The highest honour in the culinary world is to receive a Michelin star, so dining in a restaurant with such a star guarantees a special experience. Awarded to restaurants that excel in serving show-stopping dining experiences, Michelin stars are in abundance in London. The capital has more than 70 restaurants serving incredible food, from modern French to Indian fusion. Here, we gather our four top Michelin restaurants in London where you can enjoy sensational dining.
Amaya, Belgravia
In a quiet corner of Belgravia, Amaya is perhaps the best Indian restaurant in London. Michelin starred since 2006, this large art studio-style restaurant has seating around a large open kitchen, so you can watch the incredible team of chefs create dishes with precision. Sit and enjoy Amaya’s theatrical open cooking and taste the delicate fusion of Indian flavours that has wowed critics and won the restaurant a coveted Michelin star.
Your food comes tapas-style with shared plates of food prepared on the tawa, tandoor and sigri grills – the lamb chops and venison kebabs are particularly delicious. There are plenty of vegetarian dishes as well.
The dress code is smart and elegant – shorts and ripped clothing are absolutely not allowed. So dress up and get ready to eat at one of the finest 1 Michelin star restaurants in London.
The Ninth, Fitzrovia
For something a little less formal, but no less delicious, head to The Ninth on Fitzrovia’s Charlotte Street. This relaxed and popular neighbourhood restaurant specialises in bold Mediterranean dishes you can have all to yourself or share. In the summer, you can sit on the sunny terrace, and inside there’s a warm glow, plenty of chatter and an affordable menu.
A serious fire forced The Ninth to close for several months, giving the chefs time to design new dishes and keep that coveted Michelin star when it reopened in March 2023. Try the homemade pasta in the delicious dishes, such as girolles spaghetti and langoustine ravioli. The chefs are renowned for getting the textures, seasoning and flavours just right in their meat and vegetable dishes too. There’s a casual romance to The Ninth, so it’s a top Michelin star restaurant in London for a special date night.
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Chelsea
The famously angry chef has not one but an amazing three Michelin stars at his flagship Restaurant Gordon Ramsey on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, so he knows what he’s shouting about. This restaurant is one of only a handful of three Michelin star restaurants in London, and the celebrity chef has retained the kudos since 2001.
Expect a luxury dining experience with an emphasis on food discovery and innovation in French-inspired food perfection, with the lobster, langoustine and salmon ravioli a top choice on the menu. For an unforgettable meal, choose the set-price Carte Blanche menu and entrust Chef Patron Matt Abé to create an entirely bespoke tasting menu for you filled with seasonal surprises.
Kai, Mayfair
Skipping traditional Chinese dishes, adventurous southern Nanyang cuisine is the order of the day at Kai in Mayfair. In 2009, this was the first Chinese restaurant in London to get a Michelin star, and it has retained the honour ever since. This is down to its inventive dishes such as wasabi prawns, which were invented here and copied by many, but never matched.
The setting at Kai is glamorous and intimate, with plush seating, chandeliers and a large fish tank. It’s a place to dress up for. The menu puts desserts first, which is a good hint you should leave room because they are incredibly imaginative. Try the Chocolate Does Grow on Trees for a woodland forest on a plate. It’s worth knowing, Kai also serves a popular Chinese Whispers Afternoon Tea, which comes with a jar of conversation starters.
Combine your fine-dining experience at top Michelin star restaurants in London with exquisite service and luxurious surroundings at The Clermont, Victoria or The Clermont, Charing Cross. Our heritage hotels are in the heart of the capital’s restaurant scene where you can have the best cuisine then enjoy a great night’s rest.