Best Tasting Menus In London

There are people that love food and then there are people that Love. Food. If you fall into the latter camp you've probably found yourself ogling fancy restaurant websites dreaming up an evening of culinary excellence. Many eateries now are taking the torture of decision-making away with dining experiences that showcase the full spectrum of flavour and finesse that these talented chefs are able to create. Luckily for you? We've rounded up the best London tasting menus that any foodie worth their salt should be checking out.

Last edited by Lauren Cole

Last updated on 1st July 2024




Gymkhana

Inspired by the clubs of colonial India, this impeccably run restaurant spans two levels: The ground-floor booths are perfect for lunch, while the vivid red basement offers a more intimate feel. Offering six courses for £95, Gymkhana's Indian tasting menu brings together the very best in contemporary Michelin-starred cuisine. The extensive offering leans towards Northern Indian cuisine, featuring superbly executed traditional dishes like gilafi quail seekh kebab, wild muntjac biryani, and saffron pistachio kulfi falooda. Fronting luxe velvet furnishings and colourful modern art, this swanky Mayfair spot is the perfect place for an intimate dinner date or special celebration meal. 

Cigalon

Looking for a tasting menu in London under £100? At this tasty joint, the kitchen is helmed by Marseillais Head Chef Julien Carlon, who collaborates with trusted suppliers from the South of France and the UK to ensure the best-tasting, highest-quality produce. Cigalon's five-course menu, Taste of Provence, showcases the finest French flavours in the London. While dishes are switched up month on month, past plates have included veal head terrine, rocket and tomme risotto, as well as flourless chocolate cake. Enjoy your meal in an elegant, double-heighted space with a greenhouse glass ceiling nestled within the chic surroundings of a former auction house.

Taste of Britain Experience

@ The Soho Hotel on Wednesday 17th July 2024 and 2 other Wednesdays

The Soho Hotel are making sure you get your fix of the finest seasonal and native-led food on the third Wednesday of every month with their Taste of Britain Experience. Expect four courses from executive chef Joe Fox each time, featuring the finest wild and farmed ingredients from across the British Isles. It costs £55 per person, with drinks pairings to add on for a further £35.

EDIT

After sustainable British tasting menus? Step inside Edit, where the architect-designed interiors reflect the restaurant's ethos, featuring exposed brick walls, vintage furniture, hand-crafted natural-wood lighting, and rescued terracotta tiles for a warm yet modern vibe. Inspired by modern British gastronomy, they take a hyper-seasonal approach to bring you low-impact eats, which means their delicious menu changes constantly. With a commitment to 'root to fruit' zero-waste principles, every dish is a testament to creativity and sustainability. Plus, you can pair these with matched wine and other drinks.

Ayllu Restaurant

Paddington restaurant Ayllu offers up some unbeatable tasting menus. With rich, dark green walls, elaborate décor, and plush banquette seating, this swish haunt serves contemporary sharing plates, sushi, and innovative cocktails. Indulge in their three delicious tasting menus: Lima, Cuzco, and Machu Picchu, each thoughtfully crafted to showcase the diverse flavours of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine, satisfying even the most selective palates. Prices range from £30 to £65 per person, and you can get your hands on the likes of oysters, salted edamame beans, miso-marinated black cod and more at this stunning venue. 

Benares Restaurant & Bar

If you're after the best tasting menus in London for 2024, Benares Restaurant & Bar is an epic shout, especially if you enjoy elevated Indian cuisine. Here, the chef mixes his South-Asian roots with top-notch British ingredients to create a one-of-a-kind modern Indian menu. For £129, you can feast on goodies like tawa halibut and clam moilee, hiran boti tikka, lamb chop pulao, and so much more in a super swish environment.

Bardo St James's

If you're in the mood for mouthwatering eats and tasting menus worth shelling out for in London, Bardo St James's tasting menu is sure to whet your whistle. Dive into the finest Italian fare at this central hotspot, where every dish is crafted to perfection. For £90 per person, Monday to Thursday, this Suffolk Place hub boasts a crackin' selection of plates such as aged balsamic vinegar glazed duck breast, lobster tagliatelle and roasted seabass. Executive Chef Graziano Bonacina leads the kitchen, offering a seasonally evolving menu that brings a touch of sophistication to Italian classics.

Trishna

From the team behind the award-winning Gymkhana, Trishna offers upscale Indian dishes from the southwest coast, spotlighting fish and coconut, perfectly paired with wine. This refined yet laid-back spot brings a neighbourhood feel to Indian coastal cuisine. Alongside the à la carte options, diners can choose from a variety of tasting menus, including a three or four-course lunch, the five and seven-course Koliwada menus inspired by Mumbai's fishing communities, a six-course seafood extravaganza, and a multi-course vegetarian feast. Expect everything from Hariyali bream to tandoori lamb chop and hiran ki boti, all paired with fine wines to boot.

Cheneston's Tasting Menu

@ The Milestone Hotel and Residences on Wed, 3rd Jan 2024 - Sat, 30th Nov 2024

Designed by executive chef Daniel Putz, the Cheneston's tasting menu brings you the finest seasonal ingredients for £110 per person. These recipes are either family heirlooms or treasures from his travels, all honed to perfection through the chef's personal kitchen adventures and culinary expertise. Think Devonshire crab salad, roasted free range pork and black cherry sorbet, with an entire vegetarian selection available too.

Six By Nico

The perfect addition to the affordable tasting menu London scene, Six By Nico is pairing cutting-edge cuisine with theatrical themes. The menu at the Charlotte Street spot changes every six weeks, with six shiny new courses and pairing wines, all for less than £70 a head. Guests revel in the creativity of menu themes, which have previously drawn inspiration from New York, childhood, and even the Mad Hatter's Tea Party from Alice in Wonderland. Expect whimsical dishes like miso enoki Ramen, deep-fried Mars bar, and hazelnut ragu pappardelle served in a dining room that feels like a cosy hunting lodge with wood-panelled walls, studded leather banquettes and a long pass overlooking a lively open kitchen.

1251 Restaurant

James Cochran's 12:51 is a contemporary restaurant on Upper Street that serves a multitude of global flavours in a sleek, minimalistic environment. Starting at £39, their five-course tasting menu features modern British sharing plates with a twist, like a goat grazing board with black-eyed pea dahl, roti, scotch bonnet jam, and pineapple, as well as roast hogget with turnip and miso emulsion. To wash it all down? Organic wines and unique cocktails like the 12:51 Negroni and Bloody Mary Martini, of course.

The Ivy Asia

Asian tasting menu in London, anyone? Sitting pretty in St. Paul's, The Ivy Asia is a swanky celeb-approved restaurant drawing inspiration from the Far East. Decked out in opulent Asian décor, from the semi-precious gem-adorned floor to the ancient samurai warrior statue, this restaurant is practically made for Instagram. Their pan-Asian tasting menu is inspired by the head chef's travels across Tokyo, Cambodia, and Vietnam and features goodies like beef tataki drenched in tosazu, black miso cod and crispy bubbled wontons.

Angelina

On the hunt for an Italian tasting menu in London? Dalston hotspot Angelina is known for its creative menu of Italian and Japanese fusion cuisine, blending fresh, local ingredients with traditional techniques. Offering unpretentious dining that packs a punch in the flavour department, tasting menus here are priced at £64 per person. The 13-plate offering highlights a creative, communal dining ethos, featuring innovative dishes like soy-cured yolk raviolo, pork ragu with smoked herring roe, and brûlée matcha cheesecake.

Scully St James's

For a fine dining experience that offers something a little different, try chef Ramael Scully's eponymous restaurant. The chef draws inspiration from his globetrotting adventures and family roots to whip up a cuisine that's a melting pot of flavours. A fusion of Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, and Irish influences, the menu blends explosive tastes with thoughtful techniques to serve up complex yet perfectly balanced dishes. The £135 tasting menu sees unique dishes like crispy stuffed chicken wing served with salted egg yolk and finger lime before being paired with a glass of crisp Laurent-Perrier vino.