Dining
The 5 Best Private Dining Rooms in London
No neighbours, no rush: the private rooms in London worth booking when the doors should close.
In short: our top picks are The Ned, Hawksmoor Guildhall and Quaglinos. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
A private room changes an evening: no neighbours, no rush, a table that is yours for the night and service that treats it that way. Whether it is a birthday, a deal worth marking, or a dinner that simply wants the doors closed, these are the rooms in London worth booking.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Ned | Bank | ££££ |
| Hawksmoor Guildhall | The City | £££ |
| Quaglinos | St James's | £££ |
| City Social | The City | ££££ |
| Aqua Shard | London Bridge | ££££ |
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Editor’s choice
The Ned
Why we pick itA vast former bank turned hotel with a dozen restaurants and some of the most striking private rooms in the City, from boardroom-formal to speakeasy-louche.
For striking rooms and total flexibility.
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Hawksmoor Guildhall
Why we pick itA steakhouse near Bank, a stone's throw from what may have been the world's first steakhouse, with a 24-seat private dining room and comfortable space for 140 standing guests in exclusive-use events. Large groups enquire through the form on its page.
Private dining done with no fuss.
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Quaglinos
Why we pick itReopened this October as a newly reimagined room on Bury Street, with lunch from 9 October and late opening most nights, to midnight Monday to Thursday and to 1am on Friday and Saturday. Dinner comes with live music and performance. Tables for up to 12 book online; larger parties and private rooms go through its Groups and Events page.
For a glamorous party at scale.
-
City Social
Why we pick itA slick City dining room high in Tower 42 with skyline views and private spaces that mean business. For a dinner that needs to impress the table.
A serious room for a long lunch.
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Aqua Shard
Why we pick itModern British food thirty one floors up, with the view doing most of the work
Worth knowingThe cooking does not match the setting and portions read small for the price; without a window table booked well ahead, the point of coming is lost.
When the view should do the work.
Before you book
Private rooms go far ahead, so plan early, especially in December. Ask about minimum spends rather than room hire, which is how most work, and whether the menu is set or a la carte. And be honest about numbers: the best rooms have a sweet spot, and a space built for twenty feels thin with eight.
Common questions
What are the best private dining rooms in London?
The Ned is our editor's choice: A vast former bank turned hotel with a dozen restaurants and some of the most striking private rooms in the City, from boardroom-formal to speakeasy-louche. The Ned, Hawksmoor Guildhall and Quaglinos lead the guide, with 5 places in total, all chosen on merit.
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