London’s Fine Dining Scene Continues to Grow
London has long been recognised for its exceptional luxury culinary scene, with especially significant growth in the sector experienced since the late 20th century. The growth can be attributed to numerous factors, including an increased international influence, an expansion of daring culinary innovation inspired by world-renowned chefs and restauranteurs, the continued economic growth of the city and the emergence of cultural events which have helped showcase the scene.
As of 2023, London boasts 70 Michelin-starred restaurants, bettered by only one European destination – Paris, and three of the city’s top spots appeared in this year’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
London’s dynamic fine dining scene is ever-evolving and the lure of a new fancy restaurant remains undeniable. At Blend Group, we’ve identified some new haunts that we’re especially excited to send our clients to.
Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London
At the end of September, celebrated Michelin-starred Argentine chef, Mauro Colagreco, opened not one but three restaurants inside the much hyped about Raffles London at the OWO. Three separate fine dining concepts exist as part of Colagreco’s latest venture, all of which are committed to sustainability and seasonality.
The ‘Chef’s Table’ presents an intimate and immersive private dining experience for up to 20, in which guests see the magic happening before their own eyes, while Saison is an elegant take on traditional brasserie-style dining. Completing the trio, the signature restaurant, named after the pioneering chef himself, champions fruit and vegetables, including over 70 on the impressive menu.
L’Atelier Robuchon Mayfair
Another exquisite autumn addition to the London fine dining scene was the return of L’Atelier Robuchon to London, now situated in Mayfair, a destination synonymous with the finer things in life. With restaurants already in Hong Kong, Miami, Taipei, Las Vegas and Geneva, the L’Atelier brand is internationally recognised, and with each spot owning at least one Michelin star, the collective clearly knows what it’s doing.
Undoubtedly, the spotlight will be shining on L’Atelier’s latest addition and visitors will expect to be amazed from the off. That being said, it’s not the first L’Atelier restaurant to emerge in the capital, as L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon initially operated in Covent Garden between 2006 and 2019, when it was closed following the death of the eponymous French chef.
The re-opening is led by a team of experts, many of whom worked alongside Joel for decades, and embraces the celebrated chef’s desire to open an accessible and intimate Mayfair fine dining location.
Akara
If you’re looking for something a little less formal than the traditional fine dining setting, but equally as enjoyable, the brand-new Akara in Borough is certainly worth a visit. Located in the fancy Borough Yards development, Akara is the sibling to Aji Akokomi’s first London venture Akoko, which has been recently recognised in the Michelin guide.
Akara celebrates the same West African flavours as Akoko and is mainly centred around the in-house barbeque, aptly backed up by a bustling cocktail bar. Just around the corner from our Blend Group HQ, Akara’s certainly made an impression on us.
We’re always looking for new luxury experiences for our valued clientele in London and all over the world. We’d love to hear from you if you’d like to find out more about what fine dining establishments you should visit, or to discuss any cuisine-centred once-in-a-lifetime trip or experiences.
