Seafood

17 Bruton Street, London W1J 6QB

Set in the very building where Queen Elizabeth II was born, this seafood restaurant and oyster bar from Ross Shonhan (Bone Daddies, ex-Nobu & Zuma) has a dramatic look, with floral patterns throughout and, alongside the main restaurant, you'll find a heated terrace and cocktail bar. The menu strongly features British produce with luxe dishes including lobster spaghetti, a Fish Triptych (crudo, grilled & soup) or anchovy éclair. Cocktails, meanwhile, lean into martinis paired with light bites.

138 Brompton Rd, London SW3 1HY

This popular fish and chip shop group originated in Mayfair, hence the name. This is their second venture and is open all day, so it's a useful spot for a breakfast as well as battered cod and cocktails in the evenings. In addition to the classic fish and chips, they also do a nice line in lobster rolls, fish finger butties and fresh oysters.

28-34 St. Martin's Court, London WC2N 4AL

Often seen as both the theatregoers and the actors' port of call post-theatre, Sheekeys is a London institution. It remains best known for its seafood, including an incredible fish pie which is still one of the best in London. A must-visit for every Londoner and notably great for counter dining, as well as its extensive, covered terrace.

32 Henrietta St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8NA

The Oystermen originally started up as an oyster-shucking pop-up but their Covent Garden restaurant is so much more. It started tiny before they acquired the next-door space and doubled the size. But all along, they've been serving up excellent seafood from a menu that depends on the catch of the day.

The Capital, 22-24 Basil St, London SW3 1AT

Tom Brown returns to the restaurant where he first made his name (when it was Outlaw's). This is a fine-dining restaurant that is focused around an extremely innovative all-seafood menu. Brown is one of London's best seafood chefs and from dishes like the plate of seafood charcuterie to others that make the most of sustainable catches, this is a particularly unique approach to all things from the sea.

174 Pavilion Rd, London SW1X 0AW

A seafood shop during the day, The Sea The Sea also has a seafood bar that's open from lunch and into the evening (and they have a heated terrace). here you'll find a daily changing menu of small plates with seafood that couldn't be fresher. You'll also find plenty of oysters and caviar on the menu.

National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Pl, London WC2H 0HE

Right at the top of the revamped National Portrait Gallery, this is the main restaurant with excellent views across London. In charge of the food is top Irish chef Richard Corrigan (Bentley's) who has brought with him a modern approach to European cooking with plenty of seafood on offer too.

2 Chapel Market, London N1 9EZ

Tucked down the far end (some might say the wrong end) of Chapel Market, this seafood spot has been turning out superlative dishes since opening quietly early in 2024. Chef Maoz Alonim has swapped the markets of Tel Aviv for North London and in doing so has given Islington this enticing oyster bar and grill.

39 Queen Victoria St, London EC4N 4SF

One of London’s best – and oldest – seafood restaurants, Sweetings has been going strong for over a century. All the fish and seafood served here is from sustainable sources, and while it’s only open for lunch, it’s the place to step back in time while also savouring such classics as prawn cocktail, fried whitebait, Lobster Thermidor and cod’s roe on toast.

172 Tollington Park, London N4 3AJ

Four Legs, the team behind nearby pub The Plimsoll, have transformed an old fish and chip shop into a Spanish-style seafood bar. That means there are plenty of seafood tapas and small plates on offer like their deep-fried deviled crab. And yes, there are chips too, with bravas sauce poured all over them.

292-294 St Pauls Road, London, N1 2LH

Prawn on the Lawn is a fishmonger and seafood bar - with a wine bar on the side. Expect a seasonal approach to cooking, defined by catches of the day with some of the best seafood dishes in town. Make sure to try their signature dish - the prawn on the lawn which is toasted soda bread with avocado and prawns.

34 Drayton Park, London N5 1PB

Owners David Gingell and Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim also run nearby Primeur and Jolene, both also excellent. Here, there's a distinct focus on seafood and the menu changes every day, although if the cuttlefish croquettes with aioli are on there, make sure you order those. In the summertime, you can take a glass of something cold out on the front courtyard and if you're really pushing the boat out, ask for the leather-bound, handwritten, ‘black book’ of fine wines.

14th Floor, South Bank, 40 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 8NY

Perched on the top of The Hoxton in Southwark, Seabird is a great rooftop restaurant focusing on seafood with a Spanish influence. They go big on oysters, with one of London's largest oyster lists, and weekend brunches are big here too.

1 Bateman's Buildings, Soho, London W1D 3EN

Manzi's is the first brand-new restaurant from the Wolseley Restaurant Group (it was first conceived by Jeremy King). Easily one of the biggest new restaurants to open in Soho in recent years, it's a big two-floored affair that has the occasional out-there design moments (there are mermaids). There's an almost entirely seafood menu ranging from shellfish to monkfish wellingtons.

Unit 4, Sonny Heights, Swains Lane, London N6 6AG

Previously best known for their canal-based restaurants, this sees London Shell Co open their first land-based restaurant and fishmonger. So either pick up some seafood for your own kitchen or simply grab a table and order some of the specials, along with a well-chosen wine list.

55 Jermyn Street, London, SW1Y 6LX

The great fact to bandy about Wiltons is that it’s older than the United States of America (the restaurant first opened 280 years ago). Looking good for its age, this is a place to perch up at the counter for oysters or find a booth at the back for luxe but traditional treats like Lobster Thermidor or an epic mixed grill.

45 Berwick St, London W1F 8SF

Set on a prime corner site on the junction of Berwick and Noel Street in the heart of Soho, this tapas restaurant sees North London restaurateur Stephen Lironi hitting up the West End for his first central London opening. The food might be Spanish but there’s a strong Scottish influence here too, with super fresh razor clams and hake arriving down from the Scottish coast daily.

4 Whittaker Avenue, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1EH

Scott's is one of London's legendary restaurants and this sees restaurateur Richard Caring finally opening a second restaurant, this time in Richmond. Right beside the Thames, it boasts a room as jaw-dropping as the original and continues the focus on seafood.

20 Mount Street, London W1K 2HE

This seafood restaurant in Mayfair is also one of its most famous, and the flagship restaurant for Richard Caring's Caprice group. And if you can grab one of the tables outside (weather permitting), it's one of THE places to be seen in town.

5a Air Street, London, W1J 0AD

One of the biggest Hawksmoors of the standout steak group, this one has great views over Regent Street and also places a special focus on seafood dishes created by fish maestro Mitch Tonks. It's a big old room too.

Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London W1J 6BR

Berkeley Square's see and be seen seafood restaurant (with grilled meats too). There's a super selection of Japanese whiskies at the bar and the private dining rooms are jaw-dropping.

49-51 Lisson Grove, Marylebone, London NW1 6UH

Once referred to by Alain Ducasse as having the best fish and chips in London, this isn't your standard chippy, with the decor being a cut above to start. The restaurant has been family-owned for 50 years, surviving a fire in 2009 and there's a lot to back up Ducasse's claim.

14- 16 Brewer St, Soho, London W1F 0SG

Randall & Aubin is a Soho institution, having been here for nearly 30 years. And there's a reason for its longevity - eating here is a lot of fun (there's even a disco ball). There's a big emphasis on sustainability and on French and British seafood classics, with their signature dishes including bouillabaisse, spaghetti vongole and big fruits de mer platters.

Borough Market, 11 Stoney St, London SE1 9AD

The Borough Market Wright Brothers is where the seafood restaurant company first started and it's still a big draw in the area. They serve up some of the best seafood in town all around an open kitchen. If you love oysters, a visit here is a must.

8 Russell Square, London WC1B 5BE

Described as "a neighbourhood restaurant created in partnership with three-time Bib Gourmand winner Brett Redman, and stylist-turned-restaurateur Margaret Crow" they're aiming for a Bloomsbury salon for the 21st century vibe.

151 Lordship Lane London, SE22 8HX

Best known for their fishmongers in Islington, South Kensington and East Dulwich, this is a restaurant adjacent to their East Dulwich operation. Expect a seafood menu that makes the most of that location.

5 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5PA

Forget your greasy local frier - Clerkenwell’s fish and chip restaurant United Chip’s all about the millennial pink, Bangkok prawn burgers and complimentary aioli. But there's fisn and chips too - with traditional or Belgian fries.

One Tower Bridge, 4 Crown Square, London SE1 2RZ

After enjoying considerable success in its seaside home of Brighton, The Coal Shed has made its first foray to the capital where it's set up shop in the One Tower Bridge development with over 120 covers and fresh seafood delivered directly to the restaurant.

Victory House Hotel, 14 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BZ

The folk behind Randall and Aubin are behind this bistro on Leicester Square, covering all the French-inspired bases a visitor to Central could need, from pancakes to fish and chips and steak.

Unit 26, Circus West Village, Battersea Power Station, 188 Kirtling Street, London, SW11 8EZ

This popular riverside branch of Wright Bros marries superb seafood from around the British Isles with mains that skip around the world from prawn linguine to shrimp burgers with Asian slaw. They also have a few British grass-fed steaks on the menu too.