A guide to luxurious London dining
When it comes to food, different flavours set our taste buds tingling. Some prefer sweet, some prefer sour. Some favour spicy, some favour mild. Some pick surf, some pick turf. However, there is one adjective that describes all YCB readers’ tastes: discerning. You have a predilection for the finer things in life, a craving for class and elegance. The dinner gong has sounded; it’s time to satiate your appetite for sophisticated dining with our guide to London’s most luxurious restaurants.
Smiths of Wapping
Just a stone’s throw from Tower Bridge lies Smiths of Wapping, a restaurant that boasts stunning views across the River Thames. An exceptionally romantic evening can be spent watching the sun set through floor to ceiling glass windows as you dine on Dover sole or confit leg of duck. Dining at Smiths of Wapping is a feast for the senses thanks to vibrant colours and delicate presentation.
Il Trillo
Wandering around London searching for somewhere to eat, Italian food is often an easy go-to. Pizza and pasta at fair prices are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. However, the Italians do luxury extremely well too. With a sister restaurant in Tuscany, Chelsea’s Il Trillo raises the bar for culinary excellence with its tried and tested recipes inspired by the Tuscan hills. For a truly unforgettable evening, dine al fresco in their beautiful ‘giardino’ – a relaxing secret garden away from the hum of Hollywood Road.
Ametsa with Arzak Instruction
If there are two phrases that conjure up images of magnificence, they’re ‘Michelin starred’ and ‘situated in London’s Belgravia’. Under the direction of Sergi Sanz Blanco and his team of award winning chefs Amentsa with Arzak Instruction brings Spanish haute cuisine to the luxurious COMO Hotel. For a truly unique experience opt for the tasting menu, which showcases a broad range of iconic ‘New Basque Cuisine’ dishes diligently paired with wines by Ametsa’s sommelier.
Ognisko Restaurant
Located on South Kensington’s Exhibition Road, Ognisko is housed in a delicately elegant building. With cascading staircases and glistening chandeliers this Polish restaurant is fit for royalty. Spend an evening luxuriating in the majestic ambience and feasting like a king on traditional Eastern and Central European cuisine. For those who like to embrace the finest dishes other cultures have to offer, try the pierogi or smalec – both customary Polish dishes.
Les Deux Salons
So called because of its two main rooms, Les Deux Salons can be found standing proud on William IV Street in Covent Garden. Deliciously French, the venue houses a café, restaurant, bistro, bar, épicerie, private dining room, and even a cave à vin! Book an afternoon tea experience to savour small mouthfuls of dainty desserts and freshly brewed coffees.
Buddha-Bar
The allure of Knightsbridge’s Buddha-Bar is irrefutable. The immersive restaurant experience attracts the affluent, sports personalities, musicians, actors and culinary maestros alike. Lunch, light dishes, cocktails and the now infamous wine selection are served from midday in a venue that’s as elegant as it is edgy.
