Watching your food being prepared in front of you, seeing the ingredients in their raw form and the processes used to transform them, undoubtedly adds another dimension to dining out. It happens to work really well as an intimate Christmas party alternative, too. So here is a selection of the best ones in London – get ready for the ultimate experience for food lovers
Chef’s table 8
This intimate chef’s table is a re-creation of the one at chef Simon Rogan’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant, L’Enclume, in Cumbria. Expect an interactive dining experience in which dishes are cooked in front of guests and explained at every stage. Each seat costs £195 and includes a multi-course tasting menu accompanied by paired wines which are selected daily by the chefs, alongside coffee, service charge and water.
Chef’s table 9
If you can’t stand the heat, book the chef’s table at Benares, which overlooks the kitchen through a big window. There’s no avoiding heat in the food, though, as the Michelin-starred team brings French-inspired refinement to spice-based cooking, without depleting the authenticity of Indian flavours.
Chef’s table 8
Fine-dining Pétrus remains close to chef Gordon Ramsay’s heart. If you’re looking for proper interactive stuff, this is the place for you: the chef’s table puts you right in the centre of the kitchen and guests are taught how to plate one of their dishes. But braise yourself for a serious bill after!
Chef’s table 8
Peak behind the scenes of The Savoy’s legendary dining room by booking the chef’s table. Here you can experience the cooking that has attracted the likes of Oscar Wilde, Charlie Chaplin and Frank Sinatra. Guests are greeted with cocktails before taking a tour of the kitchen and sitting down to a bespoke menu.
Chefs table 12
The semi-private Chef’s View doesn’t just give great vistas at the chefs at work, but also The Gherkin and Heron Tower. Your group will be singled out for special attention from the chefs and waiters alike, including being offered tours of the kitchen. So there’s a lot to like besides the terrific food – we would opt for seafood.
Chef’s table 10
Clare Smyth MBE is no stranger to picking up awards – most famously maintaining three Michelin stars at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay – and now she has earned two stars for her restaurant Core. At the chef’s table, the sight of Smyth directing kitchen operations through a plate-glass wall transmits a thrilling jolt of anticipation for the exquisite food to come. The experience starts at £115pp.
Chef’s table 10
The chef's table at Marcus provides an immersive dining experience in a private entertaining space overlooking the restaurant’s Michelin-starred kitchen. The focused intensity of the kitchen creates a fantastic atmosphere as dishes are created and presented in front of your party. Menu options include a five- or eight-course lunch menu or eight-course dinner menu.