15 of the best West End restaurants for birthday dinners

Planning a birthday dinner can be tricky. You need great food and the right vibe, all for a decent price, and that’s before you’ve even tried pinning down a date. We’ve done some of the hard work for you, handpicking 15 West End restaurants that are perfect for birthday dinners.

Brasserie Zedel – This grand brasserie has ‘birthday’ written all over it. It’s elegant but unfussy, the service is faultless, and it’s surprisingly affordable. Whether you’re splashing out on oysters and Champagne or sticking to the prix fixe, you’re guaranteed a good time.

Blacklock – Chops, steaks, and cocktails for a fiver – what’s not to love? Take your meat-loving mates for a birthday blow-out and go ‘all in’ – that’s all the chops piled on to flatbread, plus bites and sides, for £20 a head.

Park Row – Celebrate in style at Park Row, a DC-inspired restaurant experience designed to transport you from the streets of London to the depths of Gotham’s underworld. You can enjoy fabulous food and live music in The Iceberg Lounge, sip cocktails in the Old Gotham City bar, or splash out on the 11-course tasting menu in the Monarch Theatre.

El Pirata – A Mayfair favourite for over 25 years, El Pirata is the ideal place to celebrate with friends over tapas and sangria. They have an impressive wine list and a menu that will transport you from Mayfair to Madrid. Expect classics like gambas pil pil and jamón croquetas, plus seafood-packed paella that’s perfect for sharing.

Berners Tavern – If you can’t splash out on your birthday, when can you? At Berners Tavern, you can enjoy modern British dishes in one of London’s most impressive dining rooms. Start with a glass of fizz from the Champagne trolley.

RedFarm – Famous for its dumplings, this New York import has proved an instant hit with locals and critics alike. Take a gang of friends along so you can order plenty – the cheeseburger spring rolls and Pac Man shrimp dumplings are a must.

Fumo – With its marble bar, flattering lighting and glammed-up crowd, dining at Fumo feels like a trip to Milan – only without the price tag. Round up your besties for an evening fuelled by Negronis, burrata, and lobster ravioli.

The Ivy Market Grill – This sophisticated spot ticks all the boxes for a birthday dinner – slick service, killer cocktails, and a menu big enough to please your fussiest friends. Save room for their melting chocolate bombe with salted caramel sauce.

Roti Chai – Roti Chai’s buzzy downstairs dining room is perfect for big groups. The menu focuses on tandoor grills and regional specialities like Koliwada fish curry, Malabar mooli prawns, and a crowd-pleasing Old Delhi style butter chicken.

Señor Ceviche – If you’re tired of your usual haunts, shake things up with a Peruvian feast and plenty of Pisco sours at this gem in Kingly Court. If your mates aren’t into ceviche, don’t worry – they’ll love the Pachamanca pork ribs.

100 Wardour Street – With live music five nights a week, you can go straight from dinner to dancefloor at this glitzy Soho restaurant. For daytime celebrations, their Saturday Rhythm & Brunch, with bottomless fizz and tunes from DJ duo Orange Soda, is a lot of fun.

La Bodega Negra – From the neon peep show frontage to the punchy house Margaritas, this Soho spot is all about debauchery. Assemble your squad, take a tequila flight, and tuck into tacos, ceviche and tostadas.

SUSHISAMBA Covent Garden – Perched atop the Market Building, SUSHISAMBA features a bar and sushi counter, a terrace overlooking the piazza, and a ‘living ceiling’ of leafy plants and foliage. The food – a unique mix of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine – is just as impressive. Don’t miss the robata pork belly with butterscotch miso.

Hawksmoor Seven Dials – This Covent Garden steakhouse has all the right ingredients for a celebratory meal – switched-on staff, great wine, and some of the best beef in town. Pick up some salted caramel Rolos for the journey home.

Big Easy – This BBQ joint is a top choice for big, boisterous groups looking for beer, meat and music. You can soak up their famous cocktail slushies with slow-smoked brisket, Carolina pulled pork, and lobster rolls.

Nothing catching your eye? Visit OpenTable to discover more restaurants in the West End or ask us for tips on Twitter.

Updated November 2021.