London’s gastronomic landscape is a class apart, brimming with countless global cuisines and Michelin-starred haunts. With a treasure trove of quality eateries, the city presents excellent options for any fancy – burgers are no exception.
From humble hamburgers to gourmet fusions, the variety is endless. After all, with premium British meats, a diverse flavour palette, and a roster of world-class chefs, there’s immense promise for incredibly flavoursome burgers. Indeed, London’s burger joints are the pick of the bunch, renowned for their elevated takes on a classic dish.
Read on to unveil the best burger restaurants in London.
Gordon Ramsay Street Burger
The name says it all: Gordon Ramsay’s Street Burger is a fascinating intersection between sophistication and comfort. With branches in Covent Garden, Charing Cross, Kensington High Street, Farringdon, and O2, these designer burgers are iconic fixtures in London’s most affluent locales.
Like all Gordon Ramsay restaurants, the establishments are modern, chic, and clean. With exposed brick walls, quirky artwork, and industrial light fixtures, the interiors are highly reminiscent of New York lofts, aptly mimicking what the burgers signify – wholesomeness as well as style.
The menu features a miscellany of beef burgers, vegan options, as well as some elegant fusion choices. Of pop culture fame, the “Hell’s Kitchen” burger is one of the most popular picks of the bunch. The burgers are served with fries. Drinks, wings, and desserts are also on offer.
Joia
Joia is a charming rooftop restaurant and bar in Battersea, established by two-Michelin-starred chef Henrique Sá Pessoa. The food is an homage to Pessoa’s Portuguese heritage, thus imbued with exotic spices and unique flavour palettes.
Embraced by Battersea’s verdurous skyline, the rooftop exudes refinement and glamour. With muted interiors, a terrace poolside, and resplendent views of Battersea Power Station, Joia brings the peppy spirit of Lisbon to south-west London.
While Joia has grand tapas and afternoon tea menus, its star burger has enraptured many Londoners. Pessoa’s famous cuttlefish bun, served with squid ink roll and coriander mayonnaise, was a showstopper at the 2023 Taste of London food festival.
Truffle Burger
Truffle Burger is an institution in London, renowned for its gourmet burgers. It has built a reputation of being a “finer diner,” where truffle reigns supreme on the menu. Truffle Burger has branches in Soho, West Hampstead, St. Christopher's Place, and Southbank, thus dominating most of London’s minted districts.
Drawing on its muse, Truffle Burger joints are characterised by black colour palettes, imbued with shades of vintage gold. Modish brick walls, quirky artwork, and urban-chic light fixtures adorn the restaurants.
The menu features a variety of inventive bites, such as the signature Truffle Burger featuring raclette cheese, home-made fig jam, and black truffle mayonnaise; the Honey Chicken Burger made with buttermilk chicken thigh and truffle honey; and the Veggie Truffle Burger, characterised by alternative meat and truffle mayo. The burgers are accompanied by truffle and parmesan fries.
Flip & Sear
Flip & Sear is the ultimate haunt for decadent beef burgers, starring enviable Wagyu cuts.
Situated in the cosmopolitan bustle of Camden, Flip & Sear is decked out in contemporary chic splendour, with an expansive open-floor plan, exposed ceiling pipes, minimal furniture, and soaring windows. The modish elegance of the restaurant sets you up for the fare – modern, simple, and flavourful.
The restaurant’s trademark burger is the “Flip & Sear Original,” made with Wagyu beef, American cheese, and the special Flip sauce. There’s also a fun vegetarian option, featuring falafel and halloumi.
Blues Kitchen
Blues Kitchen is a prominent restaurant chain and music venue, bringing forth America’s Deep South to England.
Sensuous red leather banquettes and chevron-patterned walls and ceilings define the general design aesthetic of Blues Kitchen. Music-related motifs, from artwork to musicians’ portraits and vinyls, adorn the interiors. Influences of 1960s rock n’ roll and Americana beats are deeply palpable in the restaurant, further emboldened by the live music and DJ sets.
The music is enhanced by the rich fare, which encompasses slow-smoked barbeque and strong Southern spices. The burgers have won the hearts of countless musical enthusiasts over the years. The "St. Louis Pork Rib" burger, stacked with smoked belly rib slathered in barbeque sauce and kewpie slaw, is particularly popular. The classic “Cheeseburger” is another Blues Kitchen staple.
Hawksmoor
Hawksmoor is a traditional British steakhouse and bar, beloved by the well-heeled executives of Piccadilly and Canary Wharf, where the branches reside.
Be it in a Victorian building in Piccadilly or a floating pavilion in Wood Wharf, Hawksmoor’s defining aesthetic oozes old-money glamour, luxury, and class. Dark wooden flooring and panelling, symmetrical geometric cabinetry, and handsome archaic sconces deck up the restaurant. Tasteful and romantic, Hawksmoor looks extra special in the evenings, aglow in fairy lights and soft candle lights.
Hawksmoor is the perfect pitstop for self-proclaimed carnivores, as it takes pride in its exceptional cuts of premium meat. Needless to say, the burgers here are a class apart. The signature Hawksmoor burger is an elevated hamburger, featuring a majestic cut of beef, English lettuce, herb salad, and fries – deceptively simple yet richly flavoured.
Burger and Beyond
Located in Soho, Shoreditch, and Borough Yards, Burger and Beyond has proclaimed itself as London’s best burger restaurant.
All the Burger and Beyond branches flourish in their respective artistic locales, each bearing a sleek and muted aesthetic. With matte black monochrome facades, bursts of shrubbery, and snazzy industrial lights, Burger and Beyond embodies London’s quintessential modish minimalism.
The burgers, as promised, are nothing short of phenomenal. All the beef burgers feature premiere dry-aged beef and remarkable sauces. Additionally, Burger and Beyond is one of the few restaurants that has innovative vegan options, such as the Asian-inspired Oso Yaki, starring a vegan meat patty dripping in melted cheese and Teriyaki sauce.
Neat Burger
Neat Burger is London’s most popular vegan burger restaurant, characterised by fresh produce, healthy ingredients, and a zealous drive for sustainability. The beloved chain has branches in Soho, Camden, Victoria, and Wembley.
Neat Burger’s aesthetic is flamboyant, rich, and playful. The establishment is painted entirely in baby pink, and adorned with salmon geometric tiles, pink furniture, and pastel ornaments. There’s also a captivating accent wall that bears large, vivid leaf motifs, underscoring Neat’s commitment to a green planet.
The menu comprises ciabattas, salads, sandwiches, and, of course, the protagonist burgers. The star “neat burger” is made with two vegan meat patties, melted cheese, and a signature salad. Other burgers include the vegan chicken burger, cheeseburger, and veggie crunch.
Burger Nine
A hidden gem in southeast London, Burger Nine has been gaining notoriety for its humble yet memorable burgers, made with superior meats and homemade sauces.
True to Peckham’s bohemian spirit, Burger Nine wears its artsy style with pride. Bottle-green walls, untreated wooden panels, retro furniture, and patches of sylvan tiles embellish the restaurant, conjuring a vintage allure. Its quirky charm is further enhanced by its highly friendly staff and humorous social media presence, collectively disarming countless Londoners.
Among its many gems, a Burger Nine favourite is the “Royale Nine,” comprising pulled beef, melted beef bone marrow, double-layered American cheese, and sauerkraut. “Philly Cheese Nine” is another fan favourite, featuring pulled brisket and grilled pepper.
The burger restaurants are indeed shining marvels in London’s elaborate culinary tapestry. Crafted lovingly with authentic British meat and fresh produce, these burgers truly exemplify the country’s grub – they're humble, luscious, and indulgent. From understated gems in the bustling south to Michelin-starred joints in the glamorous West End, these are London’s best burger restaurants.
