Nestled subtly within the splendour of Piccadilly, The Ritz London is more than just a hotel; it represents a tradition of timeless sophistication and unwavering quality. Known globally for its elegance, luxury, and charisma, The Ritz has maintained a distinct significance in London’s heritage, hospitality, and fine dining scene.

In 2025, this storied destination achieved its most prestigious culinary accolade yet: Restaurant of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards. This landmark recognition celebrates not only the precision and artistry behind every dish served at The Ritz Restaurant but also the immersive, sensory voyage it promises to every guest. For discerning diners seeking fine dining experiences, this is more than a recommendation; it is a journey.

Food goes beyond simple nourishment to become a complete sensory experience, engaging the senses, stirring emotions, and creating enduring memories. Here, dining is not just about satisfying hunger, but about storytelling, ritual, and artistry. Each dish is carefully created to evoke wonder, from the first visual impression to the final note of flavour on the palate. The interplay of textures, aromas, and presentation encourages guests to slow down, savour, and fully immerse themselves in the moment.

The Ritz’s elegant tea trolley, adorned with silver service and an exquisite selection of loose-leaf blends and pâtisserie, glides gracefully between tables, adding a refined flourish to the dining ritual and evoking the timeless charm of classic afternoon indulgence.

From its Escoffier-inspired tasting menus to its theatrical tableside service, The Ritz offers a masterpiece of indulgence, where heritage, innovation, and impeccable hospitality converge in one of the most refined settings in the capital.

A Legacy of Luxury:
The Ritz Restaurant’s Culinary Heritage

Opened in 1906 by César Ritz himself, The Ritz Restaurant was designed as a sanctuary of the utmost luxury, reflected in its opulent décor and gastronomic ambitions. With interiors reminiscent of Versailles, the dining room epitomises Belle Époque elegance, featuring crystal chandeliers, antique mirrors, and gold leaf detailing that create a setting where fine dining is elevated to high art.

But it is not only the surroundings that speak to legacy. The restaurant’s culinary direction is profoundly shaped by the traditions of Auguste Escoffier, the legendary chef who redefined French cuisine for the modern era. His philosophies of discipline, structure, and ingredient-led refinement are still honoured daily in The Ritz kitchens. Under the stewardship of Executive Chef John Williams MBE, the menu reflects this rich heritage, subtly modernised for contemporary palates without ever compromising on classical technique.

This commitment to time-honoured craftsmanship has earned The Ritz a rarefied reputation as a fine dining restaurant experience that is at once anchored in history and thrillingly relevant to today’s culinary connoisseurs.

The Drama of Dining:
Tableside Theatre at The Ritz

If The Ritz’s gastronomic philosophy is rooted in classicism, its execution is nothing short of spectacular. At a time when much of the industry leans toward minimalism and informality, The Ritz dares to dazzle. And nowhere is this more evident than in its celebrated tableside service, a distinctive flourish that transforms dinner into drama.

The experience begins subtly, with discreet, white-gloved waiters attending to each guest efficiently and quietly. As the evening progresses, the restaurant transforms into a stage. A trolley carrying a roasted Anjou pigeon or a golden-domed Wellington glides to your table. The cloche is lifted. The carving begins. Sauces are stirred, flamed, and served with dramatic flair. The room hums with quiet excitement, not from noise, but from awe

This is dining not merely as sustenance, but as performance. It is deeply sensory and highly emotional, designed not just to please the palate, but to inspire, enchant, and delight. Such pageantry may be rare in today’s hospitality landscape. Still, at The Ritz, it remains a defining feature and an embodiment of what makes this one of the best restaurants for fine dining in London and beyond.

Menus Inspired by Escoffier:
Refined Classics with a Modern Touch

The cooking artistry at The Ritz is rooted in tradition, yet unfailingly forward-looking. While Escoffier’s fingerprints are unmistakable, every dish is enhanced with a fresh elegance that reflects the creativity and seasonal focus of the modern kitchen.

The tasting menus, available in both five and seven-course options, are a sublime display of precision and imagination. Each course is a mini masterpiece of flavour and finesse. A starter of Dorset crab crème fraîche and imperial caviar might be followed by Native lobster with spiced carrot and lemon verbena. Chestnut-fed pigeon à la presse provides a moment of drama and indulgence, while desserts, such as the signature chocolate hazelnut and fudge, bring the meal to a crescendo of flavour and texture.

Each dish is composed with architectural precision, reflecting a kitchen where luxury dining is both an art and a philosophy. Local and seasonal produce is revered, sourced from the finest UK suppliers and treated with exacting respect. A dedicated cheese trolley, meanwhile, offers a curated selection of British and continental cheeses, served with freshly baked breads and house-made preserves.

The wine programme is equally impressive. Overseen by an expert sommelier team, the cellar houses over a thousand labels, from Grand Cru Burgundy to rare vintages from lesser-known vineyards. Each pairing is designed to harmonise with the dishes and elevate the overall experience into something unforgettable.

Dining as Art:
The Ritz Experience Through Sight, Sound and Story

What distinguishes The Ritz from its contemporaries is its holistic commitment to beauty, not just on the plate, but in every detail of the dining experience. It is, quite literally, a feast for the senses.

Sight is the first to be engaged. The dining room is a vision of high ceilings, gilded cornices, tapestries, and mirrors all glimmering beneath the soft, warm light of crystal chandeliers. Tables are dressed in flawless white linen, with glinting silver and fine bone china, a canvas for the visual theatre of gastronomy to begin.

Sound plays its subtle role. The gentle murmur of conversation, the pop of Champagne corks, and the delicate chime of cutlery are all underscored by live piano music drifting in from the Long Gallery. The atmosphere is not one of stiffness, but one of reverence, a shared understanding among guests that they are part of something rare and special.

Even scent is curated. From the delicate perfume of truffle shavings and herb-infused oils to the evocative aroma of warm, freshly baked bread, each fragrance weaves its way into the memory of the evening.

And at the heart of it all is the story, the sense that you are not merely eating, but participating in a narrative that spans centuries of food evolution. Each dish tells a story of provenance, precision, and passion. Each interaction with staff reinforces the sense of occasion. Each moment, carefully choreographed, contributes to a lasting impression.

A Destination Beyond Compare

To call The Ritz a fine dining restaurant is to undersell its impact. It is a place where rituals matter, where traditions are treasured, and where innovation is always served with elegance. It is a restaurant that defines 5 star dining not only through what it puts on the plate, but through how it makes you feel, elevated, special, and immersed in a world of beauty.

Its recognition as Restaurant of the Year 2025 is no surprise to those who have dined here. Instead, it is an affirmation of what regular patrons have long known: that The Ritz is not just a restaurant, but an experience.

An Invitation to Indulgence

For those seeking more than just a meal, craving a sensory journey steeped in heritage and delivered with flair, The Ritz London stands unsurpassed. Its dining room is a sanctuary of old-world glamour combined with modern sophistication. Its cuisine exemplifies technical mastery and heartfelt passion. Its service performs a ballet of grace and attentiveness. And its story, now celebrated with the highest honours, continues to enchant those in pursuit of the ultimate luxury dining experience.

To dine at The Ritz is to dine in history. To return is to dine in style.