Top Ten Restaurants for a Business Lunch in London

Sep 29th 2011

With the dizzying array of restaurants in London, it can be difficult to pick out the best location for a business lunch.

There’s no catch-all venue: the restaurant you chose should depend on the type of meeting and the people involved. We’ve put a list of our favourite places in London, including information on price, location and suitability for alternative diets – all the information you need to avoid making a food faux pas at your business lunch.

Best Places to Business Lunch in London

The Ivy

We’ll start off with a tried-and-tested classic: The Ivy. If you’re unsure about where to go, this is a safe bet. The food and service are unbeatable. The menu is mainly based around classic dishes, done exceptionally well. The Ivy isn’t the place for unorthodox, Heston-esque combinations. With dishes to suit all tastes, including a full vegetarian menu, it’s hard to go wrong.

The Hawksmoor

If catering for vegetarians is not high on your list of considerations, then you would be well advised to head to The Hawksmoor in Covent Garden. This is a US style steakhouse, which also does great cocktails. A few vegetarian options are available, but it is the steak that The Hawksmoor is renowned for. This one is a must for meat lovers.

La Cuisine

Joël Robuchon is a world renowned chef, and rightly so. His restaurants have earned an incredible 26 Michelin stars between them – more than any other chef in the world. L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon is definitely no exception to this. The outstanding food is sure to impress and the menu, which uses fresh seasonal ingredients, is varied enough to cater for most tastes. There are also entirely separate vegetarian menus on offer.

The decor looks almost as good as the food, too. For a restaurant which is better suited to a business lunch, though, chose the first floor La Cuisine rather than the more unusual L’Atelier on the ground floor.

St James’s Hotel and Club

Michelin-starred Seven Park Place at the St James’s Hotel and Club has been serving up exquisite food under the expert eye of Executive Chef William Drabble since 2009. Influenced by French cuisine but using primarily British ingredients, William’s dishes change to reflect the season, with dishes such as seared foie gras with caramelised pears and ginger syrup, and assiette of Lune Valley lamb with garlic puree and rosemary jus for September.

An additional bonus is that Executive Offices Group customers receive preferential room rates at the St James’s, and with it being located so close to London serviced offices at Park Place, there’s no excuse not to sample the delicious food on offer.

The Cinnamon Club – Photograph by Kim S

The Cinnamon Club

For Indian food, you would be well advised to try The Cinnamon Club. Hosted in a grand building that was previously the Westminster Library, this a perfect location for those who enjoy both spicy food and wine. The pairings are fantastic, and their wine dinners are rightly held in high regard. There are inventive, spicy dishes for carnivores and vegetarians alike, and plenty to chose from – including an eight-course meal.

The Greenhouse

If you’re really looking to impress, then we suggest The Greenhouse. This outstanding restaurant will set you (or your expense account, more accurately) back a fair amount, but you won’t regret it. This one Michelin star restaurant, headed by chef Antonin Bonnet, serves some of the best French food in London, using seasonal ingredients. The wine selection here is arguably the best in city, so make sure to get a bottle while you are there. Be sure to book far in advance, as this is one of the top restaurants in Mayfair.

Club Gascon

In a beautiful old building in Smithfield, once a Lyons Tea House, you’ll find the Michelin starred Club Gascon. Here you can experience a range of meals, based in the gastronomy of South-West France. Courses are small and numerous – five courses for the Lunch & Dinner menu – focusing on unusual (but not outrageous) taste combinations. The meals cover all tastes, including vegetarian options, although it’s always advisable to check ahead to be sure.

While you’re there, be sure to take advantage of outstanding wine cellar, which is home to many wines from southern France, chosen each season to complement the menu. Service here is highly professional and attentive, although can be slightly cold.

1 Lombard Street

This fine dining restaurant, set in a stunning grade II listed building, is on the higher end of our recommendations. 1 Lombard Street is right in the middle of the Square Mile, opposite the Bank of England and close to London serviced offices at 60 Lombard Street. If your party has diverse dietary requirements, then check the menu ahead of your visit. An ideal restaurant if you’re really looking to impress and budget isn’t an issue. For a less expensive alternative, take a look at their Brasserie.

Hakkasan

Hakkasan, a restaurant that serves modern takes on Chinese food, is going from strength to strength. Dishes suitable for a range of tastes are available, from more traditional dishes to more unique courses, such as the Peking duck with Royal Beluga caviar, one of the signature dishes. It has retained its 2003 Michelin star for good reasons.

There are two locations in the city – we recommend the restaurant at Hanway Place. This is five minutes walk from our London serviced offices at 17 Cavendish Square.

L’Anima

If you are looking for Italian cuisine, then L’Anima is the ideal place for your business lunch. The style is very minimalist, providing a relaxing atmosphere that is free of distractions. Thanks to the acoustics of the room, it is very easy to hold discussions without being overheard by your neighbours. One potential downfall, however, is that vegetarian options are very limited.

The restaurant also boasts a great bar for pre-dinner drinks, including cocktails and champagne. This is also a wonderful location for wine lovers, with a broad selection of Italian wines.

Have you visited any of these restaurants? Have we missed any of your favourite locations for a business lunch in London? Let us know in the comments section below.

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