Dining at a chef’s table offers a unique and intimate culinary experience. Situated right in the kitchen, chef’s tables allow diners a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry and skill that goes into preparing exquisite dishes. For gastronomes seeking this exclusive dining experience, London offers some of the best chef’s table restaurants in the world.
Here are some of the top chef’s table restaurants in London for an extraordinary culinary adventure:
A Wong
Tucked away in London’s Pimlico neighbourhood, A Wong boasts not one but two chef’s tables that provide front-row views of chef Andrew Wong and his team. His innovative take on regional Chinese cuisine earned A Wong two Michelin stars.
Only six diners can experience the main chef’s table that directly faces the kitchen. This intimate vantage point lets you watch Chef Wong prepare innovative dishes like wild tiger prawn and wild seabass using woks and other commercial kitchen supplies from high-end companies like Tarrison.
Evelyn’s Table
At Evelyn’s Table in Soho, just 20 diners per evening enjoy a personalised 10-course tasting menu. With three Selby brothers running the kitchen, expect sibling camaraderie with competitive cooking skills on display.
Book the Front Row chef’s table for six diners, where you’ll be close enough to the culinary action to feel part of the team. Watch the brothers plate inventive dishes like Orkney scallops with fermented tea and chestnut while bantering about hockey and music.
Corrigan’s Mayfair
For an intimate yet spacious chef’s table experience, book the 14-seat Chef’s Table at Corrigan’s Mayfair. The large window provides ample views into the bustling kitchen, where Richard Corrigan plates his seasonal British fare.
Alternatively, the cosier 6-seat Kitchen Library chef’s table is tucked into a corner of Corrigan’s personal cookbook collection. Chat with the lively Irish chef while feasting on comfort food favourites like chicken and dumplings washed down with excellent wines.
KOL
Transport your palate to Mexico at KOL’s Oaxacan-style chef’s table in London’s Marylebone neighbourhood. The dark wood table dotted with mini cacti and palm fronds makes an ideal perch for watching Chef Santiago Lastra craft tantalising Mexican fare.
Opt for the Chef’s Table Experience to enjoy a commentary on regional Mexican cuisine from Lastra while dining on a specialised nine-course tasting menu. Dishes like Yucatan octopus with burnt habanero mayonnaise exemplify Lastra’s mastery of complex Mexican flavours.
Muse by Tom Aikens
Led by acclaimed British chef Tom Aikens, Muse in Belgravia offers two coveted chef’s counter seats up close to the kitchen’s frenzied energy. Watch Aikens and his band of chefs seamlessly plate inventive dishes that reference Aikens’ childhood and career.
Expect personalised interactions with the affable Aikens while sampling creative dishes like Orkney hand-dived scallop in vin jaune beurre blanc, Peterhead cod in Pernod velouté, or Romney lamb with mustard seed and garlic scapes.
Benares
At Benares in Mayfair, the wraparound Chef’s Table offers panoramic views of the theatre-style kitchen churning out modern Indian fare. Watch Executive Chef Sameer Taneja overseeing the complex spices, flavours, and aromas that earned Benares a Michelin star.
The eight-seat table provides an ideal vantage point for appreciating the aromas of curries and tandoori dishes wafting through the kitchen. Dine on standout plates like Kentish lamb chops with nutmeg and fennel seed while observing the chefs preparing speciality Benares dishes.
Behind
Snag one of the 18 counter seats at Behind in London Fields for an up-close look at Chef Andy Beynon’s inventive seafood-focused tasting menus. At this relaxed neighbourhood spot with exposed brick walls and hanging plants, Beynon crafts hyper-local tasting menus you’re sure to enjoy.
Recent dishes include Cornish mackerel with sea beet and wild fennel and Kentish roe deer with roasted Jerusalem artichoke. Watch Beynon and his tight-knit team plate every dish with precision while still keeping the mood lively. Despite opening just before lockdown, Behind earned its first Michelin star in 2021.
The Barbary Next Door
For a convivial chef’s counter experience, check out The Barbary Next Door in central London’s Covent Garden. Snag one of the few counter seats at this tiny offshoot of the popular North African restaurant The Barbary.
Sit elbow-to-elbow with strangers while watching the chefs prepare fragrant lamb tagines, chargrilled chicken, and spicy prawns. Wash it down with a glass of Spanish red wine or a zippy basket of bread and savoury dips. With Moorish tiles and hanging plants, the cosy restaurant evokes Mediterranean holidays.
Hélène Darroze at The Connaught
Fine French cuisine paired with world-class wines awaits at Hélène Darroze’s eponymous restaurant inside The Connaught Hotel. Book the swanky Chef’s Table or the intimate Sommelier’s Table in the cellar, both offering prime views of Michelin-starred kitchen action.
Watch Chef Darroze artfully construct refined dishes like duck foie gras with rhubarb gel and hibiscus granité. At the Sommelier’s Table surrounded by 9,000 bottles of wine, enjoy insider explanations of how each bottle pairs perfectly with every dish.
The Best Seats for Culinary Insiders
For an exclusive peek behind the curtain, London’s outstanding chef’s table restaurants deliver once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences. Watch award-winning chefs command their commercial kitchens to create culinary magic. With a mix of polished and relaxed atmospheres, London’s top chef’s table restaurants offer unmatched food and wine paired with insider access to the secrets of the kitchen.
