If you thought Knightsbridge was just about shopping, think again. Because alongside Harrods and Harvey Nichols, the neighbourhood’s food scene has been quietly blossoming – and it’s now home to some of the city’s best restaurants and chefs. In our edit, you’ll find the classics (of course), the new (how exciting), and some locally loved favourites that deserve your footfall. Here they are.
70 Brompton Rd, SW3 1ER
Alba Restaurant
Best for: carpaccio hand-rolled tableside for a touch of theatre.
Here comes the sun. No, this isn’t the start of a Beatles song, but just the beginning for Knightsbridge’s newbie, named after the Italian word for sunrise. Surrounded by canary yellow and the scent of real citrus trees, Alba hasn’t stopped shining brightly since it opened on Brompton Road. See off staples such as the Sicilian pink prawn carpaccio (freshly caught from the coast and finished with a satin-soft ball of burratina), followed by tagliatelle topped with slivers of black truffle.
La Môme at The Berkeley
Best for: Cannes charm without crossing the Channel.
Take a bow, The Berkeley’s breezy terrace. It’s no secret that calling somewhere a showstopper is a cliché, but at La Môme, it’s spot on. From thyme-snipping tableside waiters to cloche-covered citrus cocktails, every moment here is a mini performance. Share truffle treats like arancini and tuna tartare crowned with trout roe and slip into your starring role as a Riviera regular – no passport needed. And for an encore? Catch the OG in Cannes.
Wilton Pl, SW1X 7RL
27–31 Basil St, SW3 1BB
Harry’s Dolce Vita
Best for: bites after browsing at Harrods.
Sure, Knightsbridge has no shortage of Italian spots, but none serve dishes that’ll show up in your dreams quite like this. You could stick to the classics (truffle arancini and tiramisu has entered the chat), but that would be doing this gem a serious disservice. Save room for the totally unique Harry’s Toadstool – a red-and-white mushroom illusion of a dessert resting on a ‘grass’ bed of pistachio sauce. Fair warning: your camera might just eat before you do.
La Maison Ani
Best for: popular plates perfect for sharing.
A restaurant sitting next to Hermès needed to be stylish. And luckily, La Maison Ani delivers in all aspects – from interiors adorned with chic objets to a sophisticated menu with practically all tastes covered. You could simply swing by for a post-shopping salad (the halloumi and prawn iteration is particularly good), but dinner is also a must – order the creamy gnocchi burrata and blushing lamb chops served atop soft, sail-shaped pitta. Save room for the huge tarte tatin – crisp and tangy, it’ll easily feed four (if you can be convinced to share).
The Carlton Tower, 1 Cadogan Pl, SW1X 9PY
4 Harriet St, SW1X 9JR
Cantinetta Antinori
Best for: family-friendly feasts and fabulous live tunes.
Are you in Knightsbridge or a Tuscan town? It’s hard to tell inside Cantinetta Antorini, which feels like a proper, vine-smothered Italian trattoria (even if it’s just off Sloane Street). It’s owned by the wine-producing Antorini family – hence the vine motifs dotted around the restaurant – and the menu is stacked with family recipes (try the Scaloppina di filetto di vitello – silky veal fried in butter and lemon). Order the tiramisu, served tableside beneath a cloud of cream.
Sale e Pepe
Best for: laid-back lunches and longtime-loved recipes.
Sale e Pepe has serious star power. No, really. This intimate Italian has welcomed more famous faces than the Oscars for half a century – serving up generous helpings of pasta and paparazzi since day one. But the real star remains the gamberi scottati (warm red prawns swimming in a pool of Amalfi lemon and extra virgin olive oil sauce). Insider tip: save the focaccia appetiser to sponge up every last drop of the sauce. Buon appetito.
9–15 Pavilion Rd, SW1X 0HD
66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
The Aubrey
Best for: cocktail connoisseurs craving creative concoctions.
One of London’s best – and liveliest – izakayas, The Aubrey whisks you into a world of sake-splatted Japonisme. Inspired by artist Aubrey Beardsley, its scarlet interiors are furnished with crimson velvet, fringed lamps, and painted herons. The charcoal karaage chicken is a must-order, as is the popcorn lobster. And don’t even think about skipping the cocktail menu, which is inspired by the 19th-century Yellow Book and features genuinely innovative serves – try the umami-heavy Salome.
CLAP London
Best for: group gatherings and grooving in a glamorous space.
If you’ve brushed up on your knowledge of the UAE’s dining scene, you’ll likely recognise CLAP from its Dubai and Riyadh outposts. If not, we’ll fill you in. CLAP’s thing is ‘sensory dining’, which basically means it serves elevated Japanese dishes in a series of lavishly decorated rooms (look out for the chandelier made entirely of vintage toys). And as well as a live sushi counter and fine-dining restaurant, there’s also a rooftop bar with gorgeous views over Knightsbridge.
Sixth and seventh floor, 12–14 Basil St, SW3 1AJ
66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA
Dinner by Heston
Best for: staples since the start such as the meat fruit or tipsy cake.
It’s a restaurant by Heston Blumenthal, so you know there’s going to be at least a wandful of magic. And that’s exactly what you get at his restaurant in Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, which pulls its recipes from the pages of some of England’s oldest recipe books. To give you a flavour of what to expect: the signature dish here is the meat fruit, an optical illusion that looks like a mandarin but is really filled with chicken liver parfait and toasted bread.
Sette London
Best for: relaxed occasions accompanied by Italian classics.
Sette is the London counterpart to Manhattan’s scene-stealing Scarpetta, bringing a thwack of New York-style Italian glamour to Bvlgari Hotel London. Its dark panelling and all-around cool atmosphere signal that this is the place for a dressed-up dinner – even if its best dishes are its most stripped back (see the signature spaghetti with tomato sauce as evidence). In the mood for a post-dinner dance? Trot downstairs to Nolita Social – a bar with a live DJ and a great cocktail list.
4 Knightsbridge Grn, SW1X 7QA
165 Sloane St, SW1X 9QB
Sumosan Twiga
Best for: night owls who nibble, nosh, and dance until dawn.
This glamorous spot feels more like a members’ club than a restaurant – not least because it has a fully fledged nightclub in the basement. It’s dripping in glitzy details like marble-topped tables and black and white framed photographs, and the food is similarly well dressed, if varied – you’ll find both Japanese and Italian dishes here. It’s a good one for a girls’ night out – or a lively dinner that descends into dancing.
