Top Best French Restaurants in Waterloo

"Occupying what used to be the headquarters of Christian Dior, Sketch is chic, glamorous and trendy. In the Michelin Guide 2020, it was elevated to the maximum three stars, putting it in an elite group alongside Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. The Lecture Room & Library, at the top of the Grade II listed building, offers haute-cuisine by the extraordinary chef Pierre Gagnaire in a plush setting of studded ivory leather walls, ornate plasterwork ceilings, and rich furnishings in purple and crimson."

"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."

"While the powder pink Gallery restaurant is more instantly recognisable, it’s dinner in the upstairs Lecture Room and Library that will really wow your other half. Pierre Gagnaire’s food has earned it three Michelin stars (and a dazzling price tag to match), while the dining room boasts red and gold surroundings so sumptuous you’re in danger of falling more in love with the room than your date. 9 Conduit Street, W1S 2XG, sketch.london"

"What: Still the cock of the walk after all these years, Coq D’Argent’s three-pronged restaurant, bar and roof terrace space remains one of the most popular dining destinations for City workers. To drink in the views (while drinking a glass of champers), head to the grass-covered terrace, which comes complete with neatly trimmed hedges and its own fashion boutique-style soundtrack. To really get a feel for the atmosphere, we’d recommend swinging by at night, when the capital’s skyscrapers twinkle before your eyes."

"If you haven’t been to Coq d’Argent yet, then you best make sure you get there this year. Surely, you’ve seen the massive rooftop lawns overlooking Bank Junction and the rest of the City on Instagram before. But it’s far from being one of those tourist destinations where you get to see across London but then are inevitably underwhelmed by the food and drink options."

"Taking up a huge space on the top floor, this is one of the City's most famous alfresco spots. If you can grab a space here on a busy weekday lunchtime, you've done a good job. Also, make sure to find your way onto the lawn out at the back with great views of the City."

"This high-ceilinged, architecturally stunning former chapel makes an impressive backdrop for French-minded fine-dining, with doting but not disruptive service sealing the deal. This Spitalfields spot is romance at its most classic, and is a haven from the busy streets of east London. Lovely lighting and a particularly good wine list make it an alluring room to while away hours over a glass or several."

"If you are looking for a family lunch in a French Michelin Star restaurant, Galvin La Chapelle is a great choice where you won’t have to break the bank. Kids have a lovely set menu for around £12.5 and adults can choose the 3-course Sunday lunch menu for £38. The room is very nice and large with a feeling of grandeur and luxury."

"We ate outside with friends on a chilly evening but it was well worth being swaddled in layers. The food was delicious with the usual good selection of wines. Lovely to see Sanath back, running front of house with his usual good humour and efficiency, and of course, rounding off the meal with his special espresso martinis made it a most enjoyable night."

"After a much-needed wash & brush-up, John McClements’s French bistro is gleaming clean & sparkly. Not that much has changed: the tableclo ..." Read our full review"

"After a much-needed wash & brush-up, John McClements’s French bistro is gleaming clean & sparkly. Not that much has changed: the tableclo ..."

"The selection of savoury buckwheat galettes and sweet crêpes runs the gamut from no-frills (lemon-and-sugar, Nutella) to frilly in the extreme (Andouille sausage, sautéed potato and mustard; duck confit with blue cheese, truffle honey and caramelised onions). The servings are sizeable, with serious plate overhang, and everything’s under £10."

"Fashion fans should bookmark this undeniably chic patisserie pronto. Pasticceria Marchesi is one of Milan’s most established bakeries and is now owned by one of the world’s biggest fashion powerhouses, Prada. They opened a London outpost earlier this year and it’s become one of Mount Street’s most Instagrammable spots – for both it’s sweet treats and sugar almond coloured interiors."

"Mini Éphémère, a lemon and yuzu meringue and cream version of the Merveilleux. Finding a delicious sweet treat for less than £2 anywhere in London is rare but finding something that will put your sweet tooth into a trance in South Kensington for £1.20 is some kind of miracle. At Aux Merveilleux de Fred, the mini versions of their namesake confections are so light – and inexpensive – that you can indulge without guilt."

"For the melt-in-the-mouth pastry experience only a true French chef such as Frédéric Vaucamps can achieve, book yourself in at Aux Merveilleux de Fred. Famed for their brioches, meringues and truffles, which are must-buys, the whole menu is highly acclaimed. Do yourself a favour and get some takeaway buns to enjoy as you travel around the rest of the city – they are truly merveilleux."