Hello! We're traveling to London and are looking for a 40th birthday dinner spot on Saturday, September 7, 2024. It will be the last night of our trip so would like something a bit higher end, fun, cool vibes, maybe historic building? Open to any other activity ideas too since we'll have the whole day free in London.
Editing to add: cool to us is something unique to London that we can't see/do somewhere else, maybe with a city view or a historic building. Not a super loud bar scene. Classic, not necessarily trendy. Price point: under $500 US for 2
Thank you!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17560 posts
I have seen the “Great British Restaurant” given good recommendations by Londoners on the Tripadvisor London forum. But we haven’t dined there ourselves.
https://www.gbrrestaurantslondon.com/
We celebrated my birthday at Ottolengi’s Nopi ten years ago, and it was outstanding. Great food, interesting menu, and fun. Very modern style in decor.
Posted by
Land of La
9261 posts
Budget? Want a view?
Over 50 plus years of visiting London have enjoyed memorable dinner locales.
Suggestions: the Shard, Palm Court at the Sheraton, The Booking Office at St Pancras Hotel, Sessions Artclub in Clerkenwell, 40 Maltby Street or the Wolsley.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7991 posts
This fits within your Price point, at £300, and may come with limitations of being in a moving vehicle with other diners on board, too, but this would be Unique to London - 6-course dinner on a double-decker London bus, viewing London while touring the streets of London, on Bustro Nome. https://www.bustronome.com/en/london/concept/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Organic&utm_campaign=Google+Listing
We haven’t done this, but it’s an interesting idea!
Posted by
Singapore
590 posts
I've been to Great British Restaurant (which is at Duke's in St James') and it's nice but fairly quiet, so may not have the vibe you're looking for (although nice historic building). I would also recommend the Palm Court at the Langham. and Brasserie of Light in the Selfridges building is also nice, as is estiatorio Milos on Regent Street St James'
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17560 posts
Simon, thank you for your comment about the Great British Restaurant. I did specify that we were looking for a place that is “quiet, not noisy or buzzy” when I got that recommendation. so you are right—-it may not be the right place for these younger people!
But Nopi would be—-definitely a trendy place with a fun vibe, but not the least bit pretentious. Ottolenghi is a firm believer in the power of good food and fun to bring people together. And because someone in our party slipped a note to the waitstaff about my birthday, there was a lovely dessert with a candle and a song.
Posted by
Singapore
590 posts
Hi Lola, I'm more of a quiet restaurant person myself, so I did enjoy GBR. The other aspect is it's quintessential British cuisine in a smart restaurant, which is nice if you're a visitor.
Posted by
Northbrook, Illinois, USA
312 posts
Hi Taylor,
Congrats to the birthday celebrant. I am lucky enough to travel to London for work. One of my London based clients said Andrew Edmunds was her go to celebration restaurant. We ate there in December and it was really lovely. I think it would tick the boxes in your post, classic, historic building, very Brit.
46 Lexington St, London.
andrewedmunds.com
Also in December, my husband and I enjoyed the atrium at Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden. Magical!