St James’s utterly spoilt for good restaurants.
But the good news is, he’s willing to share.
So, from Michelin-starred West African cuisine to glossy Nordic eateries; little-known hidden gems and notable, century-old classics – we’ve rounded up our picks of the best restaurants in St James’s London…
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45 Jermyn Street | £££
Decked out with Art Deco-styled interiors in lime and deep orange, 45 Jermyn Street is the quietly elegant restaurant attached to epicurean wonderland Fortnum & Mason – so it’s not surprising that the food’s excellent. Dishes follow a broadly Modern European pattern, and are served with outrageous panache, from the caviar trolley (on which eggs are scrambled for you, table-side) to their flaming Banana Foster. And in homage to the site’s history as the first spot in London to have a soda fountain, there are a couple of ludicrously indulgent boozy soda floats on the dessert menu, too… READ MORE
Details: 45 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6DN
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Aquavit | £££
There’s now an easy way for you to visit New York’s critically acclaimed Nordic restaurant, Aquavit. Because it’s been very conveniently replicated in St James’s and continues to serve up smorgasbords, traditional Scandi dishes and, of course, plenty of Aquavit in convivial, rosy-hued surroundings. READ MORE
Details: St James’s Market, 1 Carlton Street, SW1Y 4QQ
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Scully | £££
Arguably one of the most successful things to be perfected in Ottolenghi’s kitchens, former NOPI head chef Ramael Scully has launched his first solo venture in St James’s Market. With a strong emphasis on pickling, preserving and creating his own ingredients, the dishes take inspiration from Scully’s own wide-ranging heritage, stretching from Ireland to Bali… READ MORE
Details: 4 St James’s Market, SW1Y 4QU
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Ikoyi | ££££
The first central London spot to give West African cuisine the fine dining treatment, Ikoyi has won a heft of critical acclaim (and a shiny Michelin star). The duo behind it are childhood friends Iré Hassan-Odukale and Jeremy Chan, the latter of whom cut his teeth at Noma… READ MORE
Details: 1 St. James’s Market, SW1Y 4AH
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The Wolseley | ££££
A café-restaurant after the grand European tradition, The Wolseley has made its home in a magnificent, monochromatic, marble-clad hall previously used as a Barclay’s bank, and before that, a car showroom. Nowadays, between stalwart dishes like bavette steak frites and coq au vin, it’s a reassuringly dependable spot for all-day eggs and toasted chocolate sandwiches. READ MORE
Details: 160 Piccadilly, W1J 9EB
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Café Murano | £££
Despite the alleged casualness of the follow up to Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred Murano, Café Murano is still luxuriously dressed up with sophisticated leather banquettes, low-lighting and lashings of Art Deco-Italian style. And parmesan shavings. READ MORE
Details: 33 St. James’s Street, SW1A 1HD
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Ginza Onodera | ££££
Housed in a demurely luxe, two-tiered restaurant, Ginza Onodera is the butterfly that’s emerged from the Matsuri chrysalis after 25 years. And it’s living up to the fanfare, with delicate sashimi dishes, Japanese-influenced cocktails, and a signature dish comprising fish fed solely on cactus. READ MORE
Details: 15 Bury Street, SW1Y 6AL
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Rowley’s | £££
Rowley’s do one thing, and they do it well.
Make no mis-steak.
Because their sizeable entrecôte cuts are served up on a sizzling table burner, alongside roquefort butter sauce and unlimited fries… READ MORE
Details: 113 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6HJ
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Wilton’s | ££££
When a nearby bomb strike shook the restaurant walls back in the Blitz, then-owner Betty Leal reportedly threw down her tea-towel and announced that she just couldn’t be doing with it anymore – and Wilton’s regular Olaf Hambro had the restaurant added to his bill there and then. It’s now one of the oldest restaurants in St James’s, and, indeed London – having plied the British public with oysters for over 275 years… READ MORE
Details: 55 Jermyn Street, SW1Y 6LX
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The Ritz Restaurant | £££££
Yes, there will be lavish decoration in the form of marble pillars, gold-leaf statues and elaborate murals. Yes, the food is all Michelin-starred. And yes, there is live music every night of the week, plus professional Latin/ballroom dancers on Fridays. But no, they do not serve Ritz crackers.
You win some, you lose some.
Details: 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR
Last Updated: 9th December 2019 | Main image: The Ritz Restaurant
Take a look at our full guide to St James’s