Diners' Choice: Best Ambience restaurants in London

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best ambience in London? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Water House Project

4.9

4.9 (37)

£41 and over

British

Bethnal Green

About the restaurant

The Water House Project is a modern British tasting menu experience in Bethnal Green, East London.

Chef Gabriel Waterhouse opened The Water House Project with his wife, Patricia in Bethnal Green in Autumn 2021 aiming to bridge the gap between fine dining elegance and a more relaxed, comfortable atmosphere.   Here the team serve a seasonally evolving tasting menu which changes every three months.

We rely on local, seasonal ingredients using these when at their best.    We believe in using small amounts of ethically and sustainably reared meat and fish, and partnering with suppliers who share in our values. Our drink pairings are made up of either wines, sourced from small scale producers or a non-alcoholic pairing of teas, tonics and ferments made by our kitchen team.

Seasons Discovery menu - Wednesday 7pm & Saturday 1pm
(£125pp including alcoholic or non alcoholic pairing)

Seasons Signature menu - Thursday - Saturday 7pm
(£155pp including alcoholic or non alcoholic pairing)

Top review

Chris

Dined 7 days ago

One of my absolute favourite restaurants. Patricia and Daniel make the experience super special.

Bergamot Cafe

4.9

4.9 (86)

£25 and under

Café

Shepherd's Bush

About the restaurant

Welcome to our family-run cafe, where delicious home-style meals and warm hospitality are always on the menu.
Our exquisite foods is influenced by Persian cuisine and prepared by Shirin our chef.

Bergamot is a gorgeous new trendy boutique café that stands out with its elegant design and food.

We also offer a top-notch socializing experience with our supper clubs cooking classes and cultural events, starting with infused Persian food and expanding to other cuisines. Our classes will host renowned chefs and provide a break from the everyday routine. We are also environmentally conscious and strive to reduce waste by using recyclable materials as much as possible, even in our fit-out, mainly using reclaimed wooden furniture.

Top review

Chloe

Dined on 11 Dec 2024

Really lovely spot, with great food and helpful, friendly staff. Breakfast and coffees were delicious - will definitely return.

INIS

4.9

4.9 (67)

£25 and under

Irish

Hackney Wick

About the restaurant

Relaxed and friendly local set on the canal towpath on Fish Island, East London. Serving a seasonal menu of British and Irish food, coffee and drinks. Dog friendly. Outdoor seating.

Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and Sunday lunch. Evenings from Summer.

Top review

AMY

Dined 6 days ago

We went for a Saturday brunch. The food and drinks were all great and the staff really friendly and accommodating.

The Library Bar at The Lanesborough

4.9

4.9 (125)

£41 and over

Cocktail Bar

Knightsbridge

About the restaurant

One of the capital's most celebrated cocktail destinations, The Library Bar – distinguished by its outstanding mixology and venerable "liquid museum" of spirits – offers the warm and intimate atmosphere of a private club accompanied by a vibrant ambiance that makes it a popular choice with Knightsbridge and Belgravia's well-heeled locals as well as hotel guests. The bar, located within Hyde Park Corner's Lanesborough hotel, is home to cognacs dating back to the 1770s, as well as spectacularly prepared cocktails by a team of award-winning experts including Bar Manager Mickael Perron.

Top review

CatherineVIP

Dined on 17 Dec 2024

We went for the Hennessy XO experience and it truly made us fall in love with this amazing cognac all over again. Michael, Angel and the team made sure we felt very special and lucky indeed.

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Experience

Library Bar Lunch Hour

Experience

Martini Sundays with Bombay Sapphire

Experience

Library Bar Lunch Hour

Oi Spaghetti

5.0

5 (354)

£41 and over

Contemporary Italian

Peckham

About the restaurant

My name is Francesco and I cook spaghetti in this cabin restaurant with 3 tables, since 2015. I work solo. I don't serve more than 15 diners a day, and I will take care of your dinner like I would for my mother.

You can watch me LIVE on Twitch under "Francescocooksspaghetti".

Top review

Suzy

Dined on 6 Dec 2024

Fabulous experience! Delicious food in a very cosy setting, with a great host! Highly recommend!

Pedro's Wine Bar

4.8

4.8 (162)

£25 and under

Portuguese

London Bridge

About the restaurant

At Pedro's Wine bar, our mission is to bring the best wines of Portugal to the UK - affordable, higher-quality alternatives to the well-known wine varieties that fill supermarket shelves and restaurant menus.

Welcoming space, dog-friendly, serving unique, and hand-selected Portuguese wines & spirits, as well as traditional Portuguese bites, just 1 min away from Maltby Street food market. We are bringing a new concept to the of the Bermondsey beer mile. Book your table, and sample some of the wines before you buy.

We want London and the wider UK to open their minds, fill their glasses and drink with us, and enjoy a taste of the best in Portugal.

Top review

Sophie

Dined on 14 Dec 2024

Excellent service from the very beginning. We had booked a table, but when we arrived, we were given the choice to sit further into the restaurant away from the door. Pedro was very helpful with choosing wines, providing an at table tasting service. The food was all delicious, as were the drinks. All of the waiting staff were very attentive and helpful. There was a good, lively atmosphere without being too noisy, and our table were all able to easily converse with one another. A really wonderful afternoon!

Reis Grill & Bar

4.7

4.7 (358)

£26 to £40

Steak

Ruislip

About the restaurant

We are passionate about food and providing best in class experience.

Serving our delicious food from authentic charcoal grill, refreshing cocktails mixed with love and spectacular interior design with touch of live entertainment.

We specialise in prime dry aged steaks, mouth-watering classic grill dishes and sizzling hot new recipes. We use the fresh and best produce and ingredients to help flavour our dishes.

Our experienced bartenders serve variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Take a peek at our bar menu for cheeky cocktails or for more classic options such as prosecco or spirits. You may even get a little surprise with your drink.

We welcome you to join us for an immense an experience.

Top review

Peter

Dined 5 days ago

Very nice looking restaurant the food was good value if you haven’t been then I would recommend a visit

SUSHISAMBA City

4.6

4.6 (1819)

£41 and over

Japanese

Liverpool Street

About the restaurant

Located on the 38th and 39th floors of the Heron Tower at 110 Bishopsgate, SUSHISAMBA London features the highest outdoor dining terraces in Europe, offering unparalleled 360-degree views of the City. Two panoramic glass elevators whisk patrons from the ground to the 39th floor, opening up London from inside-out as the lifts climb further and further upwards.

SUSHISAMBA’s main dining room overlooks views of London with floor-to-ceiling windows. A grid of lights hung through the open bamboo ceiling at varying heights creating a magical experience during daytime and a truly intimate setting in the evening.

Indoor-outdoor elements weave throughout the space, most notably, the structural orange tree on the west terrace. A SUSHISAMBA icon, the tree sculpture reinforces the earth-to-sky motif while being an artwork in itself.

Top review

Lolo

Dined on 17 Dec 2024

Food with a view, yes please. Having amazing food and drink high above the city skyline is not something most people get to do, so if you are looking for breathtaking views and fantastic food this is the place for you.

Shakespeare coffee & bristo

4.7

4.7 (47)

£25 and under

International

Cockfosters

About the restaurant

Offering recipes all around the world, Shakespeare is a contemporary modern restaurant which celebrates the tastes, ingredients and aromas from the various nations.

Embark on a culinary adventure at Shakespeare Coffee & Bistro, and experience flavors from across the globe at our restaurant.

Top review

Kirsty

Dined 7 days ago

Service excellent, food delicious and lovey vibe x

B E H I N D

5.0

5 (61)

£41 and over

British

Hackney

About the restaurant

Welcome to BEHIND. We are an intimate 1 Michelin star fish-focused tasting menu restaurant run by chef Andy Beynon. Situated on the edge of London Fields, Hackney, BEHIND has 18 kitchen-table seats for lunch and dinner sittings, as well as a relaxed wine bar.

BEHIND is Andy Beynon’s first restaurant, opened in October 2020. After just 20 days’ trading it was awarded its first Michelin Star. Andy spent 15 years working in some of the best Michelin star restaurants in the country, including with chefs Claude Bosi, Phil Howard and Michael Wignall.

Top review

Sean

Dined 7 days ago

Simply outstanding! Wonderfully elegant cooking where flavors are allowed to shine and the fish cooking absolutely on point. Add a relaxed and engaging experience with the chefs serving you and explaining the dishes and it’s a dining experience I can heartily recommend.

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Experience

NYE at B E H I N D

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