Love oysters? We pick out some of our favourite spots in town to enjoy a platter of the briny bivalves, whether it's year-round rocks or natives you're after.
London Shell Co. Swain's Lane
Highgate - Unit 4, Sonny Heights, Swains Lane, London N6 6AG
Set just off Parliament Hill, this fishmonger and restaurant is always a good bet for oysters. There’s also the added bonus of celebrity spotting from their terrace. There are usually two types of oysters on the menu - the classic shuck or a regularly changing dressed oyster. Right now they’re serving up Galway oysters from the west coast of Ireland, dressed with a tomato consommé, while next month it'll be lime pickle and lardo dressed oysters (pictured).
Oyster Depot
King's Cross - West Handyside Canopy, 2 Granary Square, London N1C 4BH (Wed-Sun)
Rocks Oysters, who are behind this longstanding stall at the Canopy Market behind King’s Cross, supply many of the city’s best restaurants with oysters. So you can be sure that the ones you try here are going to be great. There's usually some kind of oyster and booze deal going on, whether it's oysters and Mini Marys or maybe you fancy a platter with a dram of good Irish whiskey.
Richard Haward’s Oysters
Borough - 35 Stoney St, London SE1 9AA
When your family’s history in London’s oyster scene stretches back eight generations, it’s fair to say you probably know a thing or two about serving them up. At this Borough Market stall you can either get them to go, or order some shucked so you can enjoy them with a Mini Mary at one of the tables nearby. Oysters come either from the estuary at Mersea or from their partner in Jersey.
Happy hour: From 3-5pm they do rocks for £1.50 each.
Noisy Oyster
Shoreditch - 2, Nicholls Clarke Yard, London E1 6SH
The clue's in the name here, and if you're after somewhere doing oyster and martini combos, then you've come to the right place. During the week, your choices are half a dozen or a dozen shucked oysters with shallot vinegar. But things get a bit more interesting at the weekend for brunch. Baby Marys come with an oyster or gilda, they also do dressed oysters with lime and jalapeno granita and there's an oyster nugget option topped with caviar.
Origin City
Smithfield - 12 W Smithfield, London EC1A 9JR
Given the restaurant's strong ties to Loch Fyne, it makes sense that the oyster offering at this pasture-to-plate restaurant in West Smithfield is so good. They have oysters year-round, but the seasonally changing terrace menu is where it's really at. At the time of writing, they had crispy oysters, oysters 'Rockefeller' and platters of freshly shucked Loch Fyne oysters with a choice of apple balsamic or Namjim dressing.
The Oystermen
Covent Garden - 32 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8NA
Friends Matt and Rob first came up with the idea for their seafood business when shucking oysters at Matt's wedding, and their Covent Garden restaurant is one of the best places for oysters in Covent Garden. Sit up at the counter and enjoy watching oysters being shucked in front of you. There are numerous ways to have them - with dressings including XO, ponzu or cooked with buffalo sauce or dulse butter. If this is booked up, try their restaurant around the corner, Thirty7, where you can also get an oyster platter.
Happy hour: Monday - Friday, 3pm - 5pm, 6 freshly shucked oysters and a glass of bubbly for £15
J Sheekey
Covent Garden - 28-32 St Martin's Ct, London WC2N 4AL
Right in the heart of the West End, you can always rely on Sheekey's to shuck a decent oyster or two. Head for the main restaurant (and its terrace) where - in season - there's usually a choice between Lindisfarne, Carlingford and Jersey oysters. You can have them shucked in a platter, accompanying a Black Velvet or served up with spicy boar sausage.
Mayfair - 11-15 Swallow St, London W1B 4DG
A classic oyster venue choice celebrating its 110th birthday this year, Bentley's boasts that it shucks more oysters than any other London restaurant - around 1000 a day on busy days. Perch yourself at the original marble oyster bar and choose from wild natives and rocks. We're huge fans of their Vietnamese-style dressed oysters. Oysters come from all over the UK and Ireland. If you want to get more serious, then book a spot at one of their regular oyster masterclasses on a Saturday.
Faber
Hammersmith - Welbeck Mansions, 206 - 208 Hammersmith Rd, London W6 7DH
This urban seafood spot might be just off the Hammersmith flyover but their strong links with day boat fishermen and oyster producers mean they’re always switching the oyster offering up. Opt for natural or dressed with green apple and white wine granita. And if there's a group of you, they do party packages of 100 oysters with caviar and English sparkling wine. Look out for their new Canary Wharf pub, The Tallyman, which will also serve up oysters.
The Cow
Notting Hill - 89 Westbourne Park Rd, London W2 5QH
Tom Conran's Westbourne Park Road gastropub has all the fripperies you could want from a place with such an obvious focus on beer and oysters. Match a creamy pint of Guinness with 6 rock oysters for a perfect night out. Oh and you might spot David Beckham having a pint in the corner, as this is one of his locals.
Darby's
Vauxhall - 3 Viaduct Gardens, Nine Elms, London SW11 7AY
Robin Gill's restaurant right beside the American embassy bills itself as an oyster bar first and foremost. This is a great spot for trying super fresh, usually Irish, oysters. There's usually some kind of happy hour deal going on, so there's always a good time to pop in for some Carlingford oysters and a Baby Guinness.
Happy hour: Wednesday to Friday 5-7pm; Saturday 3-6pm & 9-10:30pm. All oysters £2.
Randall & Aubin
Soho - 14 - 16 Brewer St, London W1F 0SG
There's nothing quite like the classic platter at this Soho stalwart. And we like that they offer some oysters we haven't seen all that much around town, including those from Cooley in Ireland and rocks from Poole Bay. If you're an absolute oyster nut you can order the XXL platter of 24 oysters to keep you going all night.
Seabird
Southwark - 14th Floor, 40 Blackfriars Rd, South Bank, London SE1 8NY
This rooftop restaurant features what they boast to be one of London's most extensive oyster offerings. So if you're looking for briney delights from Cumbrae in Ayrshire or Achill Bay oysters from Ireland, then you've come to the right place.
Happy hour: 3-6pm daily. £3 for Jerseys and Cumbrae oysters.
Sweetings
The City - 39 Queen Victoria St, London EC4N 4SF
The original Sweetings opened in Islington back in 1830 before eventually moving into Queen Victoria Street and it's been serving up shellfish to Londoners ever since. It helps to be living or working in the City to eat here - it's only open on weekdays for lunch.
Wiltons
St James
One of London's oldest restaurants (it's older than the USA basically), this is one of the most atmospheric spots in St James to go. Pop yourself up at the oyster bar and order half a dozen Atlantic Edge, Loch Ryan, Guillardeau or Gallagher's Speciales. If you're keen to have a go yourself, they also run shucking masterclasses.
Wright Brothers
Borough, Battersea, Kensington
It's no surprise that the secret to a great spot to eat oysters is an impeccable source and the Wright Brothers' oysters are right up there. There's usually a wide selection including oysters from Carlingford Bay and Lindisfarne, and along with the usual freshly shucked options there are some dressed and cooked oysters
Happy hour: They do £1 an oyster happy hours throughout the week. Check each restaurant for their specific schedule.
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