It might seem strange for Belgravia to be described as a hub for fine dining. Its white stucco buildings cut a more peaceful figure than neighbours Chelsea and Mayfair – and little wonder, as this area is mostly residential. However, you’ll still find some of London’s best restaurants here – from Tom Aikens’ triumphant mews house takeover to Claude Bosi’s Brooklands on the top floor of Peninsula London. So, without further ado, here’s our Quintessentially-approved list of where to dine.
Cornus
In case the tinkling piano music, art collection, and white tablecloths didn’t give it away: this is a fine-dining restaurant through and through. It’s the sophomore opening from Medlar’s David O’Connor and Joe Mercer Nairne, who’ve joined forces with ex-Angler chef Gary Foulkes to create an ingredient-led, langoustine-heavy menu served in an elegant dining room atop a former ice factory. Start with the indulgent lobster spaghetti (hand-rolled and topped with a generous blob of caviar) before moving on to buttery roast chicken with langoustines, and a comforting finale of cherry-topped rice pudding.
27c Eccleston Place, SW1W 9NF
Canton Blue
Dark blue, moodily lit, marble-topped: Canton Blue is the kind of super-flash restaurant that could only exist in The Peninsula London (one of London’s latest super-flash hotels). It’s certainly a dramatic backdrop for chef Dicky To’s Cantonese cooking, which features all the staples you’d expect: xiao long bao, Peking duck served either deep- or wok-fried, char sui-drenched barbecued pork… Do yourself a favour and order a bit of it all – and chase it with a cup of Peninsula tea in the adjacent lounge.
1 Grosvenor Pl, SW1X 7HJ
Muse by Tom Aikens
If you were to step inside Tom Aikens’ brain, you’d be immersed in a world of Pyrenees lamb, Jersey Royal potatoes, and gooseberry-flavoured lobster. Well, that’s what you’ll discover when you step inside Muse, anyway – Aikens’s counter restaurant that’s, fittingly, located in a mews townhouse just around the corner from Grosvenor Place. The entire tasting menu is inspired by memorable moments and dishes from his childhood, with each course accompanied by a personal musing or memory from the chef himself.
38 Groom Pl, SW1X 7BA
Brooklands by Claude Bosi
Does Claude Bosi ever take a day off? Apparently not, as – as well as being the brains behind Bibendum and Josephine Bouchon – he’s also taken the reigns at Brooklands, The Peninsula’s triumphant rooftop restaurant. And yes, it is named after (and takes style cues from) the Surrey racing circuit. Bosi’s cooking here takes a ‘best of Britain but with French techniques’ approach, resulting in dishes like devilled Dorset snails and Exmoor caviar with duck jelly. In a rush? Try the speedy new Concorde menu – three courses served in under an hour.
The Peninsula, 1 Grosvenor Pl, SW1X 7HJ
Salloos
It’s (sadly) a rarity nowadays to step into a restaurant and be personally greeted by the owner. But not at Salloos. When you arrive here, you’ll likely be met by Salloo himself – Muhammed Salahuddin, who’s owned this Mughalai spot since it opened in 1976. It’s a warm, comfortable place where you’ll be fed traditional Pakistani dishes that burst with flavour – like the signature tandoori chops or chicken karahi. Heading here for a big family celebration? Pre-order the raan masala – a slow-roasted leg of lamb fit for up to six people.
62–64 Kinnerton St, SW1X 8ER
Pétrus by Gordon Ramsey
Wine buffs will know Pétrus as the Pomerol wine estate in Bordeaux – and fine wine is certainly a huge part of Gordon Ramsey’s Belgravia outpost. There are over 700 bins kept in the striking glass-walled wine store at the centre of the room – including several bottles dating back to 1948. Wines aside, the menu also impresses with seasonal, French-leaning dishes that show off head chef Orson Vergnaud’s creativity – try the Prestige menu to get a feel for his style.
Kinnerton St, SW1X 8EA
La Poule au Pot
Is this Belgravia’s most romantic restaurant? It’s certainly in the running, what with its bunches of dried flowers, candle-topped tables, and classic French menu – which has served many of the same dishes (we’re looking at you, cassoulet) since it opened in 1962. In recent years, a few more plant-based dishes have snuck onto the menu (including a meat-free version of the aforementioned cassoulet), and it also has a wonderful terrace where you can watch the world go by over a glass of French red.
231 Ebury St, SW1W 8UT
Wild by Tart
There’s a lot going on at Wild by Tart. The vast, plant-filled former power station and coal store has a restaurant, bar, events space, photography studio, and a cute little shop selling chic homewares. Its restaurant, though, is the main reason to come here. Most ingredients are sourced from the owners’ family farms in Somerset and Northumberland, meaning that the menu is – understandably – seasonal (although flavours are plucked from across the UK, Mediterranean, and Middle East). Try the lamb ragu, if it’s on, with a side of crispy Ratte potatoes.
3-4, Eccleston Yards, SW1W 9AZ
Boisdale of Belgravia
We don’t often we talk about Scottish restaurants in London – and, frankly, that’s because there just aren’t that many of them. But luckily, this crimson-splashed townhouse exists – and it’s a joyful jaunt into the world of Scottish cooking. The expected haggis, neeps, and tatties are all present, as are Shetland mussels, Isle of Uist scallops, and smoked salmon from the Outer Hebrides. That’s not all. It also has a secret cigar terrace, a stacked whisky bar, and live jazz performances every evening – in case you fancy a knees-up on the tartan carpet.
15 Eccleston St, SW1W 9LX
Hunan
Don’t expect to spend any time browsing the menu at Hunan: it doesn’t have one. Instead, chef YS Peng and his son, Michael, have adopted an entirely bespoke approach; you simply tell the staff how much you want to eat (and signal your spice tolerance), and they’ll bring you a personalised tasting menu of refined Cantonese classics. All that and it still feels like a relaxed, blink-and-you-might-miss-it neighbourhood joint – despite being one of the best Chinese restaurants in Belgravia (if not the whole of London).
51 Pimlico Rd, SW1W 8NE
Olivomare
This one’s for all the seafood lovers out there. Poised on Belgravia’s southeast corner, Olivomare serves a (mostly) fish-only menu, with even the burrata arriving sprinkled with grey mullet roe. Dishes and ingredients are mostly fished from Sardinia, featuring the likes of spicy baby octopus strew, sea bream with couscous salad, and handmade pasta topped with seafood pesto. You’ll be thrilled to learn this ethos does not extend to the dessert menu, though, which includes tiramisu, Sardinian cheese fritters, and a selection of homemade frozen yoghurts.
