London has no shortage of private dining rooms, ranging from discreet enclaves and stylish nooks to cordoned-off, clandestine ‘wow’ spaces. Whether you’re looking for a small wedding venue in the capital, an intimate celebration space or simply somewhere to host the most lavish of dinner parties, welcome to the capital’s most exclusive and sought-after private dining rooms.

Central London

Hakkasan, Mayfair

Set in the heart of Mayfair, Hakkasan offers a blend of elevated Cantonese cuisine, an immersive atmosphere, and luxurious private dining spaces designed for all occasions. Take the Dragon Room, for example, that offers a fully private setting for up to 20 guests, complete with dedicated service and an optional sommelier. Elsewhere, the Sommelier’s Table is a semi-private, high-top seating area for up to 12 guests, whereas Ling Ling is a striking space on the ground floor that accommodates up to 120 standing guests. Served throughout all spaces is the signature menu featuring the renowned Peking duck topped with luxurious Beluga caviar and delicately honey-glazed grilled Chilean seabass.

Hakkasan can host up to 120 guests, visit taogroup.com

42 at Gymkhana, Mayfair

Two Michelin-starred Gymkhana – one of the best fine-dining Indian restaurants in London –  has reimagined its exclusive cocktail bar to now include a private dining space for the first time. Accessible via a dedicated entrance, 42 is filled with low lighting, soft furnishings and standout art while providing ample space to accommodate up to 16 guests. Open until 2am on weekends, with curated DJ sets every Friday and Saturday, 42 is where you can get the party started in Mayfair. The space will continue to serve its signature cocktails alongside newcomers, including the Royal Bombay Yacht Club – a blend of Hennessy VSOP, Tanqueray gin, strawberry, lemon juice, and champagne – alongside a feasting menu which includes Kasoori chicken tikka, wild venison biryani and Goan prawn curry.

42 at Gymkhana can seat up to 16 guests, visit gymkhanalondon.com

Claridge’s Restaurant, Mayfair

Having opened its doors in 2023, Claridge’s Restaurant has since made waves on London’s fine-dining food scene. A new addition to the space is its private dining room, seating up to 16 guests and featuring a beautiful hand-painted mural at its centre. Dusky pink interiors are centred by a pine-wood, white table-clothed table where a special menu of signature dishes is served – think steak au poivre with winter truffle, Claridge’s fish cake with tartare sauce and vanille mille-feuille with custard cream – while the double glass doors allow the restaurant’s buzz to ebb and flow.

The private dining room at Claridge’s Restaurant can seat up to 16 people, visit claridges.co.uk

The Greenhouses at One Marylebone, Marylebone

One Marylebone, a former church turned events venue, has long been a favourite for everything from yoga classes to Christmas parties. It boasts an extensive list of spaces which, this year, have extended into the gorgeous landscaped gardens across a series of greenhouses decked out in verdant blooms. There are five greenhouses on offer, catering for up to 32 guests on banquet-style seating, and available year-round. The perfect spot for a memorable and intimate occasion.

The Greenhouses at One Marylebone can seat from two to 32 guests, visit thegreenhouses.london

Story Cellar, Seven Dials

The latest venture from Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers, Story Cellar opened in Seven Dials in 2023, bringing with it a stylish new addition to the capital's private dining scene. Available five days per week and seating up to 18 people, food takes its inspiration from the main restaurant's counter-style Parisian fare and is designed to share, with highlights including small plates of courgette and basil gougeres and tuna tartare with tomato ponzu alongside whole rotisserie chicken and beef T-bone with cowboy butter.

Story Cellar can host up to 18 guests, visit storycellar.co.uk

Salon Noir at Park Chinois, Mayfair

Looking for a seriously decadent private dining experience which doesn't sacrifice on intimacy? Salon Noir at Mayfair's Park Chinois is the spot for you. Decked out in rich dark woods and gilt dealing, and boasting its own Carrera marble fireplace, Salon Noir sets up to nine people at a vast Makassar ebony table complete with large lazy Susan – the ideal set up for the elevated Chinese fare on offer at Park Chinois. With its own separate bathroom, AV facilities and a range of indulgent set menus to choose from, whether you're treating clients or planning a birthday party, this adaptable space is definitely one to consider.

Salon Noir can seat up to nine people, visit parkchinois.com

Ochre, Trafalgar Square

The National Gallery's stylish in-house restaurant, Ochre, sports a private dining room which, as you would expect of a venue housing some of the country's finest art, is one of the most beautiful in the capital. A statement round table hung with a dramatic wooden chandelier dominates the room, and impressive views across Nelson's Column and St Martin-in-the-Fields abound, while menu highlights include chicken liver parfait, steak and peppercorn sauce and organic spelt risotto with roast delica pumpkin.

Ochre can seat up to 19 people, visit ochre.london

The Coral Garden at Dalloway Terrace, Tottenham Court Road

Long a London favourite for outdoor dining, Dalloway Terrace’s elegant Coral Garden is the ideal al fresco space to gather your closest compatriots for an intimate evening of open-air revelry. Sheltered via a combination of botanical canopy and traditional striped gazebo, guests are also protected from unpredictable climes by a cosy fireplace, while the flower-filled venue is strewn with enough greenery to make you forget the bustle of Tottenham Court Road, which lies just outside.

The Coral Garden at Dalloway Terrace can host up to 20 guests, visit dallowayterrace.com

The Chef's Table at KOL, Marylebone

One for serious foodies, this may be the only private dining room on our list that also comes with its own private kitchen. Inspired by a traditional Oaxacan home kitchen, a dedicated team of chefs will create a unique menu in full view of you and your guests, giving unrivalled insight into the restaurant's haute Mexican fare. The eight-course private dining menu will set you back £180 per person, with dishes including Scottish langoustine taco, lobster quesadilla with goosberry salsa, and shortrib mole with rye koji, while the adjacent mezcaleria is the perfect place to start and end your evening.

The Chef's Table can host 50 guests standing (including the mezcaleria) or 20 seated, visit kolrestaurant.com

The Salon at Spring, Somerset House

One of London’s prettiest and most impressive private dining spaces, the ethereal Salon at Spring restaurant is framed by dark olive trees and climbing foliage, with high ceilings and cool, neutral tones. Light pours in through the atrium glass ceiling during the day, before it transforms into an enchanting, fairy light-lit setting at night. Set in the West Wing of Somerset House, the calm space reflects Gyngell’s thoughtful, unfussy menu, with a focus on low-waste and sustainability.

The Salon can accommodate up to 36 guests seated, visit springrestaurant.co.uk

NoMad, Covent Garden

One of London's buzziest hotels comes with a host of dining options to match, meaning those looking to host a decadent private event have the choice of no fewer than seven venues. The star of the show is the Magistrates' Ballroom, occupying the space that was once the main courtroom during the building's former life as a police station and court. This stunning room is entirely decorated with a darkly whimsical mural by painter Claire Basler and even offers its own stage and bar. Elsewhere, the intimate De Veil room and majestic Fireplace room are the perfect options for smaller-scale dinners.

NoMad can host private events for 10 to 120 people, visit thenomadhotel.com

The Wolseley, Piccadilly

In 2003, destination-restaurant builder Corbin & King presented its vision of grand European hospitality in the form of the soon-to-be celebrity favourite The Wolseley. Monochrome and marble-clad, the imposing, column-lined restaurant quickly became the meeting place of choice for PRs and media types. A.A. Gill even wrote a book about the breakfast served there.

Overlooking the perpetually-buzzy, gilded restaurant below, The Wolseley’s private dining room features arched windows on each of its four sides, ensuring that it is flooded with natural light during the day and the glow from Piccadilly at night. The space can accommodate up to 15 guests and is available to hire for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. While there is no hire charge, a minimum spend (starting from £350) does apply.

The private dining room at The Wolseley sits up to 15 guests, visit thewolseley.com

Hide and Seek at Hide, Mayfair

Hide, the Michelin-starred Mayfair super-restaurant by celebrity chef Ollie Dabbous and world-beating vin de pays specialist Hedonism Wines, was rumoured to have cost its backers £20 million before it opened its doors in 2018. A considerable chunk of that investment presumably went on its central feature, an exquisite spiral staircase that corkscrews through the airy restaurant’s three light-filled floors. On the top floor, which boasts its own private entrance and lift, you’ll find Hide and Seek, two private dining spaces that can be brought together to accommodate 24 guests. Alternatively, three cosy basement rooms are available for groups of up to eight for a truly intimate experience.

Hide and Seek seats up to 24 guests, visit hide.co.uk

Bob Bob Ricard, Soho

Famous for, reputedly, pouring more champagne than any other restaurant in the UK – it helps that every table has its own ‘press for champagne’ button – Bob Bob Ricard is a ritzy, banquette-only party restaurant where the only thing more extravagant than its wine and vodka shot list is its overblown, Gatsby-esque-and-then-some décor. Modelled on the royal dining carriage of the Orient Express, Bob Bob Ricard’s private dining room can seat up to 16 guests. There is no room hire fee, although the minimum spend at lunch is £1,000 and at dinner £1,500 (plus service charge). Small change to any host with the most.

Bob Bob Ricard’s private dining room sits up to 18 guests, visit bobbobricard.com

The Renoir Room at Scott’s, Mayfair

Another Richard Caring classic, Scott’s on Mount Street is one of London’s landmark restaurants. Opening at this location in the late 1960s, it is rumoured to spend £45,000 on fresh fish each week but – as anyone who has eaten here can attest – it’s well worth the expense. One of three private dining spaces and discreetly tucked away behind the main restaurant, the mirror-panelled Renoir room is, unsurprisingly, adorned with works of art by Renoir, Miró and Chagall. A special menu, only available to guests dining in the room, highlights the restaurant’s market-fresh specialty seafood.

The Renoir room sits up to eight guests, visit scotts-restaurant.com

East London

Restaurant St Barts, Farringdon

Scallop and Mangalitza pork kebab. Images: Nathan Neeve

Late last year, Michelin starred and Green starred Restaurant St. Barts’ opened the doors to its wooden-clad eight-seater private dining room. Overlooking the historic cloisters of St Bartholomew-the-Great, the menu, like in the main restaurant, is led by executive head chef Johnnie Crowe and champions whole animal butchery, house ferments, and clever preservation techniques that bring depth and character to each course. Exclusively serving its hyper-seasonal tasting menus here, dishes often centre on two key ingredients to highlight provenance – expect squid and sea urchin, Yew Tree Farm hogget paired with home-cured anchovies, and, my personal favourite, the crispy, barbecued scallop and Mangalitza pork. Pair with wines curated by sommelier Sam Malam, who focuses on low-intervention producers from the UK and beyond, to enjoy a meal to remember. 

The private dining room at Restaurant St Barts seats up to eight people, visit restaurant-stbarts.co.uk 

Luca, Clerkenwell

Beautiful Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Luca boasts what is undoubtedly one of the most show-stopping private dining rooms in London. Offering a series of spaces capable of hosting from six to 20 guests, the star of the show is the courtyard – a gorgeous al fresco-style area flooded with natural lights and decked out in elegant foliage and rustic features. Gather a great group of friends and order everything on the menu to be served family style.

Luca's private dining spaces can host up to 20 guests, visit luca.restaurant

The Tapestry Room at The Ned, City of London

Since opening in 2017, private members' club and hotel The Ned has swiftly become one of the capital’s hottest spots for drinking, dining and socialising. Housed within the former Midland Bank headquarters, The Ned has six Grade I-listed private rooms to choose from, but the historic Tapestry Room is truly the jewel in its crown. Featuring a dramatic crystal chandelier, original walnut panelling and an enormous tapestry wrapping its walls, this cavernous hall certainly delivers on grandeur. Menus are personalised for each event, so whether you’re planning a big white wedding reception or the party to end all parties, you can be sure that all tastes will be well catered for.

The Tapestry Room at the Ned can host up to 140 guests seated and 200 standing, visit thened.com

Bourne & Hollingsworth, Clerkenwell

The Bourne & Hollingsworth team are a dab hand at events, with several venues across London and a portfolio of immersive pop-ups hosting all manner of parties and celebrations. Positioned on the corner of Exmouth Market, this bright and airy bar and brassiere is peppered with House of Hackney floral fabrics and hanging greenery making it perfect for a post-lockdown spring get-together. Various areas are available to hire, including the light-filled Greenhouse and an intimate private dining room for 12. Minimum spend applies.

Spaces can seat from 12 to 35 guests, visit bandhbuildings.com

Kolamba East, The City

The second outpost from hugely popular Soho Sri Lankan restaurant Kolamba, the private dining room at Kolamba East is perfect for those looking to plan a special event without any stuffiness. Set in an airy, characterful space with bare brick walls, high ceilings and lightly industrial decor, food is designed for sharing and served as a tasting menu, giving you a guided tour of some of the restaurant's greatest hits, including tamarind chicken, hoppers, sambol, jackfruit roti and jaffna lamb shank.

The private dining room at Kolamba East can seat up to 26, visit kolamba.co.uk

North London

Decimo at The Standard, Kings Cross

If you’re looking to impress your guests, Decimo’s semi-private dining room is sure to do the trick. Tuck into the best of Decimo’s Mexican fare, including lobster with limo chilli, gambas rojas and croquetas de jamon, or opt for a bespoke sharing menu (including cocktail and wine pairings) envisioned by chef Paola Arenas, while you dance the night away to records spun by the restaurant’s resident DJs. Set on the 10th floor of The Standard hotel, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, a private bar and access to The Standard’s 11th floor rooftop terrace, this vertiginous venue, open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, is the ideal location for your late-night knees-up.

The private dining room at Decimo can host up to 38 guests seated and 50 standing, visit decimo.london

West London

Chef’s Table at Ixchel, Chelsea

Ixchel, Chelsea’s Mexican restaurant named after the Mayan goddess of the moon, offers an intimate private dining experience hidden beneath the main restaurant. Catering for up to 20 guests, the terracotta-hued Chef’s Table sets the stage for chef Ximena Gayosso Gonzalez’ three menus: The Half Moon, The Full Moon and The Pink Moon. Each offer different explorations of Ixchel’s cuisine, with sample plates including slow-cooked short rib in smokey adobo with pineapple salsa inspired by Gonzalez’s grandmother’s recipe, hand-dived scallop aguachile, and pork belly tacos with salsa verde and refried beans. Fully bespoke offerings can be created on request, and, for larger celebrations, the space can be hired for cocktail receptions of up to 80 guests.

The Chef’s Table at Ixchel seats up to 20 people, visit ixchellondon.com  

The Carpenter’s Arms, Hammersmith

Sitting on a quiet corner between Hammersmith and Chiswick, The Carpenter’s Arms is a quintessentially British pub famed for its charming interiors, delicious food, and sunny beer garden. Sister to acclaimed establishments The Surprise in Chelsea and Notting Hill’s Walmer Castle, this characterful 19^th-century pub offers a beautiful private dining room on its second floor, perfect for intimate dinners, celebratory drinks, or private parties. 

The antique dining table seats 16, surrounded by quirky artworks and windows looking out onto the garden and row of Victorian cottages on Black Lion Lane. Persian rugs, mahogany dining chairs upholstered in velvet, antique lighting and a large gilt mirror over the fireplace create a glamorous dining experience, while an unfussy menu showcases local and seasonal produce, featuring Atlantic prawns in chilli and cardamom, St Austell mussels and market fish of the day. 

The private dining room at The Carpenter’s Arms can seat up to 16 people, visit thecarpentersarms-w6.co.uk

Abc Kitchens at The Emory, Belgravia

Seating up to 10 for seriously lavish foodie affairs, the cosy private dining room at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Abc Kitchens is one of West London's chicest spots for an intimate birthday or family celebration. Set inside the opulent Emory hotel – meaning there are glamorous suites waiting upstairs should the party go on later than planned – invite your nearest and dearest for a feast featuring the likes of roast carrot and avocado salad, crispy dover sole tacos, grilled octopus, and ricotta ravioli.

The private dining room at Abc Kitchens seats up to 10, visit the-emory.co.uk

The Garden Room at The Lanesborough, Hyde Park Corner

Usually operated as a cocktail and cigar bar hidden behind lush greenery, The Lanesborough's Garden Room is a sophisticated outdoor option that blends the leather furnishings and dark woods of a classic members' club with the escapist vibe that comes from tropical flora and fauna. Happily, the hotel's expert team are also dab hands at transforming this space into a beautiful private dining venue that can seat up to 15 for everything from cocktail parties to unforgettable wedding breakfasts.

The Garden Room at The Lanesborough can seat up to 15 guests, visit oetkercollection.com

The Conservatory at Daphne’s, South Kensington

A veteran of South Kensington, Daphne’s has been owned by Richard Caring since 1998. Many of the restaurateur’s signatures are there, from the Martin Brudnizki-designed decor – marble-topped bar, green leather furnishings and floral festoons – to the unpretentious Italian menu by head chef Chris Dargavel. Long a neighbourhood favourite among the well-heeled residents of Kensington and Chelsea, Daphne’s pretty conservatory can host up to 32 guests for a seated meal or 50 standing guests for drinks and canapés and is the perfect backdrop for sophisticated celebrations. There is a retractable roof during summer and a roaring fire come winter.

The conservatory hosts up to 32 seated guests or 50 standing, visit daphnes-restaurant.co.uk

South London

Lasdun, South Bank

Treating your guests to dinner before a show? The private dining room at modern British restaurant Lasdun, handily located on the South Bank, is the ideal option. Seating up to 12 (although you can take the entire restaurant for larger events seating up to 100), the chic masculine private space features a convivial round table perfect for great conversation spurred on by the restaurant's range of glorious feasting menus. Starting at £60 per person and designed to make the most of the best seasonal produce from around the UK, sample dishes include Cornish monkfish curry, celeriac and truffle Wellington and walnut and treacle tart.

The private dining room at Lasdun seats up to 12, visit lasdunrestaurant.com

La Table de Carmen at The Laundry, Brixton

Image: Jack Lewis Williams

Image: Jack Lewis Williams

One of two private dining rooms at Brixton's popular all-day bistro, The Laundry, La Table de Carmen is situated in a bright subterranean space bathed in natural light from an overhead skylight creating a gorgeous indoor-outdoor ambience. Able to host up to 14, or be combined with the adjoining Drying Room to accommodate up to 34, food makes the most of head chef Sami Harvey's seasonally-changing menus. Expect the fish brioche burger, marinated beetroot skewers, and duck confit with cherries before ending with The Laundry's signature sharing chocolate mousse.

La Table de Carmen can seat up to 14 people, visit thelaundrybrixton.com

Brunswick House, Vauxhall

Set in a capacious Georgian mansion in Vauxhall, Brunswick House is an unlikely treasure among the area’s high-rise buildings and urban developments. This outré antiques and salvage shop unfolds into a café and restaurant, run by Jackson Boxer. The restaurant has long outshone the shop as a destination, serving seasonal, British dishes amid hanging candelabras and trailing greenery. For larger parties, the whole venue is available for hire while a range of private dining spaces cater for groups as small as 10. If you’re looking for an unpretentious and memorable private dining space with more quirky photo props than you can swing a chandelier at, then this is it.

Brunswick House caters for up to 110 seated guests and 250 standing, visit brunswickhouse.london

Read more: The best restaurants for outdoor dining in London