London has a wealth of unique culinary gems, MICHELIN-starred restaurants and expert chefs championing creativity and cutting-edge practices. Featuring local produce, international inspirations and surprising flavours, sometimes it’s worth letting the kitchen be in charge of a dining experience. With this year’s second edition of London Restaurant Festival coming up in October, many restaurants boast unique menus and special culinary experiences dedicated to the festival season. From omakase to fusion food, the best tasting menus in London await.
Watch the action of a MICHELIN-starred kitchen in Mayfair or learn the story behind each dish at an interactive restaurant in Covent Garden. Dig into a smorgasbord of Scandinavian cooking or visit one of the best Indian restaurants in London. Close partnerships with local producers help a Mayfair restaurant create unforgettable dishes.
With this much and more, you won’t want to miss out on the best tasting menus in London for an unforgettable culinary journey, so book your spot on OpenTable today.
Read on for the best tasting menus in London
For one of the best French tasting menus in London – visit Pavyllon in Mayfair
Overseen by multi MICHELIN-starred chef Yannick Alleno, Pavyllon invites you to take a front-row seat to view the action of an award-winning kitchen. Soft blue stools gather around an intimate counter where the chefs take centre stage, preparing a menu that is both innovative and approachable. Watch the chefs create tantalising starters like Louet oysters on flaky granita and braised beef cheek agnolotti. Highlights from the menu include a lobster tail civet and a wagyu beef and blue lobster tail surf and turf. Finish off with a cloud of hazelnut praliné ice cream, served with a fragrant coffee and cardamom sauce. For the London Restaurant Festival, get a full taste of the expertise on offer by booking the seven course Pavyllon experience.
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For a unique interactive experience – book at Frog by Adam Handling in Covent Garden
MICHELIN-starred Frog by Adam Handling is renowned for its interactive dining experience that allows diners and chefs to truly connect. The velvet, peach-pink chairs are arranged around the round white tables specifically to provide a view into the busy kitchen. Throughout the year, Frog serves up a signature tasting menu alongside a shorter lunch tasting menu. For the London Restaurant Festival, don’t miss the eight or five-course tasting menu. As the meal unfolds, you’ll get to know each member of the team as they deliver dishes like tender Balmoral quail with wild garlic or the complex flavours of caviar. The team often forages ingredients themselves and always aims to use them fully, whether that’s in dishes or cocktails. Celebrating British ingredients sourced from local growers and producers, chef Handling creates unforgettable dishes with a personal touch. There’s always a story behind each plate, whether it’s a recent inspiration or a fond childhood memory from Handling and his team.
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For a journey to Scandinavia – try Ekstedt at The Yard in Westminster
Scandinavian cooking comes to London via Ekstedt at The Yard. Ekstedt’s A Journey to Scandinavia fie or seven-course tasting menu is an excellent way to experience the full range of unique flavours on offer. The kitchen goes back to cooking basics, using mostly charcoal and natural heat to create smoky dishes. Plus, with an open kitchen, you can get an up-close look at the rising flames. Try hay-smoked veal tartare with a wild garlic ice cream and birch touch scallops with smoked trout roe to start. For your main, enjoy a juicy, aromatic juniper smoked lamb saddle before refreshing your palate with pine sorbet. Finally, savour the toasty sweetness of cookie dough baked in a wood oven and served with smoked caramel. There’s also a must-try chef’s table nine-course experience, where up to seven diners are taken on a culinary adventure, narrated by the chef, with an intimate look into the kitchen.
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For one of the best Indian tasting menus in London – head to Benares in Mayfair
Chef Sameer Taneja’s Benares is one of London’s most iconic Indian restaurants, serving up a refined dining experience for over 20 years. Bright red and blue accents add a colourful touch to the calm, dimly lit interior. The best way to immerse yourself in the Benares experience is with its tasting menus. For £129 per person (with a sparkling cocktail included), the main tasting menu lets diners enjoy the breadth of Indian flavours. Bite into soft malabar scallops and juicy hiran boti tikka (deer skewers). Alternatively, try the vegetarian-tasting menu for dishes like goat’s milk paneer tikka (cottage cheese skewers). For a shorter meal, try the lunch tasting menu. You’ll get to enjoy some of the most popular dishes, including the rasmalai, a spiced milky dessert. Each dish comes with a recommended wine pairing, or you can choose your own glass from the wine list with over 400 options.
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For a celebration of British produce sourced by local suppliers – don’t miss Francatelli in Mayfair
Named after the Italian-British chef from the Victorian era Charles Elmé Francatelli and its iconic 1846 cookbook about modern cuisine, Francatelli celebrates produce-led cooking through a fine dining lens. Housed in the beautiful Althoff St. James’s Hotel & Club in Mayfair, the restaurant is known for its contemporary interpretations of 19th-century recipes. Francatelli’s tasting menu focuses on seasonal ingredients and local sourcing from small British suppliers. For the London Restaurant Festival, executive chef William Drabble and his team have created a six-course signature tasting menu featuring its best trademark dishes. Think lobster and feta ravioli and Madeira-glazed ham in ham in foie gras sauce. Add on a wine pairing for the most harmonious flavour experience. Serving up fine dining dishes in a luxurious yet informal atmosphere, this Mayfair gem is ready to welcome you for a meal to remember.
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For London’s longest-standing MICHELIN-starred restaurant – book a table at Pied à Terre in Fitzrovia
With over 30 years of experience, Pied à Terre is the longest-standing MICHELIN-starred restaurant in London. Grab a seat in the red-carpeted, intimate dining room, underneath the lights and floral arrangements hanging from the ceiling. With four tasting menus (omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian and plant-based), there’s something for everyone to enjoy. There’s even a treat menu for your canine companions. The London Restaurant Festival coincides perfectly with the appointment of Pied à Terre’s new executive chef Phil Kearsey. To celebrate the occasion, you can book the LRF tasting menus featuring creative, French-inspired dishes with a twist. From plant-based options like creamy tagliatelle carbonara to meat-based dishes like velvety chicken liver eclairs, everything is prepared with attention to detail.
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For one of the best restaurants in London for stellar wine pairings – visit Trivet in London Bridge
Awarded two MICHELIN stars in 2024, Trivet is a relaxed, informal restaurant serving up top-quality food. Led by chef Jonny Lake and head chef Lukas Juhaniak, the kitchen takes a considered approach to each dish, letting individual ingredients and textures shine. Plus, with a cellar featuring over 350 wines chosen by master sommelier Isa Bal, finding the right pairing for your dish is easy. Share snacks like Coombeshead Farm sourdough with homemade kefir cultured salted butter or a platter of Scottish and European cheeses. For a light starter, try the stuffed morels with wild garlic or the creamy risotto with bouillabaisse. Hearty mains include a juicy roast lamb with smoked yoghurt and grilled Cornish turbot with a rich leek ragu. Go for the Mondays at Labombe Wine Bar experience featuring a special menu and exceptional wines for an unforgettable start of the week. Dine indoors in the warmly lit dining space with a view into the open kitchen and glass cellar, or, on sunny days, pull up a chair outside under the awning.
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For one of London’s best tasting menus for special occasions – don’t miss The Cocochine in Mayfair
With a slightly retro vibe, each table at The Cocochine gets its own booth, allowing diners to immerse themselves in the food in an intimate setting. Upstairs, sleek counter seating offers a glimpse into the action of the kitchen, which is overseen by chef Larry Jayasekara, who brings over 20 years of experience to your table. Long-term partnerships with producers, fishermen and farmers allow the kitchen to source some of the finest British ingredients (alongside a few international ones). Much of the fruit, vegetables and livestock (including rare-breed pigs) comes to The Cocochine directly from regenerative Northamptonshire farmland. Try hand-dived Orkney Island scallops with sweet and salty pickled strawberries and dry-aged turbot with a fragrant lemongrass sauce. Book a set lunch menu for £49 per person and enjoy the old-school hospitality and creative cooking at The Cocochine and make your New Year’s Eve celebrations extra festive with a three-course menu or the chef’s counter experience.
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For Californian cooking in the heart of London – book at SOLA SOHO in Soho
SOLA SOHO was awarded a MICHELIN star for its creative approach to Californian cooking. The airy, relaxed dining space is filled with greenery, bringing sunny West Coast vibes to the heart of London. Chef Victor Garvey’s three-course pre-theatre menu includes a unique whisky flambe’d langoustine and poached quail egg resting in ginger broth. Finish off with a yuzu, shiso, and black sesame dessert or Sola’s signature chocolate. The wine list celebrates the best of Californian and North American vineyards that will take you on a memorable journey through America.
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For a Parisian-style dining experience and one of the best vegan tasting menus in London – visit CORD by Le Cordon Bleu in St Paul’s
Embark on an exceptional dining experience inspired by the traditional Parisian brasseries with a refined twist at CORD by Le Cordon Bleu, nestled in the grade II listed Lutyens-designed building, in St. Paul. With white tablecloths, hanging lights, and an open kitchen, this fine dining gem creates a feel of timeless elegance that’s perfect for celebrating special occasions. The new, luxurious 9-course tasting menu comes with a complimentary glass of champagne and features Cornish crab and Highland venison en croûte with bacon and morel. There’s an outstanding plant-based version that will delight vegans and non-vegans alike, showcasing black truffle, caramelised celeriac and artichokes with watercress and tarragon. Make the experience extra special with a private dining booking for a dinner party or corporate dinner to remember.
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The best tasting menus in London are a great way to sample the range of flavours available at some of the finest food destinations in the world. For your next special occasion, celebrate by letting experienced chefs curate an unforgettable experience for you. With MICHELIN star approval and international cuisines, it’s easy to find something you’ll love. Plus, with unique tasting menus available for the 2024 London Restaurant Festival, there’s no better time to book a table at one of these excellent restaurants.
These restaurants fill up fast – book your spot on OpenTable today.
If you’re looking for more great restaurants in London, check out these guides below:
- The 12 best MICHELIN star restaurants in London to book for a stellar meal
- The 10 best wine bars in London for cracking food and wine pairings
- The best Sunday roasts in London for a memorable lunch out
- These are the 10 best restaurants in London to book ASAP
- The 10 best restaurants you need to try in Mayfair
- The 12 best restaurants in Notting Hill for a stylish meal out
- 15 dazzling fine dining restaurants in London