You don't want to dine with a swarm of other Londoners; you want to cavort in private supper clubs; you want to booze in basement bars, and you want to be the first to tell all of your friends. Boasting some of the best hidden gems in the world, our city is a homage to clandestine eateries. Whether you fancy knocking back dim-sum behind an unassuming Chinatown door or schmoozing by candlelight in a subterranean 1920s spot, discover the best secret restaurants in London.
For more hidden gems? Check out our recommendations for the best secret bars in London.
Last edited by Scarlett Welch
Last updated on 9th October 2024
Following the success of their pop-up Prelude, Oriole has a permanent site in Covent Garden. This gorgeous bar is known for its creative cocktails and stylish decor, but if you head downstairs you'll find a plush basement restaurant designed like a speakeasy.
Their menus focus on Latin American cuisine, with favourites including sea bass ceviche, smoked aubergine and chicken arepas. That's not all though, as you'll often find live jazz and other entertainment here too.
Whilst Dans Le Noir looks like a perfectly normal restaurant from the outside, once inside you'll see - or, more importantly, you won't see - what makes this pitch-black venue such a hidden gem. Inspired by the concept that our preconceptions of food are affected by our senses, you'll spend your evening dining in the dark.
Hidden behind an unassuming door in Chinatown is a wonderland of oriental whimsy. Featuring three bars across two floors, each with their own menu of cocktails, Opium is the perfect place for an evening spent feasting on delicious dim-sum and quaffing down incredible libations from award-winning bartenders.
You've probably walked past this spot without giving it a second glance, but you'd be missing out if you didn't venture through The Little Blue Door. The Fulham playhouse has been designed to look like a flat, complete with a relaxed kitchen, cosy sitting room and, of course, party den for all your eating, drinking and dancing needs.
Basement Sate has something of a reputation for itself, known as one of the city's best secret venues. Popular for serving the sweeter things in life alongside creative concoctions, slip under the streets of Soho and spend the evening sipping on deliciously potent cocktails and digging into delightfully decadent dishes.
Tucked away in Fitzrovia, Lucy Wong is an elegant restaurant and bar inspired by 1950s Hong Kong. Across their venue, decorated in Asian artwork and hanging lights, and their heated outdoor terrace, you can enjoy sumptuous dishes like mushroom dumplings, salmon or pork bao buns and signature fried rice dishes.
As for the drinks? Expect inventive serves like the Eastern Sour or a Breakfast in Beijing, alongside classic cocktails too. Even better? This sultry spot offers afternoon tea for £35 per person.
For Prohibition-inspired partying and 1920s charm, there's one restaurant event in London just brimming with vintage whimsy. Dig out your finest glad rags and head over to the secret London location for a night of razzle-dazzle and live jazz at one of the best pop-ups in the city.
@ Pedley Street Station on Various dates from Thursday 21st November 2024
The Murder Express transports you to the early 20th century for an immersive, murder mystery experience. But that's not all, as you'll also be served up a mouthwatering four-course meal designed by a Michelin star chef.
Watch the shock on your mate's face as you take them through a sex shop, only for them to discover this incredible speakeasy. The naughty-looking nook isn't what it seems, instead, La Bodega Negra is a fantastic Mexican restaurant and bar where you can eat and chat the night away.
