab tagliolini, prime hunks of meat and seafood for secondi, and classic puddings all on the list. 

Feast on fine French cuisine cooked with the best British ingredients at Michelin-starred Seven Park Place by William Drabble. Both a la carte and tasting menus are available, featuring delights like native lobster tail with cauliflower and black truffle.

This tasteful Italian has been smoothing out its diners’ careworn creases for more than 60 years. Start with cocktails in the bar before moving on to the likes of lobster linguine or veal with truffle mash and porcini mushrooms.

The corner of the West End has become the spiritual home of London’s slick, modern Japanese restaurants. Enter globe-spanning Ginza Onodera, a luxe experience where robata grill cooking, sushi and sashimi platters and omakase dining are all up for grabs. 

Part of an international chain that attracts a matching clientele, restaurateur Costas Spiliadis’s London outpost shows off a ‘market’ of Mediterranean fish. From the raw bar, you might choose oysters or tuna sashimi, while the list of classics features octopus, calamari and cuttlefish.

Determinedly old school and one of the few restaurants where that outmoded jacket-and-tie policy still seems wholly appropriate, this impeccably groomed restaurant looks right at home among the streets of St James’s. 

The Imperial Treasure brand might not yet be well-known in the UK but it’s a huge deal in Asia, where the Shanghai flagship holds two Michelin stars and the Hong Kong and Singapore branches have one each. For Chinese fine dining, you can’t do much better. 

There’s no shortage of fine dining French restaurants in St James’, but if it were a competition, Wild Honey sure gives them all a run for their money. For undeniably sublime, fault-free cooking, Anthony Demetre’s Michelin-starred restaurant is a strong bet.  

Angela Hartnett’s dressed-down Café counterpart to her swanky Michelin-starred Murano is a real crowdpleaser. The long dining room feels tailor-made for rendezvous, while the kitchen’s attachment to carefully chosen produce yields clean-tasting delights such as octopus with chickpeas, fennel and orange. 

Farzi Café is a phenomenon in India and is known for its molecular gastronomy and tableside theatrics, and with its gold interiors and walls festooned with candle light, the London Farzi certainly looks the destination-dining part. 

This wildly popular restaurant was founded by two Dinner by Heston alumni, joining forces to create a generous, indulgent, relaxed and innovative space. Dishes include cod’s head with sriracha butter, caramelised cauliflower croquetas and crab with artichokes and hazelnuts. 

Classic dishes made with the best seasonal produce, and seeking to emulate the grand brasseries of Paris, are the stock-in-trade of this St James’s hotspot, formerly occupied by Green’s. There’s great pedigree in both the kitchen and front of house team, too.