Among its many culinary marvels, London’s seafood landscape is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The city is home to countless Michelin-starred seafood restaurants, making it a paradise for crustacean aficionados. From fresh fish, to quality oysters and whole lobsters, one is in for an enviable seafood experience. Read on to unveil London’s best seafood spots.
1. Cornerstone
A venture of Tom Brown – the former right-hand man of celebrated chef Nathan Outlaw and winner of reality TV show ‘The Great British Menu’ – Cornerstone is a Michelin-starred seafood restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of Hackney.
Brown’s skillful cooking and innovative combinations have made this restaurant a go-to for London’s elite. With its upscale white-grey colour palette, faux industrial decor and open kitchen, the aesthetic is sparkling clean with a lively atmosphere.
Curried St Austell Bay mussels, whole monkfish tail with butter sauce and seafood cocktail crumpet are examples of the menu’s treasured gems.
2. J Sheekey
Iconic ruby-red walls in London’s St Martin’s Court lead to a restaurant that prides itself on a fascinating legacy, premium seafood, live jazz and celebrity goers.
In 1896, Prime Minister Lord Salisbury allowed a local stall owner Josef Sheekey to serve fish at St Martin’s Court, as long as he committed to catering for Salibury’s post-theatre parties. Thus, J Sheekey was born.
With its birth in post-theatre supper parties, the restaurant has a flair for the dramatic depicted in its aesthetic, with bold red frontage, plush sofas, an open kitchen and a wall of fame. Moreover, it is still the hub for famous theatre-revellers and actors – Kevin Spacey, Keira Knightley and Kate Moss are regulars here.
Its menu is an ode to the sea’s abundance, ranging from oysters to dover sole and lobster thermidor.
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3. Angler
Led by Gary Foulkes, a celebrity chef who has worked with countless Michelin star restaurants, Angler is known for its meticulously curated menu and fresh produce.
The restaurant prides itself on its sustainably sourced local produce, its seasonal and limited menu and picture-perfect plates. The open terrace offers a breathtaking view of the city which can be taken in while relishing bites from the tasting menu.
For more intimate gatherings, one can book the ‘Chef’s Table’, a semi-private dining room where guests will be treated to an insider perspective of the kitchen’s workings.
In spite of its popularity for seafood, Angler also has menus curated for carnivores and vegetarians. Sea bass tartare, Newlyn cod and squid-ink crackers are favourites in its exclusive menu.
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7. The Golden Hind
Located in the heart of Marylebone village, the Golden Hind is an acclaimed joint for one of Britain’s classics – fish and chips.
The restaurant has been serving seafood for hundreds of years, and aspires to maintain its old-world charm through the decor, plating and timeless menu. The heart of British cuisine, the humble fish and chips, has been perfected by this restaurant – the fish is caught everyday and made with homemade batter, leading to a flavour-packed twist on an otherwise unassuming dish.
Its menu includes other seafood classics, such as scampi, fishcakes and grilled fillets.
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5. Randall & Aubin
Randall & Aubin was established as a butcher shop in 1911 and earned its reputation as one of the finest butchers in the city. It received awards and was even frequented by London’s elite.
In fact, Randall & Aubin still possesses the hand-written recipes which were made for Sir Winston Churchill, during its hay days as a butcher shop. In 1996, the establishment was converted into a restaurant.
The restaurant has achieved a quirky fusion of old-world charm and modernity, by retaining its old meat hooks and wooden partitions, and adding a giant glittering disco ball.
Heavily inspired by British and French cuisine, classics such as Moules mariner, French onion soup and fish and chips grace the menu. It also has an ever-evolving seasonal menu, with bold experimental flavours.
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6. Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill
As the name suggests, Bentley’s is renowned for its oysters. With over a century of shucking under its belt, the restaurant prides itself on premiere oyster medleys.
Having started off as an oyster supplier to the city’s wealthy and eventually evolving into a high society restaurant, Bentley’s has a legacy of quality food and elite clientele. Land and sea produce are procured from the British and Irish isles, and skillfully transformed into mouth-watering dishes.
From a heated terrace to elegant dining rooms, Bentley’s has a sophisticated atmosphere that pairs well with its quality prawn cocktails and flutes of champagne.
Besides its prized oyster bar, other treasures in the menu include lobster, shellfish and caviar.
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7. Parsons
An understated and unpretentious bistro, Parsons is known for its freshly landed fish and experimental menu.
The fish is cooked straight off the boat and served with lightning speed. Devoid of complex plating and ornate garnishes, the food is strikingly fresh and packed with flavour. Unlike most high-end restaurants, portions are generous, dripping with sauces and bursting with flavour – they are unabashed in their passion for food and restraint is not their strong suit.
Their menu has innovative delights such as potted shrimp croquettes and sea trout tartare. The restaurant has a tiered service bar at the centre of the dining room with an array of premium wines and beers.
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8. Faber
Faber prides itself on its fresh fish and sustainable practices. It has humble beginnings, with the entrepreneurs delivering seafood to people on their bikes while renting a pub kitchen to cook their fish. Their quality and flavour-profile was exceptional, leading to a surge in demand and ultimately, the establishment of the restaurant.
The brightly-lit gilded restaurant has an upscale ambiance. Fresh fish and local ingredients are bought everyday – not a single ingredient in any of the dishes is older than a few hours.
Sustainability is the soul of the restaurant. The menu constantly evolves with what the fishing fleets manage to procure, based on the weather conditions, migration practices and other factors.
Cornish cod cheek skewer with tartar sauce is the restaurant’s signature dish. Butterflied mackerel and crab on toast are other Faber favourites.
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9. Prawn on the Lawn
Starting off as a seafood bar that could seat only eight people, Prawn on the Lawn has mushroomed into an upscale seafood chain. Every seafood lover in London has visited this establishment at least once – after all, it was voted TripAdvisor’s best restaurant in 2014 and has held on to its crown for over a decade.
It has a friendly and vibrant atmosphere, with a blackboard menu, open kitchen and loud music. It has daily hot dish specials with a menu that alters based on what their fishermen manage to catch.
Thai-marinated scallops, whole lobsters and cornish mussels are some of the seafood bar’s prized dishes.
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10. The Sea, The Sea
A classy fishmonger by day and chic seafood bar by night, The Sea, The Sea is a Michelin-starred restaurant set in the heart of Chelsea .
Whether at the seafood bar terrace or at the intimate 14-seat chef’s table, guests can expect the most meticulously crafted fish dishes. With a daily new menu based on a given day’s produce, delicious surprises await the restaurant goers everyday. At the chef’s table, guests are privy to the inventive cooking methods of Chef Leo Carreira.
Lobster terrine, pao de lo and mackerel and tomato miso have been a few of The Sea, The Sea’s landmark dishes.
Being a landlocked city, London’s seafood extravaganza is indeed pleasantly surprising. Freshness, innovation and dynamism define the city’s best seafood restaurants. Indulge in the briny bounties of the British isles and discover your ideal seafood spot in London.
