Poised at the edge of London’s west end, Fitzrovia presents a kaleidoscope of London’s multigenerational culture – it is brimming with 18th-century stucco houses, old-school pubs, modern media houses, and architectural companies. It is also home to London’s premiere shopping haven, Charlotte Street, which is lined with boutique designer stores and Instagrammable cafes. As one of London’s most cosmopolitan neighbourhoods, luxury restaurants throng the streets of Fitzrovia. Read on to discover the best restaurants here.
1. Chishuru
Chishuru is the ultimate West African gastronomic experience. Led by Adejoké Bakare, the first black female Michelin-starred chef, the restaurant has a prized legacy.
Starting off as a humble temporary pop-up cafe in Brixton, Chishuru came into the spotlight when Jay Rayner from The Observer wrote a rave review about the restaurant. Soon, the pop-up not only became permanent but also moved to one of London's most affluent locales. Rayner emphatically wrote in his review: “It deserves to be shown some serious love.”.
The chic restaurant harbours memorabilia of Adejoké’s African roots, such as the hand-painted flower pots, beaded lampshades, cane chairs, custom stonework tables, intricate partition screens, rough plastered walls, and pigmented cement. The motley of patterns, textures, and colours strongly evoke the comfort of a home. Abstract illustrations of women, created by artist Afiya, tie together the vibrant colour scheme of the restaurant and stand as a testimony to Adejoké’s entrepreneurial prowess as a woman.
At the time of writing, a typical lunch menu features mains such as sinasir (fermented rice cake with butternut squash purée, cucumber, and walnuts); akara (bean fritter stuffed with okra, candied chillies, fermented rhubarb, and chilli sauce); and asun (lamb belly with pepper relish). The yassa, which is charcoal-grilled guinea fowl breast with yaji peanut spice, has been widely praised by critics. For dessert, guests are in store for fonio ice cream with carob custard.
2. Carousel
At Carousel, no two days are the same. A revolving series of menus, cuisines, and experiences take turns at the establishment, led by a series of guest chefs. With the aim of diversifying London’s food culture, Carousel came into being as a culinary experimental space. Using sustainable produce, each guest chef gets a chance to make the restaurant their own for a while before passing the baton to the next chef. As such, the establishment has hosted countless global cuisines. Beyond the food, Carousel also boasts cooking masterclasses, wine tastings, and food photography crash courses.
The open kitchen has been graced by 300 chefs from 30 different countries. At the time of writing, Chef María Hashimoto has taken on the reins with her unique blend of Japanese and Mexican cooking. Her menu features fascinating amalgamations such as mole taco (taco with seabass, seaweed, and chukrut salad); coconut ceviche with mahi-mahi and blue corn tostada; and cran sando (jumbo lump crab with dijon and neggi).
3. Cord
Created by renowned Parisian cooking school Le Cordon Bleu, Cord is a cafe, a fine dining establishment, and a learning centre with culinary masterclasses. The palatial white walls shine brightly, juxtaposed with the royal blue couches and gilded furnishings. Lit up by trendy bulb-shaped lamps that spotlight the pristine glass-fronted kitchen, crisply dressed chefs can be seen doing their magic. The school’s trademark colour scheme of white, blue, and gold has been tastefully woven into the interiors.
Led by Executive Chef Karl O'Dell, the menu highlights the peak of culinary excellence. Guests can begin their feast with scallop ceviche, veal sweetbread, lobster raviolo, Wye Valley asparagus, and balsamic-marinated beetroots. For the mains, expect handsome treats such as rhug estate rack of lamb, poached cornish halibut, BBQ monkfish, roasted challan duck breast, and plant-based options like caramelised celeriac. Relishes like banoffee souffle tart, poached mouneyrac pear, and Saint-Marcellin cheese are the perfect crown jewels to top the feast.
4. The Ninth
The epitome of timeless elegance and honest-to-goodness cooking, the Ninth is known for some of the best French Mediterranean food in London. With textured walls, metallic-gold speckled wallpaper, and exposed brick, the elevated interior design embodies a harmony between subtle rustic elements and rich contemporary sophistication. Mirrors, snazzy lamps, leather couches, and bronze furnishings adorn the luxe establishment.
Owned by Jun Tanaka, a renowned chef who’s CV mentions top restaurants like Le Gavroche and Restaurant Marco Pierre White, impeccable craftsmanship is guaranteed. A sample dinner menu presents culinary marvels such as red prawn spaghetti, duck cannelloni with mushrooms and ragu, chargrilled sea bass, and glazed duck breast with cime di rapa and radish. Guests can also sample premium cheeses before tucking into the popular poached pear dessert.
5. Akoko
Akoko promises an unforgettable West African culinary sojourn, with authentic spices and treasured techniques. Clay-like walls, threadbare chairs, and the dominating brown colour palette evoke a rustic, homely charm.
Led by Aji Akokomi and Ayo Adeyemi, this Michelin-starred restaurant is true to its West African traditions while simultaneously tangoing with culinary experimentation. Most dishes are cooked over live fire, imbuing the meats and vegetables with an unparalleled flavour and enhancing the spice profile. African classics such as the jollof rice have been described by critics as “out of this world” – the mouth-watering delight, served with lamb and aubergine, exudes copious amounts of steam when presented, making it a remarkable theatrical entrance. Another popular dish is the “waina,” which comprises yassa, chicken mousse, and truffles.
6. Lisboeta
Lisboeta is the spot in London for veritable Portuguese food. The word “lisboeta” translates to “a person from Lisbon.”. Chef Nuno Mendes created this restaurant as a “love letter to Lisbon,” the city he grew up in. Spanning three floors, the Georgian townhouse encompasses a private dining room and a group dining hall.
Ocean green panels envelop the dining room, lending oomph to the traditionally sculpted white walls. The intimate dining room, dripping in iridescent navy blue, affords an up-close view of chefs at work and overlooks the bustling Charlotte Street. Splashes of sea colours are tastefully incorporated into the restaurant, creating a befitting homage to the beachfront city. The menu reflects the varied food and wine culture of Lisbon, with seasonal produce flown in straight from Portugal. Arroz de marisco (red prawn and cuttlefish rice), charred hispi cabbage, Nuno’s bacalhau à brás (confit cod with caramelised onions, egg, and shoestring fries), and Cornish mussels are gems on Mendes’ cherished menu.
7. Circolo Popolare
Nestled in a Sicilian trattoria, Circolo Popolare treats guests to sumptuous Italian fare in its signature opulent style. The restaurant ambience possesses a flair for the dramatic – a glow of festoon lights, draped in dense greenery, framed by poppy red tapestry, and studded with liquor bottles across the arched ceiling-high shelves – indicate that excess is certainly Circolo Popolare’s best suit.
The menu features quirky bites, such as Empanada Strikes Back and Boom Boom Burrata. La Gran Carbonara and the range of Neapolitan pizzas are the restaurant’s signature dishes. The cocktails are fascinating renditions of classics – their sour Negroni is all the more enticing, owing to their innovative dash of strawberry Campari.
8. Rovi
Rovi celebrates vegetables from root to tip and spotlights the nurturing verdure of Mediterranean cuisine. Chefs at Rovi take pride in their age-old techniques, such as cooking over fire and fermentation. A sleek circular bar forms the centrepiece of the restaurant, flanked on all sides by minimalist furniture. Subtle pops of colour are scattered around the restaurant, with plush red sofas, patterned chairs, and bright napkins. The plant-heavy fare is made in collaboration with small-scale producers and local growers. The restaurant also boasts its own kitchen garden.
The meat menu features beef carpaccio with artichokes and hogget ribs. For pescatarians, grilled squid with Kashmiri spices and hake sarma (a variety of fish fillet) with rice and green zhoug are popular options. Their vegetarian menu is the most extensive, presenting the likes of mammole artichokes with crowdie cheese, charred leeks with smoked almonds and brown butter, celeriac shawarma, and burrata.
9. 64 Goodge Street
Housed in a former travel agent office, 64 Goodge Street forays into authentic French cookery and delivers on all fronts. With dark-wood panelling and sculpted emerald green walls, the interiors underscore the restaurant’s understated sophistication. Wooden furniture, vintage posters, and retro sconces adorn the walls, enhancing the chic old-world mystique. Built in 2023, 64 Goodge Street was created entirely from scratch, serving as the ideal tabula rasa for the Woodland Restaurant Group. The restaurant built and cemented its reputation within a few months of its establishment.
Housed in a former travel agent office, 64 Goodge Street forays into authentic French cookery and delivers on all fronts. With dark-wood panelling and sculpted emerald green walls, the interiors underscore the restaurant’s understated sophistication. Wooden furniture, vintage posters, and retro sconces adorn the walls, enhancing the chic old-world mystique. Built in 2023, 64 Goodge Street was created entirely from scratch, serving as the ideal tabula rasa for the Woodland Restaurant Group. The restaurant built and cemented its reputation within a few months of its establishment.
10. Clipstone
Clipstone’s hallmark is its dynamic menu, changing every day based on the produce procured. Devoid of a narrow geographical focus, European fare typically dominates the menu. White walls, modern artwork, trendy ceiling lights, the sleek bar, and minimalist furniture harmoniously create a contemporary and chic ambience. The elevated simplicity of the space is further enhanced by its cosiness – it has a mere 40-person seating capacity. Bathed in abundant natural light, Clipstone is the perfect casual hangout spot with excellent culinary prospects.
Wine is central to Clipstone’s dining experience. Sustainably produced wines and wines handcrafted by indigenous groups are the restaurant’s specialty, meticulously curated by Georgia Bronner. Twice-baked Comté souffle with rocket, Somerset Saxon chicken and potato pie, and 50-day-aged Highland ribeye have been some resoundingly successful dishes on the Clipstone menu.
Equipped with the best of London’s old and new, Fitzrovia is truly a hub of diverse gastronomic expeditions and the ultimate spot for epicures. It's time to embark on an unforgettable culinary sojourn at Fitzrovia’s restaurants, London’s own bohemian paradise for foodies.
