Dining
Every Ivy in London, Ranked
Nineteen Ivys in London, and only eight of them are a different evening. The 1917 original, three Ivy Asias, and the gardens and river rooms, ranked, with the brasseries and cafes named for what they are.
In short: our top picks are The Ivy West Street, The Ivy Asia Mayfair and The Ivy Chelsea Garden. 8 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Ask someone to book the Ivy and you could end up in any of nineteen London rooms, which is the problem. One is the 1917 original in Theatreland. Three are Ivy Asias, a different restaurant entirely, one of them built on a green agate floor. Four are gardens or river rooms worth choosing for the setting alone. The remaining eleven are brasseries and cafes that share a menu, a look and a purpose, and are named at the foot of this page rather than ranked against each other, because choosing between them is a question of which is nearest. These are the eight where the room changes the evening.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Ivy West Street | Covent Garden | £££ |
| The Ivy Asia Mayfair | Mayfair | ££££ |
| The Ivy Chelsea Garden | Chelsea | £££ |
| The Ivy Asia, St Paul's | St Paul's | ££££ |
| The Ivy Tower Bridge | Tower Bridge | £££ |
| The Ivy Asia, Chelsea | Chelsea | ££££ |
| The Ivy In The Park, Canary Wharf | Canary Wharf | £££ |
| The Ivy City Garden | Liverpool Street | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
The Ivy West Street
Why we pick itOpen since 1917 in the middle of Theatreland, and still the only room in the group with a claim on London's cultural history: iconic stained glass, a shimmering central bar and an art-filled interior. Everything else here borrows the name; this is where it came from.
The one people mean
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The Ivy Asia Mayfair
Why we pick itA dazzling green agate floor and antique decor make this the most theatrical room the group has, and the one people photograph before they order. DJs run until late at weekends, so it works as an evening rather than a dinner.
The green agate floor
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The Ivy Chelsea Garden
Why we pick itAl fresco dining among vibrant floral surroundings off the King's Road, with a private dining room looking onto the garden. The one worth planning around the weather for, and the group's most requested room for a celebration.
Best outdoor tables in the group
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The Ivy Asia, St Paul's
Why we pick itFirst floor in the City with stunning views of St Paul's Cathedral, an opulent Pan-Asian room and live DJ sets, a few minutes from Bank. The view does the work the agate floor does in Mayfair.
Cathedral views, opulent room
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The Ivy Tower Bridge
Why we pick itA riverside room with striking views of Tower Bridge, walking distance from Borough Market and the Bridge Theatre, which makes it the most useful of the group for an evening with something either side of dinner. Modern British cooking, fully accessible main dining room.
The bridge, from the table
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The Ivy Asia, Chelsea
Why we pick itContemporary interiors and cosy corners on the King's Road, reached through the restaurant next door, with DJs at weekends. Friday nights run as Nocturne, which is the version of this room to book.
Friday nights, and Nocturne
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The Ivy In The Park, Canary Wharf
Why we pick itTwo floors in a sustainable building with two outdoor terraces looking over a green space, which is not a sentence you expect to write about Canary Wharf. All-day, from breakfast through brunch to dinner.
Two terraces over green space
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The Ivy City Garden
Why we pick itSignature greenery, bold artwork and vibrant orange leather banquettes inside Dashwood House on Old Broad Street, built for City lunches and weekend celebrations. Private dining rooms sit alongside it.
Worth knowingThe private dining rooms are less accessible than the main restaurant, which is step-free throughout.
The expense-account one
Before you book
The original on West Street books furthest ahead and suits a pre-theatre table; the Asia sites run DJs into the night and are the ones to pick when dinner is the start of the evening rather than the end of it. Gardens and terraces are the other reason to travel: Chelsea Garden for flowers, In The Park for two terraces over green space, Tower Bridge for the bridge itself.
The rest of the London collection, near enough interchangeable, is Granary Square Brasserie, the Ivy Cafes at Blackheath, Marylebone and Wimbledon, and the Ivy at Kensington, Market Grill in Covent Garden, Northcote Road, Richmond, Soho, St John’s Wood and Victoria. Pick whichever is closest and expect the same menu.
Common questions
Which Ivy is best in London?
The Ivy West Street is our editor's choice: Open since 1917 in the middle of Theatreland, and still the only room in the group with a claim on London's cultural history: iconic stained glass, a shimmering central bar and an art-filled interior. Everything else here borrows the name; this is where it came from. The Ivy West Street, The Ivy Asia Mayfair and The Ivy Chelsea Garden lead the guide, with 8 places in total, all chosen on merit.
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