Best restaurants in Fitzrovia

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.

Our expert's personal recommendations

"My wife works near Fitzrovia so it’s our go-to for a midweek catch-up. Koba’s Korean feast excites us for the dakgangjeong: crunchy fried chicken glazed with glossy honey-soy glaze.  And at Roka, my wife's all-time favourite dish, the yuzu miso black cod, is so good that she plans her diary around visits. Luso is our more intimate option but there’s nothing quiet about the suckling pig jowl: it shatters like glass." Keith Kendrick, olive team member

Best places to eat and drink in Fitzrovia

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. It's all set in a warm, elegantly designed space – expect reclaimed stone, natural linens and outdoor seating.

Ten years in, executive chef Chris Bassett and head chef Clara Albano are marking the occasion with a monthly rotating birthday menu: three courses for £20.16, a nod to the year it opened. The menu revisits the dishes that made Clipstone's name – on a recent visit, calve’s brain on toast (worth ordering if you haven't before), celeriac and ricotta ravioli with a kale pistou, and the paris-brest, a house classic that has been on the menu in various forms since the beginning.

Each course can be paired with a 2016 vintage wine by the glass: the riesling was a standout. For something soft, the homemade sodas and watermelon iced tea are on hand. clipstonerestaurant.co.uk

Arros QD, Eastcastle Street – for flame-led Valencian cooking

You might not expect to discover traditional Valencian food just off Oxford Street, so Arros QD is a welcome find. Everything here revolves around fire, from smoky cocktails to wood-fired paella and fideuà cooked in the open kitchen.

Start at Fuego Bar for a pre-dinner drink – bartender-recommended Sol Y Humo is a vermouth-based cocktail topped up with cava, and spice lovers can’t go wrong with La Picante.

Once seated, overlooking the flames, kick things off with the Valencian kale salad. It’s fresh and zingy thanks to tamarillo dressing, Valencian citrus and kumquat with a clever tomato jelly mixed through tableside.

For mains, fideuà is a must. Similar to paella but made with short, thin noodles instead of rice, the duck and eel version is spectacular, and a rare find in London – confit duck leg, caramelised eel and shiitake mushrooms cooked in a deeply savoury veal and herb stock. Designed for sharing, the paellas and fideuà arrive in impressive pans and are prepared using the traditional Valencian method, so expect a crisp base, or ‘socarrat’.

If you still have room, finish with the warm chocolate cake, or head back to Fuego Bar for one last cocktail to end the night. arrosqd.com

Motorino, Pearson Square – for modern London-Italian fare

Modern and open, Stevie Parle’ and Luke Ahearne’s Italian-inspired bar-restaurant is a space for all occasions – quick lunches, group meals or cosy dinners.

We started with Moto Classic martinis, then tore into springy rosemary-scented focaccia, complemented by crisp, acidic pickles.

From the starters, delica pumpkin with stracciatella, candied hazelnuts and radicchio moved comfortably between sweet, creamy and bitter. But the dish that defined the meal was the agnolotti carbonara. Each small pinched pasta pocket was filled with a classic pecorino and yolk-rich carbonara, and topped with salty bites of guanciale. The fun comes from eating it whole, as it bursts between your teeth. Clever and deeply satisfying.

An old spot chop, sliced into slabs, was juicy and beautifully cooked, where the pink becomes blush, the rich meat cut through by mustard fruits and apple. Cornish blonde ray followed, robust and flake-apart, with a shellfish sauce that added depth without dulling the fish.

Olive tip: add a couple of glasses of the light Burgundy pinot noir and you have a perfectly balanced lunch. motorino.london

Koba, Rathbone Street – for Korean charcoal barbecue

Koba 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. Upstairs, it’s date night – a calm 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. 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 banchan: tiny dishes of kimchi, omelette and pickled roots that turned the table into a colourful mosaic.

From the barbecue section, daeji bulgogi, wafer-thin slices of spicy pork, delivered heat and smoke, followed by shell-on king prawns (saewoo gui), which we piled into lettuce leaves with crunchy kimchi and sauce.

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 pre-dinner yuzu martini – the perfect way to ease into Koba’s new rhythm. kobalondon.com

Luso, Charlotte Street — for authentic Portuguese plates

Formerly Lisboeta, Luso has been refreshed, but the cooking still sits firmly in Portugal. The room is long and narrow, with the open kitchen humming at the far end giving the whole place energy.

Rustic sourdough arrived warm and ready for scoops of requeijão cream cheese – milky and 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 Iberian garlic prawns, 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 base that soaks up the juices without stealing the show. But the dish that really stuck was the leitão Segovian suckling pig jowl: a contrast of textures, brittle skin snapping 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: For maximum atmosphere, try to nab the ground floor table nearest the pass to see the kitchen in full flow. luso.restaurant

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. Head chef Filippo Alessandri is shaping the menu’s next chapter, while keeping faith with the restaurant’s identity – robust French foundations with a Mediterranean tilt.

Dainty crab and seaweed tartlets arrived like bites of the seaside – sweet crab, a saline lift and buttery pastry. Tongue and salt beef cheek on crispbread followed, rich and sticky, while a venison ragu with kale brought winey comfort.

Mains were indulgent yet light. Ibérico pork pluma was 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, deep-fried, then brûléed to order. The result is a crackling caramel shell giving way to a molten 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: thin-sliced, confited, pressed in butter, set overnight, cubed and fried until shatter-crisp. theninthlondon.com

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

Kin, Foley Street – for stylish, well-considered vegetable dishes

Beginning life as a vegetarian café in 2014, Kin restaurant opened the doors to its fully fledged and 100% plant-based restaurant towards the end of 2024. Seasonal ingredients shine across the thoughtful menu whose inspiration draws from across the globe.

Golden broad bean croquettes are served with a smooth butter bean and dill cream, crisp gyoza is complemented by a coco wasabi mayo and toasted coconut flakes, while miso-glazed aubergine is delightfully soft and umami-rich. There is no fake meat in sight and gluten-free options aplenty. Enticing sauces and pickles – including pickled figs and smoked red pepper relish - can be paired with the dishes for even more variety and vibrancy.

On drinks, the Sol Picante with tequila, passion fruit and pickle juice strikes just the right tang from the mango pickle alongside passion fruit’s tart, sweet counterbalance, served with an ostentatiously large red chilli for a touch of drama. The No 47 with pineapple, Campari and dark rum is a sip of sunshine. Round off your meal with a light and creamy gluten-free lemon cheesecake with ponzu foam.

Olive tip: Keep an eye out for the hidden downstairs table, if you’re looking for an intimate dinner for two. kinlondon.com

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.

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

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

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

Honey and Smoke, the younger sister to 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 and shelves lined with tubs of tahini. Upstairs there’s a slick bar, while downstairs, the open kitchen is the focus.

Go with a group to make the most of the seasonal sharing menu; velvety 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. Honey and Co.’s signature cheesecake has made its way over, the crunchy kadaif noodle base topped with a dollop of whipped feta, honey and fresh mint.

An evolving 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

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

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

Words by Keith Kendrick, Ellie Edwards, Alex Crossley, Charlotte Morgan, Laura Rowe, Jordan Kelly-Linden, Hannah Guinness, Nicki Smith

Photographs by Patricia Niven and BAO

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