There’s nothing quite like a good Sunday roast. After a summer of light salads and even lighter rosé, there’s just something so hugely comforting about hunkering down in a cosy pub with a huge roast and great glass of red when autumn returns. And, while there are certainly virtues to preceding your Sunday lunch with a lengthy walk in the countryside, indulging in the great British pastime of meat and two veg needn’t require digging out your Hunters – as these urban restaurants are keen to demonstrate. Allow us to present the best restaurants in London for a classic Sunday roast.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Knightsbridge

This two-Michelin starred restaurant by Heston Blumenthal, tucked away within the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, will launch a new menu, Sunday Roast Potato Time, on 13 October. Served exclusively on Sundays, the offering intends to showcase Blumenthal’s unique take on a British classic: the roast potato. Turning conceptions of what the Sunday roast is all about on its head, Blumenthal’s perfect potatoes are the centrepiece and the meat – succulent roast chicken and stuffing, tender roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, or delicious roast cauliflower and macrows – are the sides. Starters take their cues from Blumenthal’s signature menu at Dinner, including the famous Meat Fruit (c.1500), Hay Smoked Salmon (c.1730) and Tipsy Cake (c.1858). Those with little ones in tow needn’t miss out either as the restaurant offers a mini Sunday Roast Potato Time that’s perfectly portioned for children. 

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA, visit dinnerbyheston.co.uk

Saison by Mauro Colagreco, Whitehall 

Image: Justin De Souza

Image: John Carey

Blending British tradition with Mediterranean flavours, Saison by Mauro Colagreco has launched its new Sunday set menu to offer diners an all-out affair with a touch of European savoir faire. Named Sundays at Saison, choose from a two or three-course menu served in the restaurant’s courtyard-style setting under a restored glass arcade. Starters include sea bream carpaccio and rabbit terrine before larger plates of rotisserie Cornish chicken carved tableside, slow-roasted West Country lamb shoulder, and cauliflower roasted with saffron and turmeric romesco sauce – all served with glazed carrots, roast potatoes and spring greens. Bon appétit. 

Raffles at The OWO, 57 Whitehall, SW1A 2BX, visit theowo.london

The Grill by Tom Booton, Mayfair

The Grill By Tom Booton, The Dorchester’s fabled modern British restaurant, offers a concise menu of classic home-cooked favourites every week. Served up with the same artistry as the à la carte menu, those who have booked a table in the golden dining room on Sundays can expect succulent Hereford beef, lamb loin or a traditional nut roast served alongside light and fluffy Yorkshire puddings, glazed carrots, cauliflower cheese and more. If you prefer a Sunday lunch that isn’t drenched in gravy, Booton’s squab pigeon with pesto and pumpkin, and chalk stream trout with prawns offer a fresher alternative. 

53 Park Lane, W1K 1QA, visit dorchestercollection.com

The Wigmore, Marylebone

Despite offering a more casual take on fine fare than its Langham neighbour, The Wigmore doesn’t skimp on style or substance. Case in point, its Sunday menu overseen by Michel Roux Jr, which is styled on the classic but adds a contemporary edge. Book here to indulge in half a roasted lemon and thyme baby chicken, 32-day aged Northumbrian beef rump or three root vegetable and chestnut Wellington. Also expect an array of trimmings, including duck fat roasties, Yorkies, organic carrots, tenderstem broccoli, buttered Savoy cabbage, traditional gravy and for the extra wow factor, The Wigmore triple cheese roast cauliflower. Delicious. 

15 Langham Place, W1B 3DE, visit the-wigmore.co.uk

The George, Marylebone

A thoroughly posh Marylebone pub, The George is everything you want from a Sunday lunch in London: think crackling fires, an impressive wine selection, a pet-friendly setting and a delectable roast dinner menu. Served weekly throughout the winter months, highlights include the Cumbrian native rump of beef served with a bone marrow gravy and horseradish cream, as well as the crowd-favourite, the slow-roasted chicken served with pork, sage and onion stuffing, and bread sauce. Each is accompanied with butter-glazed vegetables, roast potatoes, and Yorkshire puddings. For those who don’t mind sharing, opt for the impressive (and Instagrammable) Sunday Sharer Boards, designed for a minimum of two people and showcasing a delightful assortment of their finest roast meats with all the traditional trimmings.

55 Great Portland Street, W1W 7LQ, visit thegeorge.london

Duke of Greenwich, Greenwich

A much-loved local gem nestled in south London, the Duke of Greenwich has long been a destination for Sunday lunch – and luckily for you, it's just relaunched the menu. Under the expert eye of chefs Jon Kaye, Dan Blucert, and Nick Blucert – the acclaimed trio behind beloved Vauxhall pub The Jolly Gardeners – there’s five new roast options available, including 28-day aged beef rump, crispy Suffolk pork loin, smoked beer can chicken with jerk dumplings, roast yellow squash with barley and apricot, and a plant-based chicken that tastes just like the real thing. 

Each roast is accompanied by a generous array of family-style sides – think beef fat roast potatoes, sweet potato mash, rainbow chard, roasted carrots with fennel seeds, and rich, homemade gravy – designed for second helpings. Whether you fancy hunkering down by the fire, charming bar adorned with Stephen Walsh artwork or wish to catch some winter garden on the al fresco terrace, the Duke of Greenwich never disappoints when it comes to Sunday roasts. 

91 Colomb Street, SE10 9EZ, visit dukeofgreenwich.com

Claridge’s Restaurant, Mayfair

Dining on Claridge’s classically-inspired Sunday roast, served in its contemporary British dining room at the heart of the five-star hotel, is quite the decadent way to end the week – but we wouldn’t expect anything less than a lavish affair from the Mayfair institution. Made for whiling away the afternoon with friends and family, the menu features three courses celebrating British tradition with modern twists. Standout dishes include Norfolk chicken served for two with truffle stuffing, roasted Herefordshire rib of beef with horseradish purée, Yorkshire puddings and Bordelaise sauce, and porchetta with burnt apple purée. Each table will also be served a selection of generous sides, such as roast potatoes, glazed carrots, seasonal greens, cauliflower and cheese gratin, and plenty of gravy. What's more, guests are able to purchase wines from the Claridge’s cellar at retail price, to be enjoyed in the restaurant corkage free. Chin chin! 

Brook Street, W1K 4HR, visit claridges.co.uk

The Cavendish, Marylebone

Dating back to 1779, when it served as the location for a Masonic lodge, this historic pub has since undergone several transformations before its latest incarnation as The Cavendish. Located at 35 New Cavendish Street, this charming establishment pays homage to its storied past via old-age interiors and has long been a destination for Marylebone locals, serving delectable British fare courtesy of head chef Laura de Filippis. In time for roast season, her new menu features the likes of 12-hour-roasted lamb leg, sirloin of beef with horseradish sauce, corn-fed poussin with bread sauce, and spinach and mushroom pithivier served with all the trimmings. Pair with seasonal cocktails, such as the bacon and maple Old Fashioned and fig and walnut Manhattan, for the full works. 

35 New Cavendish Street, W1G 9TR, visit 35newcavendish.co.uk

Cut at 45 Park Lane, Mayfair

For a truly decadent Sunday roast, look no further than Cut at 45 Park Lane. Served in opulent surroundings, with draped chandeliers and leafy views towards Hyde Park, the hotel’s famous steak restaurant has recently launched a roast dinner menu, offering an elegant take on the traditional dish we all know and love. Helmed by Wolfgang Puck protégé, Elliott Grover, the menu boasts the best Yorkshire puddings in town thanks to one special ingredient: Wagyu dripping. However, start proceedings with a selection of starters including personal favourites of Dorset crab and lobster cocktail and USDA prime beef steak tartare, wagyu beef dripping with sourdough toast. 

Carnivores will delight in the grass-fed English beef sirloin and the 22-day beef Wellington, truffle roast potatoes (yes, flakes do actually sit atop your bowl of crispy roasties), aforementioned Wagyu dripping Yorkshire puddings, and all the trimmings. Think heritage baby carrots and parsnips drizzled with Coworth Park honey, confit shallot, Keen’s cheddar Cauliflower cheese, red wine beef gravy and horseradish sauce. We recommend you ask for the sommelier’s wine flight for the ultimate Sunday lunch experience. You won’t regret it. 

45 Park Lane, W1K 1PN, visit dorchestercollection.com

The Mitre, Holland Park

Situated on leafy Holland Park Avenue, The Mitre reopened last year following a £750k refurbishment which has seen the gastropub transformed with chic timber furnishings, new artwork adorning the walls and a cosy fireplace making this the perfect place to while away a Sunday afternoon. Renowned for its speciality cuts, signature dishes, and fresh seafood, the kitchen remains helmed by head chef Pat Lynch who has also reinvented the restaurant's Sunday lunch offering.

Expect delectable starter portions of baked camembert, poached duck egg with pastrami and smoked trout with beetroot. The main, meatier event includes the staple roast chicken with pigs in blankets, Gilmour's roast beef, pork belly porchetta in cider sauce and a leg of minted lamb, all served with seasonal vegetables, maple glazed carrots, roast potatoes and classic Yorkshire puddings.

40 Holland Park Avenue, W11 3QY, visit themitrew11.co.uk

The Laundry, Brixton

Housed in a former Edwardian laundry on Coldharbour Lane, this all-day dining destination (with an Antipodean twist thanks to Kiwi owners Melanie Brown and Sami Harvey) serves some of the best roasts in the capital. The famed offering returns for 2024, including rolled roast pork belly with apple sauce, 28-day aged roast Hereford sirloin with creamed horseradish, new to the winter menu will be a vegan alternative: roast squash and sage tart with miso caramel chestnuts and chilli sambal. All dishes will be served with a refreshed selection of trimmings: roast potatoes, glazed carrots, minted peas and bottomless gravy. Those looking to push the boat out, however, should sample one of the new sides – think London leaves with house vinaigrette, sautéed kale with lemon and chilli and macaroni cheese with sage and lobster too if desired. It would be rude not to...

374 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PL, visit thelaundrybrixton.com

Acme Fire Cult, Dalston

From chefs Andrew Clarke and Daniel Watkins, live fire restaurant Acme Fire Cult offers a roast cooked on the restaurant’s unique outdoor charcoal grill, designed to be shared feasting-style. Available every Sunday, the menu offers vegetable-led small plates to start, including coal roast leeks with pistachio romesco, fermented pumpkin hummus and smacked cucumbers with watermelon. To share between two, a hearty selection features Vadouvan chicken thigh, Tamworth pork belly, Highland beef rump and smoked Cotechino sausage – all served alongside Acme’s signature dripping toast, sauces and salsas. Enjoy the roast inside the restaurant, or outdoors on its covered, heated terrace, alongside fresh beers from neighbouring 40FT Brewery.

Abbot Street, E8 3DP, visit acmefirecult.com

The Audley Public House, Mayfair

Artfarm – the hospitality arm of gallerists Hauser and Wirth – carefully oversaw the restoration of this Mayfair landmark, which opened its doors in 2022. The two-century-old boozer is overseen by chef Jamie Shears – and the Sunday roast does not disappoint. Expect a traditional roast beef or pick the Devonshire chicken and braised shoulder of Durslade farm lamb that serves two, complete with Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables and gravy, with all ingredients sourced from carefully selected farmers, growers and makers who provide the freshest, seasonal produce from around the UK.

Elsewhere on the menu, you’ll find pub classics including chicken and Marmite pie and mushroom and beetroot sausages with mash and onion gravy. Wash it down with a glass of red or a local beer from Smallbrook’s Brewery – the oldest brewery in London – and soak up the convivial atmosphere, whilst admiring the kaleidoscopic mosaic ceiling by artist Phyllida Barlow.

41-43 Mount Street, W1K 2RX, visit theaudleypublichouse.com

The Parakeet, Kentish Town

The Parakeet, the critically acclaimed new pub in Kentish Town, has revealed its debut seasonal Sunday roast menu in time for autumn. The space, formerly occupied by The Oxford Tavern, adorns art by Ghanaian artist Theophilus Tetteh and is overseen by head chef Ben Allen and sous chef Ed Jennings (both ex-Brat), who are making full use of the kitchen’s custom flame grill and locally sourced ingredients. Start with a selection of signature small plates: house pickles, potato bread and smoked butter, and poached oyster with pickled alexander and apple. 

Roast dishes include a flame-grilled leg of lamb for four and roast chicken – which is pre-brined and roasted in hay to give it a rich smoky flavour – alongside salt-aged roast topside beef and lamb rump, both cooked over charcoal and wood, as well as a vegetarian option of celeriac Wellington. All are served with a generous portion of spring greens, roast potatoes with herbs and garlic, seasonal root veg, Yorkshire pudding, and carrot and swede puree. You can trust your Sunday lunch here is eco-conscious too, given The Parakeet works with regenerative, Cambridge-based fam Flourish, The Cornwell Project which raises female sheep in woodland to improve soil health and carbon emissions, and Farm Wilder, a social enterprise farm which uses cattle to improve biodiversity.

256 Kentish Town Road, NW5 2AA, visit theparakeetpub.com

The Cadogan Arms, Chelsea

King’s Road gastro-pub the Cadogan Arms has been catering to Chelsea’s discerning locals for over two centuries, and with executive chef Alex Harper (formerly of The Ledbury) at the helm, this beloved bolthole is only going from strength to strength – especially when it comes to its Sunday roast offering. Starters comprise contemporary pub food done well, from crispy Cornish lamb ribs and Jersey Rock oysters to buttermilk fried chicken and an Atlantic prawn cocktail. Roasts come served with butter-glazed vegetables, obligatory Yorkshire puddings and roast potatoes, and include a Cumbrian native rump of beef, a shoulder of lamb for two to share and a mushroom and celeriac pithivier. Alternatively, to get the full Cadogan Arms experience, plump for the three-person sharing board of beef, lamb and chicken with all the trimmings.

298 King's Road, SW3 5UG, visit thecadoganarms.london

The Game Bird, St James's

For old-school opulence that is archetypally British, The Game Bird at The Stafford gets top marks. Under the leadership of Michelin-starred chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen, alongside executive chef Jozef Rogulski, the set Sunday lunch menu delivers on all fronts. Kick off with a light option of tomato and burrata salad or frothy sweetcorn soup with chicken dumplings before tucking into a traditional roast beef with Yorkshires. If you aren’t in the mood for a classic roast, the chalk stream trout makes a wonderful alternative, while a vegetarian option of a butternut squash agnolotti with sage and walnuts won’t leave anyone feeling like they’re missing out. To finish, what could be better than pistachio cheesecake, or the three-cheese board?

16-18 St James's Place, SW1A 1NJ, visit thestaffordlondon.com

Blacklock, across London

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better menu of affordable and delicious chops than at Blacklock – and its Sunday roast is comparable in value and equal in deliciousness. We recommend going all in with a mix of beef, lamb and pork roasted over oak and served alongside duck fat potatoes, bone-marrow gravy, a selection of seasonal vegetables, the compulsory pudding from Yorkshire and lashings of gravy. You’d be a fool to miss a side of cauliflower cheese. And to drink? Blacklock's Beefy Mary is your traditional tomato-based libation with a surprisingly delicious addition of beef jus and smoke.

Visit theblacklock.com

Hawksmoor, across London

Meat specialist Hawksmoor reinvented the steak game when it opened in Spitalfields in 2006 and, over the years, has done something similar for roasts. Aiming to replicate the authentic flavour of a spit-roasted joint of beef, the chefs start the rump on charcoal and finish it in the oven. The final product is slathered in bone marrow and onion gravy and served alongside some of London’s best trimmings. Beef dripping roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, carrots, greens, roasted shallots and garlic are all exceptional. Sorry chicken fans, this one's all about the beef.

Visit thehawksmoor.com

The Marksman, Hackney

The accolades have been rolling in since St John alumni Tom Harris and Jon Rotheram opened The Marksman in 2015. Michelin named it British Pub of the Year in 2017 and its Sunday roast, in particular, is praised. Designed as a three-course set menu, ease yourself in with starters of duck liver parfait and chilled cucumber and tomato soup before going big on Hereford rump, roast chicken, or the chicken and girolle pie for two to share before finishing up with brown butter and honey tart. Challenge accepted.

254 Hackney Road, E2 7SB, visit marksmanpublichouse.com

The Princess of Shoreditch, Shoreditch

This award-winning pub on the border between Shoreditch and the City of London is a traditional boozer of the highest calibre. And no self-respecting pub is without a great Sunday roast. Happily, The Princess of Shoreditch got the memo and offers up what is possibly the largest choice of Sunday lunches on this list. Starters are of the traditional British variety (think citrus cured salmon and marinated heritage tomatoes) while everything from free-range chicken with sourdough sauce and Yorkshire Dales beef sirloin to walnut and apricot nut roast and plantation pork loin are on the menu for mains. Be sure to save room for dessert – the lemon meringue tart is the perfect finishing touch.

76–78 Paul Street, EC2A 4NE, visit theprincessofshoreditch.com

Read more: The best fish and chip shops in London