Best known as the neighbourhood in which you’ll find Harrods and Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge is undoubtedly one of the world’s finest districts for high-end shopping. Thankfully for those who find themselves spent (both physically and financially) at the end of an intense bout of retail therapy, the area is also home to some seriously good restaurants. From modern vegan dining to decadent Japanese dishes, here’s our guide to the best restaurants in Knightsbridge.
Studio Frantzén
Opened in late 2022 on the rooftop of Harrods, Studio Frantzén is the brainchild of eponymous chef (and the proud owner of six Michelin stars) Björn Frantzén. Spanning the top two floors of the department store, and boasting a beautiful al fresco terrace, this is mid-shopping pitstops taken to a whole new level. Menus riff on Frantzén’s Nordic heritage blended with Asain inflections and highlights include the likes of tuna and red deer tartare, sweet and sour crispy veal shoulder and cannon of lamb with truffle and yuzu. Don’t have time for a full meal? Take a seat at the chic bar for signature cocktails such as Finnish Sisu (Kyrö pink gin, shiso umeshu, sakura, grapefruit and citrus) and Polarnatt (Blackcurrant, beetroot, liquorice and rose lemonade).
87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL, studiofrantzenlondon.com
Marcus at The Berkeley
Set within five-star hotel The Berkeley and helmed by renowned Michelin-starred chef and Masterchef: The Professionals judge Marcus Wareing, contemporary European eatery Marcus boasts a humble five AA rosettes and one Michelin star. Dishing up seasonal modern British fare with a European edge, the team at Marcus is devoted to sourcing the best possible produce for its thoughtfully-conceived menus from a network of trusted suppliers, including Wareing’s own Sussex kitchen garden, showcasing provenance and quality in each dish. Fostering a warm and inviting environment in the main dining room, as well as across two private dining spaces – the Salon and the Chef’s Table – a visit to this fine dining institution is as much about the experience as it is about the food. Choose between a three-course a la carte menu, or more refined five- and seven-course tasting menus. Plus, there are 800 wines to pick from.
Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL, marcusrestaurant.com
Harry’s Dolce Vita
If you’re craving an Italian escape, but can’t quite wangle the annual leave, a quick trip to Harry’s Dolce Vita should scratch that itch. Set just a stone’s throw from Harrods, this elegant trattoria, decked out in warm autumnal tones, deep greens and colourful Murano glass, is a veritable time portal, transporting guests back to the illustrious heyday of Sophia Loren, Marcello Mastroianni and, well, the dolce vita.
Food is, unsurprisingly, Italian. Expect decadent truffle arancini, creamy burrata and a range of hearty classics, including lobster ravioli, pappardelle al ragu bolognese, Harry’s veal parmesan and frutti di mare. Thirsty? Turn your attention to Harry’s grappa trolley, replete with every aperitif and digestif you could imagine, as well as an impressive list of fine Italian wines and classic cocktails imbued with a Dolce Vita twist, including the Sicilian Margarita (tequila blanco, Cointreau, blood orange and lime), or Harry’s Infinite Negroni.
27-31 Basil Street, SW3 1BB, harrysdolcevita.com
The Aubrey
Image: Stephen Joyce
Filling the space where gourmet burger joint Bar Boulud once resided, The Aubrey first opened its doors in early 2022. A joint venture between the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and Hong Kong-based restaurant group Maximal Concepts, this ultra-luxe, eccentric reimagining of a traditional Japanese Izakaya already has tongues wagging throughout the capital’s foodie community. Sophisticated and sensuous, set over a salon, lounge and library, resplendent in plush velvet, marble and rich woods, The Aubrey leans into its Japanese origin, with walls generously layered with art inspired by the Japonisme movement and 19th-century British artist and illustrator, Aubrey Beardsley.
Dinner menus comprise small sharing plates and bar snacks that burst with flavour, including Japanese oysters, charcoal chicken Karaage with yuzu mayo and an indulgent Wagyu sando. Lunch is based around the classic Japanese bento box, and sees a selection of a la carte options available as alternatives. For drinks, sake is king here, but if that’s not your bag there are plenty of Japanese spirits and creatively-conceived cocktails to choose from; The Black Cat (an Old fashioned twist with Teeda Rhum, umeshu, Laphroaig and Okinawa sugar) and Torii (rice shochu with homemade grapefruit soda) get the thumbs-up from us.
66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA, mandarinoriental.com
Sette
The London outpost from New York’s hugely popular Scarpetta restaurant group, Sette boasts a menu of indulgent Italian classics with a focus on seasonal, local ingredients. Located in an airy, tastefully designed space on Knightsbridge Green, its all-day dining options mean it’s the ideal spot for a breakfast meeting, intimate dinner date or weekend lunch with your parents. For a memorable night out, arrive in time for aperitivo hour and order a La Dolce Vita cocktail (vodka, yuzu, peach, hibiscus and prosecco) while grazing on cicchetti of arancini, short rib and bruschetta. Once retired to the main dining room, be sure to try the signature Scarpetta tomato and basil spaghetti – it’s made a name for itself on two continents for a reason.
4 Knightsbridge Green, SW1X, settelondon.co.uk
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The proud owner of two Michelin stars and four AA rosettes, no culinary tour of Knightsbridge would be complete without a stop at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. Housed in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel, the menu, as the name suggests, is high concept and inspired by the changing perceptions of ‘dinner’ throughout the ages. Dishes are based on historic recipes unearthed by Blumenthal through extensive research and include the famous Meat Fruit, based on a recipe from circa 1500, and Salamagundy – a smoked chicken confit dating back to 1720. Elsewhere, meats are roast on a spit using a pulley system inspired by that of the royal court, in full view of the dining room. This is as much theatre as it is an exceptional meal.
66 Knightsbridge, SW1X, dinnerbyheston.co.uk
Sumosan Twiga
The West London sister venue of the much-lauded Sumosan restaurant, which now sports locations in London, Moscow, Monaco, Dubai and Courchevel, Sumosan Twiga opened in 2016 to offer a full-service entertainment venue complete with restaurant, bar and club. If you hadn’t twigged by the group’s locales (or the fact that Twiga was created in partnership with Flavio Briatore), prices for Sumosan Twiga’s Asian-Italian fusion fare are eyebrow-raising, to say the least.
They are, however, not necessarily unwarranted. Served in an elegant dining room decked out in sumptuous velvet chairs and pristine white tablecloths, from the Italian kitchen comes Venetian classics, including veal scaloppine and king prawn gnocchetti, while the Japanese kitchen offers contemporary dishes and Sumosan signatures, such as chicken yakitori, duck gyoza and king crab with wasabi. This is a restaurant with access to the best ingredients – and the expertise to treat them properly.
165 Sloane Street, SW1X, sumosantwigalondon.com
Pétrus
Occupying a plush, modern space in the well-heeled neighbourhood between Knightsbridge and Belgravia, this Michelin-starred restaurant from the Gordon Ramsay culinary stable is all about traditional French cooking applied to great British ingredients. Named, as it is, for one of the world’s foremost winemakers, the wine list alone is enough to make Pétrus a destination. Château Pétrus is, of course, the main focus with the restaurant being the first in Europe to offer many of the vineyard’s vintages by the glass, but many other top European winemakers are also present. The food, which includes a full vegetarian offering alongside Prestige and Chef’s Table tasting menus, boasts equal provenance, with Isle of Skye scallops, Herdwick lamb, and Cornish cod constituting some of the highlights.
1 Kinnerton Street, SW1X, gordonramsayrestaurants.com
Read more: The best restaurants in Mayfair
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