The 30 Best Intimate dining spaces in London

“Great little spot for a few drinks and a tasty burger, love the spin the wheel. Anya your the best!”

“Happy with just about everything. We had a very pleasant experience and we were all more than satisfied with the selection of food and its preparation. The service was friendly and helpful at all points and we have taken away delightful memories of the experience. No problem in recommending the Orange Tree to others.”

“It was my graduation dinner 21.07.23. Yippee I totally enjoyed every bit of it. My guests had a lot to say about the beautiful evening as well. The ambiance - was to die for Music - very soothing and chill Food - right amount of deliciousness Staff - warm and welcoming with very cool vibe. My experience was all shades of amazing. I was received with love and treated very special. My visit was a memorable one and I will do it over and over again. Guys! What are you waiting for? Get booking……”

“One of the best spots in the area for breakfast! The food was great, and the service was beyond friendly. I had the Big Breakfast and asked to swap out the tomato and mushroom — no issues at all, which was much appreciated. Prices were very reasonable, especially for breakfast in London. Would definitely come back!”

“From the check in with a lovely lady called Jamila putting herself out to help especially as i have some disabilities , to all of the Amazing staff , the great room and all food provided including eating in the Bugis Kitchen, we experienced a most wonderful stay at The Copthorne Tara Hotel. Their was an added bonus of it being only just over a 20 min walk to The Royal Albert Hall, i really wished that i had found this hotel years ago. I would highly recommend and cannot wait to return. I also thought that all round they were very reasonable with their prices considering their location......”

“I found this highly reviewed cafe in MAP and went to try it immediately! The food was prepared with great care and it all tasted amazing! Hummus was so fresh! Coffee was excellent and importantly for me dogs were welcome!”

“Very nice coffee shop within the court yard of the Oakland Rise apartments. It's very hidden away from anyone outside the apartment area. The atmosphere inside is a very nice, slightly industrial setting with an open floor area where small events are held. It was quiet during my visit, with some music playing in the background. The coffee is good, and there is an option for plant milk. There are also some vegan options for some small food items. The staff is very nice. A true hidden gem.”

“Amazing lamb Shawarma plate - one the absolute tastiest (spiced to perfection!)”

“Love this cafe, it's one of my faves in the area. Lovely food and good coffee to match. I came with my one year old daughter and whilst the place is quite small, the staff were incredibly accommodating to set her up in a high chair and were engaging with her throughout our meal, bringing her colouring pads and childrens cutlery. They were also un-phased by all the food and pencils that ended up on the floor! Food was nice, came out hot and quickly. Defo recommend.”

“100% the best pizza in London and my fave thing about living in Brockley. Delicious pizza (the macgyver is INCRED), friendly staff, stunning location and the rosemary and lemon dip just tops it all off. Get yourself there asap!!!”

“Simply the best Italian I’ve had. The lunch special was quite affordable and the quality is top notch. They used fresh ingredients. Pasta and risotto we had were cooked just about right. I would recommend getting the dessert as well. It was a perfect meal.”

“Well well well what can I say about this place... Hidden Gem... Faultless and Amazing.. Cannot speak highly enough... Service 5 stars... Personable, catered for dietary requirements without fuss.... very good attention to detail and a great amount of charisma fills this small restaurant. Food.. Exceptional, Epic, Excellent. The pork belly sensational, the lamb chop great quality and cooked to perfection... The sushi and shashimi was fresh and there was some great combinations. We had the Full Moon tasting menu which is £30 and worth every penny... The portions were great filled up 4 men with strong appetites... So glad I have found this place... Cannot wait till next time...”

“Excellent coffee and food, cooked and served by warm and friendly staff. Staff were welcoming and the layout of the cafe is comfortable and warm. We went there for breakfast two days in a row and had a lovely experience. Highly recommended!”

“I saw this shop online and went there and try their sandwiches which were very good especially the paneer tikka sandwich which was very good and their masala chips were very great which made me remind my childhood and their chai was also very good. Next time I will bring my friends to this place so that they can enjoy the food.”

“We were a group of 4 adults and 2 young kids that visited Medlar for lunch on a Sunday. The décor did feel a bit formal but the friendly staff helped to create a relaxed atmosphere. They offer a price fixe menu of between 1 and 3 courses (with an optional extra cheese course), which felt refreshingly old school in this era of sharing plates that we all live in. Between the 4 adults, we tried out the crab raviolo and slow cooked rabbit starters, followed by the roast quail, calf’s liver and roast guinea fowl mains. For dessert we shared the tart tatin, crème brulee and warm chocolate mousse. The food was beautifully presented and quite flavourful as well. From the starters we tried the crab raviolo was the clear winner, all the mains seemed similarly good, while the tart tatin was an excellent finisher to the meal. I must give special mention to the kid friendliness of the place, as this is not what I expected after reviewing the published menu online which wouldn’t appeal to younger kids. They were very accommodating to our children and offered to tailor make a dish using any mix of items on the menu at a reasonable price of £20. On that note the service was a real highlight of our meal, all the staff we interacted with seemed so genuine and friendly. The bill for the 6 of us came to £414 of which £92 was spent on drinks. The set price per adult of £58 for 3 courses is a relative bargain in this part of town (note that the price does vary based on time of the week, even though very similar menus are on offer), even more so once you consider their very generous servings of complementary bread as well as the chocolate truffles after our meal. On the whole an excellent meal in a place with old worldly charm and with so many tempting items on the menu yet to be tried, I will certainly be back in future…”

“I have just been back to PLU, for my third time, and it just keeps getting better. I do not know how this place does not have multiple Michelin stars, it is so much better than all of the 2 starred restaurants I have been to. To think that there is just one chef creating all of these dishes alone in the kitchen is absolutely mind boggling. This restaurant should be top in all of the guides, yet it is just quietly tucked away in St John's Wood and no one seems to know about it. Favourite dishes for me this time round... the tuna, no.. the foie gras, who am I kidding it must be at least one of the parts of the 'lobster trilogy'. Maybe it is easier to decide which of the the two desserts was the best... I said the Opera cake & my other half said definitely the Apple & Blackberry Crumble. Thank goodness you don't need to make choices!”

“We had the most amazing experience at Hayward’s this weekend. I booked the dinner and accommodation package for my husbands birthday months ago. Since booking, I have had to go on a strict diet for medical reasons. I contacted Hayward’s and they went above and beyond what I had expected by creating a fully bespoke menu for myself, meaning I didn’t miss out on anything and you would never have known the food had been adapted. My husbands food was incredible as well. The service on the night was impeccable, our glasses were never empty and little touches such as the waitress’s ensuring the tables were clean after each course did not go unnoticed. We would highly recommend visiting this family run business and we will be back for definite.”

“Fabulous place! Schnitzels are huge and super tasty! Service very attentive! Can't wait to come back!”

“My friend took me to this restaurant i was so pleasantly surprised with the quality of food. All dishes are presented artfully”

“Marvin was brilliant with recommendations and brilliant host! Lovely gentleman, food was amazing as usual, keen to trip everything. Some surprising ingredients that go so well together. Deffo recommend! Thank you Marvin.”

“When you walk in, you're greeted with walls of wine and Italian goods. Hanging above you is an Italian flag and a Ferrari flag, and in front of you are tables packing the room with one TV hanging on the back wall of an Italian broadcast. This is essentially an Italian restaurant plucked off the street of any major Italian city and transported to London. And the food? Matches the vibe. The antipasti and pasta dishes are incredible, but make sure you stay for tiramisu - something pretty unique and entirely delicious. Fantastic service, as well.”

“Was in Uxbridge for an evening and after looking through various places, I came across this gem of a restaurant. Read through some of the reviews and decided to give it a try and wow the QUALITY of the food is top notch. Ordered spring rolls which had a heavenly taste to them, chicken tawouk with rice which was cooked to perfection with the chicken so soft and succulent and had a side of cheesy fries which were the best cheesy chips I've ever had. On top of all that, the two waitresses serving us were very warm and welcoming. 5 stars all round.”

“Wow is this place yummy! Got the pierogis and halloumi wrap and both were outstanding! I haven’t had pierogis like this in a very long time; so worth the train ride to come here.”

“Great place for food. Service is prompt and friendly. We go here often, at least weekly. Rosa is always welcoming and knows our kid by name. Definitely recommend.”

“Had an excellent experience! Mariam provided outstanding service—she was attentive, friendly, and made us feel really welcome. The food was delicious, and we thoroughly enjoyed everything. Highly recommend!”

“Lovely new place to enjoy roti chanai …we tried the fish & mutton curries, both cooked perfectly, nice & spicy. Rotis were freshly made, authentic & crispy, perfect with the curries! Don’t miss this gem in Winchmore Hill!”

“This restaurant offers a pleasant take on modern Italian food. The service was fast and friendly and the food good. I tried a starter and pizza. My bruschetta starter was nice, but the tomatoes were a bit bland for bruschetta (that might be a seasonal problem). The pizza was flavourful with a good texture. The La burrata pizza what well balanced with the creamy mozzarella ball complementing them salty meat and fresh tasting rocket. Overall, this is the second time we’ve been back and both times we’re good. I’d recommend Unico28 if you’re looking for a good alternative to the other Italian restaurants in the area,”

“Such a lovely place with lovely people. The fish was super fresh and the pasta extremely tasty without becoming heavy. They have a great lunch menù that gives a great taste of their experience. The service was top notch and super friendly and the external terrace in spring makes it all dreamy. Will most definitely come back!”

“Best cafe this side of London, Staff are amazing very friendly and welcoming Food was very nice”

“We came here for breakfast and absolutely loved it. Everything was beautifully presented and tasted incredible. Definitely one of the nicest breakfast spots in this area — highly recommended!”