Curated London Guides: Markets to Michelin Stars

London is one of the world's great food cities, where centuries-old markets, neighbourhood institutions and Michelin-starred dining rooms exist side by side. From a morning exploring the sights, sounds and flavours of Borough Market to an evening enjoying some of the capital's finest restaurants, this curated itinerary offers a taste of London at its most delicious.

Borough Market

MORNING: BOROUGH MARKET

Arrive at Borough Market before 11am. The market has stood on this site, in various forms, since 1276 – it is one of the oldest food markets in the country, and on a good morning, one of the most alive. The market's Victorian ironwork roof was restored following bomb damage in the Second World War - the building itself is as interesting as what is sold beneath it. Bread Ahead's doughnuts are famous for a reason. Monmouth Coffee, which has operated here since 1978, remains one of the finest cups in London. The Brindisa chorizo roll, cooked on the grill outside, is essential. The Neal's Yard Dairy counter stocks farmhouse cheeses from small British producers that do not appear in shops; ask the staff what is in season.

For guests seeking something more immersive, we offer a bespoke Borough Market experience with your Executive Chef. The morning begins with a private consultation at the hotel, followed by a guided visit to Borough Market to hand-select the finest seasonal ingredients – meeting the producers directly, understanding provenance, and making choices that will shape the day's menu. Returning to the hotel, Chef creates a private multi-course lunch or dinner from your selections. This experience is offered in collaboration with our sister property, The Rubens at the Palace, and is available on request through the Concierge.

Dishoom

MIDDAY: A CONSIDERED LUNCH

From Borough Market, Dishoom in Covent Garden is one of the best-value lunches in the city – inspired by the old Irani cafés of Bombay, with a black daal that has been cooking for twenty-four hours. Walk-ins work at off-peak times. Alternatively, if you are staying in the Borough area, Padella on Borough High Street makes exceptional fresh pasta from a short, rotating menu. The queue is worth it.

For a more unusual suggestion, The Clink is a restaurant operated entirely by prisoners at Brixton Prison training for qualifications in hospitality. The food is seriously good – recently awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand – the service is attentive, and the experience of eating in a working Victorian prison is one that stays with you. This is not a novelty; it is a genuine restaurant that happens to exist inside an institution. Reservations are essential and should be made well in advance. The Clink operates across several prisons in the UK, but Brixton is the most atmospherically compelling. It is, by some distance, the most memorable lunch available in London.

AFTERNOON: MARYLEBONE'S QUIETER PLEASURES

Take a taxi north to Marylebone High Street – a self-contained village of excellent independent shops. Daunt Books, with its long oak galleries and skylights, is one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. On Chiltern Street, Cire Trudon – candlemakers to the French court since 1643 – make perhaps the finest candles in existence. Their Abd El Kader (mint and tea) is exceptional.

Tucked into a side street, John Boyd Hats is one of London's last remaining milliners. Founded by the late John Boyd – milliner to Queen Elizabeth II – the workroom is now in the hands of Sarah Marshall, his protégée, who continues the tradition of hand-crafted couture millinery. This is not a shop in the conventional sense; it is a studio. A consultation with Sarah is an experience in itself, and a made-to-measure hat takes the idea of a London souvenir to an entirely different level. Please ask the Concierge to arrange an introduction.

Core by Clare Smyth

EVENING: MICHELIN-STARRED EXCELLENCE

For dinner, three dining rooms stand above the rest for guests of The Egerton. Core by Clare Smyth (three Michelin stars) is the most precise British cooking currently being produced anywhere. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental reconstructs historical British recipes with extraordinary skill – the Meat Fruit, a chicken liver parfait disguised as a mandarin, is one of the great dishes. Hélène Darroze at The Connaught brings a warm, Southern French sensibility to what might otherwise be a very serious room. We are delighted to assist with reservations, as these tables require planning.

Whether you're discovering artisan producers at Borough Market, enjoying a memorable lunch in an unexpected setting, or securing a table at one of London's most celebrated restaurants, our Concierge would be delighted to assist in crafting your perfect itinerary, ensuring every moment reflects the London you wish to experience.