Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion with Chinese cuisine, sharing a romantic dinner, or meeting friends for a vegan lunch, London offers a wealth of outstanding restaurants for both residents and visitors.
For a wholly plant-based meal, Purezza stands out as the U.K.’s first vegan pizzeria, serving high-quality pizzas made from sustainably sourced vegan ingredients. Mildreds, a pioneer of London’s plant-based scene since opening in Soho in 1988, continues to impress with fresh, vibrant and inventive dishes. Their menus rotate with new specials and mocktails; recent additions have included items such as Katsu hot dogs and Plum Tofu Gua Bao buns, and a new spring menu has launched across all Mildreds locations.
© Mildreds
London is also an excellent place to celebrate the Year of the Tiger with top-tier Chinese dining. Imperial Treasure on St James’s Place is widely known for excellent dim sum and Peking duck. In Soho, Barshu brings Szechuan-style cuisine to the city and holds a Michelin star; its menu ranges from stir-fried lamb to more adventurous dishes such as stir-fried frog’s legs.
With several locations across the city, Ping Pong is a reliable choice for dim sum and cocktails. The restaurant focuses on fresh, flavorful and fun offerings—from classic rice dishes and wonton soups to a celebrated selection of dumplings—making it a lively option for groups and casual meals alike.
© The Dorchester
No visit to Chinatown is complete without attempting to secure a table at Duck and Rice. Housed in a lively Soho pub, Duck and Rice serves modern Cantonese dishes with a bold, adventurous touch. The menu ranges from crowd-pleasers like Kung Pao chicken to more unusual offerings such as venison puffs, and the drinks list complements the food with a range of cocktails and beers.
For an evening of sophisticated drinking and light bites, The Dorchester Rooftop offers a speakeasy-style bar and lounge above the Dorchester Hotel. Open to the public since March 2022 in collaboration with Courvoisier, this reinvented space combines immersive artwork and live music with inventive cocktails and panoramic views.
© The Dorchester
“Spring is my favorite season; it inspires us to create new blends using the extraordinary variety of ingredients available at this time of year,” said head bartender Lucia Montanelli. With views across Hyde Park and East London, The Dorchester Rooftop is open daily for cocktails and light plates, featuring seasonal offerings from oysters to Wagyu beef sliders.