Mentioned by Time Out London
The best seafood restaurants in London
"Tucked behind the heart of Theatre Land on St Martin’s Court, the red facade of J Sheekey’s fish, shellfish and seasonal game restaurant is nothing short of iconic. Sheekey’s is as famous and as much a part of the West End as the actors and theatregoers who frequent it pre- or post-show and it’s been top of its game for over 100 years. Devour seafood platters or pop in for oysters and a glass of Champagne or head next door to the more casual, but just as loved, J.Sheekey Atlantic Bar."
"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."
"The Michelin starred restaurant is the jewel of Moorgate’s South Place Hotel, thanks to the exquisite touch of Executive Chef, Gary Foulkes. Foulkes’ way with fish and seafood is one of the best you’ll find in the capital, from the Japanese take on turbot – it’s served with Japanese mushrooms, salsola and an unami-fuelled bonito dashi to the tongue tingling raw Orkney scallops served with blood orange, citrus yoghurt and Greek basil. The tasting menu is a must-try for any special occasions and did we mention the restaurant has a gorgeous sweeping terrace too?"
"What: Stunning views come as standard at this Michelin starred seafood restaurant in the City, which is located the seventh floor of South Place Hotel. The precise cooking on show at Angler elevates beautiful ingredients to dizzying heights. Dishes on the regularly changing a la carte menu might include John Dory with bacon and sardines, and roast monkfish served with parsnip cream, while there’s also the option to go all-out and opt for the lengthy tasting menu.Where: South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, EC2M 2AF"
"Restaurants British Moorgate. Bordered by lavender bushes and olive trees, Michelin-starred Angler’s chic outdoor terrace has a retractable roof that shields diners from summer rain and winter chills. Sip premium cocktails while scoffing big-money seafood snacks – Porthilly oysters, Cornish sea-bass tartare, Alaskan king crab cromesquis."
"Scott’s is a London restaurant that holds fast against its glamour and quality fading, with its terrace still one of the most coveted reservations in the city and its seafood cookery still some of the most outstanding."
"As one of the oldest restaurants in London—it started out as an oyster bar in 1851—Scott's Restaurant has certainly proved its ability to evolve with the ever-changing trends of co..."
"At its best, seafood relies on unpredictability, freshness trumping all, so calling this shoal of restaurants across London “dependable” might come across the wrong way. That said, a reliable supplier is a good one, and Wright Brothers — which gets much of its catch from its own wholesale operation — offers up daily specials alongside dishes served everyday. Whether fish soup and rouille, a pint of Atlantic prawns, or Cornish sardines on toast, it’s quality fish treated well."
"The Wright Brothers have made seafood many things: sustainable, curated, and very cool. Embedded in Spitalfields Market within a stone's throw of folksy menswear boutiques and the vintage racks, The Wright Brothers seem to have absorbed the identity of the east for their latest addition to their set of restaurants and oyster bars. But all that brassy, stylish veneer hasn't distracted from the Wright Brothers's commitment to taste and sustainability."
"One of the original seafood restaurants in London, the Wright Brothers are well-known for their oysters, farmed at their own Cornish Duchy oyster farm, as well as selecting the best from the British Isles and France. From ceviche style to a Mediterranean twist with pomegranate, balsamic and spring onion, the Wright Brothers are truly the kings of oysters. If oysters aren’t your thing, don’t despair as the rest of their menu is just as delicious."
"The St Albans branch of the fresh fish and seafood restaurant chain set in a smart, recently renovated location with outdoor seating."
"Restaurants British Regent Street. The Hawksmoor name means masculine clubby interiors and a penchant for the best of British beef, but this capacious offshoot overlooking Regent Street also adds a generous helping of luxury seafood to its offer. As ever, the atmosphere crackles and engaging staff are bang on the money, while cosy booths, snugs and corners make it irresistible for couples."
"There's something fishy about the Air Street branch of the Hawksmoor steakhouse group. The menu is packed full of elegantly executed classics like crab or shrimps on toast, Dover sole, turbot, and a killer fish pie. There's steak too, of course, which you can order with half a lobster for surf and turf action, or with a side of lobster macaroni cheese, or both."
"Munch on fine cuts of steak and the latest catch from the ocean at Hawksmoor Air Street, which mixes art deco style with seductive lighting and an upscale feel. Enjoy classy cocktails from its low-key bar and make sure to grab an "anniverselfie" afterwards in front of the statue of Eros, the Greek god of love. Book Hawksmoor Air Street now."
"What: There is something captivating about dining in a market, and Chamberlain’s position in the atmospheric labyrinth of Leadenhall is no different. The longstanding restaurant, which has been open since 1947, serves a menu of impeccable fish dishes, all of which come beautifully presented. Opt for classic combinations such as Orkney scallops with lardo or treat yourself to the most indulgent of dinners and order the turbot with truffle.Where: 23-25 Leadenhall Market, EC3V 1LR"
"Located right in Diagon Alley – better known to muggles as Leadenhall Market – is this behemoth of a restaurant. It spans three floors, has its very own outdoor terrace within the historic market, and boasts a total of four private dining rooms. Moreover, as it’s owned by the prestigious Billingsgate wholesaler Chamberlain & Thelwell, it has access to the very best seafood in town."
"A relatively recent emphasis — in no small part because of a growing relationship between London restaurants and Cornish suppliers — is being placed on English waters. Westerns Laundry, by the same operators, Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim and David Gingell’s Western Laundry (the pair also oversees Primeur and Jolene), is one of London’s best seafood restaurants, in the past year featuring a covered terrace for outdoor eating alongside the main dining room, serving glorious plates like fideo pasta rich with cuttlefish, squid ink, and aioli; monkfish friggitelli and mojo verde; and John Dory, peas, braised gem lettuce, and pancetta. A stellar winelist, with low-intervention and classic options adds to the reasons to visit this outstanding, warmly lit and carefully designed Holloway restaurant."
"This seafood-focused neighbourhood restaurant in North London, from the team behind bakery Jolene and the excellent Primeur nearby, has constructed a covered courtyard to allow them to serve diners ahead of indoor reopening. It’s all about the small plates here, washed down with all natural wines available by the glass. As with their other restaurants, the chalkboard menu goes up daily on their Instagram page."
"Achingly cool Westerns Laundry comes from the same people who own hit bakery Jolene. Stripped back interiors and a candlelit courtyard draw a trendy north London crowd who lap up the seafood sharing plates."
"A common staple of many London pubs, the Beavertown Brewery is available on tap all across the city. If you’re wanting to see where it all began, then the Tottenham based warehouse is the place to go. With striking labels and a multitude of punchy beers and IPA’s under its belt, Beavertown Brewery’s warehouse and taproom is a must visit for its striking designs alone."
"As well as winning kudos for being one of our favourite looking beers (ever!), we also love their Saturday hangout taproom. They make beer fun and interesting, but most of all they make beer taste great with a cheeky inventiveness which is so much more than just labels and funny tweets. Quality beer with a smile."
"Unit 17, Lockwood Industrial Park, Mill Mead Rd, London N17 9QP, UK. Beavertown and craft beer are pretty much synonymous – so much so that Beavertown is practically a household name. And with beers that are as distinctive as their branding, it’s no surprise they’re often the beer aficionado’s go-to."
"Unless you've had your head buried in the sand for the last couple of years, you will have noticed Goose Island's takeover of the London craft beer scene. Head to their first UK bar in Shoreditch which delivers pints fresh from the brewing room and deep-pan Chicago-style pizza to soak it all up."
"A Gothic wonderland of shrouded urns, obelisks, broken columns, sleeping angels, Egyptian-style tombs and overgrown graves, Highgate is a Victorian Valhalla spread over 20 wonderfully wild and atmospheric hectares. On the eastern side, you can pay your respects to the graves of Karl Marx and Mary Ann Evans (better known as novelist George Eliot). The real highlight, however, is the overgrown West Cemetery, which can only be visited on a guided tour."
"Escape the hustle and bustle of London for somewhere altogether more serene – Highgate Cemetery. The final resting place of Karl Marx, Malcolm McLaren and George Eliot is a Victorian gem. Smiling selfies aren’t really appropriate, given that it’s a burial ground but it’s an atmospheric place to pause for reflection."
"Most people come to see Karl Marx’s tomb in the eastern half of the cemetery, but it’s the huge monuments in the west that are really worth seeing 6"
"On your second day in London you’re going to head a little to the West, and take in some of the sights in this area, starting with Kensington Palace. Inextricably linked with Queen Victoria, who was born here, Kensington Palace is a Royal Residence, and has been since the 17th century. Today it’s occupied by both Princes William and Harry, and whilst you can’t visit the private Royal Residence, you can tour the State Rooms."
"Once the home of Princess Diana (and before that, a young Queen Victoria), Kensington Palace is currently one of the residences of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge—that’s William and Kate. The lush gardens and the King’s and Queen’s state apartments are open to visitors year round. Here’s what Kensington Palace looked like right after Princess Diana’s death."
"If you are not planning for this museum in London, you are missing something badly. Marylebone Cricket Club or MCC museum is within the eminent Lord’s Cricket Ground, featuring impressive collections of objects related to history and evolution of cricket as a sport. This is one of the oldest sporting museums in London and also worldwide."
"The V&A's Theatre Collections hold the UK's national collection of material about live performance in the UK since Shakespeare's day, covering drama, dance, musical theatre, circus, music hall, rock and pop, and other forms of live entertainment. Theatre and Performance galleries dedicated to the performing arts, display works of art, costumes, ephemera, video recordings, puppets, posters and photographs."
"PRACTICAL INFORMATION: The museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. Tickets cost £20 GBP (around $26 USD). Make sure to book your tickets and pick a time-slot in advance directly on the museum website."