Chez Rose

French themed social 

Red prawn, tomato, amalfi lemon

Chez Rose is the sort of restaurant that feels as though it has arrived in Mayfair with a fairly clear idea of what it wants to be. Located on Pollen Street, in the former Little Social site, this is a French restaurant with a distinctly London sense of polish, combining the familiarity of classic French cooking with the quality of ingredients and level of refinement you would expect from a serious Mayfair address.  It is also a deeply personal project for chef Spencer Metzger, who created Chez Rose in partnership with Jason and Irha Atherton and named the restaurant after his late grandmother, Rosemary. Metzger spent 12 years cooking classical French food at The Ritz before becoming executive chef at the two-Michelin-starred Row on 5.

Orrery by Pierre Minotti

A New Star in the Making

Few restaurant openings in London have arrived with the quiet confidence and technical pedigree of Orrery by Pierre Minotti. Rather than chasing spectacle or social media theatrics, Minotti has chosen to build his reputation on precision, restraint and the kind of classical foundations that only come from years spent in Michelin-starred kitchens. His background has clearly instilled an obsession with consistency, technique and balance, but he is not content merely to replicate what has gone before. Instead, he channels those influences into cooking that feels contemporary while remaining rooted in timeless French principles. The menu is sophisticated but accessible, luxurious without excess, and carefully paced to allow individual ingredients to shine.

Bonheur by Matt Abé

 Another legend in the making?

Celeriac, Royale Oscietra caviar, allium, hazelnut

Bonheur by Matt Abé arrives in Mayfair with the quiet confidence of someone who has spent nearly two decades learning how to make the exceptional look effortless. Housed at 43 Upper Brook Street in the very building that once sheltered Le Gavroche, the restaurant signals both a respect for British fine-dining heritage and a desire to start a new chapter.  Bonheur opened in early November 2025 as Matt Abé’s first solo venture after a long career under Gordon Ramsay and others, and the project is backed by Ramsay himself, who secured a long lease on the premises — a level of institutional support that helps explain the impeccably choreographed service and the resources poured into the dining room.

The Cocochine

The finest British ingredient showcase

Ceylon King Crab Salad, Consommé, Apple

Walking into The Cocochine in Mayfair feels less like entering a restaurant and more like stepping into a carefully composed mood. The room is calm, softly lit, and has a 'very Mayfair' club vibe. Co-owned by chef Larry Jayasekaram, the cooking respects tradition without being trapped by it and embraces refinement without losing warmth, thanks to Larry's light touch of his Sri Lankan roots. It appeals to diners who value craft and comfort in equal measure. Reason being it has access directly in the food supply chain, as another co-owner has an Island in Scotland for seafood and a farm in Northamptonshire for meat and vegetables. It has recently replaced its ALC offering with a tasting menu, which I feel is the right approach that enables Larry to be more playful in his cooking.

Camille

 Down-to-earth French bistro

Puffed Pig’s Skin, Smoked Eel & Tarragon

Camille sits just off the noise of London Bridge, close enough to feel the pulse of the area but tucked away enough to offer a sense of escape once you’re inside. The food at Camille is rooted firmly in French technique, but it isn’t trapped by it. The menu reads like it was written by someone who loves classic French cooking but lives firmly in modern London. Dishes feel familiar without being predictable, and there’s a quiet restraint at work that lets ingredients speak rather than drowning them in unnecessary flourish, such as tripe stew and shallot tart. 

The Ledbury

World-class standard

Truffle and mackerel canapes

Yes, another Ledbury post, what can I say, it is my no1 Fine Dining restaurant in the UK and I try to at least visit once a year. Under the creative eye of chef‐patron Brett Graham (working with head chef Tom Spenceley), The Ledbury has reinvented itself in recent years, especially following its two-year closure during the pandemic. It reopened in 2022, recharged, refreshed, but without surrendering its soul. What makes The Ledbury exceptional is how its food navigates the tension between technical precision and bold flavours. Below captures my 26th visit.

Michael Caines at The Stafford

The return of old school fine French

Orkney Scallop Ceviche, Oscietra caviar

Michael Caines at The Stafford is an eagerly awaited addition to London’s fine-dining scene, bringing together timeless elegance, a celebrated chef’s pedigree, and a renewed culinary vision steeped in British terroir. Located in St. James’s, the restaurant has taken over from the former Game Bird, under the stewardship of Michael Caines as culinary strategist. If you are a foodie, Michael shouldn't be an unfamiliar name as he is a true legend in the game, who held 2 Michelin stars in the past with his classic French cooking in Devon. His restaurant at TheStafford is his first London gig, and I was so looking forward to it. 

Duchy

Duchy of Savoy in the land of Shoreditch

 

BBQ John Dorey in shellfish sauce

Duchy is a new restaurant in Shoreditch, the sleek new incarnation of Leroy, which was located on the same site. Duchy comes with a different approach that brings northern Italian‑French flair to East London. The interiors are mostly inherited from Leroy—minimalist without sterility, a touch of rustic warmth, the sound of a needle slipping onto wax. The open kitchen, where Simon Shand and his team work in full view, is a stage with no curtain, just steam, speed, and focused motion. The name “Duchy” is more than a title—it’s a hint at the culinary axis here: the historic Duchy of Savoy, whose former borders map perfectly onto the flavours of southeastern France and northwestern Italy.

Noble Rot Mayfair

 The best of Noble Rot

Suckling pig feast

Noble Rot Mayfair, tucked into Shepherd Market, delivers a polished, wine-focused French European experience that blends history with hedonism. Housed in a handsome 19th-century townhouse in Shepherd Market—one of Mayfair’s last vestiges of old-school charm—the restaurant radiates a deliberate sense of intimacy and mischief. But Noble Rot isn’t content to coast on ambiance—it delivers a dining experience as precise and expressive as its wine list is expansive. At the heart of the kitchen is chef Adam Wood, whose background at Perilla and alliance with The Sportsman’s Stephen Harris create a menu that marries French bistro elegance with punchy British irreverence. For my 3rd visit, I stepped up with a feasting menu and dined at their private dining room in their basement, which also houses their fine wine.

One Club Row

 Jazzy feel-good dining vibe

Roasted scallop, confit garlic butter

One Club Row, located above The Knave of Clubs in Shoreditch, is a bold, stylish newcomer that merges Parisian bistro charm with New York tavern swagger. Opened in early 2025 by hospitality heavyweights Patrick Powell, James Dye, and Benjy Leibowitz, it’s already a standout in London’s dining scene. The entrance, discreet enough to miss if you're distracted by your phone, opens into a velvet-draped stairwell lit like a film set. The menu, crafted by Powell and head chef Attila Gellen, is a greatest-hits album of French and American comfort food, elevated with finesse.

Victor Garvey Restaurant at Midland Grand

Great, but could be better

Canapes

​The Midland Grand Dining Room is not new to me, as I was a fan of its refined French food when it was overseen by chef Patrick Powell. He has since moved on, and the place is now under the guidance of Michelin-starred chef Victor Garvey. Garvey's approach marries traditional French haute cuisine with contemporary flair, resulting in dishes that are both elegant and innovative. His offering is for sure in the fine dining end with 2 tasting menus on offer, so it appears it is gunning for a Michelin star. The restaurant's ambiance, characterized by its Gothic charm and modern elegance, provides a fitting backdrop for the culinary artistry on display.

Hélène Darroze at The Connaught

Total fine dining package

Red mullet, hazelnut, rhubarb

Nestled within the luxurious Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught delivers a three-Michelin-starred dining experience that balances refined elegance with warm hospitality. The menu, crafted by Chef Hélène Darroze, is a celebration of her French roots blended seamlessly with the finest British ingredients. Each course, presented with impeccable precision, demonstrates a deep understanding of flavor, texture, and seasonality. I have been here a few times in the past, for my 11th visit, I got the chance to enjoy a tasting menu at its chef's table, overlooking the busy open kitchen.

Brooklands by Claude Bosi

 Hotel fine dining done right

White asparagus, hazelnut, and anchovies

Brooklands by Claude Bosi feels like a restaurant designed to prove a point — that luxury doesn’t have to mean predictable. Tucked into the top floor of the Peninsula London, it trades on grandeur but keeps a lightness of touch. The space is sleek and modern, with subtle nods to British engineering heritage, but it wisely avoids falling into themed gimmickry. Bosi’s stamp is everywhere: inventive, unforced, and grounded in deep technique. He’s known for pushing boundaries, but here he focuses that energy into refinement rather than theatrics.

The Cocochine

Perhaps the best non starred fine dining joint in London

caviar canapes

Opened in 2024, The Cocochine nestled in Mayfair at 27 Bruton Place, is a four-story restaurant that harmoniously blends fine dining with art. The Cocochine's interior exudes understated elegance, featuring herringbone parquet flooring, brown leather chairs, and a marble wine island. The intimate ground-floor dining area comprises just eight tables, each subtly separated to create private dining experiences. Chef Jayasekara, formerly head chef at Michelin-starred Pétrus and a National Chef of the Year winner, brings a wealth of experience to The Cocochine. The menu showcases imaginative and ornately presented dishes, with most of its seafood sourced from its own farm Tanera Mòr in Scotland.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High

Sky high fine dining by Gordon Ramsay

native lobster, caviar, pumpkin

London’s fine dining scene has reached new heights—literally. The newly opened Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High in Bishopsgate is making waves as one of the most exclusive and breathtaking dining experiences in the City. Located on the 60th floor of 22 Bishopsgate, it is an intimate 12-seat Chef’s table offering a blind 8-course tasting menu, designed to provide an immersive and theatrical dining experience, where guests can witness the artistry and precision of a three-Michelin-starred team working right in front of them while overlooking the jaw-dropping panoramic views of London’s skyline.

The Ledbury

Don of London's fine dining

Chinese water deer 4 ways, artichoke

I have almost lost count of how many times I have been to The Ledbury (25 times!), situated in the heart of Notting Hill, London, which has been a cornerstone of the city's fine dining scene since its inception in 2005 and won the prestigious award of three Michelin stars in 2024. The restaurant is renowned for its commitment to seasonal ingredients, many of which are sourced from their own livestock, including deer, Jersey cows, and Iberian pigs. This dedication to quality is evident in their meticulously crafted tasting menus, which offer a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.

Café François

Classic French charm the London way

Rôtisserie porchetta, Toulouse sausage, sauerkraut

Nestled in the bustling heart of London Bridge, Café François exudes Parisian charm from the moment you step through its doors with its quaint bistro tables and ambient lighting. I enjoy how it captured the spirit of a Parisian café with an effortless blend of sophistication and warmth. The interior is adorned with vintage French posters, rustic wooden furniture, and an open kitchen that allows you to watch the chefs craft their culinary masterpieces. The menu is a love letter to French cuisine, showcasing an array of classic dishes like snail and onion soup. I went twice in January to sample various dishes from its ACL menu.

The Cocochine

Bespoke tasting menu

Otoro, foie, caviar

This is my second visit to The Cocochine. Located in the heart of Mayfair, The Cocochine offers a sophisticated dining experience that effortlessly blends the vibrant flavors of Classic French food with the refined elegance of its Mayfair location. From the moment you step inside, the restaurant’s chic, modern, and club vibe décor greets you, setting the stage for a culinary delight. Chef  Larry Jayasekara champions the finest ingredients he can get hold of, from fatty tuna from Japan to top-of-the-range chicken from France. Given I have sampled a lot of dishes from its ALC format. I have requested the restaurant to come up with a bespoke tasting menu for my second visit.

The Ledbury

3 stars champion, at last!

Trout, raspberry, wasabi

The Ledbury, led by chef-owner Brett Graham, has established itself as a beacon of culinary excellence in London. The restaurant's philosophy is rooted in the use of the finest seasonal ingredients, with a focus on world-class yet relaxing service. Every dish is a testament to the creativity and precision that landed The Ledbury a third-Michelin-star in 2024 and became the No. 1 in 'UK's 50 Best Restaurants' from the trade media Restaurant magazine. I am a super fan and have been a regular, but the recent 24th visit is the first time since it became a 3-star venue.

The Ninth

Mediterranean-themed offering

Spaghetti, Australian Winter Truffle & Aged Parmesan

The Ninth by Chef Jun Tanaka is a 1 Michelin-starred restaurant that offers Southern French cuisine with a strong Mediterranean influence. Spreading across 3 floors with a short selection of starters, pasta and main dishes to pick from. This is my second time at The Ninth, with the last visit dated back all the way to when it was opened, back in 2016. Given it has been 8 years since, I am sure a lot has changed so I went with open eyes. To best experience what The Ninth is all about, I opted for the Chef's choice menu.