The Ritz in London has been named the UK’s best restaurant at the prestigious National Restaurant Awards.
Founded in 1906, the restauran predates the title behind the awards, Restaurant magazine, by almost a century. It is arguably London’s most glamorous place to dine and serves a menu of French haute cuisine, inspired in part by the dishes of the legendary Auguste Escoffier.
It is also now the only one where men must wear a jacket and tie, while women are asked to arrive in evening wear.
“As a bastion of fine French food served in unashamedly refined surroundings, the Ritz stands alone in the UK,” said Restaurant editor Stefan Chomka.
John Williams of the Ritz
Press handout
“The top 100 restaurants list reflects the diverse nature of our eating out scene and the changing trends within it, whether they be less formality, more farm to fork menus, or embracing new cuisines, but it’s also wonderful to see a restaurant unwavering in its focus finally get the recognition it merits. The Ritz is an exemplary restaurant.”
The list shows the continuation of the capital’s dominance in the country’s dining scene, with a total of 56 restaurants from London in the top 100 list. Other big London winners include Trinity (4), Bouchon Racine (5), Oma (6), Anglothai (7) and Dorian (10).
The restaurateur of the year was named as David Carter, the man behind Oma, 2025’s highest new entry, and Agora, the more casual restaurant below it, which is at 51.
Claude Bosi, meanwhile, achieved similar success with Bibendum re-entering the list at 39; his restaurant at the Peninsula hotel, Brooklands, made 20, and Chelsea’s Josephine — formerly Josephine Bouchon — was announced at number 23. Bosi owns the latter with his wife Lucy.
A restaurant now closed also features on the list: Lyle’s, James Lowe’s former restaurant in Shoreditch that ran for 11 years, sits in 21st place.
Skye Gyngell, the Aussie chef behind Spring at Somerset House, was given the lifetime achievement award, recognising her contribution not just to the British culinary scene but also her work tapping into the confluence of food and culture, all the while overcoming a battle with rare skin cancer.
The winners were announced at a lively ceremony at Magazine London in Greenwich on June 9.
The National Restaurant Awards is Restaurant’s annual countdown of the top 100 restaurants in the UK as voted for by the UK’s leading chefs, restaurateurs, critics and food writers.
- National Restaurant of the Year: The Ritz
- The Square Opening of the Year: AngloThai
- Highest New Entry: OMA
- Best Restaurant in England sponsored by Estrella Damm: The Ritz
- Best Restaurant in Northern Ireland: The Muddlers Club
- Best Restaurant in Wales sponsored by Square: Ynyshir
- Best Restaurant in Scotland sponsored by Liberty Wines & Charles Heidsieck: Lyla
- Chef of the Year sponsored by HG Walter: Mark Birchall
- Restaurateur of The Year sponsored by Chapman Ventilation: David Carter
- Chef to Watch sponsored by Belazu: Aaron Potter
- One to Watch sponsored by Woods Foodservice: One Club Row
- The Estrella Damm Sustainability Award: The Free Company
- Gastropub of the Year: The Devonshire
- The Service Award sponsored by Liberty Wines: Woven by Adam Smith
- Wine List of the Year sponsored by Charles Heidsieck: Row on 5
- Cocktail list of the Year: BiBi
- Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Seven Rooms: Skye Gyngell
The full list of the UK’s top 100 restaurants
- The Ritz
- Moor Hall
- The Ledbury
- Trinity
- Root cap
- Their
- Anglothai
- Rash
- Isles
- Dorian
- Mountain
- The Devonshire
- Kiln
- Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
- Woven by Adam Smith
- Ikoyi
- Lyla
- A Wong
- Land
- Brooklands by Claude Bosi
- Lyle’s
- Kitchen Table
- Josephine Bouchon
- Endo at the Rotunda
- Paul Ainsworth at No.6
- Restaurant Pine
- Canteen
- The Unruly Pig
- Flavor
- Row on 5
- Restaurant Sat Bains
- BiBi
- Kolae
- The Sportsman
- Anvil
- Higher Ground
- Camille
- Core by Clare Smith
- Close Bosi at drink
- Wishes
- The Glenturret Lalique
- Frog by Adam Handling
- Jöro
- Grace & Savour
- Updown Farmhouse
- Dongnae
- The manor at the Quat’Saisons
- Opty
- Restaurant Interlude
- KOL
- NOW
- First
- Chez Bruce
- Brat
- The Forest Side
- Gorse
- Humble Chicken
- Horn
- Morchella
- Shift
- Sollip
- Cedar Tree by Hrishikesh Desai
- Starling
- Plates
- Wilson’s
- The Kinneuchar Inn
- Solstice
- Slander
- The Clove Club
- Wildflowers
- The French House
- Or not
- Restaurant home
- Sola
- The Angel at Hetton
- The Muddlers Club
- Heft
- Inver
- The Little Chartroom
- The Fordwich Arms
- The Black Swan at Oldstead
- Upstairs by Tom Shepherd
- The Grill by Tom Booton
- Hide
- The Parkers Arms
- Solo
- Fallow
- Forge at Middleton Lodge
- Lita
- The Quality Chophouse
- Hideout
- Gymkhana
- Lisbon
- Crocadon
- Luca
- The Seahorse
- The Palmerston
- Trivet
- St. John
- Maison François