With just a few days left to go before the coronation of King Charles the III (Saturday 6th May 2023), it’s time to start preparing for the big day. If you’re heading to London for the festivities, where will you feast in celebration of the new king?
The City of London can offer you some of the finest food and drink in the capital, with a myriad of high-end restaurants and Michelin-Star establishments with wonderful bars aplenty. Venues are sure to be busy, so booking in advance is highly advisable.
Read on to discover some of the best fine-dining venues in and around the City.
Bob Bob Ricard City
What better place to soak in the celebratory vibes than at the iconic Bob Bob Ricard City? Arrive dressed in your finest formalwear, ready to mingle with your loved ones in beautiful art deco interiors and private booths.
The adult-only venue merges French and British cuisine, which is unique and delicious. Order the Truffle, Potato and Mushroom Vareniki for pure satisfaction and complete your meal with a flaming crème brulee that’s fit for a Monarch.
Don’t forget to raise a glass to the new King after hitting the ‘Press for Champagne’ button, which sits beside every table. Push for flowing champagne and even more flowing conversation. Fantastique!
Level 3, 122 Leadenhall Street EC3V 4AB
bobbobricard.com
Gauthier Soho
A short journey from the City, you’ll find the highly acclaimed Gauthier Soho. Set in a stunning Regency Townhouse, Gauthier Soho evokes the spirit of London fine dining as it used to be, showcasing fine French gastronomy using plant-based ingredients. Courses come served within silver cloches by welcoming waiters; expert sommeliers bring wine and food pairings to life with passion and precision, and intimate dining rooms buzz with conversation. Gauthier Soho makes the ideal setting for a Royal feast, especially with two elaborate set tasting menus to choose from.
Select either the eight course ‘Grand Dîner’ tasting menu, available Tuesday to Saturday after 7:30pm and on Saturday between 12-1pm, and the five course ‘Petit Dîner’ tasting menu, available Tuesday to Saturday at 5pm.
Drawing on 25 years’ experience and a firm foundation in classical French gastronomy, owner and head chef Alexis Gauthier seeks to redefine the expectations of ‘fine dining’ – a luxury experience and highpoint of deliciousness and refinement, but without using any animal produce. Well, he’s certainly achieved that!
Head to Gauthier Soho for a royally unique fine dining experience that will have you questioning what you thought was possible with plants.
21 Romilly Street, W1D 5AF
Gauthier Soho restaurant
City Social
A special day deserves to be wined and dined in an equally special place – head to City Social for just that. Jason Atherton’s dark and moody restaurant is set on the 24th floor of Tower 42 and has secured itself the highly coveted Michelin star yet again, and we can absolutely understand why.
The menus serve creative yet refined dishes, showcasing the best of British produce with a twist. If you want to try as much as possible, opt for the tasting menu and sample the finest dishes City Social has to offer.
However, the main menus offer equally delightful plates. For surprising yet delightful flavours, try the tulip flower, cime di rapa, white asparagus, gem lettuce and tarragon velouté. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you. If you’re a chocolate lover, finish off your meal with the dark chocolate pavé and Sicilian blood orange sorbet – it’s pleasure on a plate.
The views at City Social are famous (hence why it was used in Killing Eve Season 2) but the food is just as wonderful. When booking, try you darndest to get a seat in one of the booths looking out over the City of London’s cityscape. It makes the entire experience that much more breath-taking and is the perfect way to appreciate all the City has offered you today.
25 Old Broad Street EC2N 1HQ
About City Social
Stem & Glory Barts Square
Stem & Glory has built itself quite the reputation over the years – with gorgeous interiors, stunning food, and creative drinks, it’s no wonder it was recently voted the ‘Best vegan restaurant in London’. It’s the ideal place for veggies and vegans to head to for coronation celebrations, or anyone who enjoys imaginative plates and ingredient combinations.
With a passion for flavours and beautiful dishes, every meal made by carbon-neutral Stem & Glory is like a work of art. You’ll be struck by the colour and arrangement of each food component in your meal – it really is fit for a Royal!
Make sure to try the king oyster ‘scallops’ – grilled king oyster mushrooms and artichoke hearts on cauliflower puree with annatto ‘cream’. It’s a party of tastes in your mouth that will have you craving more.
Stem & Glory’s desserts are also feast-worthy – we love the raw raspberry cheesecake – a cashew, vanilla, and raspberry cheesecake topped with berry compote.
The combination of sophisticated interiors and truly great food makes Stem & Glory the ideal place to visit after a day of jubilations.
60 Bartholomew Close EC1A 7BF
stemandglory.uk
Caravaggio
Caravaggio’s is a favourite amongst City dwellers, and for good reason. Named after revered artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, the high-end Italian restaurant was opened in 1996 by the great Pavarotti in a former banking hall.
Caravaggio’s art deco interior is simple yet refined and complements the menu perfectly. With strong influence from Tuscany and Sicily, the menu incorporates traditional and modern methods using seasonal produce.
To start, highly recommended is the traditional zuppa di lenticchie di puy, funghi saltati e cavolo nero croccante (a puy lentils soup with mixed sautéed wild mushrooms and crispy black cabbage).
For your main dish, try the spaghetti alla sorrentina – spaghetti in a fresh san marzano tomato sauce with buffalo mozzarella and basil; simple in ingredients yet rich in flavour.
In the heart of the City, Caravaggio’s is the perfect place for a celebratory lunch or dinner with your loved ones.
107-112 Leadenhall Street EC3A 4DP
caravaggiorestaurant.co.uk
Piazza Italiana
For food fit for a King – look no further than Piazza Italiana. Everything about the restaurant exudes Kingliness – from the gorgeous architecture of the building itself to the sumptuous interiors, and from the tantalising wines to the flavoursome food.
Despite its grandeur, Piazza Italiana is very inviting; the perfect place to sit down after watching the Royal processions. The menu is impressive with authentic and seasonal ingredients, and the waiters are warm and welcoming.
Start the meal right with a glass of La Segreta Il Bianco. A blend of different grapes, the dry Sicilian white is crisp and won’t overwhelm the palate – the ideal beverage to enjoy alongside delicious food.
If you are a pasta lover, the caserecce con spugnole has rave reviews – caserecce pasta, creamy morel mushroom sauce, and parmesan… Yum!
And you can hardly visit an acclaimed Italian restaurant without trying the tiramisu… Piazza Italiana’s comes highly recommended. The creamy pudding even comes with bittersweet coffee ice cream. A true delight.
Enjoy this all alongside a bottle of the Franciacorta Dosaggio 0, Arcari e Danesi 2018 – you will find it difficult to stop at one glass.
38 Threadneedle Street EC2R 8AY
piazzaitaliana.co.uk
Darwin Brasserie at Sky Garden
We can’t think of a better way to celebrate Britishness than by dining in the sky overlooking the capital. The Sky Garden’s panoramic views of London are truly wonderful. Add to this a mix of exotic plants and delectable food and you have yourself an evening to remember.
Before your meal at London’s highest rooftop brasserie, we highly recommend a jaunt through the gardens below the restaurant, and a drink at Sky Garden Bar, with cocktails to rival most others. Try the lychee spritz cocktail – made with Chambord, Sachetto rose prosecco, Lychee liqueur, Fever Tree soda, rose water mist, it’s a royally great tipple.
When seated at your table, order from the three-course A La Carte menu – trust us, you’ll want to try something from every course offering. From grilled portobello mushroom ‘steak’ to salt marsh lamb rump, there’s something for everyone on offer.
Sky Garden, 1 Sky Garden Walk EC3M 8AF
skygarden.london/restaurants/darwin-brasserie
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