SquareMeal’s Top 100 Restaurants in London and the UK have been announced, crowning the very best restaurants in the capital and across the country.
With over thirty years’ experience, the SquareMeal team reviews hundreds of the UK’s best restaurants every year. SquareMeal’s annual Top 100 lists combine these expert reviews with input from thousands upon thousands of readers to compile the final rankings, to ensure that both lists reflect hundreds of real-life experiences as well as the professional opinions of our critics.
In the UK, the number one spot for 2024 goes to Restaurant Pine in Northumberland, where chef duo Cal Byerley and Ian Waller deliver an exceptional culinary odyssey in a renovated barn. The attention to detail is breathtaking, but despite the precision of the cooking Pine remains incredibly laid back and fun - a testament to the charm of this wonderful team. Pine is run by Cal Byerley and wife and front-of-house manager Sian, as well as head chef Ian Waller and his partner and head sommelier Vanessa Stoltz.
‘We are absolutely thrilled and honoured to be recognised as the best restaurant in the UK by SquareMeal,’ said Cal and Sian. ‘This achievement is a testament to the extraordinary dedication and talent of our exceptional team, whose passion and commitment to excellence has brought us to this incredible accomplishment.’
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Pine is located just outside Newcastle in the heart of rural Northumberland countryside. Images by Joe Taylor.
Meanwhile, SquareMeal’s Best Restaurant in London title went to Lyle’s - a restaurant that needs little introduction from us. Celebrating its tenth birthday this year, Lyle’s has evolved from a young, brash newcomer to one of London’s most recognisable and essential modern restaurants, reflecting a 30-place rise from last year’s list to take top spot in 2024.
The serene whitewashed interiors belie the technical precision going on behind the scenes, where James Lowe and team weave their magic. Lyle’s is also home to an exceptional non-alcoholic drinks offering - another sign that this trailblazer remains one of London’s most innovative restaurants too.
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Lyle's celebrates it's tenth birthday this year, and celebrates with top spot in our Top 100 Restaurants list. Image by Laurie Fletcher.
With 39 new entries into the London list and 38 new entries for the UK, SquareMeal’s Top 100 lists are designed to be a snapshot of must-visit restaurants in 2024. The whole of the British Isles is represented in our two lists, from the north of Scotland to the southernmost tip of Cornwall, not to mention nearly every central London borough.
Cities across the UK continue to thrive, boasting exciting restaurants that rival the best anywhere in the country. This year Birmingham and Bristol lead the way with five restaurants each in the UK Top 100, followed closely by Manchester and Edinburgh with four each. We continue to see Scotland stake a claim as one of Europe’s most exciting culinary destinations too with 12 restaurants in the Top 100, including four in the top 30 - Glenturret Lalique, The Kinneuchar Inn, Edinburgh's Little Chartroom, and Inver.
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Coming in at number five, Myse in North Yorkshire was the highest entry in this year's Top 100 UK list.
As for the highest new entries, Josh and Vicky Overington’s beautiful new Yorkshire restaurant Myse broke into the top five in the UK, and Angelo Sato’s reinvented Humble Chicken came straight in as our fourth best restaurant in London for 2024. A mention too for Ben Wilkinson at The Pass at South Lodge Hotel in Horsham, which jumped a whopping 79 spots from 90 in 2023 to number nine in the UK in 2024.
SquareMeal’s Restaurants Editor, Pete Dreyer, says, ‘restaurants never cease to amaze us - every year we're blown away by talented teams, who always seem to find new, innovative ways to push the boundaries of food.
'As always we're so grateful to everyone who works in hospitality, and we're forever in awe of the passion and love that goes into restaurants up and down the country. A huge thank you also to the thousands upon thousands who voted to support their favourite restaurants this year.
'In Pine and Lyle's we have two number one restaurants that are true trailblazers, sticking firmly to sustainable principles but constantly striving to produce unique and exceptional experiences. We hope you discover something special among these lists, and we wish you a very happy year of eating in 2024.'
If you love eating out, why not get rewarded for it? If you join SquareMeal you'll earn points every time you dine, which you can then use for money off your next meal. It's a no brainer.