London
The River Café has served seasonal Italian food on the Thames at Hammersmith since 1987, when Ruth Rogers and Rose Gray opened it as a canteen for the architecture practice next door. It has held a Michelin star since the late 1990s and trained a generation of British cooks. Eight people who cook, own or write about restaurants for a living — Wolfgang Puck and Tomos Parry among them — keep naming it when somebody asks where they eat.
order: pizzaorder: ice creamorder: pasta; ice creamsorder: pasta; Dover sole
chef, Endo at the Rotunda
It's my ultimate comfort place and let me tell you why.
Said on Food Story Media · read
chef-owner, Brat & Mountain (London)
It’s a classic, but one of my favourites is The River Café. The team is a true industry leader and the hospitality is the best anywhere – it’s always warm and welcome with excellent service and a great atmosphere.
Said on SL.Man · read
chef-founder, Spago (Beverly Hills)
Best pizza, the River Cafe. The only bad thing is it's so far away.
Said on TopJaw · watch
chef-owner, Dinings SW3 (Knightsbridge)
Very simple food but spot on all the time.
Said on TopJaw · watch
restaurateur; co-founder of The Wolseley
Best restaurant in London: River Cafe. It's a happy place for me.
Said on TopJaw · watch
head chef, The Fat Badger
I was going to say River Cafe because it gets a lot of stick on here, but anyone who says it's overrated is jealous.
Said on TopJaw · watch
founder, Soho House
Best restaurant in London: the River Cafe. It is really good, incredibly fair prices.
Said on TopJaw · watch
actor & author
Best restaurant in London, I'm going to give you a few: the River Cafe, Riva, Sabor, St John.
Said on TopJaw · watch
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Published 2026-09-05