Fashionable Restaurants in London Everyone is Talking About Right Now

London doesn’t mess around when it comes to food. One minute you’re sipping a natural wine in a warehouse that used to be a cheese factory, and the next you’re eight courses deep into a tasting menu involving smoked eel mousse and a beetroot reduction shaped like a rose. If it sounds extra, it’s because it is — London’s dining scene in 2025 is not just about what’s on the plate, but the vibe, the setting, the Instagrammability, and the inevitable TikTok dance that someone, somewhere, is performing while holding a negroni.

These are the restaurants that are dominating conversations at gallery openings, afterparties, and in the quiet moments between emails on the Northern Line. Whether you're in it for the aesthetic, the story behind the chef, or because you just want to be the first to post about it — these are the fashionable restaurants in London everyone is talking about right now.

1. Restaurant St Barts – City of London

It’s hard to overstate how much of a moment Restaurant St Barts is having. Located next to the iconic church from which it takes its name, this Michelin-starred gem in Smithfield is redefining fine dining with the kind of quiet confidence that only the greats possess. There's no shouty signage or velvet rope — just stone, wood, and glass elegance, whispering: yes, you're in the right place.

Led by Johnnie Crowe and his team, the tasting menu dances between British ingredients and Nordic minimalism. You might start with venison tartare, glide into an artichoke velouté, and end with a pear sorbet that tastes like a fairytale orchard. The presentation is so meticulous it’s almost intimidating — like eating in an art gallery where the art happens to melt in your mouth.

Notably, Vogue recently called it “a masterclass in restraint, balance and modern British cuisine.” They're not wrong.

2. Mountain – Soho

From the team behind Brat comes Mountain, and yes, it’s every bit as ruggedly cool as the name suggests. You’ll find Basque cooking with a strong Welsh accent here — think smoked lamb ribs, crispy potatoes with anchovy, and whole turbot grilled over coals.

But Mountain isn’t just about fire and flavour. It’s also a masterclass in laid-back luxury. Whitewashed walls, chunky wood furniture, and an open kitchen make it feel like a holiday home you can’t afford — but you’re thrilled to be visiting anyway. Booking ahead? Essential.

3. Akoko – Fitzrovia

London’s love affair with West African cuisine reached new heights with Akoko. This sleek, terracotta-hued restaurant serves up innovative takes on dishes like jollof rice, suya, and smoked goat. Chef Ayo Adeyemi trained at The Fat Duck and Eleven Madison Park — and it shows. But he brings an entirely new vocabulary to the table, with heat, spice, and heritage in every bite.

You’ll hear phrases like “multi-sensory” and “Afrofuturism” floating through the dining room. You’ll taste things you didn’t know could taste like that. And you’ll leave feeling like you’ve just been part of something big.

4. Humo – Mayfair

You know it’s Mayfair when the chef is cooking everything over fire, but with such surgical precision that each dish feels like a performance. Humo is helmed by Colombian chef Miller Prada (ex-Endo at The Rotunda), and every element — from the wood used to the music played — is curated for maximum drama.

Here, you won’t find any gas or electricity in the kitchen. Just flames, smoke, and artistry. Notably, the wagyu tartare is torched tableside with cherry wood smoke for an added flourish. Is it extra? Absolutely. But it’s also wildly delicious.

5. Maroush – Park Royal

A surprise to some, but a cult classic to others, Maroush in Park Royal is enjoying a serious glow-up moment. Originally beloved for its hearty Lebanese grills and late-night shawarma fixes, this branch has gone from post-club pitstop to East-meets-West, design-led hotspot.

With velvet booths, polished brass details, and a playlist that bounces from Fairuz to French disco, it’s attracting everyone from fashion editors to footie stars. The hummus is still creamy, the falafel still crisp — but now it comes with saffron martinis and selfie lighting so good it should be illegal.

As The Evening Standard recently noted, “Maroush is no longer just a reliable bite — it’s a full-on mood.”

6. Planque – Haggerston

Hidden under a railway arch in East London, Planque is part wine club, part French restaurant, part minimalist fantasy. It’s got that “if you know, you know” energy, and locals will proudly tell you they were here before it got cool (which, ironically, makes it even cooler).

The food is quietly excellent — veal sweetbreads, tartare with smoked eel, dreamy beurre blanc sauces — but it’s the wines that steal the show. With natural bottles from obscure producers, and sommeliers who somehow make wine chat not boring, it’s one of the best spots to sip, nibble and look impossibly stylish.

7. The Tamil Prince – Islington

It started as a North London pub with South Indian snacks, and has now exploded into something of a phenomenon. The Tamil Prince has queues down the block and a regular roster of celeb fans (rumour has it Paul Mescal is a fan — not confirmed, but we choose to believe it).

The masala prawns, the crispy okra, the lamb chops? All deserve their own love letters. But it’s the atmosphere that seals the deal — joyous, chaotic, full of spice, and always two negronis away from turning into a party.

8. Evelyn’s Table – Soho

A basement counter with just 12 seats, Evelyn’s Table is like the speakeasy of fine dining. Located beneath The Blue Posts pub in Soho, this place is all about intimacy, storytelling, and serious cooking.

Run by the three Selby brothers, the menu fuses Japanese technique with European ingredients — miso-glazed cod, duck with tamarind, that sort of thing. You chat with the chefs while they cook. You drink sake you’ve never heard of. You wonder if you’ve just had the best meal of your life.

9. Sola – Soho

California meets high-concept gastronomy at Sola, one of Soho’s most quietly glamorous restaurants. Chef Victor Garvey brings a West Coast sensibility to this 20-cover space, and while it looks unassuming from the outside, what’s going on inside is pure theatre.

Aged pigeon, corn-fed chicken, citrus-curd desserts — all delivered with flair and technical finesse. The wine pairings are lush, the service is pitch-perfect, and the room always buzzes with the kind of quiet confidence that lets you know: you’re in good hands.

And yes, the lighting is perfect.

10. KOL – Marylebone

You can’t talk about fashionable restaurants without name-dropping KOL. Since opening, it’s racked up a Michelin star, critical acclaim, and a loyal following obsessed with Mexican food done right — and sustainably.

Chef Santiago Lastra isn’t playing around. There’s smoked chilies, fermented drinks, house-made masa, and British ingredients reimagined through a Mexican lens. You won’t find avocado on the menu, but you will find scallop ceviche with sea buckthorn, and blue corn tortillas made from scratch.

Time Out called it “radical, refined and ridiculously tasty.” Couldn’t agree more.

So, what makes a restaurant fashionable in 2025?

It’s not just about good food anymore. It’s the story, the setting, the sense of discovery. It’s how the room makes you feel, what your friends say when they see the photos, and that undeniable rush of knowing you were there before it hit the mainstream.

From smoky Soho basements to Lebanese glitter-palaces in Park Royal, London’s restaurants are shaping culture, not just following it. And if you haven’t booked yet? You’d better get on the waitlist.

Now, where’s that saffron martini?