Best Fine Dining in Watford

"A Narnia-style hub of Instagrammable restaurants, bars and art on Mayfair’s Conduit Street, sketch is a dining emporium like no other. Dreamed up by restauranteur Mourad Mazouz, it’s made up of four uniquely designed restaurants and a bar which sits beneath the pod-style toilets – most likely the most photographed bathroom in the city. Other famous snap spots include the pastel pink Gallery with David Shrigley artwork adorning the walls, and the Swarovski-encrusted bathroom: Instagram gold."

"The Lecture Room & Library, also known as Sketch, was a new addition to to the list in 2020 and continues to keep its stars. It’s also one of the 16 Mayfair restaurants with Michelin stars in 2020. The Library offers a sophisticated French menu, with a seven-course meal priced at £120."

"Describe Sketch in one word and it would obviously be ‘pink’. The marshmallow coloured seats and walls will have you reaching for your phone, but the woodland mural in The Glade Bar and egg-shaped loos are pretty cool too. Bet you never thought you’d actually pee in a pod."

"One of London's properly iconic restaurants, Sheeky's have been serving up seafood to Londoners for over 100 years. The setting, tucked in an unassuming passageway linking Charing Cross Road to St Martin's Lane, means it's always been popular with London's theatre folk, popping in here post-performance as well as other A-listers. Here's where you'll find local thespians enjoying the restaurant's classic fish pie and oyster platters."

"Sheekey has been a firm favourite for the wealthy and well-known ever since, with the likes of Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller and Bradley Cooper recently spotted dining there. Located in Covent Garden, the fuss-free, deliciously fresh fish menu makes it a faultless dining experience."

"Heston Blumenthal’s (really, head chef Ashley Palmer-Watts’) shrine to historically-inspired British cuisine continues to impress, holding two Michelin stars and one of six London restaurants placed on the World’s 50 Best’s counter-intuitive top 120, because it serves precise and innovative food with élan. Exquisite chicken liver parfait “Meat Fruit” is an essential order for the table. From there, each dish is dated and rooted to food from centuries ago."

"Order from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, which is now offering a selection of its culinary classics for delivery. Three different four course menus are available to order, all inspired by British historic gastronomy – including the vegetarian Royal Cooking Menu, which features a truffle version of Heston’s iconic meat fruit dish. Order at sevenrooms.com"

"With two Michelin stars, sumptuously presented Dinner is a gastronomic tour de force, taking diners on a journey through British culinary history (with inventive modern inflections). Dishes carry historical dates... Sri Lankan in The West End"

"Located on the Kings road, London’s most desirable shopping district, The Ivy Chelsea Garden is the perfect place to sit back, relax and enjoy afternoon tea. A fun place for celebrity spotting, both the restaurant and garden are lavishly accentuated with flowers reflecting the season. Expect to see an explosion of fantastical blooms over the coming weeks for Valentine's."

"An Instagrammer's dream spot (and popular with the Made in Chelsea crew too) the Ivy Group brought in an award-winning designer to create the space at their King's Road restaurant. There's a covered upper terrace and a cosy firepit when the weather's not all that, but really it's just an evergreen dream out here."

"Next on our list of the best desserts in London, it’s The Ivy. Are you looking for decadence?. Then you need to visit The Ivy Chelsea Garden."

"It may be a lesser known spot, but Chinese restaurant Min Jiang – perched on the tenth floor of the Royal Garden Hotel – boasts one of the best views in London. A hidden gem overlooking the picturesque Kensington Gardens, Min Jiang is renowned for its impeccable service, as well as its picture-perfect vista. Go for the house duck: a whole Beijing duck served two ways, the first with homemade pancakes, and the second a dish of your choice – fried rice, with diced or minced duck and a lettuce wrap."

"Not only is Min Jiang an outstanding example of authentic Chinese food, it also offers the second-best view from an oriental eatery in the capital (Hutong at The Shard pips it, with its vantage point in space). From the tenth floor of the Royal Garden Hotel it overlooks the splendid Kensington Gardens, but it’s the legendary Beijing Duck that draws visitors. Roasted in a wood-fire oven and immaculately carved at the table by gloved waiters, it has to be ordered in advance."

"If you're used to dining in grand, hotel-based Chinese restaurants in Asia, you'll feel right at home in Min Jiang, located on the 10th floor of the Royal Garden Hotel. Service is slightly formal and clipped, the lighting a touch (only a touch) too bright, but the food – the main event – is sublime. The star dish is wood-fired Beijing duck in two servings, the second with a choice of four types of preparation."

"Windsor Grill is a short stroll from Windsor Castle and, as an independent restaurant, it's a favourite with locals. Their ethos is simple; they use the best ingredients, cooked by talented chefs, served by a friendly front-of-house team. You can visit the quirky and historic restaurant to enjoy a 28-day aged Surrey farm beef, along with their other famous meat and seafood specials, seasonal favourites, great wines, and classic cocktails."

"If a visit to the castle has made you hungry for something hearty, it’s worth a trip to Windsor Grill. Here they specialise in steaks, but there are plenty of other meaty mains to choose from, including Iberico acorn-fed pork, crab from Devon and scallops from the west coast of Scotland. It’s rather pricey, so perhaps best saved for a special occasion."

"A cornucopia for carnivores, 10 minutes’ walk from the castle beyond the end of Peascod St, the meat-mad Windsor Grill is primarily a steakhouse, serving succulent slabs with various butters, sauces and sides.... Pub Food in Windsor & Eton"

"This Asian late night restaurant and bar boasts panoramic views of one of London’s famous landmarks – St Paul’s Cathedral. Find theatrical drinks and cocktails late into the night alongside a delicious menu of tantalising, Asian-inspired dishes. On arrival, diners are met with a fluorescent pink onyx floor and a pink-hued pagoda."

"20 New Change Passage, London, EC4M 9AG Why should you care?. The latest Ivy has opened in the impressive space that once held Jamie Oliver's Barbecoa. This time they've launched an Ivy with an Asian-influenced menu."

"This trendy Notting Hill venue regularly appears on the ‘world’s best restaurant’ list. It’s the proud owner of two Michelin stars, and serves modern European cuisine and wild English game. Firm favourites include the flame grilled mackerel with smoked eel, and for dessert the brown sugar tart with stem ginger ice cream."

"Awarded two Michelin stars, The Ledbury in Notting Hill truly is French dining at its finest. Led by award-winning head chef Brett Graham, each dish is presented like a work of art. Rare meats are served on wooden boards, starters on oversized plates and desserts are almost too beautiful to eat."

"Brett Graham has long been in charge of the kitchen at The Ledbury. Australian chef/patron Brett Graham has been wowing diners at The Ledbury since 2005. It earned its first Michelin star just a year later and added a second in 2010, which it retains to this day."

"Sopwell House Hotel is a grand affair, with more than 100 rooms, two restaurants, a spa and 12 acres of grounds to its name. Among all of that the best place to relax is in the cocktail lounge, where afternoon tea is served. It’s a long, breezy room that begins with a marble-topped bar and stretches all the way to a library, with little alcoves and giant sash windows along the way."

" A combination of hotel, leisure complex & conference centre, the former Georgian country home of Lord Mountbatten is just a 20-minute train ride ..." Read our full review"

"According to regulars, this terrific Thai eatery in Belgravia serves simply unforgettable fare, from deep-fried filet of whitefish with sweet and spicy sauce to fresh prawns steamed in tom yum sauce with chilli and garlic. The attractive dining room bears the influence of feng shui principles and Eastern minimalism, both of which impart a sleek, futuristic feel that seems to suit the place's fashion-conscious clientele. Reservations are a must."

"One of Europe’s largest inland wetland projects, this 42-hectare centre run by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust was transformed from four Victorian reservoirs in 2000 and attracts some 140 species of bird, as well as frogs, butterflies, dragonflies and lizards, plus a thriving colony of watervoles. The glass-fronted observatory affords panoramic views over the lakes, while meandering paths and boardwalks lead visitors through the watery habitats of black swans, Bewick's swans, geese, red-crested pochards, sand martins, coots, bitterns, herons and kingfishers."

"Voted in 2012 as Britain’s Favourite Natural Reserve, WWT London Wetland Centre is an oasis of natural wildlife placed right in the heart of London. Managed by Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, this idyllic wetland reserve is located in a loop of the Thames and occupies more than 100 acres of land. Home for a significant number of unique species of birds, insects, amphibians and other wildlife representatives, the Wetland Centre represents a real natural wonder."

"Just ten minutes from Hammersmith, you'll get lost in the London Wetland Centre and its lakes, ponds and gardens. Aside from the daily guided tours, you can meet the otters, feed the birds, or take part in a host of family activities such as pond dipping and nature walks."

"In a nutshell: "Asian Grill and drinking house" in Bermondsey Where is it?. 171-173 Bermondsey St, Bermondsey, London SE1 3TQ Why should you care?. This takes over the space that until recently held Loyal Tavern, Inside is a new Asian grill - with a focus on skewers - as well as a tropical cocktail bar called Mala Madre."

"The Last Talisman is home to one of London's best brunches, putting an Asian-inspired twist on the classic weekend feast. Join them on a Saturday for unlimited cocktails and dishes such as the egg and bacon bao, nasi lemak with fried chicken or classic baked eggs."

"While their opening date might have been delayed due to lockdown, The Last Talisman have flung the doors wide open, and they're ready to serve you. Expect everything from world-class cocktails to a menu of skewers, snacks and sides."

"The philosophy at Momo Canteen is simple: authentic Asian flavours without any compromise. And since 2010 that's exactly what they've delivered. As well as China, their influences stretch to Korea, Vietnam and Thailand, serving some of the best street-food delights this side of South-East Asia."

"Longboys are all about gorgeous doughnuts, excellent coffee, and soft-serve ice cream delights, bringing their joy and passion for food to BOXPARK Wembley. Their doughnuts are made from a light brioche base and gourmet fillings that give them just enough sweetness and a complex flavour profile. These treats are next level decadent without the extra calories."

"There is nothing even slightly fancy or instagrammable about The Brownie Box. The Earl’s Court location on Old Brompton Road is right next to a bus stop and the tables outside are noisy and liberally fumigated with auto exhaust. The tables inside are old fashioned and formica topped, the floor linoleum."