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SquareMeal’s ultimate guide to the best restaurants

Imagine having a friend who can give you all the best restaurant recommendations wherever you are headed - this is where we can help. Our best restaurant guides and reviews explore more than just the menu - although we do plenty of that - we also give you insight into the style, vibe, ambience, decor and service you can expect.

Whether you want to find the best restaurant in your local area, or the best spots to enjoy your favourite cuisine, you have come to the right place. Here at SquareMeal we review thousands of restaurants every year and our team is dedicated to trying out anything and everything within the UK restaurant scene so we can recommend the best restaurants for you.

Explore our annual UK and London Top 100 lists for our definitive guide to the best places to eat. If you are headed to a specific town or city in the UK then our regional best restaurant lists will highlight those hidden gems that are just waiting to be discovered.

Our most popular restaurant guides

Our top 100 lists are updated annually with all the best dining spots each year. Take a look at this year’s best restaurants in London and the best restaurants in the UK. If it’s something new you are searching for then explore our hottest new openings, a guide that is constantly updated with all the latest eateries. Or for something to impress, don’t miss our edit of the coolest restaurants in town.

London's Top 100 Restaurants

The UK's top 100 restaurants

The coolest restaurants in London

Hottest new restaurant openings

The best restaurants in London

Our guide to the top 100 restaurants in London is a great start but if you are looking for something for specific then our guides to London’s most popular hot spots is here, giving you the inside scoop on all the best places to eat in the city.

Soho

Chelsea

Knightsbridge

Mayfair

In association with Louis Roederer

City of London

Covent Garden

Shoreditch

Southbank

Popular cuisines in London

Best Italian restaurants in London

Best Indian restaurants in London

Best Japanese restaurants in London

Best French restaurants in London

Best Modern European restaurants in London

Best British restaurants in London

Best Chinese restaurants in London

Best Gastropub restaurants in London

The best restaurants in the UK

Whether you are looking for your new favourite local or headed on a UK staycation and want to check out the local restaurant scene, our definitive guides from around the UK will give you the insider knowledge you need.

Birmingham

Bristol

Cardiff

Cotswolds

Edinburgh

Essex

Leeds

Manchester

Explore our latest guides

Best restaurants in Balham

Best restaurants in Soho

Best restaurants in Peckham

Best restaurants in Dalston

Best restaurants in South Bank

Best restaurants in Victoria

Best restaurants in Chiswick

Best restaurants in Fitzrovia

Discover our favourite meals and menus with some of our latest round-ups

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Christmas afternoon tea: 13 of the most festive spreads in London

What we look for in a best restaurant

Food

It goes without saying that the food is at the forefront of our minds when it comes to picking the best restaurants. There is no style over substance for us - if the dishes aren’t doing it for us then we won’t be recommending a visit. So if you choose to visit one of the recommended restaurants in our guides then you can feel safe in the knowledge that you are in for a treat.

Service

Each and every restaurant offers a different level of service, whether that be an attentive server at a fine dining establishment or a fun and friendly service at your favourite casual dining spot. When it comes to restaurant service the thing we look for is did we leave feeling we had a positive experience and were treated as a valued customer. Our reviews will always include the type of service you can expect.

Ambience

Sometimes you want somewhere with a buzz and other times you are looking for a little piece of tranquility. We’ll let you know what you can expect at each and every restaurant we review so you can pick something that suits your mood.

Decor

Now we said we don’t enjoy style over substance but that doesn’t mean we don’t love a restaurant that just does it for the ‘gram. This is why we will always include photos of the restaurant and tell you a little bit about the decor and furnishings.