The Best Bistro Restaurants in London

Charmingly casual and effortlessly cool offshoot from the chef behind Brat. Great concept of sharing plates. Delicious food, cooked really well, mostly over fire. Expect the same buzzy atmosphere as Brat: same brilliant cooking, complemented by great wine list and sommelier.

This is a restaurant that embodies commitment to simple cooking, and one of the benchmarks of what a “bistro” should be. Top notch wine as well, and the meeting house for so many cooks and wine industry.

Picture the most classically classic tiny French bistro you can muster, pluck it from your mind's eye and plonk it down smack-bang in the middle of Bermondsey Street. That's Casse Croûte.Oozing with plenty of French character, this lovely little local eatery is all red leather banquets, paper-topped chequered tablecloths and black & white tiled flooring. Friendly, engaging and relaxed, the team seemingly knows what makes for an enjoyable dining experience and I for one find it impossible to have anything but a wonderful time.Diners are given the option of starter, main and dessert with a choice of three dishes per course. Chalked up on the blackboard in an old school way but snapped on a smartphone and uploaded to the world wide web in a very new school way, the menu features a changing selection of classics crafted around what is available on any given day. Snails? Excellent. Rabbit? Similarly so. Frog legs? Same story. Rustic, hearty and heartfelt in equal measure, the hits far outweigh the misses so choose what tickles your fancy and go for it. Side note: if the boeuf en croute with seasonal vegetables is on the menu, you should probably get it.A cosy atmosphere coupled with reasonably priced, well-executed, delicious food that feels as though it has been created with the sole purpose of making you smile, this is the kind of neighbourhood restaurant that makes you wish you lived in the neighbourhood. The kind of neighbourhood restaurant you would travel across town for. Indeed, we did. Often.

Terrific seasonal menu with a steadfast commitment to British produceI dined and I dined hard at Dorian. Terrific seasonal menu with a steadfast commitment to British produce, the head chef here is Max Coen, ex Ikoyi, so you know you’re in safe hands. He also had stints at Kitchen Table and Frantzén in Stockholm. Menu items on my visit included Sirloin, Winter Tomatoes, Liver Parfait Toast, Squid & Blood Orange, Pheasant & Chestnut, Cabbage & Hazelnut and a Salted Caramel Custard Tart. This, of course, might not be what you have, such is the shifting menu and rotation of ingredients. A very fine wine list, too.

Finally found my way to this place! Dan Keeling & Mark Andrew first created a no nonsense magazine that is going strong for 10 years already. In 2015 they opened Noble Rot Lamb’s Conduit. For me as a sommelier the perfect place. I could spend here hours. A cosy place, an extensive wine list, a broad amount of gems by the glass that change frequently, big smiles on the staff and fun conversations allround in the bar. Can’t wait to go back!

Amazing wine list / great cookingIncredible selection of wines by the glass / coravin plus really rather perfect cooking by chef Alex Jackson. They do a well priced menu du jour and I highly recommend trying the chicken with vin jaune and morels. Puddings too. All of them!

Temple of gastronomy and place of pilgrimage, try the caracu.

Fantastic simple food and lovely atmosphereSt. John or St. John Bread and Wine is a must-visit when in London.I had a long slow Sunday lunch here and everything was just perfect. The service was so professional, welcoming and friendly. The food was so simple plated and extremely tasty. Loved the grilled mackerel with chicory and green sauce. Could have sat there for many hours and just watch and follow them work and enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant.

Peak modern BritishIn a quiet and secluded converted school yard, Margot Henderson, the other half of St. John's Fergus, serves up hit after comforting hit (don't, whatever you do, skip dessert) - British classics, European influences - utilising fantastic ingredients and demonstrating an unbridled love for feeding people the good stuff. Book yourself a long lunch, cancel all plans and settle in.

Every single thing chef Steve Williams does is a little extra and very very good. Amazingly good Franco-British food by chef Steve Williams, who was saucier chef at The Ledbury when I worked there at pastry. Steve’s a f***ing good cook. Every single thing he does is a little extra and very very good. My wife says she had the best salad she’s ever eaten – the cucumber and lettuce salad – at 40 Maltby Street.

Relaxed neighbourhood restaurant with daily changing menu. Simple, delicious food and super friendly staff. Short but well-judged Natural wine-focused list.

Casual restaurant and quality ingredientsCafé Deco is a small, atmospheric restaurant in Bloomsbury, open from lunch to dinner. Anna Tobias simple and classic food, focusing on the best possible ingredients in season. For lunch, we started with perfectly cooked asparagus with bagna cauda and for main course had hake, clams and buttersauce. Nice service and delicious simple dishes.

Modern, charming Neighbourhood pub serving up delicious British fare with flair. Exactly what this area needs. A warm and inviting neighbourhood pub, headed up by a charming FoH and chef duo who know great food and superstar service without the fuss. Think satisfyingly rich crispy pigs cheek and smoked eel, flavourful quail shish on a skewer, simply but perfectly roasted meats and some of the best chips I’ve had in a long time. In the short time it’s been open, I have eaten there twice, and have already booked in for my third visit. Hoping to go back for the Sunday roast one day too as no doubt it won’t disappoint.

I’m recommending the Marksman as it’s my favourite pub in London - old hackney meets new hackney. always a great vibe and great food