Few things beat the buzz of a restaurant: The clatter of cutlery, the clinking of joyous toasts and, of course, the chance to eavesdrop on your neighboring table’s conversation. However, for more exclusive occasions, only a private dining room will do – and London has some of the best in the world.
From intimate chef’s tables to grand ballrooms, private dining rooms come in many guises and can usually be tailored to suit any event. For some it might be a celebratory birthday dinner or an overdue family catch up, others a crucial client meeting or even a micro-wedding.
What all of London’s best private dining rooms share, however, is a sense of complete exclusivity. Many even come with a private chef, dedicated solely to your party, promising not just a chance to dine in privacy but also a culinary experience to savor.
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Claridge’s Restaurant, Claridge’s
Capacity: 12
Since its reopening last fall, Claridge’s Restaurant (a name it hasn’t held in over two decades) has been ushering smart locals and discerning visitors alike through its grand gold-hued doors and into its deliciously ostentatious Art Deco dining room for a taste of classic fine dining. For a more intimate affair, swerve the seen-and-be-seen dining room in favor of the restaurant’s private room.
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Seating up to 12 and available to book for breakfast lunch or dinner, the space has decadence in bucketloads with gilded finishes, a handpainted wall mural and atmospheric lighting. Shut the golden doors for complete privacy or open them wide to absorb the restauarant buzz beyond. The menu is a touch more limited than that in the main dining room, but fear not – you still get to choose from the classics. Don’t miss the Orkney scallops nor the signature steak.
Sushi Kanesaka, 45 Park Lane
Capacity: 4
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If you need to impress, Sushi Kanesaka is the place. Hidden away in the back corridors of 45 Park Lane, seemingly a million miles from one of central London’s busiest roads, the teeny tiny restaurant opened in 2023 and quickly garnered attention for being one of, if not the, most expensive restaurants in the country: it’s 18-course omakase menu is £420 (approx. $525) per person, before drinks and service.
But for that princely sum you get one of the capital’s finest, most indulgent dining experiences, using some of the rarest sushi ingredients and Japanese techniques in the world. Just when you thought things couldn’t get more exclusive, Sushi Kanesaka surprises once again, with a miniscule private dining room that seats just four and is manned by a single chef, serving you and your party alone for the entire evening.
Chef’s Table, Marcus at The Berkeley
Capacity: 10
Marcus at The Berkeley’s Chef’s Table private dining room promises one of the most exclusive, the most luxurious and the most memorable gastronomic experiences in London, with a theatrical tasting menu of the chef’s signature modern-European cuisine.
Located next to, but separate from, the main dining room, the Chef’s Table is completely open to the kitchen, giving guests fortunate to be seating here a front-row view of the surprisingly quiet and completely machine-like team at work. The space itself is beautiful with dark wood-paneled walls and hefty leather chairs in perfect contrast against a gleaming white table.
Magistrates’ Ballroom, NoMad London
Capacity: 70 seated
When it opened in 2021, NoMad instantly became London’s hottest hotel. As well as its sleek yet distinctly jazzy rooms, the Covent Garden hotel offers guests a number of chic bars and restaurants too, including the soaring glass-roofed NoMad restaurant and the Mexico-inspired Side Hustle.
For a more private affair, however, NoMad London also features a number of exclusive-hire spaces perfect for everything from business events to intimate dinners. Of them all, the most impressive is easily the Magistrates’ Ballroom – a decadent and ethereal space made all the more beautiful by the Clare Basler mural that adorns the paneled walls.
For smaller occasions, there’s also the Fielding Room. Whichever you opt for, the award-winning NoMad team will work closely with you to craft a unique tailored menu.
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Kerridge’s Bar and Grill
Capacity: 16
London’s hotels are known for their world-class dining options and the Corinthia is no exception. Among the hotel’s several bars and restaurants is Kerridge’s Bar & Grill, which serves elevated takes on iconic British classics.
As well as the spacious main dining room, the restaurant offers a grand yet homey private dining area. Flanked by soaring shelves of fine wines and overlooking the dedicated kitchen, the room’s enormous oak wood table, made by Jolyon Oliver, seats up to 16 for a highly exclusive experience. Menus can be fully tailored, as can the accompanying wines.
Hearth Room, Cycene
Capacity: 6
London’s best private dining rooms aren’t limited to the city’s upmarket west – east London has its fair share of corkers too. Our favorite is the Hearth Room at the newly Michelin-starred Cycene, an experimental fine dining restaurant in the quirky Blue Mountain School. Led by chef Theo Clench, the restaurant serves a thoughtful and intriguing tasting menu, with different courses enjoyed in different areas – including one in the kitchen.
Located just off said kitchen, the Hearth Room is moody and atmospheric with soaring ceilings and an intricate display of painted tiles. The hardest task will be selecting which five of your nearest and dearest you’d like to accompany you to Cycene – the Hearth Room only accommodates a total of six guests (seven is a crowd anyway).
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Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester
Capacity: Up to 7, 12 or 30
Going all out on your next dinner? Look no further than the three-Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, which offers not one, not two, but three of London’s best private dining rooms. The most intimate is Table Lumière which actually sits in the center of the restaurant but is granted the upmost privacy thanks to a twinkling veil of optical fibers.
Larger groups might consider the Salon Privè, which can seat up to 12 guests in an atmospheric space where two walls are adorned entirely with emerald green buttons, inspired by the leafy Hyde Park which sits opposite the hotel.
And finally, there is the spacious Salon Park Lane, which runs the entire length of the restaurant with room for up to 30. When booking any of the three Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester private dining rooms, guests can choose between either one of the restaurant’s tasting menus or a more informal a la carte offering, as well as a plethora of wine pairing options.
Chef’s Table, KOL
Capacity: 20
Seamlessly fusing Mexican flavors with British ingredients, KOL has become a main stay on London’s trendy restaurant circuit and has been deservedly awarded a Michelin star for its efforts. Unsurprisingly, a reservation is tricky to come by.
Larger groups wanting to experience KOL’s beloved cuisine can book the coveted Chef’s Table which, like the main restaurant, features a beautiful earthy interior with plenty of natural finishes and warm tones. An adjoining kitchen ensures dedicated chef service. Two menus are available in the chic space – one five courses, the other seven – with each encouraging a convivial, family-style atmosphere. The Chef’s Table alone seats 20 but for larger groups, it can be combined with KOL’s neighboring bar, Mezcaleria, to accommodate up to 50 guests.
[See also: A Guide to All Three-Michelin-Star Restaurants in the UK]
