The 11 best Piccadilly restaurants
It's hard to categorise any Piccadilly restaurants as a ‘secret’ as such. The area is a tourist attraction and office hub for millions of people a year – each week, even – so these London restaurants are never short on foot traffic and hungry bellies to feed. However, away from the bright lights and convenience of the chain restaurants and sprawling bars, this area of London can continue to surprise. From blow-the-budget bookings to inflation-busting hideouts, these are our favourite restaurants within easy reach of Piccadilly Circus right now.
Scully St James's
If anyone embodies ‘fusion’ it’s Ramael Scully. Born in Malaysia and raised in Sydney by a mother of Chinese-Indian descent and an Irish-Balinese father, the former head chef at Yotam Ottolenghi’s Nopi is the product of multiple heritages. No wonder then that the eight-course tasting menu at his eponymous restaurant in St James’s refuses to pick sides. Every dish emerging from the open-plan kitchen is an adventurous (and creamy) mashup of flavours. Standouts include the Gambero Rosso prawn with red chillies, citrus kosho, sago and wild garlic oil. The Baby Poussin, accompanied by tsalafouti cheese and apricot umeboshi, is stuffed Malaysia-style with chicken thigh mince, while the Bergamot Labneh – a fermented ground maize dough – is served with an eggplant sambal formulated by Scully’s mother. The combination of Carosello and Barattiere with nata de coco and passion fruit dressing initially strikes a dissonant note but is skilfully brought together by the toasted sunflower seeds in butter. Whatever combo he dreams up, you can rest assured that it'll never be boring. Noo Saro-Wiwa
Address: Scully St James's, 4 St James's Mkt, St. James's, London SW1Y 4AH
Website: scullyrestaurant.com
Casa do Frango
Best for: The juiciest chicken in town
Casa do Frango is slowly becoming quite the foodie institution in the capital. Portuguese favourites fly out of the kitchen, steam swirling from bowls of rice and sharing platters of lovingly marinated meat, scenting the restaurant as they pass. Aside from the piri-piri chicken, a side of African rice is non-negotiable; the signature side dish of Portuguese carolino rice is mixed with chorizo, crispy chicken skin and plantain. While the meat is the star of the show, there are enough sides – vegetarian and gluten-free, as well as many suited to carnivores – to warrant multiple return visitors. Gather a group of fellow foodies, get cosy inside or head to the terrace, and dive into sweet grilled chorizo, flavoursome fire-roasted green vegetables and zesty slaw. You’ll be fed so well that you might have to flag a black cab down after passing back down Heddon Street. Connor Sturges
Address: Casa do Frango, Heddon House, 149-151 Regent Street, London W1B 4JD
Website: casadofrango.co.uk
Café Lapérouse
When a Parisian institution opens this side of the Channel, restaurant critics and discerning foodies hold their breath – while waiting for bookings to open. Cafe Laperouse is the latest to do just that, opening its doors in autumn 2023 alongside several other dining spaces in Raffles London at The OWO, one of the most opulent new London hotels to open its doors this side of the millennium. Art director Cordeìlia de Castellane is to credit for the captivating interiors. The scheme is inspired by the travels of French explorer Jean-François de Lapérouse and captures the spirit of the restaurant that sits opposite the Place de la Concorde in the French capital. Unlike some of the OWO’s restaurants, it’s straightforward to find Café Lapérouse: a pavilion constructed in the courtyard, sheltered from the elements by the wings of Churchill’s WWII headquarters. Two further rooms inside warrant return visits, particularly the Salon Orient, a scarlet-hued dining room designed with romantics and Francophiles in mind.
The menu is, naturally, focused on French classics. Hors d'oeuvres include homemade duck foie gras, Burgundy snails in their shells doused in garlic and parsley butter, and uber-indulgent lobster Caesar salad. Only Lapérouse’s Croque Monsieur carries the restaurant’s name, and rightly so – it’s simple French fare done well, béchamel oozing out of long slithers of toast. There’s only one vegetarian main dish on the menu, which changes daily, so this is primarily a pescatarian’s paradise. While the saffron risotto intrigued us, the chicken comes recommended, tender corn-fed breast coated in a creamy morel mushroom sauce; salty, but not overly so. Beef tartare doesn’t stray from classic variations but is well-seasoned and pressed into a pancake shape; caviar is available as a topping, but no egg yolks in sight. Desserts induce semi-orgasmic hums of enjoyment around us, and once we crack through a chocolate lid emblazoned with the restaurant’s logo and devour the gooey centre, all is clear. Connor Sturges
Address: Cafe Laperouse, Courtyard, The Old War Office – OWO, 7 Horse Guards Ave, London SW1A 2EX
Website: laperouse.com
Thomas AlexanderQuaglino’s
Quaglino’s oozes glamour and luxury, equipped with a jazz ensemble, two bars and a private dining room. I couldn’t help but feel as though I was living out my Great Gatsby dream as I descended the stairs into the dining area. This ambience is reinforced by the Art Deco design that ladens the walls of this decades-old spot. The menu is timeless and tasteful, which is to be expected of a restaurant that has served royal guests. Quaglino’s brings classic flavours to life – imagine succulent duck breast paired with sweet, tart mandarin marmalade, roasted Highland venison with piney Juniper and a rich blueberry and white chocolate crème brûlée to finish it all off. If you’re looking for an experience while visiting London or a special celebratory dinner, then Quaglino’s is just the place. Amber Port
Address: Quaglino's, 16 Bury Street, St. James's, London SW1Y 6AJ
Website: quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk
John CareyCoya Mayfair
As Coya Mayfair in Piccadilly celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, the Peruvian restaurant remains a sensory universe unto itself, known as much for its arresting decor as its cuisine. Following a 2020 makeover, its interiors are as chromatically exuberant as ever, a riot of Inca-inspired wall carvings and Amazon-esque gold-leaf foliage that glints in dim lighting as the DJ pumps out the bass. The menu, never to be outdone by the surroundings, has kept its standards high, offering elevated Peruvian cuisine with Japanese and Spanish twists. Standouts include the blue prawn ceviche zhooshed up by the sweet tang of chilli lemon and mango; the citrusy conchas tiradito (scallops, olives and corn); and the lubina chilena hunk of sea bass under a miso glaze. The crispy spicy potato sides, richly dressed in a huancaína spicy tomato and cheese sauce, are a perennial crowd-pleaser. Best of all, the mixologists’ pisco cocktails will ensure that the night begins or ends on a deliciously sour note. Noo Saro-Wiwa
Address: Coya Mayfair, 118 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NW
Website: coyarestaurant.com
Hide
This area is no stranger to beautifully glossy restaurants. But Ollie Dabbous's Hide might be the most beautiful, most glossy of all the Piccadilly restaurants. It's a soaring three-floor space right on the thrumming thoroughfare of Piccadilly where each storey is connected by a curving walnut-hued staircase. Despite being set on one of London's busiest streets, you feel cocooned from any frenetic energy as soon as you push open the heavy door. Pin-sharp staff escort you into the light-filled dining room, where the team have nailed the holy grail of eating out: creating a buzzing space where you can hear your companions perfectly – without being able to hear a word from the tables around you. Dishes here are pure art. At breakfast, avocado toast is topped with perfect flowers grown in-house; at supper, venison cooked over charcoal is decorated with smoked walnut praline and cranberry puree. There's a mammoth wine list, a basement bar and a private dining room – but the real magic of this spot is that nothing feels buttoned up or intimidating. A special spot for a special summer that you must try once. Sarah James
Address: 85 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NB, United Kingdom
Website: hide.co.uk
Bar Kroketa
Take the backstreet route from Piccadilly Circus past Golden Square, and you’ll discover London’s hottest intimate dining spot – Bar Kroketa. The all-day dining destination is a new concept from the team behind the Spanish restaurant group Brindisa and brings an authentic, colourful flare to this corner of Soho. Enter by the bar, propped up by social foodies in search of a bite to eat after the office as they sip on chilled Cava and swirl warming glasses of deep Spanish reds. Only a handful of tables can be found at the back, each offering a view of the kitchen antics. As the name suggests, croquettes are the go-to here. At the centre of the crispy ham croquettes is a steaming, creamy centre – comfort food at its finest. Crab and lemon croquettes play the part of palette cleanser, while king prawn croquettes served with prawn head aioli were a favourite at our table. Larger, more filling plates included hot-flush-inducing patatas bravas, and perhaps the most indulgent dish of them all – the crab toastie. Ideal for two to share, the toastie arrives piping hot and oozing an oily bechamel sauce. Bar Kroketa isn’t big on desserts, but with small dishes as divine as this, it’ll be a miracle if there’s room for a deep-fried ball of salted caramel chocolate by the end. Connor Sturges
Address: Bar Kroketa, 21 Beak Street, Carnaby, London W1F 9RR
Website: kroketa.co.uk
Cicchetti London Piccadilly
It’s rare to see an empty table in Cicchetti’s cosy dining room, filled with celebratory dinners who’ve booked in advance, Regent street shoppers in search of respite, and hungry tourists who flock from nearby Piccadilly Circus. The windows are filled with fresh fish, hanging legs of Serrano ham, bright yellow lemons and fresh pasta shells. If the window display doesn’t draw you in then the menu will. Plates are designed to be shared. Start with freshly baked bruschetta topped with juicy tomatoes and a creamy ball of burrata wrapped in parma ham. There’s plenty of mains to choose from; we loved the truffle ravioli covered in creamy pecorino, the rich baked Melanzane parmigiana and the Pollo Milanese – a pan-fried flattened chicken breast coated in breadcrumbs. Don’t skimp on dessert – you must try the creamy pistachio cake drizzled with white chocolate and fresh fruit. Finishing with an Italian aperitif is a must. Sophie Knight
Address: Cicchetti, 215 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9HL
Website: sancarlo.co.uk
J W HowardGaucho
Carnivorous classics are done particularly well at Gaucho Piccadilly – arguably the chain’s glittering flagship restaurant. Best of all, steaks come with sustainable credentials here, as the beef sourced is 100 per cent carbon offset; just one of the many initiatives going on behind the scenes. Tuck into rump, sirloin and fillet steaks, or opt for something more extravagant such as the tira de ancho spiral-cut slow-grilled with chimichurri, or an indulgent chateaubriand to share. Your choice of steak is just the beginning, of course. Douse cuts in rich béarnaise and blue cheese sauces, and pile plates high with sides of creamy mashed potato, truffle mac and cheese and buttered oyster mushrooms. There’s a special menu for children offering a smaller steak and several other dishes, while brunches, Sunday roasts and special events are also catered for. Connor Sturges
Address: Gaucho Piccadilly, 25 Swallow Street, London, W1B 4QR
Website: gauchorestaurants.com
JACK HARDYThe Ritz
Of all the Piccadilly restaurants, this one needs no introduction. A London institution, this decadent spot could be the capital’s glitziest place to come for a celebratory meal or seriously impressive date night. Interiors consist of gilded cornicing, dangling chandeliers, the most extravagant gold-toned floor-to-ceiling curtains and a ceiling painted cerulean blue with fluffy wisps of cloud – to name but a few highlights. Naturally, after nearly 120 years, the restaurant knows exactly how to make a menu stand out. There are typically only five options for first and second courses, but choosing one for each is a challenge. The lobster, for example, comes drizzled in smoked butter and served with sweet Delica pumpkin, while the duck main is served with juicy apricots, flaked almonds and lavender. No meal at the Ritz is complete without an aperitif – a glass of the restaurant’s Champagne of the month should do the trick – but those feeling overwhelmed can solicit the help of a sommelier, happily on hand to offer advice on which tipples to pair with your selected dishes. Round off the evening with a selection of cheese or a dessert from the trolley, although the chocolate soufflé emblazoned with the iconic Ritz logo is a decadent choice you won’t find elsewhere. Olivia Morelli
Address: The Ritz, 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR
Website: theritzlondon.com
Irina BoersmaIkoyi, Temple
Best for: Imaginative dishes curated with West African spices and beyond
Ikoyi built a solid reputation for itself at St James’s Market. Now nestled on the streets of Temple, Ikoyi’s larger location expands on its existing earthy copper and butter-yellow decor. Additional elements of boldness are obvious as light glows in the curved walls and steel mesh ceilings maximise the space. The modernity of the atmosphere is reflected in the tasting lunch or dinner menus, which change with hyper-seasonal and local ingredients that are served in their optimal state. Superchef Jeremy Chan’s experience and takes on flavour are mirrored in dishes such as the smoked beef served with coal-roasted pumpkin or the crowd-pleasing plantain garnished with roasted peanut and served with a spiced efo emulsion. Choose between the wine or tea pairings for five or eight courses, or select one of their balanced cocktails like the malt & apricot sour made with ogogoro and barley. Reservations open two months in advance to accommodate demand, so booking is essential. Vivienne Dovi
Address: 180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA
Website: ikoyilondon.com