Wondering where to eat French food in London? We're rounding up the city spots bringing you moreish moules, fine cocktails and modern plates straight from the country. Whether you're in the market for a famous Soho pub or a sleek Michelin star restaurant, these eateries are adding that little extra je ne sais quois to your meal.
Last edited by Scarlett Welch
Last updated on 12th November 2024
An elegant French restaurant with a Mediterranean twist, Mistress of Mayfair can be found on St James' Street. This gorgeous space is decked out in plush red velvet booths, soft, glowing lighting and a mirrored ceiling, creating an intimate atmosphere that's perfect for date night.
Tuck into a luxurious menu of josper-grilled ribeye in truffle sauce, onion-glazed aubergine and lobster rolls, followed by a dreamy chocolate mousse.
Inspired by the flavours of Provence and the Mediterranean coastline, Cigalon is bringing contemporary French cuisine to the streets of London. Taking its name from the famous chef in Marcel Pagnol's 1935 film, it's located within a former auction house, featuring a dazzling glass-ceilinged dining room, plush velvet booths and clusters of vibrant greenery. Chef Julien Carlon runs the kitchen, creating gorgeous plates of seared wood pigeon breast, grilled courgette risotto and poached rhubarb with cocoa sorbet to be devoured from a seasonally changing menu. After dinner, head downstairs to Baranis, the Riviera-inspired cocktail bar where you can play pétanque and sip on a Pomme Fanny, made with Calvados and green apple liqueur.
Auberge is coming in hot, packing a stellar menu featuring classic French dishes paired with refreshing pints. Only a moment's walk from Waterloo, this restaurant also includes a rooftop bar which offers sneak peeks of The Shard. Inside, ceilings are laced with yellow threads of light and walls are covered in quirky posters. An ideal haunt for a relaxing bite to eat, it provides a menu full of traditional French flavours with a modern twist: we're talking everything from moules frites and steak sandwiches to deep-fried camembert and much more.
A sunny slice of the French Mediterranean nestled in between London's St James and Leicester Square, Whitcomb's At The Londoner is a fine dining restaurant dishing out modern twists on classic dishes from the French and Italian rivieras. Located just a short walk from venues like the London Coliseum, it's the perfect spot to grab a delicious post-theatre bite. If you choose to dine a la carte, make sure to select from gorgeous goodies like tuna tartare, yellowtail carpaccio and lobster linguine.
Don't be fooled by the cosy pub downstairs, as this Bloomsbury destination also houses an elegant French restaurant above: Bistro Bleu. Expect sultry dark blue furnishings, velvet curtains and touches of gold throughout the room, with charming miniature lamps on each table. Head Chef Bernard Dumonteil is cooking up an authentic menu from Northern France, including braised leg of rabbit, baked courgette cannelloni and bavette steak, paired with a selection of fine wines.
If you're looking for a French restaurant in London, Covent Garden has a delicious helping of brasseries, one of them being the romantic Balthazar. Located within the famous Flower Cellars building, it fronts candle-lit tables and Art Deco-inspired interiors. As well as offering an authentic Parisian feel, the eatery whips up delicious brunches, lunches, pre-theatre dining menus from £27.50 each and dreamy jazz evenings on Wednesdays. Dine here and you'll be able to get your chops around steak frites, six oysters for £19.50, and moules mariniere.
An elegant hideaway in the heart of the City, Cabotte offers a menu of stunning French food paired perfectly with over 1000 fine wines. It was founded by two leading sommeliers, Xavier Rousset and Gearoid Devaney, and showcases some of the finest produce from the Burgundy region. Step inside and you'll find two exclusive dining rooms complete with shabby-chic walls, vintage mirrors and velvet seating. Both traditional and modern dishes can be found on a menu created by head chef Elliot Miller, who uses seasonal, fresh produce to a high standard. For date night with a touch of luxury, book a seat to dine on trout gravadlax, dry-aged beef tartare, and stone bass with violet artichokes.
Boulevard Brasserie is a classic and popular restaurant that's been serving up French classics since 1991. Situated in Covent Garden, this traditional spot covers three floors decorated to imitate 1960s Paris Theatreland - think crisp tablecloths, elegant prints and flowers hanging above large windows. Enjoy sophisticated eats in a pretty setting and wolf down a surf and turf platter, seafood linguine or boeuf bourguignon. This dining room is also home to a marvellous afternoon tea which is served Monday to Sunday from midday 'til 3.45pm.
The Great Northern Hotel's first-floor RAILS restaurant is home to a delightful mixture of Parisian chic interiors and French fare, which is paired with dishes from our side of the Channel too. Boasting striking golden light fixtures, marble tables and luxurious leather seating, it romanticises travel and the thrilling dining opportunities that come with it. Feast on a set menu starting from only £22 per person, or indulge in plates from the a la carte, like its signature beef Wellington (£82) to share, or grilled half lobster (£26). Better yet? Adjoined to the main eatery is Little Bar, serving up French cocktails, aperitifs and digestifs.
Brasserie Zédel can be found in the heart of Piccadilly and is one of the more affordable French restaurants in London. Upon entrance, you'll be met by a dazzling chandelier hanging from the ceiling, surrounded by graphic wallpaper featuring iconic landmarks such as the Eifel Tower. Make your way into the main dining area to marvel at towering, marble pillars and Art Deco furnishings, then take your seat to tuck into three courses for just £19.95. Elsewhere on the menu, expect the likes of French onion soup, pig head terrine and the house choucroute. What's more, the building is also home to ZL Café where you can enjoy light bites, watering hole Bar Américain and live music venue Crazy Coqs.
Colbert is inspired by the boulevard cafes of Paris, which is evident by its warm, Art Deco-laced decor and brown leather, diner-style booths. It beckons you to slide in and enjoy your morning petit déjeuner or perhaps a kick-starting coffee on its terrace while watching the world of Sloane Square go by. As well as a selection of patisseries and desserts, there's a mouthwatering menu designed by head chef Sascha Rieb. Think croque monsieurs, escargots and steak tartare to name a few of the authentic plates, followed by some madeleines, of course.
Get a taste of the French Riviera in London courtesy of Mimosa At The Langham. The menu features delicious Mediterranean delights, ranging from whole sea bass baked in a salt crust to spit-roast coquelet with thyme and confit lemon. As for the stunning interiors, the restaurant is kitted out with pink walls, blue ceramic wall lights with coral motifs, palm chandeliers and rattan elements. Head over to step into a 1960s coastal town with a modern twist serving the most scrumptious goodies around.
Bleeding Heart is a thing of beauty: split up into a buzzy bistro and an elegant bar and grill on the first floor, they pull punters from all over looking for a very French bite to eat. You'll find the bistro sporting all-year-round outdoor seating, 19th-century wine posters and mustard yellow walls. There are more than 350 wines to enjoy by the bottle and over two dozen by the glass, making it a prime place to sip some of the good stuff. Feast on les escargots 'bourguignon' (£11.50) to begin with, followed by rabbit leg à la moutarde (£24) or line-caught cod fillet on a bed of puy lentils (£28.50).
When it comes to Michelin star French restaurants in London, The Ninth is certainly pulling out all the stops. The Charlotte Street haunt oozes quirkiness with its textured stone walls, fixed with a wire rack hanging copper pans, and cosy leather seating. Chef Jun Tanaka brings the flavours of France and the Mediterranean to diners' plates: think grilled seabream with tenderstem broccoli and an anchovy dressing, paired with Stephen Vincent chardonnay. The set lunch menu comes in at £30 for two courses or £35 for three, and the wine list is comprised of smaller, lesser-known producers, with a selection of 25 red and 25 whites.
Iconic and steeped in history, The French House is a must if you're looking for fun after-work drinks in a Bohemian setting. What it lacks in music machines and televisions it makes up for in atmosphere and authenticity, fronting only seven tables at its upstairs restaurant. Fixed to the wall you'll find vintage photographs looking over white, crisp tablecloths topped with moreish cuisine. Join the likes of Dylan Thomas and Francis Bacon who've frequented its rich, red walls and dine on baked scallops in garlic and parsley butter, pork chops alongside puy lentils, and madeleines to finish. If you're on the hunt for a French restaurant in Central London, call off the search because we've found you a scorcher.
What was formerly a bootmaker, a surgery and an electrical shop at various points in history is now home to Noble Rot Wine Bar & Restaurant on Lamb's Conduit Street. First converted into a tipple hub by Admiral Nelson in 1974, it today sports sophistication with vibrant, framed self-designs on the wall and sleek, dark furniture. Executive chef Stephen Harris is at the helm, overseeing the à la carte menu dubbed 'Franglais' cooking thanks to its overseas influence. Come for the delectable coq au vin or indulgent creme fraiche panna cotta with rhubarb and stay when you discover that it won 'Wine List Of The Year' at the National Restaurant Awards four times in a row.
An award-winning French restaurant in Mayfair, you say? Sign us up. Providing a modern take on traditional French gastronomy is two Michelin-starred chef Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal. His stylish eatery is made up of only 34 seats, overlooking the iconic Regent Street and flooded with natural light. Clean-cut interiors marry a thought-provoking tasting menu for £215 per person which includes Iberico pork shoulder with black pudding, guanciale and smoked caviar, plus additional signature dishes that can be ordered such as clam chowder (£35) or oeuf noir AKA Clarence court egg and périgord jus (£65).
Les 110 de Taillevent overlooks Cavendish Square and is the sibling of the two Michelin star Taillevent in Paris. Offering an outstanding selection of French wines (over 2000 bins) and modern dishes, it too is an award-winning restaurant with three AA Rosettes to its name. It provides an elegant, modern setting with a towering bar at its core filled with emerald green bottles, large windows and a private dining room adorned with gorgeous oil paintings. Whether you're dining exclusively or swinging by for a bit of lunch, the marvellous fare you'll be devouring includes spelt lobster risotto and the signature Pink Lady apple tarte tatin.
