London's best private dining rooms in restaurants
Some gatherings simply can't take place in a restaurant, either because they are simply too large a table for the staff to cater to or so characterful a celebration that it would disturb other diners. Whatever the event, private dining rooms allow groups to enjoy all the trimmings of a delightful restaurant in an intimate space with dedicated staff catering to your every need. From institutions like The Ivy to newcomers in the city, many excellent restaurants have private dining rooms you may not know about. Whether for a wedding breakfast, office party, birthday or any other manor of celebration, these are the best private dining rooms in London.
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The best private dining rooms in London
- Fantômas","brand":{"name":""},"id":"67c987eaf1c7c420270d7f0e","index":0,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
1/15Fantômas
Chelsea meets Mayfair in the sophisticated and glamorous Fantômas on Kings Road, where a party in the flatteringly low lit Private Dining Room would certainly be something to dress up for. Expect a globally infused menu - raw bream with jalapeno and citrus; BBQ chicken wings with persimmon and sambal or Iberico pork with quince and lime. Cocktails and music are de rigueur.
- Size? 24 on one table and up to 30 on separate tables
- Minimum spend? set menus that start at £100 per head
- Where? 300 King's Rd, London SW3 5UH
- KOL","brand":{"name":""},"id":"65a6662291e3edc1e7cddb75","index":1,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
2/15KOL
Santiago Lastra's Mexican restaurant KOL is one of the best in London for its ambience and incredible food. It's simply brilliant and even better, there's a chef's table that can be booked for up to 20 guests for private dining. The space is modelled after a traditional Oaxacan kitchen and comes with its own team of chefs to cook the seven course tasting menu. If that's not enough, the head sommelier is also available prior to bookings to talk through wine choices for the event.
- Size? 20 guests, seated.
- Set menu? £180 per head.
- Minimum spend? Yes and full deposit required on booking.
- Where? 9 Seymour St, W1H 7BA
- The Ninth</a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"65a6651a4117e8832fa2cd7e","index":2,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
3/15The Ninth
Jun Tanaka is the chef and owner behind The Ninth, a brilliant restaurant on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia. It's classical in its Mediterranean dishes, with a focus on French food but relaxed and buzzy in its neighbourhood atmosphere. Any meal here is one that feels both special and cocooning and private dining would be no different. It helps to know too that the staff are impeccable.
- Size? Up to 20, seated.
- Set menu? Yes, price on request
- Minimum spend? No
- Where? 22 Charlotte St., London W1T 2NB
- Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester</a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"65a7b474acb13f4f4dfe78c8","index":3,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
4/15Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
For something extra special, turn to Alain Ducasse's three Michelin-starred restaurant inside one of London's grandest hotels.
The Dorchester recently went through an extensive refurbishment, including a shimmering redesign of its beloved French dining destination, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. There are three separate options for private dining here. Within the main dining room, ‘La Table Lumière’ makes a shimmering focal point, cocooned by a luminescent graduated oval curtain complete with Hermès china sets. ‘Salon Prive’ is a moody, larger room with dark lacquered walls studded with thousands of green silk buttons for something a little more private and the tranquil ‘Salon Park Lane' for larger groups.- Size? La table Lumiere - 2 to 7 guests, Salon Prive - 8 to 12 guests, Salon Park Lane - 14 to 30 guests
- Reservations? sevenrooms.com, opentable.co.uk
- Where? 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA
5/15Luca, Farringdon
In the heart of Clerkenwell, Luca (one of our favourite restaurants in London) has three excellent private dining rooms available to hire for a festive Italian escape. The Garden Room is a rustic, foliage-filled dining room conjuring up dreams of Little Italy, while The Pasta Room is designed to look and feel like a traditional Italian home kitchen. They also have The Terrace, a covered, secluded and verdant spot surrounded by olive trees and jasmine, available and ideal for a cosy, wintery meal with large groups, warmed by the open fire.
- Size? The Garden Room: 6 - 8 guests, Pasta Room: 8 - 10 guests, The Terrace: 12 - 20 guests
- Prices? from £95 per person
- Where? 88 St John St, London EC1M 4EH
- Louie","brand":{"name":""},"id":"65a6648cd463562841efa32a","index":5,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
6/15Louie
Louie is all about conviviality so it naturally lends itself to private dining in one of its two rooms – the terrace (pictured) or the Cabana (though the entire restaurant can also be booked out for private events). The food is an upmarket take on comfort classics; think an elegant, modern prawn marie rose, foie gras, strip steak and mouthwatering halibut. It'd certainly be a spoiling choice for any guests.
- Size? From 18 to 25 people for dinner and 35 for a standing reception.
- Set menu? £85 per head or sharing menus for £65-125 per head.
- Minimum spend? This varies depending on the time, time of year and number of guests.
- Where? 13-15 West St, London WC2H 9NE
- Walmer Castle</strong></a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"65a6641932b9bdb3ecd04bff","index":6,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
7/15Walmer Castle
Set on the iconic Ledbury Road, the Walmer Castle - in one form or another - has been a fixture of Notting Hill since 1845. This winter has seen it reopen under the ownership of husband and wife team Jack and Poppy Greenall, publicans and proprietors of Chelsea's The Surprise, debuting a smart new look. The Walmer Castle's interiors have been revamped by Isabella Worsley and are refined but relaxed. The kitchen is headed up by chef Luaan van der Watt, who has curated a menu that's typical of a gastropub, but with unexpected twists here and there.
- Size? From 20 to 60 people for dinner and 100 for a standing reception.
- Set menu? £50pp for three courses, £40pp for two.
- Minimum spend? £1000
- Where? 58 Ledbury Rd, W11 2AJ
- Ochre","brand":{"name":""},"id":"65a663e84117e8832fa2cd7a","index":7,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
8/15Ochre
Set within the National Gallery, Ochre delivers European flavours with British ingredients, all within elegant surrounds of the colour that bears its name. Separate to the main restaurant but just adjacent – so you can feel and hear the buzz – is an utterly lovely private dining room, with a large round table and art galore. There is an ever-changing roster of creatives decking out the room so on one visit you might be surrounded by Gergei Erdei's urn and cushions and the next, something totally different.
- Size? Up to 19, seated.
- Set menu? Yes, priced at £45, £60 or £85 per head
- Minimum spend? No
- Where? National Gallery, Trafalgar Sq, WC2N 5DN
- Mount St. Restaurant & Rooms</strong></a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"651be879ba153040090d4a85","index":8,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
photo by sim canetty-clarke9/15Mount St. Restaurant & Rooms
In the space of one short year, Mount St. Restaurant & Rooms has become one of the most popular dining destinations in London. This modern restaurant and collection of four beautifully designed private rooms effortlessly unites fine dining with craftsmanship and culture, creating a unique experience for all. Housed in The Audley, this iconic building has been transformed under the direction of Paris-based design and architecture studio, Laplace. The result? A signature style that is both bold and timeless, integrating architecture, art and design to create surroundings which reflect an elevated take on modern British cuisine.
- Size? In addition to the main restaurant, four private rooms can seat from 6 to 28 guests.
- Set menu? Yes, a wide choice of 7 set menus from £70 (vegetarian) to £145 per head
- Minimum spend? Prices available on request
- Where? Floors 1-4, 41-43 Mount Street, London, W1K 2RX, tel: 020 3840 9860
- Bob Bob Ricard City</strong></a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"61894162f6eb732bf13e45f0","index":9,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
10/15Bob Bob Ricard City
At this gorgeously glossy City venue, the three ‘salons’ are as striking as the main restaurant and follow interior design studio BradyWilliams’ primary-colour theme, with two blue and one red room. Anteroom lobbies mean there’s no need to crowd around tables for pre-dinner drinks.
- Size? From 16 to 18 guests.
- Set menu? Diners can order from BBC chef Eric Chavot’s full à la carte menu of French classics with a Russian bent (in a nod to the restaurant’s owner Leonid Shutov).
- Minimum spend? £1,500 for lunch and £1,800 for dinner, plus service.
- Where? 122 Leadenhall Street, EC3 (020 3928 6600)
- Sexy Fish</strong></a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"61894162eea7137eaf372b10","index":10,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
11/15Sexy Fish
The Japanese-fusion menu plays a supporting role to Martin Brudnizki’s opulent, oceanic-themed decor at this star-spotter’s favourite. The Coral Reef Room has two mammoth coral reef tanks that cast an aquatic glow over a gleaming marble and brass bar.
Size? From eight people up to 48 on individual round tables and up to 60 standing.- Set menu? Nine are available, starting from £55 per person for lunch and £85 per person for dinner.
- Minimum spend? This varies depending on the time, time of year and number of guests.
- Where? Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, W1 (020 3764 2000)
- Spring","brand":{"name":""},"id":"6189416277b9da749dd49f97","index":11,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
12/15Spring
The atrium-style Salon is an unexpectedly airy and delicately pretty setting for Skye Gyngell’s elegant, seasonal cooking. Skye's sister, interior designer Briony Fitzgerald, is responsible for the unashamedly feminine look. Landscape designer Jinny Bloom enhanced the interior-garden feel with potted olive trees and the walls are covered with bronze-framed Gunnera manicata leaves cast in marble. Look familiar? The House & Garden decoration team chose it as a location for a round-up of the latest wallpapers featured in the February 2017 issue.
- Size? Up to 36 guests.
- Set menu? The seasonally changing set-menu options include a tasting menu.
- Hire charge? £1,000 for dinner and Saturday lunch; none for weekday lunches.
- Minimum spend? £1,000 for weekday lunches.
- Where? Somerset House, New Wing, Lancaster Place, WC2 (020 3011 0115)
- The Ivy</strong></a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"61894162b028fc86ce488167","index":12,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
13/15The Ivy
The original Ivy in Covent Garden is an institution and the private dining room has hosted all manner of famous faces, from Kate Moss to Mick Jagger. The iconic harlequin windows imbue the room with a wash of soft pastel light and the service is second to none. The restaurant itself was recently redone by Martin Brudnizki but the private dining room has remained untouched, as stylish and welcoming as it ever was.
- Size? Up to 60 guests.
- Set menu? The seasonally changing set-menu options start from £64 per person and can be altered.
- Minimum spend? £3,000.
- Where? The Ivy, 1-5 West Street, WC2H 9NQ (020 7307 5783)
- Bocca di Lupo</strong></a>","brand":{"name":""},"id":"618941627ec4df9dbbfec225","index":13,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
14/15Bocca di Lupo
This busy, buzzy Italian restaurant on a Soho side street continues to pack ‘em in for its daily changing menu of plates large and small, and all-Italian wine list. The Remus Room boasts a Martino Gamper-designed teak table and is served by its own chef.
- Size? Up to 32 guests seated and 45 standing.
- Set menu? A selection of nine set menus cost from £38 a person.
- Minimum spend? £700 for lunch and £1,000 for dinner.
- Where? 12 Archer Street, W1 (020 7734 2223)
- Benares","brand":{"name":""},"id":"6189416230743c94d4ce9cc8","index":14,"contentType":"photo","offers":[],"component":"gallery_slide_component"}" data-testid="GallerySlideWrapper">
15/15Benares
There are four elegantly dark and moody private rooms at this polished Indian restaurant. After the departure of Atul Kochhar (to open Kanishka), the Mayfair institution has recently revamped its menu under Sameer Taneja, but retained the emphasis on finely executed, imaginatively spiced dishes.
- Size? From 24 to 40 people for dinner and 50 for a standing reception.
- Set menu? There is a choice of seven set menus, from £49.50 per person.
- Minimum spend? This varies depending on the time, time of year and number of guests.
- Where? 12a Berkeley Square, W1 (020 7629 8886)
