London's Best French Restaurants

Going back in timeEating at the Ritz in London takes you back in time and I don’t mean in it in the bad sense of the word. In fact the complete opposite. The architecture goes back to 1903 and is in Louis XVI style which is impressive not only when you enter but also throughout the meal. So much to see! Live music performances. The menu is classic but with lots of modern touches. FOH is dramatic but shines very bright here with Giacomo as the star. Perfectly executed preparations at the table with fun exchanges in between were the cherry on top of the visit to the Ritz.

When London meets Paris. That little French sparkle in the UK.The house of Mr. Bibendum aka Claude Bosi. Iconic is the building, legendary is Claude’s cuisine. “Simple” ingredients though with that French modern sparkle, are the signature of Claude & his team. As a captain on a sailing ship, Claude navigates his cuisine in serene waters. Special positive remark for Diego Masciaga, head of the Front of House. As legendary as the chef himself. Topspot in London. Ps visited during W50B London with The Family.

Superb bistro cooking at a Soho institutionNeil Borthwick (ex Merchants Tavern) must be doing some of the most assured Frenglish cooking in London upstairs at this historic pub that has been a haunt for notorious Soho bohemians for decades. Fluffy beignets, the creamiest, richest chicken liver parfait - even the salad dressings will make you weep with joy. Happy food.

The Greenhouse was such a nice experience. So flawlessly executed at the highest level. Especially the Landes chicken was soooo delicious. This is modern French cuisine at its finest and certainly worth a visit.

One of the best dishes I’ve had, is this Pithivier St Jacques from Pique Nique. Although this was only a New Year’s Eve special, their daily wellington specials, including the seabass wellington looks good!

One of my favourite French restaurants in London. There are days when I dream of their lobster tortellini and truffle risotto. Kudos as well to Alexis Gauthier for creating ‘faux’ gras and championing vegetables.

French Mediterranean sharing plates. Uncomplicated, fresh and big focus on seasonal ingredients. Lots of great veg dishes. Amazing fresh pastas are highlights. Best pain perdu in town. Food you can eat every week.

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.

Choose your catch and indulge in this West End fish restaurant The restaurant offers a traditional wet fish counter where you can buy fish to take home and cook yourself, or you can select any fish or crustacean with the fishmonger and have it cooked there and then - whopper prawns, tuna, cod, trout, halibut, flounder, grouper. Plenty of French, Rock and Native oysters. Plus, a show-stopping Fruits de Mer. The atmosphere is great both weekends and midweek, just off Regent Street and London’s West End.

Proving why ‘fine’ dining is just that…After the premature closing of The Greenhouse at the start of the pandemic Alex Dilling has been popping up at various places around Europe but his new, self titled, Cafe Royal restaurant marks his return and it doesn’t disappoint! With his head chef Pierre Minotti leading the team London has a new go to destination for high end French cuisine. Playful takes on tradition only enhance what serious dining is all about. In a world of ‘new and groovy’ dining concepts AD and Co are setting the standard for haute cuisine as it should be. Many Michelin baubles will no doubt follow….

Sloane square’s classic French bistroColbert situates in the best corner of Sloane square and it is perfect for watching the local crowd from Knightsbridge, Chelsea and Belgravia. Basic good French bistro food. Charming both outside and inside.

Covent Garden’s favourite French bistro.A wonderful French bistro with a really nice ambience in the Covent Garden theatre district. Balthazar may be familiar to many from New York City’s SoHo and this is pretty much the same. Typical French bistro food and a rich oyster and fish bar. I love the atmosphere in both locations. Reserve well in advance due to its popularity. A theatre followed by Balthazar makes a perfect experience. Try sole, sea bass, lobster, tartar or filé de beauf.

The oldest wine bar in the city in a space full of history.Gordons Wine Bar was established in 1890 and is believed to be the oldest wine bar in the city. Since then, it has been a bastion of great wine and great French-style food in London. And it fits right under the embankment inside the old caves.