The Best French Restaurants in London

“French cooking from an outsider’s perspective” is how Chef Stuart Andrew describes his cuisine at 64 Goodge Street. That means you might still be aware you’re dining in London – especially in the use of quality British produce – but everything is underpinned by strong classical French technique. The desserts are all the evidence you need, with the likes of crème brûlée and Paris-Brest delivered with real skill. The atmosphere is intimate and relaxed, given a fizzle of energy by the kitchen at one end of the room.

You’d be hard pressed to find a name more synonymous with French haute cuisine than Alain Ducasse. The legendary chef has overseen a multitude of successful restaurants over the years, garnering many a MICHELIN Star in the process. In London, his home for many years has been the equally famous, equally revered Two-MICHELIN-Key The Dorchester hotel. Executive Chef Jean-Phillipe Blondet brilliantly interprets Ducasse's signature style, including his commitment to using the best possible produce.

One of many top French restaurants housed inside a luxury London hotel, this showcase for the eponymous chef is a beautiful restaurant in every respect. The dining room is all about understated elegance, while each dish is constructed with immense precision to create a true work of art. Thankfully, this is no example of style over substance, with Dilling's supreme skill coming through in dishes that display an innate understanding of balance and a welcome delicate touch.

Part-French, part-English, the name alone makes Chez Bruce feel like the perfect distillation of London’s Francophone side. The Bruce in question is Surrey-born Bruce Poole, who has presided over this institution since 1995. The cooking is firmly rooted in French classics but has a Mediterranean accent, so don’t be surprised to see lamb à la Niçoise or ajo blanco on the menu. The standard is still so high after all these years, and the whole experience is eminently satisfying thanks to a no-nonsense approach that puts the focus on the simply delicious dishes.

As the name would suggest, it’s the former French province of Gascony – located in the southwest of the country – that provides the inspiration for this long-standing restaurant. It used to be an unerringly traditional place, but today offers a more modern style of cooking, while still remaining rooted in the Gallic classics. It’s all delivered in a charming setting located next to an old church close to the city’s financial district. The comprehensive wine list offers a wide selection of French producers, at a range of prices.

Over the years, there have been many restaurants bearing the Galvin name, with brothers Jeff and Chris having forged themselves a mini empire since joining forces in 2005. Today, La Chapelle is very much the flagship, holding One MICHELIN Star and situated inside a stunning listed building that is in stark contrast to the gleaming all-glass skyscrapers you normally find in the City of London. It’s also a particularly versatile and good value operation, with both a vegan selection and a pleasingly affordable set menu.

Yannick Alléno is a name that will be familiar to all students of great French cuisine, so it’s wonderful news for London’s diners that he has this UK outpost inside the fittingly impressive Four Seasons Park Lane. Alléno’s modern style fuses the French base with influences from around the world, and puts luxury ingredients front and centre. Despite the dining room’s formal elegance, there’s a refreshingly relaxed feel to the place, largely thanks to the friendly, enthusiastic service.

He might be a Scot by birth, but the reputation of the world’s most famous chef was forged on his absolute mastery of classical French techniques. Years later, his flagship restaurant continues to uphold outstandingly high standards. Each dish offers exceptional ingredients cooked with supreme skill and combined in total harmony. For more Starred French cooking within the Gordon Ramsay group, head for Pétrus or 1890 by Gordon Ramsay. The latter is his tribute to Georges Auguste Escoffier, the godfather of French gastronomy.

Another chef who has found success in both France and the UK, Pierre Gagnaire and his famous multi-dish approach are the driving force behind the cooking at this gloriously over the top restaurant. The cooking, overseen by Chef Daniel Stucki, is as superb as you would expect of a Three-MICHELIN-Star restaurant – but it’s the setting that helps Sketch linger so long in the memory. Housed inside a fine Georgian townhouse, the dining room is glamorous, elegant and exuberantly colourful. It’s a truly special destination.