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(Picture: Shutterstock)A garden party or state banquet might be the smartest way to eat at Buckingham Palace but should an invitation to either be mysteriously unforthcoming, fear not: there are enough decent restaurants close to the Palace to make up for the social snub.
So from royal-warrant holders to proud owners of multiple Michelin stars, fish-free sushi to faultless food-and-wine pairing — and even a hotel fit for a princess — here are the best restaurants near Buckingham Palace. Do, though, brush up your table manners: you never know who you might be sitting next to.
The Goring
Not only is the Goring London’s oldest family-run hotel, it is a favourite with the royal family, too. The Buckingham Palace staff Christmas party is held here, the Duchess of Cambridge spent her last night as Kate Middleton under its roof, while the menu in the elegant dining room features a dish called eggs Drumkilbo, a pretty concoction of lobster cocktail-cum-eggs mayonnaise, crowned with caviar, which was a favourite of the Queen Mother. The dish costs £32 — and it’s a starter — which is fairly representative of the prices. The hotel’s breakfast, however, is one of the best deals in London: £39 buys not only a full English of superlative quality British ingredients but a continental breakfast too, plus as many hot drinks and fresh juices as you can manage to wash it all down with. You won’t need to eat for the rest of the day, but in the unlikely event that hunger does strike, the hotel’s bar serves sophisticated light bites and accomplished cocktails.
How far? A nine-minute walk
How much? Full English breakfast for £39; starters begin at £19 and mains range from £34 to £62
15 Beeston Place, SW1W 0JW, thegoring.com
Sticks ‘n’ Sushi
Even diners who claim not to like raw fish are seduced by the charms of this Danish chain, which combines stylish (read: dark) interiors with reasonable prices for the quality of ingredients. Sushi comes not only as the expected tuna, shrimp and salmon but wagyu beef (raw) and chicken (cooked), too. The sticks, meanwhile, are wooden skewers jammed with grilled veg and protein like Padrón pepper, lamb chop, black cod and organic pork, and there are some fabulous salads bowls too for a quick one-dish meal. Some clever set menus avoid the need to construct a meal oneself and there’s a great kids’ menu as well.
How far? An eight-minute walk
How much? Sticks mostly around £3 to £6; mains around £10 to £15; set menus start around £22
Unit 3-5, 3 Sir Simon Milton Square, SW1E 5EB, sticksnsushi.com
Lorne
Owned by Katie Exton, a sommelier who has worked in Michelin-starred London dining rooms including the Square, Chez Bruce and the River Café, Lorne is a more down-to-earth, cosier affair that nevertheless showcases all the best bits from Exton’s CV. Exton doubles as front-of-house, ensuring personal service that extends to telepathic wine suggestions, while the cooking excels with humble cuts of meat and fish treated to some serious chef know-how: think veal rump with barbecued belly, fondant potato, courgettes, goat’s curd and parmesan. Vegans are handed their own menu, while the set menu is a bit of a steal for all.
How far? A 16-minute walk
How much? Set menu for two/three courses is £28/£32.50 (available Tuesday to Saturday, noon—2.30pm and 6pm—6.15pm); starters between £12—15 and most mains around £30
76 Wilton Road, SW1V 1DE, lornerestaurant.co.uk
A. Wong
The first Chinese restaurant outside Asia to win two Michelin stars, chef Andrew Wong’s dining room isn’t nearly as intimidating as that pedigree sounds. High chairs for solo diners and couples surround an eating counter that looks straight into the kitchen, while tables proper are attended to by professional staff who keep the atmosphere friendly, not formal. Lunchtimes see a menu of individually priced dim sum or there’s an à la carte available all day that showcases Wong’s evolution of Chinese cooking, which never loses touch with the cuisine’s regional roots. Whenever you eat, booking way ahead is a must — though spontaneous walk-ins are worth a try — and expect a hefty bill, not least if ordering one of the tasting menus. Still, for lovers of Chinese cuisine, special occasion dining doesn’t get any more special.
How far? A 16-minute walk
How much? Dim sum lunch starts at £4 per piece, with eight to 10 pieces each recommended; most mains from around £15, with sharing plates around £20; tasting menus start at £150 per person
70 Wilton Road, SW1V 1DE, awong.co.uk
Fortnum & Mason
If the weather’s fine, there’s no nicer walk from Buckingham Palace than through Green Park and along Piccadilly to Fortnum & Mason (or it’s five minutes in a taxi). The term ‘department store’ hardly does justice to a shop founded in 1707 and known as the Queen’s grocer, thanks to its two royal warrants to both Her Maj and the Prince of Wales. Few visitors make it beyond the tea and confectionary heaven of the ground floor but there’s a fabulous food hall in the basement for DIY picnics in the park, sustainably produced British ingredients at new restaurant Field, behind the biscuit department, knickerbocker glories in the first-floor Parlour and, the crowning glory, the fourth-floor Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, opened by the Queen herself in 2012 and purveyor of London’s most regal afternoon tea. Not such a sweet tooth? Next door restaurant 45 Jermyn Street is part of Fortnums, but with its own entrance and identity.
How far? A 13-minute walk
How much? Afternoon teas from £70 per person; most starters at Field between £11 and £16 with mains between £13 and £36.50, while Sunday roasts are from £22.50; Sundaes at Parlour around £10; starters from £10 to £18 at 45 Jermyn St with mains between £25 and £90, while Sunday roasts are around £26
