The Best Restaurants in South Kensington

Don’t even bother coming to Jacuzzi with unphotogenic people—or anyone who gets mad that the camera eats before you do. It’s practically criminal not to capture every moment in this place. The interiors are pure Italian opera house royalty. And we’re not just talking the dining room—even the bathroom had us whipping out our phones for mirror selfies. Part of the Big Mama group, this spot is a total feed-swarmer, and it doesn’t disappoint.

We began with a Sicilian margarita—because a classy place calls for a classy drink. It paired perfectly with the garlic and ricotta focaccia, which literally melts in the mouth. The pistachio burrata comes with bread, but honestly, paired with this focaccia it’s a cheesy, creamy, heavenly dream. For mains, after being seriously cheesed out, we opted for pasta instead of pizza. The homemade ravioli was stuffed with the most tender, flavoursome slow-cooked chicken, topped with crumbled olives that added an extra decadent touch.

Of course, the night had to end with their famous tiramisu—because what else would you do? 

Have to try: Garlic and ricotta focaccia
Perfect for: Instagrammable spot with friends
Approx price for 2: £70–£100

The Orangery at Number 16 is a modern, bright, and elegant spot. This is definitely one to get dressed up for and fully soak in those enchanted garden tea party vibes.

We began with the bacon and cheddar croquettes, served with an addictive smoked paprika mayonnaise. Trust us, people will be fighting for the final drops of that stuff. Perfect for a sunny day, but in the colder months, we highly recommend the pea and mint soup. It’s a simple classic, yet its comforting, cosy warmth is unmatched.

For mains, sometimes a sandwich just can’t be beaten, and we folded on this one. But this isn’t some sad Tesco meal deal—this is bougie, with the freshest tasting ingredients. We went for the halloumi sourdough sandwich, packed with flavoursome aubergine, pickled cabbage, pesto, and fresh rocket. And of course, each sandwich comes with crispy, thin French fries. Perfect for classic British sandwich-stuffing behaviour.

Have to try: Bacon and cheddar croquettes
Perfect for: Casual lunch
Approx price for 2: £50–£60

Brother Marcus gives bougie, elevated café vibes. Perfect for when the vibe is casual, loved-by-everyone food, but in a place fancy enough to avoid the local joint down the road.

They’re probably most known for brunch and breakfast, but we were feeling more picky-bits, mezze-style for lunch. We began with the Rip and Dip Platter, which comes with three dips, olives, and warm homemade pitta bread for just under £20. It’s definitely worth it. Choosing just one dip and committing is near impossible. That said, our favourite was the fennel tzatziki with Aleppo chilli. An innovative twist on a classic, and it was great having a few different ones to experiment with too.

Then we dug straight into the hot mezze. An absolute must is the halloumi in a watermelon and mint reduction. They nailed this flavour combination—the saltiness of the halloumi beautifully complemented by the minty, fruity sauce. Another standout was the crispy calamari with a moreish aioli. Honestly, we could have ordered everything on this menu. Every dish was undeniably delicious—anyone would love it, even the fussy eaters.

Have to try: Rip and Dip Platter
Perfect for: Mezze style lunch
Approx price for 2: £45–£50

Dishoom hardly needs an introduction—locals and tourists alike love it. It’s easy for popular restaurants to fall into the tourist-trap trap, but not here. The food stays authentic, with the classics alongside fun twists on favourites. Normally, knowing the local Indian is just a Deliveroo away keeps us at home, but here, the dishes are so exciting and full of flavour that they practically force people out of bed and into the restaurant.

We kicked things off with the okra fries. Insanely crispy and perfect with a chilled beer. The chilli cheese toast was another highlight. Yes, a toastie at a fine-dining Indian restaurant, but trust us. This is the most flavourful, decadent cheese-on-bread experience we’ve ever had. 

For mains, the Chicken Ruby is an absolute must. The chicken melts in the mouth, and the sauce is packed with rich, spicy, creamy flavour. Mopped it all up with garlic naan and a side of steamed basmati rice, and we were in heaven.

Have to try: Chicken Ruby
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £50–£60

Maria G’s feels classy but homely at the same time—and honestly, that’s our favourite combination. The cuisine is modern French and British, so it’s definitely a spot for friends with more refined palates. That being said, they also offer more casual bites like smash burgers, fish and chips, and toasties. As tempting as these were, we thought we’d come all this way, so we might as well push the boat out. We made it a mission to order things we couldn’t get at any old pub down the road.

We started with the cod and salmon fish cakes, which come with a creamy, dreamy tartare sauce. Honestly, this was purely to satisfy our fish and chips craving and stop us from ordering it as mains. Mission accomplished. Every craving for that comfort food was met in this more bougie, essentially mini version.

For mains, we went for the heritage ribeye, served with thick-cut chips and a rich peppercorn sauce. The meat was cooked to perfection—zero complaints.

Have to try: Cod and salmon fishcakes
Perfect for: Catch up with friends
Approx price for 2: £65–£70

Daquise is a traditional and much-loved spot in Kensington. Serving Polish cuisine since 1947, it’s a place that celebrates history with its simple, unpretentious interiors. While many London restaurants go overboard with glitz and glam, Daquise keeps the focus on homely, high-quality food.

We began with the cheese, potato, and onion dumplings. Something we’d never tried before. They were addictive, with a texture that just worked perfectly. It took all our willpower not to order another portion, but we didn’t want to fill up before mains.

For mains, we went for the veal schnitzel, topped with a fried egg and served with buttery mash. Hangover sufferers, take note—this is ultimate comfort food. Since everything was so rich, we added a side of pickled sauerkraut for the perfect refreshing balance.

Finally, we finished with the apple fritters. Simple, classic, and absolutely delicious—everyone knows the drill with these. 

Have to try: Cheese, onion and potato dumplings
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2:  £55–£60

Sale E Pepe has been around since 1974, so you already know they’ve perfected their craft. And the fact they’re still buzzing proves it. Recently, they dropped a refreshed cocktail menu, and being the good citizens we are, we took it upon ourselves to test it out. The standout? The Sgroppino — vodka, lemon sorbet, prosecco, apricot, and mint. Basically the ultimate summer sip.

Keeping with the sunshine vibes, we started with the calamari fritti and tartare sauce. Simple, golden, crispy perfection. Pairing fried food with a cocktail? That’s just good life choices.

For mains, we couldn’t resist a true Italian classic: bucatini cacio e pepe. Three or four humble ingredients, yet the flavour was anything but simple. Rich, peppery, and decadent enough to feel like you’ve been twirling pasta forever. Zero complaints about that!

Have to try: Sgroppino cocktail (vodka, lemon sorbet, prosecco, apricot)
Perfect for: Special occasions
Approx price for 2:  £100–£130 with drinks

Ognisko has stunning, ballroom-like interiors. Think chandeliers, white tablecloths, and candlelit tables. Definitely one for special occasions.

The bar alone is a spectacle, with an insane cocktail menu that honestly left us overwhelmed (certainly worse problems to have). They offer seasonal cocktails, Ognisko signature drinks, and of course all the classics and vintage options. While we didn’t get to try as many as we’d have liked—let’s be real, that would have broken the bank—our favourite had to be the Ladies on Fire. Vodka shaken with passion fruit syrup, almond syrup, and lemon. Sweet, light, and giving just the right buzz.

We started by sharing the smoked salmon blinis—buckwheat pancakes with sour cream. Essentially a savoury crepe, but perfect for a light, refreshing bite. For mains, we went for the roast duck with caramelised apple and braised red cabbage. Every flavour imaginable—sweet, tangy, meaty—came together perfectly.

Dessert was a tough decision because everything looked irresistible. After much debate, we settled on the gingerbread cake with fruit compote and chantilly cream. Next time, the apple strudel with cinnamon and vanilla ice cream is a must-try—it was a very close second. If digestifs are more your vibe, their house-made flavoured vodkas are insane too.

Have to try: Cocktails and gingerbread cake
Perfect for: Family meal out
Approx price for 2: £100–£140 (with cocktails)

Wright Brothers has refined, moody interiors and serves the finest quality seafood. They have a long wine list, and while wine is our usual go-to with seafood, the cocktail menu was too intriguing to pass up. We tried A Lost Pearl, a tropical delight with vodka, lychee, and coconut. Bonus points for the ocean-themed cocktails—commitment appreciated.

We started with the cooked soy, ginger, and wasabi oysters, alongside the Rockefeller oysters. The latter were our favourite—baked with spinach and herb butter for pure decadence. We know oysters aren’t everyone’s thing, but these were irresistible. For something universally loved, the tempura prawns with Thai dipping sauce were impossible to stop at just one.

For mains, we went for the Dorset crab linguini. With everything else being seafood-forward, we wanted comforting carbs while still indulging in their top-quality seafood. This hit the spot perfectly.

Finally, for a refreshing finish, get the warm madeleines served with lemon cream. An ultimate palate cleanser.

Have to try: Tempura prawns with thai dipping sauce
Perfect for: Seafood lovers
Approx price for 2: £95–£110

The Lavery is another stunning, elegant spot, perfect for formal occasions and those with refined palates. We started things off with a rhubarb sour, the perfect little daytime tipple. Nothing beats a drink paired with fresh bread and butter, and their homemade, fluffy, warm baguettes were impossible to resist.

We also loved the gnocchi with fresh peas and a ricotta salad. Light, refreshing, and the perfect precursor to the decadent mains. The menu isn’t massive, but every ingredient is top-quality and fresh.

For mains, we went for the lamb neck fillet, served with grilled asparagus, lentils, and seasoned with chilli and mint. A hearty, flavour-packed dish that didn’t disappoint.

Have to try: Gnocchi with ricotta salad
Perfect for: Elegant lunch
Approx price for 2: £85–£100