These Were London’s 10 Most In-Demand Restaurants For 2023

London is jam-packed with great places to eat – but some restaurants just have that extra pizzazz that earns them cult status. It could be a hero dish that everyone’s talking about, a cool new chef making waves, or a simple case of je ne sais quoi; whatever it is, it means you’ll be competing for table bookings. So which were the capital’s hottest dining spots of 2023? New research from Resy has revealed the year’s 10 most in-demand restaurants in London. 

London’s 10 Most In-Demand Restaurants For 2023

Topping the list is Straker’s, the eponymous debut restaurant from TikTok chef Thomas Straker on Notting Hill’s Golborne Road. Since launching in 2022, the eatery has become hugely popular, with diners flocking there to try its Italian-style sharing plates – think handmade pasta, flatbreads, and grilled meat and fish. However, earlier this summer, Straker was embroiled in a diversity scandal which saw the chef receiving backlash after posting an image of his all-white, all-male team (he later apologised and agreed it’s an area he needs to improve on). 

Rochelle Canteen

The second most in-demand restaurant of 2023 was Café Cecilia, a neighbourhood bistro in Hackney helmed by ex-River Cafe chef Max Rocha (who happens to be the son of fashion designer John Rocha). This focuses on Irish-inspired fare, with signature dishes including the legendary Guinness bread. 

Trullo

Other names to feature on the list include not-so-secret gem Rochelle Canteen, which is hidden in the backstreets of Shoreditch; the beloved Manteca, also in east London; and eco-minded Fallow in St James’s. Islington pub The Tamil Prince, renowned for its top-notch Indian food, also made the top 10, alongside West African restaurant Ikoyi, which burst onto the scene after being named as One To Watch in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021. 

Resy compiled the list using its ‘Notify’ feature, a kind of virtual waitlist which helps diners secure bookings at popular spots by alerting them when tables open up. Here are the top 10 most in-demand restaurants in London for 2023.

1. Straker’s, Notting Hill 
2. Café Cecilia, Hackney
3. Trattoria Brutto, Clerkenwell
4. Rochelle Canteen, Shoreditch
5. Manteca, Shoreditch
6. The Tamil Prince, Islington
7. Fallow, St James
8. Trullo, Islington
9. Ikoyi, Temple
10. Rita’s, Soho