Meat is the soul of British food, and there’s certainly no paucity of delectable carnivorous delights in London.
Moreover, as a variegated cultural tapestry, the capital is abloom with a kaleidoscope of global gastronomical haunts. With bounteous farms and ploughlands to boot, the culinary destination has the liberty of boasting premium-grade meat. Indeed, London is a meat gastronome's paradise. Read on to discover the best meat restaurants in London.
1. Goodman Mayfair
Goodman, an American-inspired steakhouse, has been proclaimed by locals and connoisseurs as the best steak joint in Mayfair. With dim lights, dark wooden panels, and sultry red furniture, Goodman bears a distinguished fine dining dignity. Soaring windows frame Mayfair’s bustle, and sleek pendants bring a contemporary flair to the establishment.
Goodman takes immense pride in sourcing their meat from farms and ranches in the Lake District, with the guidance of select, reputed suppliers. Their wine collection comprises beautiful picks from around the world, including hidden gems of vineyards. Goodman’s daily special, known as “The Cut,” is their most sought-after bite. Every day, the chefs pick a piece of meat that is at its prime from the ageing room, and that selection is made the showstopper for the day. The meat that makes the cut is in limited quantities and is devoured by steak lovers.
2. Beast
Tucked away in London’s West End, Beast presents the best bounties of the land and the sea. Nestled in a pretty Georgian structure, the restaurant is festooned with tea lights, glimmering candelabras, and sparkling crockery. Long banquette tables are paired with studded leather chairs, and a handsomely stocked bar overlooks the jaunty communal arrangement.
Rich pickings from the Barents Sea and pristine cuts of meat sourced from different parts of the world feature on the menu. The dishes befit royalty – the specials include Norwegian King Crab, Japanese Sakura Wagyu, Argentinian red prawn tempura, and Nebraska ribeye.
3. CUT at 45 Park Lane
CUT at 45 Park Lane is the quintessential American steakhouse, with a subtle, sophisticated English twist. The restaurant embodies a modishly elegant aesthetic, with untreated wood-panelled walls, svelte banquettes, airy white tapestries, and sleek lampshades. Quiet bursts of colour are woven in with symmetrically arranged, bohemian paintings. Their self-proclaimed vibe is “city chic.”
Led by renowned chef Elliott Grover, guests can expect premiere British beef, imported USDA beef, and Japanese Wagyu, along with a side of exclusive wines. Their bone-in-tomahawk steak and bigeye yellowfin tuna tartare with Kristal caviar are some of their prized gems.
4. Hawksmoor
A spirited establishment ensconced in a Victorian building in Piccadilly, Hawksmoor is a traditional British steakhouse and bar. The gargantuan room is filled with natural light streaming through semicircular windows, and emerald-green furniture is littered about the chevron floor. Mirrors panelled with dark wood and archaic sconces light up the restaurant.
Exceptional cuts of beef, select seafood, and premium oysters are typical Hawksmoor grub. Roasted hake, whole native lobster, salt-aged mountain lamb chop, and a large cut of T-bone steak feature on the menu. In addition to an enviable wine collection, guests can opt for the classic Hawksmoor cocktails, which are known as “the sacred six,” to zhuzh up their dining experience.
5. Sheesh
Perched on the plush streets of Mayfair, Sheesh offers peerless Mediterranean and Turkish fare with plenty of fanfare. Soaring glass doors open into an establishment reminiscent of a gilded castle bejewelled to a fault. A gorgeous staircase bounded by intricately netted railings, grand Gothic chandeliers aglow in candlelight, lavish marble furniture, and striking sculptures deck out the restaurant.
Sheesh specialties include “Sheesh Kofte” (a kebab-style meatball dish), “Monkfish Mediterraneo," and a classic Wagyu ribeye steak. The sumptuous mains can be topped off with delectable desserts such as baklava, sheesh donuts, or strawberry and cream cake.
6. Akoko
Situated in the heart of Fitzrovia, Akoko is a Michelin-starred West African restaurant. The restaurant’s aesthetic embodies a seamless marriage between West African tradition and contemporary industrial chic. Rustic stone basins, clay-textured walls, and faux mud crockery harmonise with modish Danish chairs, geometric tiles, and in-laid ceiling lights.
A nod to founder Aji Akokomi’s West African heritage, Akoko’s acclaimed fare bursts with exquisite African spices, tender British cuts, and briny sea creatures. Classics such as beef jollof rice (a spiced rice dish made with tomatoes and chilli peppers), moimoi (a pudding made with mackerel), and Gambian stew (made with pepper and oysters) are some Akoko lunch specials.
7. Four Seasons, Chinatown
Notwithstanding Four Seasons’ undeniable prestige, London’s Chinatown branch is in a league of its own for sublime meat dishes. The restaurant’s duck has been described as the “best in the world” by the Financial Times. Traditional dragon sanguinity fills the air, with rich red tapestries, gold-fringed lanterns, and pastoral artwork adorning the establishment. With piquant aromas hanging in the air, the staggering dishes, of which they serve more than 100 a day, take centre stage at this restaurant.
Foodies from around the world flock to this Cantonese enclave for its famous roast duck. The duck meat is sourced from Silver Hill Farm in Ireland, where the grain-fed birds are nurtured with dulcet melodies to make their meat more tender. They have also gained acclaim for their barbecued meats, such as pork ribs, pork belly, and whole ducks.
8. Flat Iron
Flat Iron lives by one promise: to provide “great steak for everyone.” The creeper-garbed restaurant is outfitted like a contemporary loft, with exposed brick walls, vintage light pendants, unembellished mahogany furniture, and abstract artwork. Pinterest-inspired neon signs imbue the space with a fresh aura – the “Steak is what I want” signage aptly captures the merriment guests are in for at Flat Iron.
The restaurant special is the trademark “Flat Iron Steak,” made with quality meat sourced from Flat Iron’s very own herd in North Yorkshire, reared by a third-generation beef farmer. The signature steak with a side of bone marrow garlic mash and a bellini or two certainly makes for a perfect brunch date.
9. Le Petit Beefbar
Le Petit Beefbar is a Paris-inspired steakhouse, fashionably reposing on the upmarket streets of Chelsea. Mosaic tiles, balloon ceiling pendants, meshes of wispy creepers, and black-panelled accent walls mingle in soft lighting to create a charming Parisian brasserie. A light-oak panelled enclosure partially obscures the steakhouse’s open kitchen, assuring guests of an atmospheric dining experience.
Among Le Petit Beefbar’s many delights are the miso black beef, Wagyu ribeye, Kobe beef jamon, and the much-loved English Sunday roast. Guests can also treat themselves to bespoke cocktails at the bar – the “noblesse de primtemps” (Cap Gin with a secret cordial and Double Dutch Soda) and the tropical negroni (the classic negroni with a surprise vanilla twist) have been brilliantly received.
The culinary excellence of London's restaurants is well established, and its motley of meat venues is no exception. Finesse, precision, and care are devoted to presenting meatatarians with the choicest of cuts, which are prepped, seasoned, and cooked to perfection. It’s time to indulge your inner carnivore at London’s best meat restaurants.
