London is a unique capital city. Unlike many of its counterparts who have more singular associations, London is a dynamic destination that excels in a variety of aspects, from historical landmarks to modern architecture to its rich cultural fabric. One area in which it has been growing in prominence over recent years is its culinary scene. Bucking any perceptions of insufficient cuisine excitement, London is now home to some of the world’s best restaurants. As proof, three of its most impressive were just included in the World’s Best 50 Restaurants.
The World’s Top 50
With its panel of 1,080 culinary experts, the World’s Best 50 Restaurants has celebrated the diverse cuisines and talents of international establishments since 2002. It provides a trusted “snapshot of the best destinations for unique culinary experiences” and is “a barometer for global gastronomic trends”. It has a structured and audited voting procedure with 27 voting regions, each headed up by an Academy Chair. The panels are made up of food writers, critics, chefs, restauranteurs and well-travelled gourmets, who all have ten votes each.
London Fine Dining Restaurants in the Top 50
With such stiff competition, it is a mark of pride and excellence that London is home to three of the World’s Top 50 Restaurants, a feat only surpassed by Lima. Here are the celebrated venues that you will definitely want to book a table at.
Kol
In at number 23 is Kol, a sophisticated celebration of modern Mexican cuisine with superlative British ingredients. This authentic Latin American restaurant was launched in 2020 by Santiago Lastra. He had a vision to create the flavours of his heritage with predominantly British ingredients. This lofty goal presented its own range of challenges and involved some innovative substitutions to compensate accordingly – think sea buckthorn in place of lime. Today, the restaurant’s only imports are true Mexican essentials – corn for the tortillas, native chilies and delicious chocolate. Kol has fast become “one of London’s hottest tickets in the city’s post-pandemic restaurant renaissance” and the 50 Best judges recommend you don’t skip the “purple carrot mole with fermented blackcurrant and the excellent steamed halibut with kelp butter and pine nuts''
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Ikoyi
Currently considered to be one of London’s most popular restaurants, Ikoyi offers category-free cuisine and appears at number 35 on the World’s 50 Best list. Having won the ‘One to Watch Award’ in 2021, this gastronomic haven has gone from strength to strength, even moving location to The Strand and incorporating the interior talents of David Thulstrup. Ikoyi is helmed by Jeremy Chan and Ire Hassan-Odukale, a pair who prefer to buck the convention of fine dining restaurants and create “a culinary style that defies categorization”. Chan combines flavours from across Africa and Asia with international techniques and fresh UK produce to cultivate a singular dining experience he terms “a journey through bold heat”. His not-to-be-missed dishes include the signature smoked jollof rice, drunken chick toast and the desserts flavoured with Scotch Bonnet (if you can handle it!).
The Clove Club
London’s final entry on the list at number 38 is The Clove Club, a fine dining venue dedicated to innovating the quintessential flavours of Britain. Founded by Scottish chef Isaac McHale in 2013, The Clove Club is a refreshing venue with a surprising talent for reinventing traditional flavours and showcasing an elegant and inventive seasonal tasting menu. Despite the ever changing menu, the recommendations from the 50 Best include “McHale’s famous raw Orkney scallop with hazelnut, clementine and truffle; veal sweetbread baked in hay and served with aromatic brown butter; or a memorable Braeburn apple tarte tatin”.
When it comes to fine dining in the capital, these gourmet restaurants are some of the absolute best and worthy recipients of their position in the Top 50 of the World’s Best Restaurants. Make sure to book your table as soon as possible, as there is rarely an empty seat in the house. They aren’t considered to be three of the best restaurants in London for no reason.
