The best special occasion restaurants in London

Eating out is good, isn’t it? Particularly when it comes to amazing London restaurants, of which there is no shortage. But, much to our collective dismay, we can’t do it all the time – particularly in light of rising energy bills and general price hikes – which is why eating out is often reserved for special occasions.

This, in fairness, makes going out for dinner all the more enjoyable – you get to look forward to it in advance, get dressed up, and celebrate whatever it is you’re celebrating that evening. It’s even better when the restaurant you go to is seemingly made for exactly that. Below, we round up a handful of London’s most strikingly beautiful and delicious restaurants – perfect for a celebratory treat.

Brutto

What makes it so special? The brainchild of restaurateur and Polpo founder Russell Norman, Trattoria Brutto in Farringdon is lively, unfussy, and, importantly, very, very good. Though its name means ‘ugly’, it’s anything but – its low lighting, deep red seating, and classic Italian red-and-white checked tablecloths makes it the perfect spot for a romantic special occasion. Brutto’s menu comprises Tuscan classics – think: rabbit pappardelle, sformato fiorentina (or “spinach cooked in the oven”), and Tuscan beef in many forms – while its all day bar boasts £5 Negronis. What more could you ask for?

Price: For two – if you get a handful of courses – around £100, wine dependent.

35-37 Greenhill Rents, London, EC1M 6BN. brutto.co.uk

Sessions Arts Club

What makes it so special? The food is, obviously, essential when it comes to a special occasion meal – or any meal out for that matter – but walking into a particularly beautiful restaurant can really elevate the experience. So, if you’re looking for a little grandeur and glamour, Sessions Arts Club is the place for you. Hidden away on a Clerkenwell side street, the restaurant is situated on the fourth floor of an old courthouse, in what used to be the judge’s dining room – it’s all high ceilings, dramatic arches, and stripped-back plaster. That’s not to say the food isn’t particularly beautiful, too. The menu changes with the seasons, with each dish bringing together unusual but uncomplicated ingredients: courgette with custard and anchovy, brown shrimp croquette, friggitelli with cannellini and chard. Top it off with a raspberry bellini, and you’ll be set for a pretty good day in, er, court.

Price: On the more special side of a special occasion.

Old Sessions House, 24 Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0NA. sessionsartsclub.com

Westerns Laundry

What makes it so special? Anywhere that’s got its menu exclusively on a chalkboard in the restaurant screams out special occasion – so, of course, Westerns Laundry makes the list. Written in chalk is the Islington restaurant’s, shall we say, bread and butter – that being, seafood. Nestled among the Spanish-inspired small plates are sweet, meaty monkfish, tender, flavourful cuttlefish, and flakey hake, each elegantly paired with classic British ingredients, and presented as works of art. Don’t just go for the food, though – Westerns Laundry also boasts a generous (but costly) wine list, consisting exclusively of natural wines. Whatever you do, don’t miss the crème caramel for dessert.

Price: Undeniably a treat.

34 Drayton Park, London, N5 1PB. westernslaundry.com

The River Café

What makes it so special? The hotspot of celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, and even Lindsay Lohan, The River Café has been the place to go basically since it opened in the late 80s. It was at the renowned Thames-side restaurant – complete with white tablecloths and, if you’re visiting in summer, an idyllic sunny terrace – that the likes of Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall got their start. And the Italian restaurant remains as loved – and as formidable – today as it always has been. The food is lovingly prepared and presented, comprising outstanding – but not over-complicated – seasonal dishes. From handmade pasta and sweet, delicate langoustines to lemon, thyme, and marjoram-stuffed sea bass and a sumptuous fritto misto boasting monkfish, red mullet, and scallops, the menu is almost too delicious to choose from.

Price: It has a Michelin star, which is all you need to know.

Thames Wharf, Rainville Road, London, W6 9HA. rivercafe.co.uk

Levan

What makes it so special? For those who want understated elegance, this neighbourhood restaurant is perfect for a special occasion. Levan – hidden away off Peckham Rye – offers exquisitely-presented contemporary European food, paired with an impressive selection of natural wines. Drool over duck liver parfait, comté fries, and tagliolini with clams and bottarga, and, if you’re feeling extra celebratory, treat yourself to a whole John Dory, before washing it all down with nutty, rich glass of Domaine Dugois Vin Jaune. Heavenly!

Price: Between £14 and £26 for most mains.

12-16 Blenheim Grove, London, SE15 4QL. levanlondon.co.uk

The French House

What makes it so special? One of Soho’s most famous boozers, The French House doesn’t look like your regular special occasion eatery from the outside – but, head upstairs, and you’ll be met with a cosy, character-full restaurant, where black and white photos of debauchery hang on the walls. Once you’ve indulged in its superb seasonal menu – duck rillette with cornichons and toast, confit garlic and goat’s curd on sourdough, pork chop with charred hispi and apple compote – you can head downstairs to engage in your own debauchery. Plus, if you visit early on April 1, you might even get a rare pint served to you by Madness’ own Suggs.

Price: You’ll still have change for pints downstairs afterwards.

49 Dean Street, London, W1D 5BG. frenchhousesoho.com

Rita’s

What makes it so special? Established in Hackney in 2012, Rita’s has found its home in Soho, where it serves modern American food – which often crosses the border into Mexico – made with seasonal British ingredients. Think: hake a la plancha served with coco beans and macha pico, barbecued beef tartare with garlic, and even a hot bean devilled egg. It’s achingly cool, mouth-watering, and comforting.

Price: For two, around £100-£150.

49 Lexington Street, London, W1F 9AP. ritasdining.com

Quality Wines

What makes it so special? Quality Wines is the next-door neighbour of renowned Clerkenwell restaurant Quality Chop House – but is no less fabulous than its older, much-esteemed sibling. Its space – where wine bottles line the walls – is as impressive as Quality Wines’ ever-changing menu, which gets announced weekly on Instagram via, yes, the chalkboard in the restaurant. One week you might get a life-changing-looking lobster roll, roasted lamb shoulder with fasolakia, or crab and fennel risotto, and the next, you’ll be treated to rabbit leg with borlotti beans, clams with chorizo, white wine, and parsley, or mortadella, burrata and pistachio pesto. You’re unlikely to ever find anything on the menu you dislike.

Price: Affordable for a special occasion.

88 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3EA. qualitywinesfarringdon.com

Towpath

What makes it so special? Towpath’s biggest draw is its beautiful waterside location, with outdoor tables situated along Regent’s Canal. Always buzzing, the small plates restaurant is the place to be in the summer, drawing people from all over London to its idyllic location and locally-sourced ingredients. The taramasalata is particularly good – have it as a starter ahead of some crispy lamb, smoked haddock, or steamed clams with chorizo and sherry.

Price: Between £50 and £100 for two, wine dependent.

42 De Beauvoir Crescent, London, N1 5SB. towpathlondon.com

Kiln

What makes it so special? If you’ve ever asked any foodie friends for a restaurant recommendation, you’ll undoubtedly have been urged to visit Kiln – and you should. The Thai small plates restaurant – which specialises in food cooked in wood-burning kilns and grills – is worth the hype. Its ever-changing menu is spicy, flavourful, and elegant, comprising the likes of fried curry monkfish and slow grilled red mullet – each dish as beautifully presented as the last.

Price: Around £100 for two – though it would be easy to spend more.

58 Brewer Street, London, W1F 9TL. kilnsoho.com

Rochelle Canteen

What makes it so special? Situated in a converted bike shed of an old school, Rochelle Canteen is a charming British-European restaurant that – particularly if you sit outside in the summer – will make you feel like you’re on the cover of a fairy tale book. Nestled among the foliage, you’ll be presented with a small, ever-changing menu of unfussy, impressive classics – some of which will make you feel like you’ve travelled back in time. Try the devilled crab, lamb sweetbreads, and shellfish bisque – with a peach melba for dessert.

Price: Around £100 for two.

16 Playground Gardens, London, E2 7FA. arnoldandhenderson.com