The definitive list of cool and trendy restaurants in London

Achingly cool Westerns Laundry comes from the same people who own hit bakery Jolene. Stripped back interiors and a candlelit courtyard draw a trendy north London crowd who lap up the seafood sharing plates.

Bistro Freddie lives up to the name with candlelit bistro tables and a menu full of comfort food you just want to dive into.

From the team behind Bob Bob Ricard comes bright young thing Bebe Bob, a rotisserie chicken-focussed concept designed to draw the crowds. Of course there's caviar, Champagne and beautiful interiors to keep people coming back for more. 

For all out wow-factor, Seabird in Southwark delivers on both views and food. The gorgeous rooftop space looks over London’s sweeping skyline, while the menu features fresh Portuguese-inspired plates. Don't miss the oyster bar.

Sumptuous, inventive modern Japanese food meets slick contemporary interior design at Evernight - the best of Nine Elms restaurant offerings for our money.

Easy-going modern Japanese plates and live jazz in a shabby chic restaurant in Dalston - it doesn’t get more cool and trendy than that does it?

Famously serene, Lyle’s whitewashed walls and sleek Scandi lines are the definition of wabi sabi restaurant style. The cooking is rightly lauded too.

Brash and bustling Dorian has been a smash hit in Notting Hill, mixing edgy modern design with some really exceptional bistro cooking.

JOIA has pride of place at the top of art’otel Battersea, with stunning views overlooking the Power Station. It’s beautiful inside and out - the pastel shaded art deco styling really appeals to us.

The South Bank finally has a restaurant of real note - Lasdun - which sits tucked away inside the National Theatre. A tribute to Brutalist architect Denys Lasdun, Lasdun boasts a certain geometric majesty, and is worthy of much more than just pre-theatre dinners.

Cult-favourite pop-up Four Legs has been hanging out at The Plimsoll for a while now, churning out cracking menus as well as arguably London’s best burger. Without doubt one of the hardest places to get (and keep hold of) a table in London.

Flickering shadows, candlesticks, somewhat dainty British bistro plates and a wine list the size of a dictionary, Cloth doesn’t sound cool on the surface, but it has a restrained charm and beauty that we just keep coming back to.

Since Max Rocha opened Café Cecilia in 2021, it’s become known as the place to be and be seen in East London. Why? We think its menu of seasonal, unpretentious sharing plates might have something to do with it.  

Taking industrial-chic to a new level, this dark and dingy Shoreditch restaurant is a no-frills affair. The food however, is very much on the indulgent side with a menu consisting of barbecue sharing plates including an epic brisket bun with pickled red chilli.

Colourful, South American chic and a hefty menu of easy-eating ceviche, steak, tacos and tiraditos make Coya endlessly popular.

Decorated in the style of a student flat share complete with a faux living room, kitchen and utility area, needless to say this boho-chic restaurant and bar doesn't take itself too seriously. 

The grand, towering ceilings, giant palm trees and sleek furniture of this 19th century ticket hall are quite something. Order a cocktail at the 22-metre-long bar and ogle at the interiors for half an hour - it’s worth every penny.

Cult hangout Mao Chow has been reborn as Facing Heaven just around the corner in Hackney, where it serves vegan Chinese food, natural wines and baijiu cocktails under neon lighting. 

Part theatrical experience, part restaurant, KOL is Marylebone’s latest Mexican restaurant. Watch as the chefs cook over grills in the centre of the room and enjoy innovative twists on classic cooking, like langoustine tacos.

David Carter’s restaurant track record is as good as anyone, and OMA might just be his most aesthetically pleasing spot yet - the upstairs dining room is all sleek lines and jutting, angular furniture, and the view over Borough Market is a nice bonus. If this is the new face of Greek food in London, we’re here for it.

Gorgeous interiors, a bustling open kitchen, and a menu of unusual but additive Indian plates inspired by the chef’s childhood makes this a winner. For Mayfair it’s surprisingly lowkey, and the service is top-class too.

Lita fits nicely into a very mid-2020s archetype of food cooked over fire and ultra-desirable handmade wooden furniture, but it has a trump card in chef Luke Ahearne, who might just be cooking some of the best food in London right now.

With 80s interiors, this east London Chinese restaurant manages to carefully ride the fine line of retro, hitting the references just right so that nothing is too gimmicky. Interiors are stripped back and café-like, while dishes are moreish and satisfyingly savoury.

Los Mochis seamlessly blends two worlds, mixing a colourful Mexican aesthetic with slick, modern Japanese design. Moody, buzzy interiors are a big part of the interest, but the food is bold, exciting and delicious too.

We’re almost hesitant to include The Garden Café on our list. You see, part of its charm is the illusion that this is a cool restaurant that flies slightly under the radar. The minimalist dining room looks onto a pretty courtyard oasis and the small plates are undeniably delicious.

The Water House Project feels less like a restaurant and more like an open house for a property you can’t afford. The seasonal monthly tasting menus are superb, but you’ll probably leave with some interior design inspo as well.

Ana Goncalves and Zijun Meng seem to have found a clever format - ultra-concise menus of things that just work perfectly together. First it was Solis - a chicken and steak plus chips operation in Battersea Power Station that we loved dearly, now it’s TOU, where crispy, squishy katsu sandos meet fried chicken and sparkly pet nats.

We’re huge fans of Akoko, and Akara offers a more relaxed entry point into Ayo Adeyemi’s dynamic West African cooking. The signature akaras are delicious, but there’s lots more on the menu worth trying too.

Taking their grub seriously, the team at Crispin are constantly working to evolve their menu. The ‘one of everything’ gives you a little taste of all the kitchen’s favourite dishes – like the potato-topped toast with anchovies and green sauce.

A quaint rooftop bang in the middle of London, and some very smart Middle Eastern cooking make Yasmin a pretty unique prospect by all accounts. If you’re looking for somewhere cool to show off to a visitor, we reckon Yasmin fits the bill perfectly.

Hospitality power couple Honey Spencer and Charlie Sims head to Broadway Market for this achingly cool modern bistro and wine bar. Sune sits right in the zeitgeist but few restaurants nail this combination with such class and conviviality.

Over the park from another Newington Green trendy favourite, Jolene, Cadet is a no-bookings wine bar that hides some truly fantastic cooking behind the scenes. Don’t leave without trying a slice of pate en croute.

Chantelle Nicholson’s sustainably-focused restaurant is pioneering for many reasons, from using low-waste cooking techniques to its upcycled interiors. The chairs are even made from recycled Coca Cola bottles! 

Head to the back of Hackney Church Brewing Co to find Lagom, where chef Elliott Cunningham is manning the flames of an open wood fire and knocking out delicious steaks, smash burgers and more.

Stripped back interiors hold space for only 30 diners, so eating here very much feels like you’re among others ‘in the know’. Plus, it's totally veggie! Think potato latkes with garlic sauce and thick slices of fried aubergine doused in zhoug. 

Rochelle Canteen has transcended the trends and has been a favourite of ‘those in the know’ since it opened in 2004, remaining cool over since. The secret here is uncomplicated cooking and clean, vibrant flavours.

Any restaurant that the JKS Group touches turns to gold, so it’s no surprise then that Berenjak has a clutch of in-the-know fans. Serving affordable small plates and majoring in kebabs, Berenjak has plenty of showstoppers on the menu that beg to be devoured. 

Has this Notting Hill celeb-magnet ever not been cool and trendy? After a few up and down years, Julie’s is back for good thanks to dream team Tara MacBain, Owen Kenworthy and Emma Underwood. The vibes are back too - Julie’s is let-your-hair-down fun and chic in the best way, but the brasserie-style food is also superb.

The energy at Papi is frenetic, joyful chaos, as messrs Matthew Scott and Charlie Carr sling out utterly unique dishes and cleverly matched wines. One of East London’s hottest properties right now.

Arcade’s newest food hall delivers an array of delicious options, all housed inside the glorious, newly-renovated Battersea Power Station. This is what we want our food courts to look like from now on.