If you’re seeking a truly impressive culinary experience that will please even the fussiest eater, the glamorous neighbourhood of Knightsbridge will not disappoint. Here are six restaurants not to miss.
Top Restaurants in Knightsbridge
Knightsbridge is the quintessential district of luxury living. This affluent London area is the most expensive place to live in the city, and it’s home to a string of five-star hotels, extravagant mansions and luxury retail hotspots like Harrods and Harvey Nichols. It will come as no surprise that Knightsbridge is brimming with dining options that are as refined as the district itself. Whether you want to get a taste of authentic British food that uses recipes dating back to the Tudor era, or simply tuck into a hearty authentic curry, here are the best spots in Knightsbridge.
Dinner by Heston
If you have a friend who believes that British cuisine doesn’t go much further than fish, chips and scotch eggs, take them to Dinner by Heston in the Mandarin Oriental hotel. This Knightsbridge restaurant is the brainchild of celebrity chef and ‘multi-sensory cooking’ pioneer, Heston Blumenthal, and it draws inspiration from the long and varied history of British gastronomy. When developing the menu, Blumenthal went as far as working with the team at Hampton Court Palace (the residence of King Henry VIII), alongside a series of food historians, to create something truly authentic.
One of the most famous dishes served at Dinner by Heston is the ‘Meat Fruit’, which is a 16th-century inspired chicken liver parfait served with mandarin. Other inventive dishes include the onion and eucalyptus roast halibut, and the spit-roasted pineapple ‘Tipsy Cake’. It’s no surprise that this Knightsbridge restaurant has two Michelin stars and four AA rosettes under its belt.
Harry’s La Dolce Vita
La Dolce Vita is a phrase that encourages us to enjoy the small things in life, but this Knightsbridge restaurant is no small treat. Stepping inside Harry’s La Dolce Vita restaurant on Basil Street is like stepping into Italy in the 1950s, with its autumnal orange leather seats, dainty cocktails and Murano glass features. The menu is traditionally Italian and has everything from fresh pastas to hand-stretched pizzas and delicious antipasto. Truffle lovers will have a field day at this Knightsbridge restaurant, which has an entire menu dedicated to the black truffle (the tagliolini is a must-try).
As you might expect from an Italian trattoria, Harry’s delivers on the grape front with its deep ‘Super Tuscan’ reds, refreshing French rosés and an extensive selection of white wines sourced from Puglia, Abruzzo, Sicily and beyond.
Sumosan Twiga
If you’re looking for a dining experience that can go well into the night, Sumosan Twiga in Knightsbridge is the spot. This luxury venue has three floors of indulgence, including a restaurant, a bar and a club. The menu at Sumosan is an eclectic fusion of Italian and Japanese cuisine, and it has everything from miso-glazed black cod and o-toro sashimi, to wild mushroom risotto and gnocchetti. If you’re comfortable digging a little deeper into your pockets, the delicate A4 Wagyu Japanese steak is absolutely worth a try. Once you’ve finished dining, head into the bar to experience the pinnacle of high-end Knightsbridge nightlife and watch Sumosan come to life with immersive visuals, live performances and renowned DJs who will keep you on your feet all night.
Pétrus
Gordon Ramsay is one of Britain’s most celebrated chefs, and he has accumulated an impressive 17 Michelin stars over the course of his career. Pétrus is one of Ramsay’s Michelin-starred outposts in Knightsbridge, and it delivers a beautiful modern French menu of locally-sourced dishes and European wines. Scallops from the scenic Isle of Skye, Cornish turbot and tender lamb from the Lake District are just some of the expertly prepared dishes served at this elegant restaurant.
Named after the indulgent château pétrus fine wine, the venue serves many pétrus vintages by the glass and was the first restaurant in Europe to do so. The dessert menu at Pétrus is particularly delectable, with options such as bee pollen honey parfait and traditional apple soufflé with creme anglaise.
Mr Chow
If you’ve had enough greasy British ‘Chinese’ food and want to find the authentic stuff, Mr Chow in Knightsbridge is where you will find it. Famed for its fresh Beijing-style noodle pulling shows and flavoursome Cantonese duck, Mr Chow’s is a dining experience that will have you coming back time and time again. Unlike the dainty portions served at other fine-dining establishments, Mr Chow serves up hearty family-sized dishes, making sure you get your money’s worth. This iconic Knightsbridge restaurant first opened back in 1968 and has since expanded to Las Vegas, New York and beyond, demonstrating its loyal fan base.
Haandi
In contemporary Britain, going out for a curry is a sport. Every neighbourhood, town and village has its own locally-loved tandoori serving up bright red tikka masalas and creamy kormas, but none compare to Haandi in Knightsbridge. This popular Indian restaurant delivers an authentic Northern Indian menu, from dhaba chicken curry to peshwari naan and prawn biryani. Vegetarians are spoiled for choice at Haandi, which serves flavoursome meat-free dishes like egg curry, palak paneer, and a sumptuous dal bukhara that’s simmered overnight over charcoal. Prices here are a little more reasonable than other Knightsbridge restaurants, making it a great choice for a family dinner.
For a more casual Indian dining experience, Haandi also has a laid-back tapas-style lounge called Black Saffron, which is perfect for a pit stop after a day of shopping. This London restaurant has been open for 24 years and has branches in unique locations such as Dar es Salaam, Kenya and Sudan.
Final Take
A dinner in Knightsbridge isn’t exactly casual dining, but it’s one you’ll certainly remember. Many of the restaurants in the area have been open for decades, reflecting the quality and consistency of food and service. Whether you want to pick up some easy going Indian tapas at Haandi’s Black Saffron Lounge, or fully let your hair down at Sumosan Twiga, these Knightsbridge restaurants will not disappoint.
