Best restaurants in Fitzrovia

Interiors of Circolo Popolare Fitzrovia wooden tables in bottled-lined walls with foliage hanging from the ceiling

Looking for Fitzrovia restaurants? Check out our ideas for eating and drink in London's Fitzrovia, from Charlotte Street to Wells Street and beyond. Next, discover the best restaurants in Marylebone, best restaurants in Kings Cross, best restaurants in Soho and the hottest new London restaurant openings.

Best places to eat and drink in Fitzrovia

Koba, Rathbone Street – for Korean charcoal barbecue

Koba, Linda Lee’s Korean BBQ restaurant on Rathbone Street, has quietly reinvented itself after 20 years of pioneering Seoul-style DIY cooking. The beloved tabletop grills remain downstairs, ready for those who like to sizzle their own. But while below is party time, above it’s date night – a calm, softly lit space of wood, stone and warm light.

The shift gives the chefs room to show off their skills, sending out a parade of dishes that play with contrast: heat and sweetness, crunch and silk. We dived into the £45 tasting menu after a shot of fragrant Korean wine, swapping a dish to suit our cravings. Kim mari, deep-fried seaweed rolls stuffed with prawn, are the snacks you’d happily trade your favourite crisps for, while mandu, pork-filled dumplings, are plump pillows of succulence. Then came dakgangjeong, fried chicken coated in a glossy honey-soy glaze, with chewy rice cakes catching the sauce. Both arrived with a flurry of banchan: tiny dishes of kimchi, omelette and pickled roots that turned the table into a colourful mosaic. We were firmly in bliss territory.

From the barbecue section, daeji bulgogi, wafer-thin slices of spicy pork, delivered heat and smoke, followed by fat shell-on king prawns (saewoo gui), which we peeled and piled into lettuce leaves with crunchy kimchi and sauce. For theatre, our server stirred a pot of sticky dubu sotbab (tofu and vegetable rice) before piling it into bowls.

Dessert was simple and refreshing: vanilla ice cream topped with dried persimmon, a milky nod to tradition.

Olive tip: grab a seat at the bar for a yuzu martini before dining – the perfect way to ease into Koba’s new rhythm. kobalondon.com

A barbecue feast with meats, salad dishes and cocktails at KOBA

Luso, Charlotte Street — for authentic Portuguese plates

Walking into Luso on Charlotte Street brings a sense of continuity and reset all at once. Formerly Lisboeta, it’s been rebadged and refreshed, but the cooking still sits firmly in Portugal. The room is long and narrow, a bright corridor of tables, with the open kitchen humming at the far end giving the whole place buzz and energy.

We went straight for the small plates. Rustic sourdough arrived warm and ready for scoops of requeijão cream cheese – cool, milky, faintly tangy – and drapes of silky ibérico ham. A glass of Quinta do Montalto Cluricaun white from Lisbon slotted in neatly with the seafood. First, sweet clams at à bulhão pato, all garlic, coriander and briny liquor, then wild Iberian garlic prawns, plump and glossy with oil, the kind of dish that has you chasing the last of the sauce with bread.

Mains kept things simple and sharp. Grilled wild sea bream came with corn migas – a comforting, savoury base that soaks up the fish juices without stealing the show. But the dish that really stuck was the leitão Segovian suckling pig jowl: a proper contrast of textures, brittle skin snapping cleanly before giving way to soft, fatty meat.

Dessert was the chocolate mousse with olive oil and salt – dark, smooth and lifted by that savoury flicker at the end.

Olive tip: There are three floors – the top works well for office get-togethers, downstairs suits intimate private dining but, for maximum atmosphere, try to nab the ground floor table nearest the pass to see the kitchen in full flow. luso.restaurant

A trio of desserts at Luso (cake, chocolate mousse and cheese)

The Ninth, Charlotte Street – for contemporary French cuisine

Jun Tanaka’s Michelin-starred Charlotte Street fixture has used its 10-year milestone to gently reset the dial. Long-time head chef Filippo Alessandri has been promoted to executive chef and is now shaping the menu’s next chapter, while keeping faith with the restaurant’s identity – robust French foundations with a Mediterranean tilt, celebrating produce of the season.

On our visit, dainty crab and seaweed tartlets arrived like compact bites of the seaside – sweet crab, a saline lift and buttery pastry. Tongue and salt beef cheek on crispbread followed, rich and sticky in the best way, while a venison ragu with kale brought dark, winey comfort offset by the greens’ gentle bitterness.

Mains were indulgent yet light. Ibérico pork pluma came pink and tender, bathed in an umami jus that clung to every slice. Grilled mackerel with rainbow chard, mussels and kale was the counterpoint: oily fish, clean smoke and a shellfish-laced savouriness.

Then the inevitable return to the pudding that’s been on the menu since 2015. The pain perdu is made from brioche baked past the point of comfort, chilled overnight, soaked in custard, cubed, deep-fried, then brûléed to order. The result is a crackling caramel shell giving way to a molten, custardy centre – the kind of dessert that makes the rest of dinner feel like a prelude.

Olive tip: Order Agria potatoes as if they’re roasties – they deserve their own fan club: thin-sliced, confited, pressed in butter, set overnight, cubed and fried until shatter-crisp yet somehow weightless. theninthlondon.com

Salted beef cheek & tongue on sourdough — Image credit: John Carey

Elsa, Charlotte Street – for all-day grazing inspired by Alsace

Alsatian-inspired food gets a glow-up in this cute new all-day space on Fitzrovia’s foodie hub, Charlotte Street. Share snacks like deep-fried munster (a mild, soft cheese) or pork and apricot terrine while lingering over a glass of low-intervention wine for lunch or early evening, or book for dinner where the highly seasonal menu might include white asparagus with brown butter; braised sausage with mustard and sauerkraut; rhubarb and custard crêpe. A small, well-curated drinks list features lighter versions of classics like melon negroni and the best Alsatian riesling and pinot gris. elsabistro.co.uk

The George, Cleveland Street – for elevated pub classics

Tucked just behind Oxford Circus on the edge of Fitzrovia, the George serves the same menu upstairs and down though it’s a very different vibe in each space. Downstairs a dark wood classic London pub, buzzing with drinkers spilling out onto the pavement. Upstairs is much quieter with plush, soft green velvet seating and a calmer feel.

The menu is a mixture of elevated pub classics with some modern touches. The black pudding scotch egg is perfectly done with a nicely runny-ish yolk – and comes with an addictive Oxford sauce (brown sugar, vinegar and mustard, according to our server). The highly recommended fish and chips doesn’t disappoint – a shatteringly crisp batter piled with extra shards on top, perfectly golden fat chips and an extra order of curry sauce. It also comes in two sizes which is great for smaller appetites, although the small portion is still very generous. Desserts are comfortingly retro (banana split, sticky toffee pudding) or, if you’re too full, there’s an ‘Afters’ drinks section choose from, including a sticky toffee old fashioned or the famous George Irish coffee (the twist is the addition of a Guinness reduction which gives a deep malty edge). The beer selection is also well thought out and varied, with taps from Verdant, Northern Monk and Harbour Brewing. thegeorge.london

64 Goodge Street, Goodge Street – for classic French cooking

There’s a quiet confidence to 64 Goodge Street. The vibe is grown-up but not stuffy – a polished wood armoire doubling as a cloakroom and frosted windows signal a more refined dining experience but the service is the right side of relaxed and well-paced. The menu is a Francophile’s dream: French classics are lightened and updated, a smoked eel vol-au-vent sets the tone with its rich, silky filling and shatteringly crisp shell, while a navarin of lamb wraps tender braised shoulder in a cabbage leaf, steeped in an elegant broth with spring vegetables.

Mains are equally impressive – a brilliantly butchered saddle of rabbit with mustard sauce is robust but precise, and turbot Véronique, poached and served with grapes and beurre blanc, shows serious technical finesse. The wine list is tight but clever, with a focus on French bottles, and desserts are worth saving room for. We tried the best Paris-Brest we’ve ever eaten – crisp and light, filled with a praline crème diplomat that’s dangerously good.

For cooking this accomplished, the pricing is almost baffling – three courses for under £60 makes this one of the best-value restaurants in central London. 64goodgestreet.co.uk

The Newman Arms, Rathbone Street – for fancy pub grub

This historic pub (it dates from 1730) has had a recent glow-up and a new menu, and the result is a warm, friendly spot that still feels like a proper pub at heart.

Downstairs the bar has a fun, buzzy atmosphere but make your way up the winding wooden staircase and you’ll find a cosy dining room (or pie room as it’s billed) with a smarter look – think white linen tablecloths, wood panelling and plush velvet furnishings.

The pies here are a bit fancier than your regular pub grub. A rich fish pie comes garnished with a large langoustine (clutching a tiny bottle of Tabasco in his claw) and a generous dollop of salmon roe. From the starters don’t miss the lamb scrumpets – slow-cooked lamb belly, breaded and fried to a perfect crispy morsel which is served with creamy tartare sauce. If you can fit dessert there’s only one and it’s a winner: a generous chunk of dark chocolate torte – rich and very shareable.

The cocktail list is short and classic – try the twist on a black velvet made with Murphy’s stout and crémant, and served in an old-fashioned pewter tankard. thenewmanarms.co.uk

Fish pie garnished with a large langoustine (clutching a tiny bottle of Tabasco in his claw) and a generous dollop of salmon roe

Portland, Great Portland Street – for Michelin-starred dining

Now in its 10th year, Portland stands as a beacon of understated excellence. Since it opened, this unpretentious gem has redefined fine dining by focussing on the confident cooking of exceptional ingredients and warm hospitality rather than starched linen. The current menu, curated by executive chef Chris Bassett and head chef Angelica Hope, is a celebration of British seasonality with dishes like roast monkfish paired with Exmoor caviar sauce, and a showstopping Highland beef wellington. The celebratory, great-value £55 four-course tasting menu encapsulates a decade of creativity, from crispy chicken skin with liver parfait to a sublime milk chocolate ganache. Portland’s modest charm extends to its thoughtful wine list, showcasing hidden gems alongside grand cru classics. With a loyal, savvy following and an ever-evolving food ethos, Portland remains a must-visit for those who appreciate elegance without airs. portlandrestaurant.co.uk

Bar Kinky – for an intimate bar

Hidden underneath modern Georgian restaurant Kinkally, Bar Kinky lives up to its name with sultry interiors and a bold, left-field approach to ingredients and flavours.

The small 17-seater bar occupies a sleek, vault-like space with stainless steel walls, sensual red lighting and a techno music soundtrack. The focal point is the marble central island bar around which customers sit – the vibe is somehow intimate yet hectic, with bartenders offering attentive and speedy service.

Cocktails look deceptively pared back but have plenty going on behind the scenes, from inventive ingredients to playful garnishes. Bossy is a delicious margarita/gimlet hybrid, with El Rayo Plata tequila, orange, hazelnut and cacao delivering layered flavours and delicate zestiness with soft chocolate notes, plus savouriness from a Georgian seasoning in lieu of a salt rim.

Chocolate also plays its part in the smoky and seductively smooth Snatch, alongside truffle, vermouth and Ojo De Dios Mezcal; while Bureau, Bar Kinky’s take on a French 75, is a fruity, fizzy crushable delight with East London Gin, sparkling wine and a frozen pomegranate ball that keeps the drink chilled and subtly changes the flavour as it melts. kinkally.co.uk

Akoko, Berners Street — for West African dishes

Executive chef Ayo Adeyemi’s tasting menu is rooted in tradition but sharply executed with great imaginative flair. Dishes may include tatale (Ghanaian plantain pancakes) with cashew cream and caviar, or moi-moi (a steamed pudding of puréed black-eyed beans with onions, peppers and stock) served with the Afro-Brazilian seafood and coconut milk sauce, vatapá. akoko.co.uk

Rovi, Wells Street – for veg-centric dishes

Part of the Ottolenghi canon, Rovi’s a restaurant with vegetables, fermentation and fire at its heart. As is the trend, there are small and large plates available at lunch and dinner with veg punching way above their weight. Corn ribs have already become an Instagram star, taking inspiration from a Momofuku dish – the corn quartered, deep-fried, glazed in apricot sauce, baked then dusted with chipotle sauce. It’s as ridiculously good as it sounds – sweet, sticky, smoky and spicy. Hot tomatoes (roasted yellow and red cherry tomatoes) with cold yogurt, herbs and bags of dark urfa chilli displays a simple but masterful grasp of what feels good in the mouth. There’s plenty more that’s great on the menu – including crumpet lobster toast (think posh prawn toast) with kumquat and chilli sauce – but you won’t go far wrong sticking with the veg. ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/locations/rovi

Chishuru, Great Titchfield Street

After a summer as a pop-up in 2020, Chishuru now has a permanent home in Fitzrovia with Nigerian-born chef Adejoké Bakare at the helm. She's recently become the first Black woman in the UK – and only second in the world – to be awarded a Michelin star. The set menu dinner includes dishes such as deep-fried quail, cured mackerel and grilled celeriac cake. chishuru.com

Roka, Charlotte Street – for elegant Japanese robatayaki

The original Charlotte Street branch of this elegant Japanese restaurant is centred around an open kitchen, home to a large, coal-fired robata grill. Sit at the striking wraparound counter, or on a table beneath jewel-like jars of homemade ferments, to taste a succession of contemporary robatayaki dishes. We suggest selecting something from each of the menu’s sections (with a sparkling yuzu and cherry-laced sakura cocktail in hand while choosing). Snacks, salads and tempura include chunky beef and ginger gyozas, crisp prawn and shisho leaf tempura and silky aubergine salad topped with fluttering, umami-rich katsuobushi flakes. Roka's signature tokusen sushi comes next – yellowtail tartare laced with chilli, served in a pot over ice with a wooden spoon to scoop onto puffed rice crackers. From the robata grill, yuzu miso-coated black cod served in a dried hoba (magnolia) leaf is so delicate it melts at a slight touch, while a heartier rack of baby back pork ribs has a tingling edge courtesy of sansho pepper. To mark its 20th anniversary, the restaurant has curated a £20 set menu, signature dishes and special events to celebrate. rokarestaurant.com

A wooden table laid with four dishes of Japanese snacks at Roka restaurant

Honey and Smoke, Great Portland Street – for Middle Eastern mezze

Honey and Smoke, the younger sister to nearby Honey and Co. brings the flavours and flair of Jerusalem grill houses to Fitzrovia. There’s a cool yet casual vibe, with rough plaster walls, teal-blue tiles, pops of primary colour and shelves lined with tubs of tahini. Upstairs there’s a slick five-seater bar, while downstairs, the open kitchen is the focus.

Go with a group to make the most of the seasonal sharing menu; velvety smooth hummus with diddy triangles of fluffy pitta, feta fritters filled with a sweet pea centre and charred asparagus-adorned labneh. After a mezze feast, tuck into grilled meats, fish and veggies. Slow-cooked lamb falls effortlessly from the bone with a side of gently-roasted plums and dried rose petals. Saffron-marinated chicken thighs have a kick of heat, while scorched orange segments burst with smoky sweetness. Accompany with buttery, almond-flecked basmati rice. Honey and Co.’s signature cheesecake has made its way over to the dessert menu, the crunchy kadaif noodle base topped with a dollop of whipped feta, a drizzle of honey and fresh mint.

A regularly changing wine list matches the season, with a few bottles from the Middle East making an appearance, from a light Palestinian cremisan to herby maia red from Israel. If you want a booze-free option, the refreshing orange blossom iced tea has a gentle sweetness. honeyandco.co.uk

A selection of small white plates topped with meze feast including hummus and flatbreads

Pahli Hill, Mortimer Street – for regional Indian dishes

Named after one of Mumbai’s oldest neighbourhoods, Pahli Hill’s menu reflects its diverse culinary heritage, offering regional dishes from all over India. Colourful original Indian artwork and fabrics, booth-seating and a view into the open kitchen give the restaurant a contemporary feel, while its Bandra Bhai basement bar delights in its dimly lit, smuggler’s-den vibe. With a tequila-based saffron cocktail in hand, graze on papadi chat, a dip of contrasting flavours and textures, including pumpkin, spiced yogurt, wheat crackers and sev (crispy gram flour noodles), tamarind chutney and vibrant pops of pomegranate. Bangalore-born chef Avinash Shashidhara’s experience in high-end UK restaurants is clear in this menu, which utilises top-quality British ingredients. Mangalore buns – two warm, bready pockets – are served with a generous pile of spiced Scottish crab. Highlights from the tandoor include chicken tikka with cucumber noodles, mint and horseradish. The pumpkin kofta is light and fragrant, and for a veggie feast, it's perfect served with a long ‘paper dosa’ or flaky flatbread and chutneys. pahlihillbandrabhai.com

Punch Room at The London EDITION – for cocktails

Hidden in the depths of the glamorous London EDITION hotel, this bar is a cocoon of wood panelling and blue-grey velvet banquettes where creatives gather for hushed conversations over iconic punch-style cocktails. An electric fire casts a cosy ambience across the lounge area and there’s a steady stream of shaking and stirring at the free-standing bar in the corner.

The menu plays with light, and drinks are split into three sections – opaque, translucent and transparent. From the latter, completely clear drinks include the silky, mezcal-based Halo of Smoke with a kick from cayenne pepper, fragrant Bergamot liqueur Italicus and a fresh, grassy lift from coriander, basil and parsley oil dropped in. Fireball Punch has a tropical edge while negroni fans should order the unique Mother of Pearl, with Campari playing its part in a bittersweet pink foam that sits atop a clear Sakura cherry vermouth infused liquid. An eclectic choice of bar food ranges from the likes of toasted brioche rolls filled with tempura prawns, marie rose and trout caviar to crisp chicken tenders lifted with jalapeño and even mini versions of Berner Tavern comfort food, such as mac and cheese with braised beef blade. editionhotels.com

Punch Room London EDITION bar with wood panelled walls, sofas and an electric fire

Clipstone, Clipstone Street – for date night

Clipstone is on a corner of Clipstone Street in Fitzrovia and is the sister to nearby (and Michelin-starred) Portland, a modern-European dining room set up by restaurateurs Will Lander and Daniel Morgenthau with chef Merlin Labron-Johnson. Both restaurants pride themselves on high-quality cooking, wine and service, but Clipstone is more casual – here, you can have freshly made sourdough flatbreads from a pizza oven, left-over from the Italian restaurant that was here before it. There are larger plates including homemade ravioli of hay-baked carrot and ricotta with brown butter and hazelnuts and a tempting array of desserts – lemon sheep’s milk ice cream, for example, and the ultimate Paris-Brest (a Parisian bistro classic). Drinks-wise, there are several wines on tap and, for something soft, homemade sodas (including yuzu-ade) and watermelon iced tea. It’s all set in a warm, elegantly designed space – expect reclaimed stone, natural linens and outdoor seating. clipstonerestaurant.co.uk

Circolo Popolare, Rathbone Place – for a group dinner

This extravagant Italian trattoria (the second London outpost from Big Mamma group) is ideal for a fun group dinner – it’s buzzy, loud and seemingly the place to be (booking is essential, unless you want to brave the walk-in queue that snakes round the block). The interiors set the tone – lights twist into foliage hanging from the ceilings, walls are jam-packed with colourful memorabilia (photo frames, ceramic plates, candelabras) and shelves groan with every liquor imaginable – there are tens of thousands of bottles.

Kick things off with the Big Mamma cocktail, a refreshing vodka, lime and ginger ale concoction served in a mermaid-painted glass, or one of the restaurant’s takes on Italian aperitifs and spritzes – we loved the Spritz Veneziano with herbaceous Plymouth thyme gin, prosecco, blood orange bitters and a gobstopper-sized olive for good measure. There are also sharing cocktails served in giant strawberry ceramics and champagne buckets.

The food is centred around produce from Sicily – share a huge burrata with pesto or deep-fried courgette flowers to start. Mains are ideal for groups, too, with carbonara served in a pecorino wheel and silk handkerchief pasta covered in Tuscan pork ragu and aubergines, both meant for two. Tongue-in-cheek-named pizzas include I Wanna Nduja (San Marzano tomato and smoked mozzarella with subtle heat from ’nduja, spicy sausage and chilli), Elizabeth Regina topped with Sicilian herbs, prosciutto and ricotta cream, and vegetarian Emrata Burrata with creamy burrata heart, almonds, capers and olives. For dessert there’s a hefty 5.9-inch-high slice of lemon meringue pie, or creamy, boozy tiramisu spooned straight from the dish.bigmammagroup.com

Kiss the Hippo – for coffee

The second branch of this sleek coffee shop (see our brunch guide for info on the original spot in Richmond) offers breakfast and brunch classics alongside top-notch coffee. Expect plenty of niche brews, from Ugandan nitro cold brew and a fresh, bright option from Yemen to their classic George Street blend with notes of blackberry, caramel and chocolate. Dishes include vegan options such as avocado on toast with toasted seeds and chilli flakes, and scrambled tofu with red pepper and herbs on toast. An indulgent eggs benedict is served in an Insta-worthy croissant bun, while mushrooms on toast is slathered in black olive tapenade and shaved Italian cheese.kissthehippo.com

Eggs royale in croissant bun on a counter at Kiss the Hippo

Al Dente, Goodge Street – for pasta

This neighbourhood glass-fronted pasta spot is a casual affair, with simple black and white walls, a reggaeton soundtrack and a fridge packed with colourful San Pellegrino cans. In front of the small open kitchen, creations from the on-site pasta lab are laid out in all shapes and sizes to take away, from twirly fusilli to ribbed tubes of maccheroni and filled tortelli. After a starter of fresh tomato cubes on toasted focaccia doused in Sicilian olive oil, tuck into an array of handmade pasta dishes. Spaghettoni coated in a silky, yolk-yellow sauce jewelled with salty guanciale (complete with melty fat) and pecorino cheese makes a top-notch carbonara, while large tubes of paccheri soak up a sweet tomato sauce of finely minced beef and vegetables. Vegetarian options include the peppery punch of cacio e pepe tossed through chewy worms of tonnarelli (thicker spaghetti), and ravioli parcels filled with pumpkin and ricotta adorned with crispy sage. Simple desserts are well executed, with ricotta-filled housemade cannoli, and thick folds of mascarpone layered with boozy sponge in a Kilner jar tiramisu. The wine list showcases producers from across Italy – floral Umbrian San Giovanni, rich Puglian primitivo, and soft, smooth chianti from Tuscany. <pastificioaldente.com

Flesh & Buns, Berners Street – for Nikkei cuisine

Nikkei cuisine and on-demand pisco sours define the vibe at Flesh & Buns’s newest site. While Flesh & Buns’s trademark bao buns still make an appearance, the menu focusses on nikkei (Peruvian-Japanese fusion) cuisine – from tiger prawn toban with aji amarillo (a Peruvian chilli), ponzu butter and shiso, to fish and seafood tiraditos (a cross between Peruvian ceviche and Japanese sashimi). There’s also new dishes created using Ross’s new wood smoker – including chilli miso brisket and bath chap with butternut squash kimchi. Portions are generous. Korean-fried chicken wings come slathered in a fiery, tangy sauce while smoked pork ribs are two huge, succulent bronzed slabs glazed in aji amarillo honey. A ceviche of sea bass with cherry tomato, pickled kumquat and rocoto tiger’s milk (the citrussy curing marinade in a ceviche) is delicate and spicy all at once. fleshandbuns.com/restaurants/oxford-circus/