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City Social

British, Modern European·
££££
·
Gold Award
·

SquareMeal Review of City Social

Gold Award

This elevated grill and restaurant from Jason Atherton may not be the tallest dining destination in London but the food here still reaches lofty heights. Occupying the 24th floor of Tower 42, Michelin-starred City Social is unusual among London’s high-rise dining rooms in that it sits among London’s skyscrapers, rather than looming over them – you can even spy who’s doing overtime in the office blocks opposite.

Comprising a separate bar and dining room, City Social is an attractive proposition, even if the dark-wood interiors do feel a little dated these days. While it’s mostly favoured by City workers, the low lighting and glittering skyline also make this a viable date-night option, while cosy furnishings and seating on different levels (which ensures everyone gets a good view of the dramatic skyline) are nice touches.

Classically trained chef Tom Lidakevicius (who has previously worked at Galvin at Windows and Corrigan’s) transforms familiar seasonal ingredients with confidence and finesse. To begin, decadent squid ink tortellini parcels are filled with sweet shredded lobster and cloaked in warming lobster bisque, while thick slices of tender duck breast are served alongside a subtly sharp medley of salsify and radish. Of course, you could always order from the grill too, with the accommodating and knowledgeable staff recommending the côte de bœuf to share.

When it comes to dessert, the pastry chef shows off with puddings such as a delicately assembled and refreshing pear tart that resembles a flower in bloom, with shards of meringue acting as the petals. There are afters to tempt the savoury toothed too, though, with one fan confessing they’d 'go just for the cheeseboard'. If you prefer liquid desserts, City Social’s impressive leather-bound drinks list is a veritable bible of booze, with enough options to keep the even the choosiest of oenophiles happy, while cocktails are shaken up in the adjoining bar.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
British, Modern European
Ambience
Dark and moody, Fine dining, Fun, Glamorous, Lively, Luxury, Quiet conversation, Romantic, Widely spaced tables
Awards
One Michelin star
Food Occasions
Dinner, Late night dining, Lunch
Alfresco And Views
Great views
Special Features
Chef’s table, Gluten-free options, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wheelchair access
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Child friendly, Dates, Group dining [8+], Romantic, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

About

Found on the 24th floor of Tower 42, right in the heart of London, Michelin-starred City Social boasts jaw-dropping, panoramic views of the London skyline and a classy modern British menu to match.

City Social is a particularly bright star in Jason Atherton's impressive Social Company restaurant group. As of 2019, Tomas Lidakevicius has taken over executive chef duties here, and he brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked at the likes of Galvin at Windows, Corrigan’s Mayfair and Texture. 

The menu at City Social is typical of Atherton's restaurants - elegant, modern British food that celebrates the best produce the country has to offer, and elevates it with a dash of international panache. Dishes include the likes of Devon crab with bitter leaf salad, nashi pear and brown crab toast on starters, braised short rib with watercress, alliums and olive oil mash for mains, as well as a pasta course and Hereford beef steaks from the josper grill. Naturally there's a choice of caviar options for those who are ready to push the boat out. City Social also caters well for vegetarians and vegans, offering dedicated vegetarian and vegan set menus as well as the vegetarian options on the a la carte. Don't forget to leave room for desserts like chocolate délice, miso caramel and black sesame ice-cream.

Within the same venue as City Social, you will find Social 24, a more casual bar that features equally stupendous views of London. As well as a terrific cocktail menu, the bar also includes a selection of beers, spirits, wines and Champagnes, along with a bar menu ideal for a relaxed bite with friends or a business lunch.


FAQs

Does City Social have a Michelin star?

City Social has one Michelin star.

Helpful? 0

This venue also offers

City Social
Private Group Dining

City Social

Location

24th Floor, Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street, Liverpool Street, London, EC2N 1HQ

020 7877 7703 020 7877 7703

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon 12:00-14:30
Tue 12:00-14:30
Wed 12:00-14:30
Thu 12:00-14:30
Fri 12:00-14:30
Sat Closed
Sun Closed
Dinner
Mon 18:00-21:30
Tue 18:00-21:30
Wed 18:00-21:30
Thu 18:00-21:30
Fri 18:00-21:30
Sat 18:00-22:00
Sun Closed

Reviews

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49 Reviews 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

MarkC

31 October 2024   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 3.5
Atmosphere 4
Value 4
London skyline views

Four of us visited for a birthday lunch. All seating gives a wonderful view over the London skyline, the welcome was warm and professional. We chose from the fixed price lunch menu which provided enough variety to cover all tastes and options.

Wine list is in effect a bible but sommelier was helpful in guiding us through it to find an appealing Gavi.

The food was excellent and presentation had a modern twist. The only slight drawback was two of our starters were served c10 minutes before our other two due to an apparent delay with the caramelized onions in the kitchen (?). Not what we would usually expect from a Michelin star establishment but everything else was first class.

Overall a good place for a treat with far reaching views of the London skyline.

Julian H

09 June 2024   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
An evening at the City Social

City Social is a nice place to dine. The view across the city was amazing, the sunny day helped. All the food was nice and well presented. I did enjoy the Ice cream game as a desert, it was fun. Service was excellent and staff were attentive. For special event I will like to go again. 

Jane H

03 June 2024   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
Super place

Love this restaurant. Great views and fabulous food. The sommelier was very helpful too.  Oter tables not close by so private conversation can continue - important when it is business (or sometimes pleasure) 

Anon

28 April 2024  
Food & Drink 4
Service 5
Atmosphere 4
Value 3.5
City Social: A Stellar Culinary Experience

Nestled in the heart of London, City Social offers more than just exquisite cuisine; it presents a symphony of flavors amidst an ambiance that transcends expectations. As I stepped into the restaurant, I was immediately captivated by the breathtaking 360-degree view of London, a sight that set the tone for an unforgettable evening. 

Despite the bustling Saturday night crowd, the seamless orchestration of service stood out prominently. A commendation must be extended to Biplo, a diligent waiter from Nepal, whose unwavering dedication ensured that our every need was met promptly. His attentiveness and efficiency added an extra layer of delight to our dining experience.

Accompanied by my Indian friend, whose dietary preferences precluded beef, we were pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful recommendation of the chicken chasseur. It was a culinary masterpiece, a harmonious blend of flavors that tantalized our taste buds and left us yearning for more. This thoughtful gesture underscored the versatility and expertise of the restaurant's staff, who effortlessly juggled multiple tasks without compromising on quality.

In conclusion, City Social's well-deserved Michelin star is a testament to its commitment to excellence in every aspect of the dining experience. From the unparalleled ambiance to the impeccable service and delectable cuisine, each element intertwines seamlessly to create a culinary journey that is nothing short of extraordinary. A visit to City Social is not merely a meal; it is an unforgettable gastronomic adventure that promises to leave a lasting impression.

Anon

23 April 2024  
Food & Drink 1.5
Service 1
Atmosphere 1.5
Value 1

Was my birthday meal last night 

Took half hour to even get a food menu , very very slow service, wine was too cold for red wine didn’t even get offered an aperitif 

Food was tasty and well presented have to say not up to Michelin standard though and have eaten at a few 

Was my birthday also didn’t even get a cake or some chocolates, nothing 

Spoke to one of the higher up staff last night who did say they staff down last night however, when dining in a Michelin restaurant and I have worked in Michelin also , the customer should not know about the lack of staff , no description of the dishes were made, and it says cheese trolley however simply came on plate, also, I’m gluten free and there as wheat crackers on the plate , very nice to offer some complimentary cheese though that was appreciated 

Overall a really unpleasant and disappointing evening and had been excited to eat here for a while , 

And not Michelin standard at all both service and food sadly 

Sad really as for some and my partner we had to really save up for this meal it a lot of money and felt really sad when leaving 

Anon

22 March 2024   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 3
Service 3
Atmosphere 4
Value 2

Overly salty and fairly expensive. Food wasn't bad and the view is great but I wouldn't recommend it over other places

Aurelle A

25 February 2024   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5

Anon

13 February 2024  
Food & Drink 1
Service 1
Atmosphere 2.5
Value 1
How can this be a michelin star rated restaurant!?

I once dined at City Social before in 2018. That was the time when both food quality and service was superb. My recent dining experience at City Social, however, was frankly appalling...given this restaurant is michelin star rated.

1. Staff was very unattentive, and the restaurant wasn't even near full capacity (my booking was at 6:30pm). Me and my partner are normally the patient type, but that early evening took them very long just to get a simple drinks and dining menu. They just simply didn't taking care of their customers. They also failed to satisfy our booking request (we requested a table by the window with an outside view, and those tables were all vacant at that time, but that's fine).

2. Staff was not professionally trained. When our pork cheek dish was being served, the sauce being poured down on the food was in fact got spilled and splashed on the side of the plate, making the dishing less appealing than it's meant to be.

3. If the above two points wasn't even appalling enough, here's one that's very worrying. I was having this starter dish - crispy squid bowl. Having a few pieces, I felt chewing on something sharp and hard which almost hurt my mouth. So I spilled it out, turned out it was a foreign object shaping like a 3cm long but thin wooden or metal-like pick (see photos on my review left on google). Being alarmed by this shock finding, I immediately reported this to the staff. We appreciated the staff was attentive (in this unusal situation) and has understood our concern, and the manager also quickly apologized for the unusally poor food preparation (or actually more like a health & safety concern...even the restaurant didn't know what that was!) However given this restaurant is michelin star rated, I felt this was a very very uncomfortable experience and very unforgivable. We've been kindly offered the same dish to be re-made for us at no extra cost, but still, we were here dining at your well-reputated place, expecting a fine-dining experience, and in the end what we received was an absolutely disasteous nightmare.

We didn't want to make a scene out of it, hence we paid the full bill for the evening and left. (oh and by the way, it also took them long enough to get the bill to us!)

Anon

19 December 2023  
Food & Drink 0.5
Service 0.5
Atmosphere 0.5
Value 0.5
Such a shame, amazing views but the service ruins it .. don’t bother

Went in here for a drink after work, smart top, jeans and smart pumps! Have been here before and told my colleagues it would be nice! Handed one menu with no welcome, asked for wine menu and then was smirked at.. looked at menu, made a choice. Well surely someone will come and take our order like the rest of the tables ... no that's right, a walk past our table, a smirk and then go to another table who has drinks and ask if they are ok?! Odd experience, glad I didn't buy a nice bottle of wine because in this instance it would have been a waste. My advice to the venue would be don't judge a book by its cover. So rude, shouldn't matter who you are you should be treated with a level of respect. Would not recommend.. zero stars. I'd pop over the road who will treat you nicely and with a smile ?? 

Chris L

24 August 2023   - Verified Diner
Food & Drink 5
Service 5
Atmosphere 5
Value 5
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