|
|
Memorable Meals
London has evolved into one of the world's most exciting restaurant towns, with top-notch chefs dishing up a broad selection of international cuisines as well as a new wave of fresh and contemporary British fare. Prices tend to be high, so budget travelers will want to stick with neighborhood ethnic restaurants and humble pub meals, but if you're up for a special splurge, you'll find no shortage of good options - just remember to reserve well in advance for the most fashionable dining rooms.
Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's
 |
Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, a jewel in the crown of restaurateur Gordon Ramsay, a former pro soccer player from Scotland who is now the reigning superstar of London's culinary scene. Housed in a sumptuous Art Deco dining room at Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair. |
St. John
 |
St. John, a wholeheartedly British restaurant housed in a former smokehouse near the Smithfield meat market, famous for exquisite presentations of tripe, tongue, bone marrow and other frequently overlooked animal parts. |
Le Gavroche
 |
Le Gavroche, consistently rated among London's top kitchens, serving flawless classical French dishes in a formal dining room in Mayfair. |
Le Pont de la Tour
 |
Le Pont de la Tour, a reliable riverside venue offering terrific views of the Thames and the Tower Bridge along with delicious contemporary Anglo-French fare. Seafood is a particular specialty. |
Fifteen
 |
Fifteen, where "Naked Chef" Jamie Oliver puts disadvantaged youths through intensive culinary training and then puts them to work turning out creative modern Anglo-Italian meals at a remarkably successful restaurant in the trendy Shoreditch district. |
Back to Basics
 |
Back to Basics, a well-regarded West End seafood restaurant with an unpretentious atmosphere and surprisingly reasonable prices. |
Zaika
 |
Zaika, a superb contemporary Indian restaurant in Kensington where London's favorite ethnic cuisine gets strictly first-class treatment. |
The Orangery at Kensington Palace
 |
For classic English afternoon tea served in a distinctive historic setting, head for the Orangery at Kensington Palace, a 300-year-old royal greenhouse pavilion surrounded by the lovely Kensington Gardens. |
|
|