The enduring appeal of Buckingham Palace has been one of the biggest attractions presented to visitors in London for decades. It stands proudly as a symbol of the English Royal Family’s presence in the similarly prestigious surroundings of Westminster, blending a formal elegance with modern facilities for the hundreds of thousands of people that flock here every year. Recent times have also seen a gradually growing access into the intricacies of royal life and Buckingham Palace is a great example, with the public now allowed to enter the historic grounds and gardens.
That famous façade is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of this central London neighbourhood. As you may expect however, there are plenty more attractions to be experienced, with a collection of fantastic restaurants being chief amongst them. The area that envelops Buckingham Palace has a recognisable culinary scene that makes the most of its stately energy and atmosphere to provide some real fine dining.
Here is a guide to a selection of the very best.
The Dining Room at The Goring
The Dining Room at The Goring is mere steps away from the ornate gates of Buckingham Palace. Housed in a grand Edwardian Townhouse built by Otto Richard Goring over a hundred years ago, it is still owned and maintained by the Goring family, with a five-star hotel that is every bit as impressive. If one is to judge a restaurant on the calibre of its patrons, then The Dining Room at The Goring will be difficult to match by any establishment in the world. Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother were regular guests here, leading to a coveted Royal Warrant being awarded in 2013 and serious culinary recognition was quick to follow.
In 2016, The Dining Room claimed a Michelin Star and has retained it ever since, with three AA Rosettes and commendations from Forbes to add to it. A recent two-million pound redesign from Russell Sage Studio has injected a clear Regency style focus with floral accents, gilded chandeliers and a wonderful sense of theatre. Signature dishes here include the Queen Mother’s favourite of Eggs Drumkilbo and a tableside serving of Beef Wellington with flair as the vital added ingredient.
Chutney Mary
Perhaps the most interesting and successful part of modern English dining is the inspiration it draws from influences around the world to present with a new take. Chutney Mary on St James’s Street is the work of pioneering restaurateurs Namita Panjabi and Ranjiit Mathrani who have been serving fine Anglo-Indian dining to the country’s capital since 1990. After 25 years in Chelsea, they moved here to the former home of Marco Pierre-White’s Wheeler’s restaurant to firmly redefine expectations of Indian food in the UK.
The highest praise is often garnered by Chutney Mary with accolades such as the AA restaurant of year for 2023/24 and the renowned critic A. A Gill was even moved to remark that “If there is a better pan-Indian restaurant in London then I haven’t eaten in it” as part of a glowing 5-star review for the Sunday Times. June 2025 sees Chutney Mary celebrate its 30th anniversary with an 8-course tasting menu that has signature and seasonal dishes to enjoy. All served in an immaculately designed main dining room bathed in light and perfect for summer suppers.
Brooklands by Claude Bosi
So much is made of the first taste being experienced with the eyes when it comes to fine dining. Brooklands by Claude Bosi delivers on this philosophy before you have even been seated with an astonishing panoramic view set 8 floors above Hyde Park Corner, that takes in Buckingham Palace Gardens and Wellington Arch.
Archer Humphryes Architects are responsible for this unique and iconic restaurant that celebrates both automotive and aviation history with carefully curated pieces integrated into the design of the space. Undoubtedly the highlight of these are the scaled models of Concorde and a Napier Railton race car that are on permanent display and this concept is carried right through the whole experience, with the staff uniforms conforming to the aviation aesthetics too.
Chef Director Claude Bosi, the acclaimed French Michelin-starred chef, is your ticket for some seriously first-class fare at Brooklands. It effortlessly marries modern British cuisine with traditional French techniques in signature dishes such as the Exmoor caviar with Roscoff onion & duck jelly that is subject to a three-year process of creation. This is a place that made the record books when it earned two Michelin stars after only months of opening. Quite the supersonic epicurean journey indeed.
The Thomas Cubitt
To be immortalised in a restaurant or pub name in this area of London is a rare and prestigious honour. The master builder Thomas Cubitt had so much influence on how Belgravia looks today, with his work on the iconic terraced buildings and focus on community atmosphere, that it feels fitting that his name is above the door of this excellent Gastropub just a 10-minute stroll from Buckingham Palace.
The focus here is on refining traditional pub cuisine and elevating it to a status more befitting of fine dining. The décor certainly helps set the scene with polished wood panelling, tall windows and a keen eye for stately ephemera with taxidermy accents such as the pheasants and deer’s heads tastefully added. Grilled Delmonico ribeye steaks and the essential fish & chips are all available, with a special mention for the Sunday Roasts that make this place buzz with energy at the end of the week. There is history here too, Sir Alec Guinness and Ian Fleming were both notable patrons during their time as fixtures on the Belgravia social scene to add a touch of thespian and literary glamour to the recipe.
This part of central London trades on its prestige, high status and discerning visitors. It only seems natural that the restaurants that provide the dining scene to support it are well designed for the well-heeled, with exquisite produce and menus that continue to delight in 2025. Experiencing them all to find your own crowning glory is definitely an activity worth pursuing whenever you are close to Buckingham Palace.
