In the mood for French food? You’ve come to the right place. London is brimming with classic bistros and chic brasseries. With some of the world’s best French chefs, from Yannick Alléno and Raymond Blanc to Hélène Darroze and Alain Ducasse, setting up shop here, London is one of the best places outside France to experience it. Here are the finest spots finessing everything from frog’s legs and fondue to steak frites and soufflé. Bon appétit.
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34 Duke St, SW1Y 6DF | Credit: Steven Joyce
Maison François, St. James’s
If you thought really good French food only existed in France, au contraire. This brasserie serves the crème de la crème: a beef tartare trolley that rocks up to your table, with a waiter ready to mix and assemble the dish exactly to your taste. The fillet is tossed with capers, shallots, and a dash of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce. Or opt for the retro oeuf en gelée glass-like orb of tox tongue concealing a runny boiled egg.
maisonfrancois.london
Mazarine, Mayfair
Best for: superb service and seafood.
The first thing that strikes you at this new Hanover Square spot is the sweet and salty scent drifting past your nostrils, transporting you to the French coast. It’s a soothing space – a sea of neutral tones, textures, and curves. We especially love the muted mood music that allows you to catch up with your dinner date properly (not a given in London’s current restaurant scene) and the expert service that’s attentive yet unfussy. Must-orders on the seafood-heavy menu include the Croque Mazarine and tuna steak.
mazarinerestaurant.com
22 Hanover Sq, W1S 1JA | Credit: James Macdonald
63–69 Canonbury Rd, N1 2DG
Bistro Sablé, Islington
Best for: candlelit, fireside dining.
The French know how to do romance right, and Islington’s new bistro serves it up in spaces. First things first: ask to be seated on the table by the open fire – it’s the cosiest, candlelit corner to curl up in and tuck into your traditional French plates. Speaking of which, order the cheesy French onion soup, impossibly tender beef bourguignon, and picture-perfect apple tart tatin (one of London’s best dishes for two).
bistrosable.co.uk
64 Goodge Street, Fitzrovia
Best for: escargot enthusiasts.
Fitzrovia foodies, prepare to be shell-shocked in the best way. This small bistro may have only slithered its way into Michelin star territory last year, but one dish has stayed put since day one: the snail bon bons. These golden balls of panéed (breadcrumbed) garlic butter, Bayonne ham, and almonds, then fried to perfection – so good, even the most snail-shy diner will be won over.
64goodgestreet.com
64 Goodge St, W1T 4NF
315 Fulham Rd, SW10 9QH
Josephine Bouchon, Chelsea
Towering candlesticks and crisp white tablecloths – that's Josephine Bouchon in a nutshell. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu at this ultra-chic Chelsea bistro, but you won’t want to miss the steak tartare: finely chopped, caper-kissed, parsley-packed, and shallot-speckled. Other usual suspects include a cloud-like cheese soufflé and a perfectly plated pâté en croûte.
josephine.com
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, Mayfair
Alain Ducasse is the name, and 21 Michelin stars is the game – three of which are at his dining room in The Dorchester. Splurge on the seven-course tasting menu, starting with a hand-dived scallop perching on its shell and doused in a citrus-Kristal caviar beurre blanc before your eyes. Then ride several waves of seafood – from lobster medallion and Périgord truffle pasta or a fillet of Cornish turbot teamed with tender octopus. Très bien.
alainducasse.com
The Dorchester, 53 Park Ln, W1K 1QA
53–54 Brook’s Mews, W1K 4EG
La Petite Maison (LPM), Mayfair
Best for: picture-perfect plates.
At LPM, your camera eats before you do. Every inch of the interiors is Instagram-worthy – and the food follows suit. But beware: you’ll find yourself posting dishes like the ruby-red tuna tartare, accompanied by a spoon balancing a dollop of jet-black caviar, or the creamy vanilla crème brûlée, mid-meal. Whatever you choose, pair it with a Tomatini – dusted with a sprinkle of pepper – a signature cocktail that’s practically a rite of passage.
lpm.com
Bouchon Racine, Farringdon
Best for: an authentic Lyon bouchon.
Bouchon Racine is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get. The ever-changing menu lives on a chalkboard, doodled each day and scrubbed off the next. One night it might be rabbit swaddled in smoked bacon, lounging on a bed of broad beans and lathered in mustard sauce; the next, something entirely different. But one thing’s for sure: you’ll be planning your return before you’ve even asked for the bill.
bouchonracine.com
66 Cowcross St, EC1M 6BP
The Connaught, Carlos Pl, W1K 2AL
Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, Mayfair
Few places in the world are quite like this fancy French fare. No, really – chef Hélène Darroze is one of just nine female chefs to run a three-Michelin-starred restaurant. Keep an eye out for intricate dishes that almost look too good to eat, such as red mullet finished with flowers, or the signature lobster in tandoori spices (an 18-year menu mainstay).
hélènedarroze.com
Amélie Restaurant, Belgravia
This is Belgravia – so you’ll spot swinging Harrods bags from the sunny terrace that spills onto a pedestrianised street. The viral, silky-smooth chocolate mousse also makes an appearance all day, so good that some tables come solely for it. Assembled tableside, two scoops are topped with caramelised almonds and pistachios to your taste. Top tip: opt for a sprinkle of sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil to balance the sweetness.
amélie.com
Pantechnicon, 19 Motcomb St, SW1X 8LB
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, Hamilton Pl, W1J 7DR
Pavyllon London, Mayfair
Best for: inventive French food.
Yannick Alléno has an impressive 17 Michelin stars under his belt – and you might have to undo yours after popping over to Pavyllon. Case in point: the six-course tasting menu, fittingly named ‘Mayfair’. Highlights include soft egg stacked with blobs of bluefin tuna tartare and smoked pike roe, and a John Dory fillet floating in Tahitian vanilla butter, infused with jasmine and complemented by a rich coconut cream.
pavyllonlondon.com
La Maison Ani, Belgravia
Despite sitting in one of London’s poshest postcodes, this pretty-in-pink eatery is unpretentiously elegant. Unsurprisingly, the clientele has likely spent the afternoon kicking about on King's Road. Predictably, you’ll start with can’t-go-wrong classics like escargots (snails) smothered with garlic butter and parsley, French soup crowned with gooey Gruyère, and a South-of-France favourite, salade niçoise. Nice.
lamaisonani.com
Jumeriah Carlton Tower, 1 Cadogan Pl, SW1X 9PY
120 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2QG
Le Relais de Venise l’Entrecôte, Marylebone
Best for: steak frites.
This French restaurant has been doing the rounds on Instagram feeds – and for good reason. One being that there are no bookings and no menu: the only option is a double helping of steak frites with a secret sauce that’s the stuff of buttery dreams. The second? It’s always busy, so arrive before it opens to beat the queues. Once seated, you’ll soon see why it’s become a social media sensation and firm favourite since 1959.
