Best restaurants in the City of London

Bright and airy interiors combine with a richly robust menu of classic Spanish flavours for the perfect relaxed venue. The whipped-to-order-aioli is a signature, and don’t skip the grilled octopus either – it is very good.

Found within the Andaz London Liverpool Street Hotel, Eastway Brasserie has a relaxed yet buzzy atmosphere - a perfect spot to catch up with friends or meet with colleagues without feeling too formal. Lots of natural light and impressive pillars give the restaurant a glam Parisian feel.

Straightforward British cookery makes this a solid banker for when you need a crowd-pleaser to impress clients with. Built for business, expect plenty of formality plus smartly dressed tables and well-paced service.

Located on the mezzanine of the historic Royal Exchange, Jang is a Japanese-Korean restaurant and part of the latest venture from Des Gunewardena. Set against the neoclassical architecture of the building, Jang embraces the style, bringing a lavish theatricality of its own - think a crocodile shaped platter of sashimi.  

A slightly unconventional combination of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian food somehow miraculously works here, thanks to deft handling from the kitchen. Floor to ceiling views of London’s skyline are guaranteed to impress out of towners.

Found within the Hyde City Hotel, Leydi is a bold and big-flavoured Turkish restaurant. Serving a menu curated by Selin Kiazim, this is a warm all-day spot perfect for impromptu lunches, large get-togethers and intimate date nights. Think bold sharing plates, brilliant mangal-grilled lamb chops, and fresh Turkish breads.

Carefully sourced steaks are cooked over the grill and priced by weight which gives this City restaurant a very American feeling. A selection of sides and steak-friendly wines completes the setup for a carnivorous crowd-pleaser.

The converted church setting of Galvin La Chapelle makes any old evening feel like a grand occasion. Dishes include classics like truffle pasta and tarte tatin, and on Sundays, there’s a great roast to boot.

One of just a small handful of old-timers left in The City, Sweetings will transport you to years gone by. Shellfish platters, oysters and simply cooked, generous seafood mains are what keep people coming back.

Cracking vistas of the capital's skyline from this 40th-floor restaurant makes it a great place to grab breakfast while you watch the sun come up. Open through ‘till midnight, late-night dining is also available. 

Sibling site to Michelin-starred Gymkhana, Brigadiers offers up a similar level of interesting Indian fare. The niche here is Indian barbecue, so expect grills front and centre. Live sport plus pool tables also feature.

Lina Stores' third restaurant offers an intimate mezzanine, lively ground floor and authentic Italian cuisine, including duck and porcini ravioli, tagliolini with black truffle, grilled prawns and tiramisu.

One of London's superlative tasting menu experiences (and the only London restaurant to hold a Michelin star and a Michelin Green star), St Barts explores the history and diversity of classic British ingredients. The dining experience moves you through a few different spaces in this beautiful old site, which looks out onto the gardens of the 12th century church of St Bartholemew the Great.

Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton’s calling card is playful food that carefully balances substance as well as style. Here you’ll be treated to great views and a menu of classic dishes given a modern twist.

An industrially styled dining room plays background to a menu of richly meaty mains. The must order? The ‘All in’ - a stack of beef, lamb and pork chops served on meat-juice-soaked, crisp flatbread. Absolute heaven.

Oozing old-school glamour, Boltons deep red carpets, extravagant oil paintings and pressed white-tablecloths all culminate in a rather charming backdrop. An a la carte of Italian fare invites diners to enjoy plates of pasta and hearty mains, all washed down with something off the extensive wine list.

Classic French cookery and old-world interiors combine here to create a comfortable ambiance, making it the perfect spot for entertaining. Expect dishes like moules marinière or lapin à la moutarde followed by chocolate mousse.

Sleek bistro and steakhouse Ibai, set in a converted warehouse with an authentic 'industrial cool' aesthetic, serves up classic dishes of the French Basque country - carabinero prawns, marmitako fish stew, Gateau Basque for dessert - from the team behind fellow London Basque restaurants Donostia and Lurra. A highlight here is the simple yet delicious steak menu, in particular the rare Galician blond cuts on offer.

Despite its retro Art Deco inspired interiors, Caravaggio manages to stay relevant through its modern menu, which dispels the stereotype of City Italians. Starters might feature Jerusalem artichoke soup while mains could bring a saffron risotto.

Taking up a prime piece of real estate on the ninth floor of 100 Liverpool Street, Los Mochis offers pan-pacific menus that delve into the flavours of Tokyo and Tulum. Bold, colourful decor and eye-catching views are just part of the appeal, made all the better by carefully plated dishes of maki rolls, tacos, and crispy rice.

Run by the inimitable Anne-Sophie Pic (whose restaurant in France holds three Michelin stars), this is fine-dining at its best. Luxurious ingredients and eye-widening flavours make this the perfect place for all-out, impressive, celebratory meals.

On a nice day in St Katharine Docks, the lapping water and tinkle of boat rigging could lull you into feeling like you’re somewhere on the Med. Add a glass of white wine and a few plates of the freshest seafood and you’re practically there.

Uncomplicated French food in an unpretentious setting is what Luc’s is all about. Think roast hake, entrecôte steak, Toulouse sausages with lentils or a niçoise. An all-French wine list adds a certain je ne sais quoi.

This buzzy udon noodle bar in Bloomberg Arcade is a lesson in Japanese minimalism thanks to cool wooden interiors and hanging spotlights suspended above the counter. Alongside freshly-made noodle bowls, guests can also tuck into a range of small plates at this City site.

A classic all-day bar and restaurant, The Anthologist boasts plenty of space, a huge menu and plenty of choice when it comes to drinks. As such, everyone - including children - is well catered to. 

This slick restaurant near Smithfield Market specialises in nose-to-tail cooking, with all the meat reared on the restaurant's own 600-acre organic farm in Scotland. Butchery and aging is all done in-house as well, and that translates to some of the best classic meat cooking anywhere in the City. Origin does a fantastic Sunday roast as well, complete with excellent house cocktails.

Sister to The Wolseley in Piccadilly, The Wolseley City has all the pomp and grandeur of that iconic location, but transports it to The City of London, just north of London Bridge. It's hard not to gawp at the Byzantine chandeliers and baroque ironwork, and the menu is typical Wolseley luxury, right down to the plateau de fruits de mer and a magnificent sachertorte.

Really very good tapas is what José Pizarro is well known for, and his City site doesn’t disappoint. Don’t miss the house croquetas, the carved-to-order jamón ibérico or the octopus a la plancha – all heavenly.

If you're looking for consistent luxury dining, there are few names as reliable as Nobu in world hospitality. Cosy booths and low lighting contribute to the relaxed atmosphere at Nobu Shoreditch, but the excellent food is flexible enough to suit all occasions. There's lots of choice on the menu but you can never go wrong with legendary dishes like Nobu's black cod in miso, miso aubergine and mochi. 

Vivek Singh’s signature style sings here with bold, colourful dishes of contemporary Indian food. Watch the chefs at work via the open kitchen as you await plates of things like Keralan curry or chicken biryani.

People flock to Yauatcha for the brand’s precision-made dim sum (buttery venison puffs are a must). There is also a short menu of more substantial Chinese classics like stir-fried beef rib-eye with black bean sauce.

You know what you’re getting with a Hawksmoor – top quality steak, expertly cooked over the grill. The result is rich, perfectly seasoned meat accompanied by tempting sides like creamed spinach or crisp, beef fat chips.

Kolamba co-founders Aushi and Eroshan Meewella have opened a second, larger site on the cusp of the City and Shoreditch, serving sharing-style Sri Lankan dishes inspired by generations of family recipes. Tuck into hoppers, rotis and showstopping feasting plates. 

Celebrating some of Singapore’s best flavours within contemporary dishes, Strait’s Kitchen at Pan Pacific London is just a stone’s throw from Liverpool Street Station and is an ideal spot for an impressive work meeting or a memorable dinner.

Coya’s Peruvian food has proved perennially popular thanks to a menu of vibrant flavours, colours and textures. Part of the appeal lies in the bar's very good pisco sours, which help mealtimes to go swimmingly.

A slick, dimmed dining room gives way to a brightly lit focal point; the meat cabinet, showcasing top-class steak. Kick things off with plates from the raw menu before plumping for Japanese or Argentinean steaks.

Sitting on the 39th floor of the Gherkin, diners come for the views but stay for the food. With a focus on seasonal, British produce, experience beautifully executed dishes against the backdrop of the city skyline.