There are thousands of restaurants in London, and so many of them are beautiful! I often find it hard to decide on where to eat because most of them look so amazing – mostly on Instagram. I’ve done a round up of my favourite pretty restaurants in London. These will not only look great on your Instagram feed, they actually serve amazing food and drink too!
1. Megans
I only have good words for Megans restaurants. My love for them started with their classic Kings Road restaurant (as featured on Made in Chelsea). With a very cute garden that has a retractable roof, this is perfect for sitting outside year-round. Unfortunately I have not been able to keep up with all the new locations they have opened (most recently Battersea Power Station), but I know all of them will be amazing. Decorated with lots of greenery, fairy lights and roses, it comes to no surprise Megans has been voted as most romantic restaurant in London. My all-time favourite.
But it’s not just good ‘for the gram’, Megans restaurants serve some of the best food I’ve had in London. As a vegetarian who mainly orders vegan dishes when going out, Megans is the perfect fit for me. They have an impressive Mediterranean menu with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. Try the Shakshoumi for brunch or the Vegan Chorizo for dinner. I would recommend making a reservation or showing up before you actually get hungry, as the queues can get quite long on weekends. But trust me: it’s worth it!
2. Pasta Remoli
Designed by fantastic restaurant designers Object Space Place, I could spend all day in this restaurant taking pictures. The bright and modern drawings on the walls just catch my eye every time. What I like is how the restaurant is designed in such a modern style, but it still feels like a warm and comfortable place for a nice dinner. You can also takeaway if you prefer.
When it comes to the food, who doesn’t like a good pasta?! Pasta Remoli have really worked out a great way to present their menu. You choose your type of pasta, the sauce and then a topping of cheese. I love this, because usually there are not a lot of vegan options that actually have something to it and you’re ‘forced’ to go for a tomato sauce pasta. It’s nice that Pasta Remoli give you a chance to choose something more adventurous. I recommend the potato gnocchi with the aubergine, courgettes, black olives and capers sauce.
3. German Gymnasium
German Gymnasium is an absolute first choice for me when it comes to date night. As soon as you walk in you feel the casual elegance. A fancy restaurant for sure, but with such a friendly atmosphere anyone would feel welcome here. The staff are always fantastic and some of the nicest people I have met! In the centre of the restaurant you will always find an impressive piece that suits the design of the restaurant (see image below). Fine dining with an air of nonchalance.
The restaurant consists of two floors, both with a bar area for a casual drink and snack. I suggest starting at the downstairs bar and treating yourself to a nice cocktail before getting escorted to your table. If possible, get a table upstairs that overlooks the ground floor. When it comes to drinks, I always recommend getting a German wine: ask the knowledgeable waiters if you’re not sure. And also order the Flammekuchen from the bar menu, you can thank me later.
Before you visit German Gym you need to know a bit about its impressive history:
England’s first purpose-built gymnasium, with funding coming solely from London’s German community. It was built in 1865 for the German Gymnastics Society (established in 1861 by Ernst Ravenstein) and hosted the indoor events London’s first Olympic Games, back in 1866.
German Gymnasium website
4. Pergola on the Roof
Fair enough, Pergola on the Roof might not be a restaurant as such. But is has lots of pop-ups! I think this is even better, because you get to spend time with friends/family and can all have whatever type of food you fancy. Depending on whether you go to Paddington or Olympia you will find different restaurants. But some examples are Smash Patty (burgers), Babek Brothers (kebabs), or Temaki bros (sushi). Lots of veggie and vegan options and a guaranteed choice available for all your friends! The cocktails are impressive too and they do a great bottomless brunch on Sundays.
With regards to the design of Pergola: I spent ages choosing between pictures to feature on this page! I wanted to show you the best picture possible, but all of them looked amazing. Pergola is definitely a place ‘for the gram’. It also helps that all the cool people hang out here. But don’t think this is just a rooftop bar for the summer, the greenery and fairy lights make it into a magical place to spend winter evenings.
