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.
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 whisky sour. If this is booked up, try their restaurant around the corner, Thirty7, where you can also get an oyster platter.
Pearly Queen
Shoreditch - 44 Commercial St, London E1 6LT
Oysters come one of four ways at chef Tom Brown's seafood spot in Shoreditch - raw, pickled, grilled and crispy. It's that latter option, the crispy buffalo oyster with ranch dressing that's the must-have. Or go for the Pearly Dozen that's a combo of all of them. Happy Hour runs from 3-6pm when they pair half a dozen oysters with a glass of Crémant.
Oybar
Balham and Wimbledon
Run by the former CEO of the Ukrainian Tennis Federation, this boutique restaurant group has two spots, in Balham and Wimbledon, with one remit - to make oysters more affordable. The selection here changes all the time, but in addition to having them au naturel you can also opt for them served Rockefeller-style, baked with spinach, Parmesan and breadcrumbs.
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, or served up with spicy boar sausage.
Mayfair - 11-15 Swallow St, London W1B 4DG
Ever the classic oyster venue choice, 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, dressed or crispy with Sussex ‘nduja and oregano oil.
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 oysters. Oyster happy hours are Tuesday to Friday from 5pm until 7pm and Saturdays from 3pm until 6pm & 9pm until 10.30pm so there's always a good time to pop in for some Carlingford oysters and a Baby Guinness.
Prawn on the Lawn
Islington - 292 -294 St Paul's Rd, London N1 2LH
Prawn on the Lawn serves top-notch oysters alongside its larger menu. That menu changes depending on the season, but there are usually Jersey and Maldon rocks on there which you can also have deep-fried with garlic creme fraiche.
Randall & Aubin
Soho - 14 - 16 Brewer St, London W1F 0SG
There's nothing quite like the classic platter at this Soho stalwart. Choose between English or Irish rocks and if you're an absolute oyster nut you can order the XXL platter of 24 oysters to keep you going all night.
Lyon's Seafood Restaurant
Crouch End - 1 Park Rd, London N8 8TE
There are always oysters on at this North London seafood restaurant - both freshly shucked (most recently Carlingford and Maldon) along with dressed and cooked options like coal fired oyster with lemon caper butter and crispy chicken skin. Better still pair them with their legendary oyster mary shots.
Seabird
Southwark - 14th Floor, 40 Blackfriars Rd, South Bank, London SE1 8NY
This rooftop restaurant features what they boast to be London's longest oyster list - it's an entirely separate menu. 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. Drop in between 3and 6pm from Sunday to Friday for oyster happy hour which sees them selling for £3 a pop.
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 city's most atmospheric restaurants. 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
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