8 Best London Restaurants for a Girls’ Day Out
Planning the perfect girls’ day out in London usually begins with one important question: where should you eat?
Whether you are celebrating a birthday, organising a long-overdue catch-up or simply dressing up for a beautiful lunch, London has a restaurant for every kind of day. You can dine beneath Greco-Roman sculptures in Mayfair, share dim sum above the city or make an afternoon of tea and pastries in Knightsbridge.
This guide brings together eight of the best London restaurants for a girls’ day out, chosen for their atmosphere, interiors, food and sense of occasion. Some are unapologetically extravagant, while others are easier on the budget but still feel special.
At a glance
| Restaurant | Area | Best for | Price feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cicoria by Angela Hartnett | Covent Garden | Rooftop views and a cultural day out | £££ |
| Hutong | London Bridge | Skyline views and sharing plates | £££ |
| Benares | Mayfair | Refined halal-friendly fine dining | ££££ |
| The Ivy Asia | St Paul’s | Colourful interiors and group dining | £££ |
| Circolo Popolare | Fitzrovia | A lively, affordable lunch | ££ |
| Ave Mario | Covent Garden | Italian food before a West End show | ££ |
| sketch, The Gallery | Mayfair | Afternoon tea and statement design | ££££ |
| The Rosebery | Knightsbridge | A relaxed luxury afternoon tea | ££££ |
1. Cicoria by Angela Hartnett, Covent Garden
For a girls’ day out that combines beautiful food with culture and a rooftop view, Cicoria by Angela Hartnett is an inspired place to begin. Located on the fifth floor of the Royal Opera House, the restaurant looks over Covent Garden Piazza and feels removed from the bustle below without taking you away from the centre of London.
Angela Hartnett’s Italian-inspired menu is seasonal and designed for sociable dining, with cicchetti, antipasti, pasta, mains and desserts. The covered Cicoria Terrace is particularly lovely when you want the atmosphere of outdoor dining without relying completely on London weather. At the time of research, the weekday lunch menu offered two courses for £29 or three for £35, making this one of the more accessible special-occasion restaurants in the guide.
Build the rest of your day around the location: explore Covent Garden, visit the Royal Opera House’s public spaces or book a ballet or opera performance after lunch. You do not need a theatre ticket to dine at Cicoria, and walk-ins are welcomed when space is available.
Best for: Rooftop lunches, Italian food and a cultural day out
Nearest station: Covent Garden
Good to know: Book the terrace specifically if the view is important, and reserve around two hours before curtain-up if you are attending a performance.
2. Hutong, The Shard
For a girls’ lunch with one of London’s most recognisable views, reserve a table at Hutong on Level 33 of The Shard. Red lanterns, dark wood and panoramic windows create a dramatic backdrop, while the Northern Chinese menu is made for sharing.
The weekday set lunch is a particularly good way to visit. At the time of research, it was listed at £39 for a starter, main and dessert, with options including seafood, beef and vegetarian dishes. Weekend brunch and dedicated skyline experiences are also available, but check what each package includes if you prefer an alcohol-free booking.
Hutong works beautifully as the centrepiece of a full girls’ day out: follow lunch with a walk along the Thames, Borough Market or Tate Modern.
Best for: Views, impressive lunches and special occasions
Nearest station: London Bridge
Good to know: A standard booking does not guarantee a window table; selected skyline experiences are sold separately.
3. Benares, Mayfair
Benares is an excellent choice when the group wants elegant fine dining with Indian flavours. The Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant combines contemporary cooking with a polished, understated dining room inspired by the city of Varanasi.
It feels celebratory without being overwhelming, making it well suited to a sophisticated birthday meal or a quieter catch-up where you actually want to hear one another. The restaurant states that all its chicken and lamb is halal, while vegetarian menus and dishes are also available. Always confirm your own dietary needs with the team when booking.
Best for: Refined celebrations and halal-friendly fine dining
Nearest station: Green Park
Good to know: The restaurant currently advises a £50 minimum spend per person.
4. The Ivy Asia, St Paul’s
The Ivy Asia is made for groups who want their restaurant to feel like part of the entertainment. Its colourful illuminated floor, bold artwork and view towards St Paul’s Cathedral give the room a vivid, high-energy atmosphere.
The Asian-inspired menu covers sushi, sashimi, small plates, larger dishes and theatrical desserts, so it is easy to create a sharing feast. There are also set experience menus, including a vegetarian version, which can make ordering for a group simpler. At the time of research, the standard experience menu was £65 per person and the vegetarian menu was £60.
Make a full day of the location with a walk across Millennium Bridge, a visit to Tate Modern or a wander through the City before dinner.
Best for: A lively group meal and colourful content
Nearest station: St Paul’s
Good to know: Ask the restaurant directly about halal suitability, allergies and alcohol-free drinks before your visit.
5. Circolo Popolare, Fitzrovia
Circolo Popolare brings the warmth and exuberance of a Sicilian trattoria to Fitzrovia. The dining room is filled with hanging flowers, twinkling lights and shelves lined with thousands of bottles, creating an instantly cheerful setting for a relaxed girls’ lunch.
The menu is generous and sociable: think Neapolitan pizzas, fresh pasta, burrata and oversized desserts to share. It is one of the more affordable choices in this guide, especially if you visit for the weekday lunch menu, which was advertised from £17 at the time of research.
Best for: A fun lunch that still feels affordable
Nearest station: Tottenham Court Road
Good to know: Bookings open one month ahead at 9am, and walk-in space can be limited.
6. Ave Mario, Covent Garden
Ave Mario is a playful choice for a girls’ day out in Covent Garden. Inspired by a Florentine palazzo, the restaurant has soaring ceilings, bold stripes, colourful booths and a retro lower floor that feels completely different from the street outside.
Come for handmade Italian dishes, Neapolitan pizza and indulgent desserts, then continue the day with shopping, the theatre or a walk through Seven Dials. It is especially convenient for a pre-show lunch or dinner, although you should leave enough time: the lively room and shareable menu are better enjoyed without rushing.
Best for: A West End day out and crowd-pleasing Italian food
Nearest stations: Covent Garden or Leicester Square
Good to know: Standard reservations open 30 days ahead at 9am; some tables are held for walk-ins.
7. The Gallery at sketch, Mayfair
Few London venues are as instantly recognisable as sketch. The Gallery combines food, art and statement interior design, making it a natural destination when the setting matters just as much as the menu.
Afternoon tea is the classic girls’ day-out choice, turning a catch-up into a full experience of savouries, pastries and tea. The Gallery currently serves afternoon tea during the day and dinner in the evening, while The Glade offers another distinct room for lunch or afternoon tea. Decide which space you want before booking, as each has its own look and menu.
Best for: Afternoon tea, art and an iconic London experience
Nearest stations: Oxford Circus or Piccadilly Circus
Good to know: sketch contains several different rooms, so double-check the room name on your reservation.
8. The Rosebery at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park
The Rosebery is ideal for a girls’ day out that feels luxurious but still allows for a long, unhurried conversation. Set inside Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, the elegant Knightsbridge room serves afternoon tea from midday alongside all-day dining.
The afternoon tea includes savouries, pastries and freshly baked scones displayed on distinctive hanging stands, with a choice of 29 loose-leaf teas. Alcohol-free guests can keep the experience celebratory with tea or ask about the sparkling-tea pairing. Afterwards, continue through Hyde Park or browse the shops around Knightsbridge.
Best for: A calm, luxurious catch-up
Nearest station: Knightsbridge
Good to know: Afternoon tea is served from 12pm; confirm the current menu and price when reserving.
How to choose the right restaurant for your girls’ day out
For a major celebration, choose Benares or Hutong. Both feel like destinations in their own right and give you a strong reason to dress up. For a more relaxed special occasion with a cultural element, make Cicoria the starting point for an afternoon or evening in Covent Garden.
For a more affordable lunch, Circolo Popolare and Ave Mario offer lively interiors, crowd-pleasing Italian menus and central locations that make it easy to plan activities afterwards.
For afternoon tea, sketch is the bolder, art-led choice, while The Rosebery offers a calmer hotel setting. If your priority is colourful content and an energetic atmosphere, The Ivy Asia is the natural middle ground.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best London restaurants for a girls’ birthday?
Hutong offers impressive skyline views, while Benares suits an elegant fine-dining celebration. Cicoria works beautifully for a birthday built around Covent Garden or the theatre. Circolo Popolare and Ave Mario are strong options for a lively birthday at a more moderate price point.
Which London restaurants are best for a girls’ lunch?
For a luxurious lunch, consider Benares or Hutong. For something more relaxed and affordable, Circolo Popolare’s weekday lunch menu or Ave Mario in Covent Garden are good choices.
Where can you have afternoon tea during a girls’ day out in London?
The Gallery at sketch offers a highly visual, art-filled afternoon tea in Mayfair. The Rosebery at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park provides a more traditional luxury-hotel experience in Knightsbridge.
Which restaurant in this guide has halal options?
Benares states that all its chicken and lamb is halal. Other restaurants may have vegetarian or seafood dishes, but halal preparation and cross-contamination policies should always be confirmed directly before booking.
Should you book London restaurants in advance?
Yes. For popular restaurants and weekend dates, book as early as the venue permits. Circolo Popolare and Ave Mario publish specific booking windows, while Cicoria also welcomes walk-ins subject to availability. Check each restaurant’s current policy before planning the rest of your day.
Final thoughts
The best girls’ day out is not necessarily about choosing London’s most expensive table. It is about finding a place that suits the mood: celebratory, relaxed, visually beautiful or simply somewhere you can share genuinely good food.
Save this guide for your next catch-up, and explore LuckyGirlEffect’s other London restaurant guides for even more tables worth booking.
