Michelin Guide’s best restaurants for solo diners in London

Solo dining can be just a lavish, indulgent treat as any other meal out, but some restaurants cater better for single tables than others.

Snug corners and nooks and crannies pull a solo diner into a cosy space, while counter seating, particularly seating which comes with a view of the kitchen at work, is also inviting for people dining by themselves.

The Michelin Guide has put together its recommendations for where to go in London when eating solo, so read on to discover the best restaurants in London for solo diners as recommended by the Michelin team.

Honey & Co, Bloomsbury

This Middle Eastern restaurant’s counter seating is what won the Michelin Guide team over when dining alone here. That and Honey & Co’s falafels and “creamy, velvety” humous. An all-day dining spot with a calm feel to it, you can grab eggy dishes or a decadent home-made cake for breakfast or seasonal mezze for lunch or dinner.

Address: 54 Lamb’s Conduit Street, Bloomsbury, WC1N 3LW

Website: honeyandco.co.uk

Levan, Peckham

An European-style bistro with a relaxed vibe befitting of Peckham, the guide picked this one for solo diners as you can tuck into plates that are suitable for dining all on your own, from your perch near the window as you watch the world go by. The restaurant also has a chef’s menu if you want to leave the decision making to the kitchen.

Address: 12-16 Blenheim Grove, Peckham, SE15 4QL

Website: levanlondon.co.uk

Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay, Mayfair

Chosen for its people watching opportunities and its atmosphere, Lucky Cat is a glitzy place overlooking Grosvenor Square. From its extensive Asian-influenced menu, the guide recommend the pork belly bao buns, or the lunch set menu, which is a “well-priced pit stop for hungry shoppers”.

Address: 10 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, W1K 6JP

Website: gordonramsayrestaurants.com

Pig and Butcher, Islington

The guide make a good point about how historically, inns had to serve food and provide shelter to everyone and this inviting atmosphere in pubs lives on today. Pubs are a great choice for solo dining. This one dates back to the 19th century and comes with a country feel. The guide says the meats are butchered in-house and the kitchen make a “mean” fish pie.

Address: 80 Liverpool Road, Islington, N1 OQD 

Website: thepigandbutcher.co.uk

Sabor, Mayfair

Spanish might be a hard shout for the solo diner, given so many of the dishes are designed to be shared. However at ground floor, Sabor’s Counter menu is a much better option when dining alone, the Michelin Guide suggests. You also get to watch the kitchen team at work, as they prepare the tapas-style dishes, which includes their “melt in your mouth” octopus.

Address: 35-37 Heddon Street, Mayfair, W1B 4BR

Website: saborrestaurants.co.uk

Sager + Wilde, Bethnal Green

Praised by the guide for its lively atmosphere whether you’re sitting on the large terrace or inside, it’s the selection of wine available by the glass that makes it a pick for the solo diners. The wine list is “sensibly” priced and each bottle is available by the glass, so you can try a couple or a few different drops with your meal chosen from the compact but good Mediterranean-inspired menu.

Address: 250 Paradise Row, Bethnal Green, E2 9LE

Website: sagerandwilde.com

Trinity Upstairs, Clapham Old Town

The sister restaurant to the Michelin-starred restaurant below, Upstairs has counter seats at the window which overlook Clapham Old Town, as well as stools by the open plan kitchen, which are both good choices for solo diners.

Address: 4 The Polygon, Clapham Old Town, SW4 0JG

Website: trinity-upstairs.co.uk

Wild by Tart, Belgravia

Picked for its bright, plant-filled dining room that comes with counter seating, Wild by Tart is not far from Victoria Station, so it’s also a good call for anyone on the move. The restaurant serves freshly baked flatbreads that are “simply divine”.

Address: 3-4 Eccleston Yards, Belgravia, SW1W 9AZ

Website: wildbytart.com