Best seafood and fish restaurants in London: 17 places for some vitamin sea

It's easy to forget how lucky we are in the UK to have some of the finest fish around right on our doorstep. The British coasts are home to a vast array of different types of fish, meaning that restaurants are able to get hold of high quality, fresh seafood more easily than many other types of produce. It makes sense then that Britain is so well-known for its fish cookery. From top-end restaurants from highly-regarded Michelin-starred chefs like Nathan Outlaw to charming local chippies, there's great seafood at all levels in the UK.

The good news for us townies is that you don’t have to dine by the coast to experience a fabulous fish meal; the capital boasts some of the best fish restaurants in the country. With Billingsgate Market on the doorstep, offering the freshest and most fantastic range of seafood in the land, London chefs are spoilt for choice – it’s no surprise that the Capital is a veritable paradise for great fish restaurants. Take a look through our excellent guide to the best fish restaurants in London and discover a fine selection just waiting for you to work your way through.

Whether you fancy a stellar oyster bar, a fish tasting menu or a Michelin star seafood restaurant, London’s best seafood restaurants are all here in one neat shoal. Whether you prefer traditional recipes or exciting and innovative dishes, there is certain to be something to suit your taste for marine life in our guide. Every one of the fish restaurants featured here have been tried and tested by our expert food critics and our own customers so that you know they’ve had a good grilling (if you’ll pardon the pun) before making their way to a coveted spot on this round up.

Faber, Hammersmith

What: Be transported to the Mediterranean at this plush seafood spot in Hammersmith. Parquet flooring, impressive columns and a neutral colour palette make the space feel serene but expensive, while executive chef Ollie Bass (ex-Quo Vadis and Sessions Arts Club) curates a daily-changing menu menu built around seasonal ingredients and sustainable principles. Diners are invited to sample a selection of sharing plates, from cod cheek skewers with tartare sauce to trout tartare with keta caviar and nori, while larger plates feature on an ever-changing specials board. Don't miss its seasonal offers, from an oyster happy hour to a great-value workers lunch. 
Where: 206 Hammersmith Road, W6 7DH
Book now: Faber

Prawn On The Lawn, Islington

What: Prawn On The Lawn started its life as a fishmongers and seafood bar, before demand outgrew supply and the team moved down the road to a bigger venue complete with a full-blown restaurant. Here you can expect a variety of small plates like buttermilk fried fish with sriracha creme fraiche, as well as large fish for sharing - think turbot with lemon, garlic and rosemary.
Where: 292-294 St Paul's Road, N1 2LH
Book now: Prawn On The Lawn

Louie London, Covent Garden

What: Louie London provides a space to relax whilst listening to live jazz and tucking into French cuisine - idyllic, right? The menu includes a raw bar with options such as sea bass carpaccio, small plates, and larger mains, including sharing options like whole lobster tagliolini and cote de boeuf.
Where: 13-15 West Street, WC2H 9NE
Book now: Louie London

Cornerstone, Hackney

What: Having trained under Nathan Outlaw before heading up his London restaurant, it wasn’t a surprise that Tom Brown’s Cornerstone was an instant hit when it first opened. Since then, it’s gone on to be awarded a Michelin star for its tapas-style menu of fish dishes. Expect playful plates at Cornerstone such as a buttery shrimp crumpet, and a hake Kiev with wild mushroom butter.
Where: 3 Prince Edward Road, E9 5LX
Book now: Cornerstone

Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill, Mayfair

What: Owned by celebrated chef Richard Corrigan, Bentley’s is a special occasion seafood restaurant. Oysters are shucked with speed in front of diners in the more casual downstairs dining room, with everything from fish and chips to fish pie to a classic fish and chips on the menu. Meanwhile, upstairs is reserved for fine dining with things like bass carpaccio accompanied by langoustine, and dover sole meunière on offer.
Where: 11-15 Swallow Street, W1B 4DG
Book now: Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill

Scott's, Mayfair & Richmond

What: Owned by the people behind The Ivy, Scott’s has earned its place as a London institution and rightly so. Come here for service that will make you feel like a VIP, decadent seafood dishes, and Champagne by the magnum. Once you’ve made the decision to go to Scott’s it would seem wrong to order anything other than a whole lobster, or a whole fish on the bone to share.
Where: 20 Mount Street, Mayfair, W1K 2HE; 4 Whittaker Avenue, Richmond, TW9 1TH
Book now: Scotts Mayfair, Scotts Richmond

Wright Brothers, Various Locations

What: Wright Brothers has earnt such a name for itself in the Capital over the past few years that is now has no less than five outposts. Still renowned for serving up some of London’s best oysters, other top shouts at Wright Brothers include a smoky mackerel pate, buttery potted shrimps and sublimely handled turbot, or you can choose from a range of daily specials.
Where: Borough Market, Stoney Street, SE1 9AD; 1 Frederick's Place, City of London, EC2R 8AB; 26 Circus West Village, Battersea, SW11 8EZ
Book now: Wright Brothers Borough Market, Wright Brothers City, Wright Brothers Battersea

Manzi’s, Soho

What: The Wolseley Hospital Group have added another notch to their belt, and this time it’s an all day fish and seafood restaurant. Manzi’s is the swanky Soho spot that can rustle up anything from grilled sardines on toast to a Monkfish wellington, and just about everything in between. Head here for a blow-out meal or some informal nibbles at the bar, but whatever the occasion, this isn’t one to be missed.
Where: 1-8 Bateman's Buildings, W1D 3EN
Book now: Manzi’s

Westerns Laundry, Islington

What: Sister restaurant to the Insta-famous Jolene, Westerns Laundry’s fashionably stark interiors and a daily-changing menu attract a trendy crowd. Seafood is certainly the focus at this small North London restaurant, which sees daily dishes written up on a blackboard in the dining room. Don’t miss the fideuà if it’s on the menu, an irresistible Andalusian one-pot pasta with succulent baked seafood.
Where: 34 Drayton Park, N5 1PB
Book now: Westerns Laundry

Brat, Shoreditch & Hackney

What: Tomos Parry’s Michelin-starred Shoreditch spot may not exclusively serve seafood but there’s no doubt that its signature whole turbot headlines the menu. Arguably one of London’s best-known dishes, the turbot, like all the dishes at Brat (which is also a nickname for turbot), is cooked slowly on a wood-fired grill so as to impart maximum flavour. Don’t be put off by the hefty price either, as the large turbot will easily serve three or four.
Where: 64 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6JJ; 374 Helmsley Place, Hackney, E8 3SB
Book now: Brat Shoreditch; Brat Climpson's Arch

Chicama, Chelsea

What: This seafood-led take on Peruvian cuisine comes from the people behind successful South American joint Pachamama. Primely located on the King’s Road, Chicama benefits from a gorgeous outdoor area at the back, which is the perfect place to enjoy the coastal flavours during the summer. Head here for barbecued, flame-grilled fish with fresh accompaniments like ají panca salsa, while beautiful ceviches, of course, make an appearance on the menu.
Where: 383 King's Road, SW10 0LP
Book now: Chicama

Randall & Aubin, Soho

What: Randall & Aubin has been a stalwart of the London seafood scene ever since it opened in 1996. This Soho haunt is decked out with marble counters for old world glamour while the food menu consists of a mixture of English and French seafood favourites. Choose from the beautiful shellfish-on-ice display or opt for a classic such as bouillabaisse or linguine vongole.
Where: 16 Brewer Street, W1F 0SQ
Book now: Randall & Aubin

Wiltons, Mayfair

What: Wiltons is jacket and tie-style dining through and through, which will transport you to another world. Having originally opened as a shellfish-mongers in 1742, many regard Wiltons as London’s oldest restaurant (although you might find that Rules have something to say about that). The kitchen serves up some of London’s best oysters, starters like dressed crabs and classic mains such as buttery Dover sole meunière.
Where: 55 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6LX
Book now: Wiltons

J Sheekey, Covent Garden

What: West End regulars will have undoubtably walked past the bright red façade of J Sheekey on many occasions before but if you haven’t ventured inside before, it’s a great spot for a pre-show meal. Diners come to J Sheekey for its inimitable fish cookery which courts all the classics with a light touch. Tuck into rich fish pie, potted shrimps or fruits de mer for a satisfyingly retro meal.
Where: 28-32 St Martin's Court, WC2N 4AL
Book now: J Sheekey

Beast, Marylebone

What: Beast is the kind of pricy restaurant only people with serious money frequent. Vast wooden tables, which stretch the length of the dining room, ensure that any meal at Beast feels like a banquet. Steaks are the main draw but don’t overlook the seafood. Plump scallops and mammoth king crabs, priced by the kilo, are grilled until smoky over coals.
Where: 3 Chapel Place, W1G 0BG
Book now: Beast

Trishna, Marylebone

What: While seafood tends to make an appearance on the menu of most half-decent Indian restaurants, it’s rare to see an Indian restaurant where it’s the main focus of the menu. However, that’s exactly what Michelin-starred Marylebone restaurant Trishna is all about - spectacular seafood which comes expertly spiced. Go for fat tandoori mustard prawns, warming seafood biryani or the moreish brown crab with curry leaves, pepper and garlic.
Where: 15-17 Blandford Street, W1U 3DG
Book now: Trishna

Behind, Hackney

What: After winning a Michelin star in 2021 having been open for just 20 days, Hackney’s Behind has quickly become regarded as one of London’s finest seafood spots. The chef’s table restaurant is headed up by Jason Atherton’s ex development chef Andy Beynon, and serves an eight-course tasting menu focused around sustainably sourced seafood. Make sure to book a while in advance though as there are only 18 seats at the table and they fill up quickly.
Where: 20 Sidworth Street, E8 3SD
Book now: Behind

More of a meat person than seafood? Don’t worry, we’ve scoured the city for everything from the best burgers to the best fried chicken, to ensure you’re only getting London’s finest when looking for your next protein hit. Start by looking through our list of London’s best burgers to get the ball rolling…