Are these the best Hotels and Restaurants in London?
The cosmopolitan city on the Thames is always good for an urban vacation - but which hotels and restaurants should you definitely not miss out on?
March 20, 2024
Where to stay
The London EDITION
© Nikolas Koenig
Impressively designed luxury boutique hotel in Westminster, owned by the deeply trendy The Edition group headed by hospitality guru lan Schrager. The lobby doubles as a hip bar where young people who look like models sip gin and tonics and practice their shots at the billiard table. Includes a lovely brasserie-style restaurant.
The London EDITION
10 Berners Street, London W1T 3NP, United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 20 7781 0000
Web: editionhotels.com/london
Price: Doubles from €450
Mama Shelter London Shoreditch
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A typical representative of the exuberant French lifestyle hotel chain, which offers up youthful flair, a decor frenzy and cool slogans for a moderate price. As a bonus, there's a buzzing garden bar, a lively restaurant and two Japanese-style karaoke rooms.
Mama Shelter London Shoreditch
437 Hackney Rd, London E2 8PP, United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 20 7613 6500
Web: mamashelter.com/london-shoreditch
Price: Doubles from €95
Chiltern Firehouse
An elegant hotel in a historic former fire station, which has been drawing international celebrities ever since it opened its doors in 2013. The in-house brasserie-style restaurant is also a popular place to spot the in-crowd.
Chiltern Firehouse
1 Chiltern Street, London W1U 7PA, United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 20 7073 7676
Web: chilternfirehouse.com
Price: Doubles from €800
Assembly Covent Garden
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Very centrally located lifestyle hotel with a minimalist design, moderate prices, and a stunning rooftop bar with a spectacular view. On weekends, there's a popular brunch with a view over the city.
Assembly Covent Garden
27-31 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0LS, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 3953 4300
Web: assemblyhotels.com
Price: Doubles from €150
Good Hotel London
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This floating hotel, built in the Netherlands, sits in a hip and edgy location in the east end of the city. Some rooms have a river view, and there's a roof terrace – all at surprisingly affordable prices, with a part of the profits going to a local charity.
Good Hotel London
Royal Victoria Dock, Western Gateway, London E16 1FA, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 3637 7401
Web: goodhotel.co/london
Price: Doubles from €110
Where to Eat
St. John
© Sam A. Harris
The restaurant that revolutionized the British culinary scene by returning to tradition and heritage.
St. John, long since a feted classic, bans garnishes and excess, and instead celebrates the essentials – the food.
St. John Smithfield
26 St. John Street, London, EC1M 4AY, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7251 0848
Web: stjohnrestaurant.com
Ikoyi
Irina Boersma
One of the few upmarket restaurants in Europe whose creative cuisine is inspired by African dishes and makes use of African spices. The fresh ingredients come from local producers.
Ikoyi
180 Strand, London WC2R 1EA, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 358 34660
Web: ikoyilondon.com
A. Wong
James Gillies
Both his grandparents and his parents had Chinese restaurants in London, and Andrew Wong decided to pursue the same career – but with a completely new concept of creative dishes that introduces diners to the diversity and traditions of Chinese cuisine.
A. Wong
70 Wilton Rd, Pimlico, London SW1V 1DE, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 782 88931
Web: awong.co.uk
dishoom
© provided
You might have thought that there was no room in Europe's capital of South Asian cuisine for yet another Indian restaurant. Weil, you would be wrong: Dishoom's concept of simple but excellently prepared cuisine was such a success that there are now multiple branches.
Web: dishoom.com
Elliot's Borough Market
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A likeable pocket-sized restaurant at London's Borough Market with excellent, unpretentious food, naturally produced wines and local craft beers. Reservations (including the bar-side seats) essential.
Elliot's Borough Market
12 Stoney Street, Borough Market, London SE1 9AD, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 7403 7436
Web: elliots.london
This article appeared in the Falstaff TRAVEL issue Winter 2023/24.
