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French cooking is woven into the fabric of fine dining in London, but the city's French restaurants run well beyond the tasting menu, taking in grand brasseries, cosy bistros and wine-focused rooms. This guide covers where to eat classic French food, from a bargain plat du jour to a special-occasion feast.
Grand brasseries and classic bistros
Brasserie Zedel, hidden beneath Piccadilly in a magnificent art deco hall, serves classic French dishes at remarkably fair prices and is one of the best-value grand rooms in London. For a proper bistro, Bouchon Racine above a Farringdon pub has won huge acclaim for its unfussy, deeply satisfying cooking, while Otto's in Fitzrovia keeps old-school French traditions such as pressed duck gloriously alive.
Refined and neighbourhood French
For a more contemporary or wine-led evening, Noble Rot pairs a superb list with confident bistro cooking across its Bloomsbury and Soho rooms, and the all-day brasseries of the Corbin and King stable, such as Bellanger, bring Parisian polish to the neighbourhoods. Across the city, small family-run bistros still offer the warm, candlelit French dinner that never loses its charm.
Where can I find affordable French food in London?
Brasserie Zedel near Piccadilly is the standout for classic French dishes at gentle prices in a spectacular setting. Many bistros also offer a set lunch or plat du jour that delivers excellent value, so lunchtime is a smart time to eat French in London.
What is the difference between a brasserie and a bistro?
A brasserie is typically larger and grander, open all day with an extensive menu, while a bistro is small and intimate with a shorter, home-style menu. London has fine examples of both, from the grand hall of Brasserie Zedel to cosy neighbourhood bistros.
Where to go next
For the special-occasion end, see our guide to fine dining in London, or browse the best restaurants in London.
