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.
4 Harriet St, SW1X 9JR
Cantinetta Antinori
Are you in Knightsbridge or a tiny Tuscan town? It’s hard to tell whilst inside Cantinetta Antorini, which feels like a proper, vine-smothered Italian trattoria (even if it’s just off Sloane Street). It’s a cosy spot owned by the wine-producing Antorini family – hence the vine motifs dotted all 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). Save room for the tiramisu – pistachio flavoured and served tableside beneath a cloud of cream.
Sale e Pepe
When an inviting glow emanates from an intimate Italian’s bay windows, you know it’s going to be good. And when it’s a favourite amongst famous faces, you know it’s going to be even better. But the real showstopper is its 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 mop up the remainder of the sauce. Buon appetito.
9–15 Pavilion Rd, SW1X 0HD
66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA
The Aubrey
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 – a worthy backdrop for its elevated snack-style food (the charcoal karaage chicken is a must-order, as is the popcorn lobster). Don’t even think about skipping the cocktail menu, which is inspired by the infamous 19th-century Yellow Book and features genuinely innovative serves – try the umami-heavy Salome.
CLAP London
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
87–135 Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge Fifth Floor, Harrods, SW1X 7XL
Studio Frantzén
Björn Frantzén’s on a winning streak – and that’s not just because he used to be a professional football player. The Swedish chef’s eponymous Frantzén was the first restaurant in Sweden to win three Michelin stars – and, in 2022, he opened his first UK outpost on the top floor of Harrods. It offers Japanese-inflected Nordic cuisine on an all-day, à la carte menu – try the roasted chicken with miso butter, and don’t skip the warm laminated milk bread to start (it’s utterly divine).
Geode
Another lively new opening, Geode falls under the category of ‘vibe-dining’ – essentially a way of saying the music will be turned up really loud past 8pm. However, by this time, the dining room is filled with groups of friends catching up over sushi or Moroccan-spiced sea bass (the menu has a bit of everything), so you don’t tend to notice. Stop by the bar for a pre- or post-dinner drink; with its exposed brick walls and geode cut out, it feels very NYC – so Geode’s twist on an Old Fashioned feels very in order.
14–15 Beauchamp Pl, SW3 1NQ
7 Cheval Pl, SW7 1EW
Haandi
As the Knightsbridge outpost of a Nairobi-based Indian restaurant group, it’s safe to say Haandi has a global appeal. Its swish interiors attract the well-heeled Harrods crowd, as does its (spotless) glass-front kitchen, where diners can watch their Punjabi-leaning cuisine be prepared. Don’t miss the dal Bukhara, which is packed with flavour, having been cooked for 12 hours over simmering charcoal embers.
Dinner by Heston
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.
66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA
4 Knightsbridge Grn, SW1X 7QA
Sette London
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.
Sumosan Twiga
This glamourous 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.
165 Sloane St, SW1X 9QB
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