Dining
Michelin-Star Restaurants in London
London's Michelin-starred kitchens, and which stars are actually worth the spend.
In short: our top picks are Core by Clare Smyth, A. Wong and Ikoyi. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
A Michelin star is a promise, not a guarantee: London has dozens, and they range from life-list dinners to rooms coasting on reputation. These are the ones we would actually book, for the cooking and the occasion both.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Core by Clare Smyth | Notting Hill | ££££ |
| A. Wong | Victoria | £££ |
| Ikoyi | Strand | ££££ |
| The Ledbury | Notting Hill | ££££ |
| Trivet | Bermondsey | ££££ |
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Editor’s choice
Core by Clare Smyth
Why we pick itThree stars in Notting Hill from one of the best chefs in the country, doing refined British produce with astonishing precision. A genuine life-list dinner.
Worth knowingExpensive, tasting menu only, and booked months ahead; set aside a proper stretch of the evening rather than treating it as a night out.
The life-list three-star.
-
A. Wong
Why we pick itThe only Chinese restaurant in Europe with two stars, turning dim sum and regional cooking into something extraordinary. Book the tasting menu.
Worth knowingSkip it if you want a grand dining room
The most exciting two-star in town.
-
Ikoyi
Why we pick itFirst African-influenced restaurant in London to hold a Michelin star
Worth knowing£395 a head for the full tasting menu, fixed with little room to deviate, which will frustrate anyone who prefers choosing individual dishes.
Like nothing else you have eaten.
-
The Ledbury
Why we pick itThree Michelin stars from 2024, built on deer, cattle and pigs the chef rears himself
Worth knowingTables go weeks or months ahead and the tasting menu runs to several hundred a head with wine, which puts it in once-a-year territory.
Faultless and grown-up.
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Trivet
Why we pick itTwo Michelin stars with a proper a la carte menu rather than tasting-only
Worth knowingThe à la carte freedom makes the bill less predictable than a fixed menu, mains start above £30, and the unmarked door takes some finding.
For the wine as much as the food.
Before you book
Book weeks ahead for the big names, and look at lunch: many top kitchens do a set lunch at a fraction of the dinner price. Tell them if it is a celebration. And go hungry but unhurried; these are not meals to rush.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Core by Clare Smyth is our editor's choice: Three stars in Notting Hill from one of the best chefs in the country, doing refined British produce with astonishing precision. A genuine life-list dinner. Core by Clare Smyth, A. Wong and Ikoyi lead the guide, with 5 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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