We’re calling it: caviar’s cool again. The salty black pearls have popped up on dishes all over the city – sprinkled over everything from nuggets to ice cream. So, it’s no wonder ‘I’ll have the caviar, please’ is no longer seen as stuffy. In fact, its comeback in the capital looks like topless waiters, stolen spoons, ice-cold vodka shots, and high-low pairings. If that’s caught your attention, read on for where to eat caviar in London.
Punk Royale, Mayfair
Best for: totally unfiltered and unforgettable fine dining.
Order: the Menu Royale.
It’s hard to put Punk Royale into words. And pictures, for that matter, because phones are locked away after your first course (a caviar bump bigger than your fist and an ice-cold vodka shot, naturally). Yes, it’s fine dining – it’s 20 courses of high-quality caviar, after all. But it’s also the most excitingly chaotic foodie experience you’ll ever have. Think strong (and non-stop) drinks pairings, topless waiters smoking cigarettes (don’t be surprised if some ash ends up on your food), and smoke – lots of smoke. It’s not for the faint-hearted. But you’ll never forget it.
punkroyale.com
6 Sackville St, W1S 3DD
Caviar House, Picadilly
Best for: the finest and rarest caviar and salmon in the city.
Order: Soldiers Royale – dippy eggs with toasted smoked salmon and crème fraîche soldiers and caviar.
High-low pairings, advent calendars, masterclasses. Caviar House & Prunier truly does it all where caviar’s concerned. It’s one of the oldest, largest, and most respected players in the game. So, it’s unsurprising that the staff and its flagship Picadilly spot really know their stuff. It’s the kind of place you might pop into and see Usher quietly eating chicken nuggets with caviar in the corner (based on a true story…). And we know we’re talking about caviar, but we can’t not mention the melt-in-your-mouth Balik salmon. It’s super rare and expensive – and tastes it.
caviarhouse-prunier.co.uk
161 Piccadilly, W1J 9EA
Bob Bob Ricard, Soho
Best for: -18° vodka shot palate cleansers.
Order: a bump of your favourite caviar with a vodka shot.
It might be known for its ‘press for Champagne’ buttons, but Bob Bob Ricard’s menu reveals where its true loyalties lie: -18° vodka shots and caviar. To consume it in the purest way, choose your caviar, eat it neat off the back of your hand, and shot your ice-cold vodka as the ultimate palate cleanser. But if that’s not for you, caviar crops up throughout the whole menu. For a more laid-back vibe, head to its cheekier, chicken-obsessed little sister, Bébé Bob. Here, high-low pairings reign supreme – burger with caviar or ice cream with caviar, anyone?
bobbobricard.com
1 Upper James St, W1F 9DF
Flute, Soho
Best for: ‘stealing’ your caviar spoon.
Order: the Champagne & Bump.
Kleptomaniacs, rejoice! Not a sentence we’d ever thought we’d write. But one that applies at Flute, where stealing is encouraged. The item in question: your mini caviar spoon, etched with Broadwick Soho’s iconic red elephant. There’s a whole menu dedicated to caviar and Champagne. Order the Champagne & Bump (a glass of Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs and 5g of Osciètre caviar) to impress your date; order the Champagne & Caviar (a bottle of NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve and 30g of Siberian Baerii caviar) to celebrate a special occasion.
broadwicksoho.com
20 Broadwick St, W1F 8HT
Dorian, Notting Hill
Best for: lively date nights.
Order: the Caviar Rösti.
Sure, Dorian is undeniably one of Notting Hill’s best restaurants. But there’s only one reason it’s on this list: its Caviar Rösti. These perfectly crispy triangular potatoes topped with a dollop of N25 caviar equal to the size of rösti itself are one of chef Max Coen's staples. The menu might change weekly (sometimes even daily) here, but our sources tell us this dish is always available, so caviar chasers can book with confidence. Beyond caviar, Dorian’s white-clothed, candlelit tables, carafes of Noble Rot, and clamorous local bistro atmosphere makes it a must-visit.
dorianrestaurant.com
105–107 Talbot Rd, W11 2AT
Decimo at The Standard, Kings Cross
Best for: city skyline views.
Order: the classic Spanish tortilla with N25 caviar.
It’s pretty standard (pun intended) for us to recommend Decimo. It’s one of our favourite London rooftop restaurants. Its oysters with árbol chilli on our list of where to eat oysters in London. And its signature Spanish tortilla crowned with creamy caviar is undoubtedly one of London’s best caviar dishes. Cutting into it is an experience in itself – once you get past the glittering black pearls on top and buttery diced potato and onion structure, you’ll find a gloriously runny centre. Insider tip: order the charcoal sourdough rye bread to mop it up with.
decimo.london
10 Argyle St, WC1H 8EG
Aki London, Marylebone
Best for: adding caviar to everything and anything.
Order: the bluefin tuna tartare.
When it comes to caviar, Aki’s got the right idea. It stars in the extras section on the menu here, so technically every dish is one with caviar, if you want it to be. But the big hitters are the bluefin tuna tartare (nuka pickle, jasmine caviar, puffed brown rice, 30yr old soy) and ‘the black pearl’ dessert (smoked white chocolate & vodka cremeux, Kristal caviar, nori opaline, dark chocolate Japanese rice). It’s the kind of food you’ll want to unpack afterwards, so slip downstairs to Kiyori – the bank vault-turned-cocktail bar – for a nightcap.
akilondon.com
