The best private dining rooms in London

Whether it’s raising a glass to another year around the sun, a milestone anniversary, or seasonal festivities, there’s always a reason to celebrate over thoughtful food and wine in London. Finding a private dining room in London for your party, however, can prove somewhat exhausting. With that in mind, we’ve scoured the city’s restaurant scene to bring you the best and most beautiful private dining rooms in the British capital. From a neighbourhood pub in Notting Hill to a canalside eatery in King’s Cross, here you’ll find something to suit every size or budget.

South London

The Laundry, Brixton

Best for: Contemporary interiors and refreshing cocktails
Location: 374 Coldharbour Lane, London, SW9 8PL
Price: Set menu is priced at 40 GBP per person
Capacity: Up to 36 guests; entire hire up to 130 guests

This all-day neighbourhood restaurant, cafe and wine shop on Brixton’s Coldharbour Lane is housed in a steam press laundry building, dating back to 1904. Inside, a contemporary finish of exposed brick walls, polished concrete ceilings and glass pendant lights sets the scene for delicious seasonal menus. The private dining room occupies the lower-ground floor, with duck-egg banquette seating and ambient wall lighting centred around a bleached wood table. Parties can select from a set menu, which presents three mains: roasted squash and sage tart, smoked haddock, prawn and salmon fish pie and confit duck with salsa verde – for pudding, a sharing-style black forest tiramisú is a rite of passage. As for the house cocktails, the cucumber margarita is delightfully refreshing.

Brunswick House, Vauxhall

Best for: Live jazz and organic plates in an opulent space 
Location: 30 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2LG
Price: Set menu starts from 65 GBP per person
Capacity: Up to 30 guests

Brunswick House was built for the Duke of Brunswick in 1758; today, the capacious Grade II-listed Georgian mansion houses a salvage shop and restaurant, the latter run by acclaimed chef Jackson Boxer (also of Orasay in Notting Hill). It is popular among the fashion and art crowds, who rave about its antique-filled private rooms, hung with chandeliers, candelabras and trailing greenery. There are nine private dining rooms to pick from and a broad choice of menus, too. Among them, the Vaults room accommodates up to 30 guests in a candle-strewn setting and menus utilise ingredients grown at the Brunswick House farm in West Sussex, and line-caught fish and meat that’s sourced from Cornish butchers. Don’t miss the live jazz on Tuesday nights.

Kudu Collective, Peckham

Best for: Art-filled interiors and fiery South African cooking
Location: 117 Queen’s Road, Peckham, London, SE15 2EZ
Price: Set menu starts from 69 GBP per person; minimum spend 400 GBP
Capacity: Up to 14 guests seated or 35 standing 

Peckham Collective comprises several lauded restaurants in Peckham, run by celebrated chef Patrick Williams and his partner Amy Corbin – the daughter of renowned restaurateur Chris Corbin. This, their first location, houses the group’s private dining room Curious Kudu, which also doubles up as an art gallery. Here, a rotation of eclectic art ranges from paintings to sculptures, making for an elegant dining setup. The set menu has a South African flex, with lots of smoky fire-roasted cooking like squid skewers in a black garlic glaze. There’s plenty of vegan options, too – think basil puree-coated courgette, and burrata with pineapple tomato, cashews, ginger and shiso. It’s worth noting that the dining room is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Camberwell Arms, Camberwell

Best for: Seasonal British fare, natural wines and a stellar burrata
Location: 65 Camberwell Church Street, London, SE5 8TR
Price: Set menu starts from 48 GBP per person; minimum spend 1000 GBP
Capacity: Up to 50 guests seated or 65 standing

This unassuming neighbourhood pub earned a place on our list of London’s best restaurants thanks to its seasonal menu and solid natural wine list – and great pints. While there’s much to be said for its Sunday roast, an upstairs dining room also makes it a great destination for private events. Comfortably seating up to 50 guests, the airy space has its own bar, which is ideal for bigger celebrations. Menu highlights include a hazelnut and broccoli burrata, roast chicken served with a ricotta salad and a caramel-drenched chocolate brownie.

East London

Bubala, Spitalfields

Best for: East Mediterranean cuisine and low-intervention wines
Location: 65 Commercial Street, London, E1 6BD
Price: Set menu starts from 55 GBP per person; minimum spend 1000 GBP
Capacity: Up to 24 guests

This east Mediterranean restaurant (whose name translates to ‘darling’ in Yiddish) started winning over Londoners as a pop-up before taking up permanent spaces in Spitalfields and Soho. Walk-ins are welcome throughout the week, while larger parties should look to reserve the low-key private dining room. Head chef Ben Rand’s set menu takes guests on a journey through the Middle East – from pickle plates and hummus to charred oyster mushroom skewers, fried aubergine with date syrup and confit potato with chilli. Sourcing the freshest ingredients and working with some of the UK’s best sommeliers to offer a top low-intervention wine collection, a carefully curated drinks menu perfectly complements the food.

Martello Hall, London Fields

Best for: Wood-fired pizzas, a high-level soundsystem and roof terrace
Location: 137 Mare Street, London, E8 3RH
Price: Packages from 65 GBP per person
Capacity: Up to 300 guests

This old-school pub in London Fields was stripped back to its original shell in 2016, with reclaimed Victorian floorboards, raw plaster walls and cast-iron pillars charming alongside minimal furnishings. There are various private spaces to hire including the main hall on the ground floor, a banquet hall with a large pizza oven and a cocktail bar on the first floor that’s connected to a roof terrace. The red party package will set you back 65 GBP per person, but it’s worth it for the cocktail masterclass (which includes five drinks), three-course Italian feast and house-made limoncello. The same team are behind Serata Hall in Old Street, which also offers private hire spaces.

The King’s Head Members Club, Haggerston

Best for: Playful interiors and elevated menus
Location: 257 Kingsland Road, Whitmore Estate, London, E2 8AS
Price: Hire free from 100 GBP
Capacity: Up to 300 guests

The King’s Head Members Club embodies a typically east London charm: inconspicuous from the outside but a riot of colour and creativity within. Guests can cut loose alongside taxidermied animals, including zebras, giraffes and a towering polar bear, while velvet armchairs and clashing patterns add to its kooky charm. Rent out the entire house for up to 300 guests, or opt for one of the plush private rooms across its four floors such as the wildcat or polar bear room for a sit-down dinner. The food is a blend of Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern flavours, and the result is a colourful collection of small sharing plates.

Cycene, Shoreditch

Best for: An intimate five-course chef’s table
Location: 9 Chance Street, London, E2 7JB
Price: Set menu from 175 GBP per person
Capacity: Up to 16 guests

Part of James and Christie Brown’s Blue Mountain School, Michelin-starred Cycene takes over the first floor of this multidisciplinary townhouse in Shoreditch. The kitchen is headed up by chef Taz Sarhane, with a seafood-focused menu spanning ten thoughtful courses that draw upon East Asian and Australasian influences. The candlelit Hearth Room is a design-led private dining area hung with pieces by artist Tyler Hays. Save your booking for a Saturday; that way you can enjoy a five-course chef’s table, which might feature scallop, sea urchin, oyster or turbot.

Central London

Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, Clerkenwell

Best for: Plant-flanked private rooms and sensibly sourced British produce
Location: 42 Northampton Road, London, EC1R 0HU
Price: Minimum spend from 500 GBP
Capacity: Up to 35 guests

The five private dining rooms at Bourne & Hollingsworth are furnished with lush ferns, cane seating and House of Hackney fabrics. Choose between spaces including the light-filled greenhouse, the B&H kitchen (which is ideal for smaller dinner parties) and the wicker-clad cafe. If it’s a big occasion, opt for the restaurant. Decor aside, the team are big on sensibly sourcing local British produce and preserved seasonal ingredients so they can be used year-round.

Luca, Clerkenwell

Best for: Alfresco dining fresh pasta and a brilliant bottle list
Location: 88 St John Street, London, EC1M 4EH
Price: From 95 GBP per person
Capacity: Up to 20 guests; full hire capacity available on enquiry 

At Luca in Clerkenwell, chef Robert Chambers’ menu brings together high quality seasonal ingredients from both the British Isles and Italy. Meat, fish and cheese are sourced in the UK – including prawns from Morecambe Bay, grouse from Yorkshire and cheeses from across the country – while the team looks to Italy for its wine, including rare vintages from prestigious producers such as Gaja and Sassicaia. The restaurant is also primed for private dining, with numerous areas dedicated to special events. The pretty terrace boasts natural daylight and allows for year-round alfresco dining, with a retractable roof and open fire. Elsewhere, the equally beautiful conservatory overlooks the Tuscan terrace; the garden room mimics a southern Italian garden and faces an open kitchen; and a pasta room is designed as a traditional Italian kitchen, where the chefs make fresh pasta each day.

Barrafina, Borough Market 

Best for: Authentic Spanish tapas in Borough Yards
Address: 2 Dirty Lane, London, SE1 9AB
Price: Sharing menu from 40 GBP per person
Capacity: Up to 32 guests

While Barrafina has four private dining spaces available for exclusive hire across Covent Garden, Coal Drops Yard and Borough Market locations, we recommend booking the latter. There, a vault-style space is equipped with its own open kitchen and has a private chef on standby. Drawing on Spain’s family feasting traditions, the sharing menu includes a handful of Barrafina’s best-loved dishes including ham croquettes, Iberico pork and a great selection of sorbets. The extensive wine menu includes magnum of Spanish wine, which are ideal for getting the celebrations started. Upstairs, Bar Daskal, the group’s cocktail bar, can also be hired for parties of up to 25 people.

Hoppers, Marylebone

Best for: Curry-leaf cocktails and next-level spice
Address: 77 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 1QE
Price: Set menu is priced from 53 GBP per person
Capacity: Up to 90 guests

For an honest taste of Sri Lankan and South Indian cooking, head to Hoppers. Among its various locations in Marylebone, King’s Cross and Soho, the intimate private dining room on Wigmore Street is particularly appealing: four hideaway-style vaults with an aesthetic inspired by the late Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. Start with a coconut negroni, before tasting the signature chicken biryani, served with an extra-minty raita. Those who prefer a citrus taste should opt for the curry leaf gimlet.

KOL, Marylebone 

Best for: Traditional Mexican distils and a Michelin-starred menu
Address: 9 Seymour Street, London, W1H 7BA
Price: Set menu is priced from 120 GBP per person
Capacity: The chef’s table sits 20; the Mezcaleria sits 35 guests

Combining Michelin-starred chef Santiago Lastra’s Mexican heritage with the best of Britain’s larder, KOL’s inventive menu features family-style sharing dishes, including tostadas with chalk stream trout or salt-baked beetroot, lobster tacos, and succulent pork cheeks. The Mexican influence extends to the interiors, with buttery tones, wooden accents and dark ceramics. For extra-special occasions, groups of up to 20 can book the chef’s table, inspired by a traditional Oaxacan home, overlooking its own open kitchen. Concrete walls are offset by tropical greenery for a dramatic and immersive setting, while an adjacent Mezcaleria pours a lively array of Mexican spirits and cocktails.

34 Mayfair, Mayfair

Best for: Grilled plates and live music
Address: 34 Grosvenor Square, South Audley Street, London, W1K 2HD
Price: Available on request
Capacity: Up to 60 seated and 80 standing guests 

Richard Caring’s 34 Mayfair is equally as lavish as its Grosvenor Square address. Here, the private dining room is outfitted with specially commissioned artworks by Tracey Emin and a banquet-style table is decorated with fresh flowers and pillar candles. Tucked away on the top floor, the space is suitable for 60 seated or 80 standing guests and has special seasonal menus devised by chef John Edwards. The menus are a masterclass in quality steak and fish, which are cooked on its Argentinian-style grill, including Korean BBQ chicken with soy glaze and fermented chilli and slow-cooked Hereford beef with parsley mash. To top it off, there’s live music provided by a resident pianist, jazz trio, saxophonist or string quartet.

North London

Decimo at The Standard, King’s Cross

Best for: Sweeping skyline views and seriously good tacos
Address: 10 Argyle Street, London, WC1H 8EG
Price: Available on enquiry
Capacity: Up to 38 seated and 50 standing guests

Travel ten floors up at The Standard in King’s Cross and you’ll be met with wafts of Spanish and Mexican cooking, from ham croquettes to pulled pork tacos. Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’ debut London restaurant, Decimo is a celebration of his Spanish heritage combined with his love for Mexican cuisine. The semi-private dining space, complete with its own bar, floor-to-ceiling windows reveal sweeping city views to create a spectacular setting. The cocktails here are excellent, with a comprehensive list of mezcals and tequilas, and we especially like that each dessert comes with a recommended digestif pairing. You can also book the rooftop bar in the warmer months.

The Lighterman, King’s Cross

Best for: Canalside dining and wood-fired flatbreads
Address: 3 Granary Square, London, N1C 4BH
Price: Set menu starts from 45 GBP per person 
Capacity: Up to 60 seated and 120 standing guests

King’s Cross has welcomed a brilliant new wave of canalside bars and restaurants, thanks to its flourishing urban regeneration project. Case in point? Chef Richard O’Connell’s plates at swish gastropub The Lighterman – also known as older sibling to The Broadcaster in White City. Set across three floors, contemporary touches of brushed concrete, exposed brick and gold detailing, contrast with the black brick exterior, designed to complement the nearby Granary Building. The entire space is available for exclusive hire, but for smaller parties we’d suggest opting for the canalside bar and terrace, and chucking in a few of the signature flatbreads to share – the chorizo, fennel, smoked mozzarella and chilli is a favourite. Bigger dishes on the set menu include Cornish hake and chips with crushed peas and homemade tartar, and a chicken schnitzel served on a bed of garden salad leaves.

The Pig & Butcher, Islington 

Best for: Farm-to-table feasting at Islington’s cosiest pub
Address: 80 Liverpool Road, London, N1 0QD
Price: Minimum charge applies
Capacity: Up to 24 guests

Akin to stepping into a family kitchen, the dining room at The Pig & Butcher in Islington has an intensely heart-warming vibe. Upstairs, a 24-seat table dressed with a gingham runner takes centre stage, with corners piled high with logs, and a small kitchen embellished with hanging pots, colourful tableware and dried flora. The team are passionate about British farming, with a farm-to-table ethos stitched into the core of the menus. Expect platters of Cornish crab salad, Wiltshire truffle-stuffed chicken and an exceptional dry-aged rump steak with triple-cooked chips. The house-made rhubarb gin and tonic is a good place to start on the extensive drinks list.

West London

Elgin, Maida Vale

Best for: Craft beers, sharing platters and a killer soundsystem
Address: 255 Elgin Avenue, London, W9 1NJ
Price: Available on enquiry
Capacity: Up to 80 seated and 100 standing guests

The Elgin is loved by locals for its small and large plates that span beef shin croquettes with Tewkesbury mustard to chargrilled cauliflower, with a spiced lentil and herb stew. Book out the first floor and dine with up to 80 people, before making the most of your own private bar, a built-in projector and a stellar soundsystem. On the drinks menu, you’ll find local craft beers, old and new wines from the UK and further afield, and seasonal cocktails, crafted from quality ingredients.

The Pelican, Notting Hill

Best for: Sharing plates and stylish interiors
Address: 45 All Saints Road, London W11 1HE
Price: Set menu starts from 45 GBP per person
Capacity: Up to 30 seated and 50 standing guests

This glamorous west London hangout underwent a tasteful refurb in 2022 overseen by award-winning restaurateurs James Gummer and Phil Winser. In a setting defined by its light woods, dried plants and tan leather banquettes, menu highlights are etched onto antique mirrors. The same decor carries through to the private dining room, which has a dedicated bar. Hot smoked trout, mustard-drizzled beef, rhubarb goat’s curd and tender asparagus in butter sauce are among the star dishes, as is a flaky honey tart.

Gold, Notting Hill

Best for: Modern European flavours 
Address: 95-97 Portobello Rd, London W11 2QB
Price: Available on enquiry 
Capacity: Up to 22 guests

Notting Hill is home to some of London’s finest private dining rooms. Enter, Gold – the neighbourhood restaurant and bar on Portobello Road plating up modern European flavours and seasonal cocktails. On its second floor, a low-lit, 22-cover private dining room offers a seductive and sophisticated space with linen fabrics, overgrown potted plants, lanterns and decorative vases. Menus are seasonally led with plates cooked over open flames and served to share. We recommend the chargrilled picanha steak peppered with chilli and parsley in a punchy balsamic dressing.

Still thirsty? Try London’s best cocktail bars, or make a night of it at one of the city’s brilliant boutique hotels.