A perfect place to oversee the goings on in a restaurant, connect with others or have a moment all to yourself (without being seated between hand-holding, eye-gazing lovers or loud birthday celebrations), counter dining is increasingly becoming a go-to option for foodies in London – and several restaurants host prime spots where you can watch all the action unfold. From eateries serving French Michelin-starred fare to bars inspired by the Portuguese culinary haven of Lisbon, here are the best counter dining spots in London to pull up a stool at. 

Bar Douro, London Bridge

Bringing the terra of Portugal to the railway arches of London, Bar Douro opened in 2016 to become one of the capital’s best Portuguese restaurants – and is undoubtedly one of London Bridge’s best kept secrets. Founder Max Graham spent his childhood in Porto where his family business has been producing wine in the Douro Valley for more than two centuries, and his rustic restaurant draws inspiration from the traditional cervejarias and tascas of his homeland. Inside, the restaurant features only counter dining (apart from its private dining room upstairs) with views over the open kitchen and bar or across the terrace. Marble countertops line the space, while azulejo tiles add an authentic pop of colour.

The concise but delectable menu has everything you’d want from Portuguese cuisine. Dishes to start include warming smoked sausage croquettes, confit rabbit on toast and an array of cheeses and cured meats, while larger plates feature delicious garlic prawns (ask for the homemade bread to mop up the sauce) and duck rice with chouriço, which all go perfectly with the signature garlic punched potatoes. The knowledgeable staff are quick to recommend a Portuguese wine, courtesy of Graham’s bottle shop featuring more than 100 varieties. Finally, it would be rude not to finish your feast with a pastel de nata with cinnamon ice cream – fantástico.

85B Southwark Bridge Road, SE1 0NQ, visit bardouro.co.uk

Pavyllon London, Mayfair

For fancy French fare, where you can indulge on marble counters as well as at white-clothed tables, Pavyllon is the restaurant for you. The first London outpost from chef Yannick Alléno – which was awarded its first Michelin star in February 2024, just six months after opening – his kitchen brigade has drawn inspiration from seasonal British produce and global gastronomic traditions, creating an interactive dining experience. While the opulent dining room is an interiors masterpiece by designer Chahan Minassian, merging the chic conviviality of a Parisian residence with the familiarity of a British club, we’d recommend sitting at the counter to be so close to the action that you can almost feel the flames. Menu highlights include comte cheese souffle, tagliolini with beurre blanc and caviar, and beef fillet stroganoff. For those after a business lunch setting to impress, book the signature Lunch in 55: five courses for £55.50 served in 55 minutes. Bon appétit.

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, Hamilton Place, W1J 7DR, visit pavyllonlondon.com

Lisboeta, Fitzrovia

Image: Milo Brown

Also on Charlotte Street is Nuno Mendes’ love letter to the city of Lisbon, focusing on Portuguese produce and traditional cooking techniques. Perfect for counter dining, the fare centres around an array of small plates – known in Portuguese as ‘petiscos’ – with a dedicated lunch menu at the counter offering the Lisboeta experience for those on a deadline. If you’re thinking of solo dining here, you won’t be (ahem) alone as the restaurant is designed to create an intimate atmosphere, with smaller groups and solo diners downstairs at the counter and larger parties upstairs. Tuck into favourites include cured black Iberian pork shoulder, confit cod and shoestring fries, and tomato salad with orange and coriander. 

30 Charlotte Street, W1T 2NG, visit lisboeta.co.uk

Cédric Grolet at The Berkeley, Knightsbridge

Image: Calvin Courjon

Boasting views towards leafy Hyde Park, Cédric Grolet – one of the world’s best pastry chefs – found the perfect spot to open his first patisserie outside of France at the five-star Berkeley hotel in 2022. The chef’s world-renowned creations are available to takeaway, incluidng his popular trompe-l'œil fruit and flower cakes, signature viennoiserie (including those viral croissants), cookies, cakes and standout patisseries, all freshly made each morning with a ‘once they are gone, they are gone’ policy.

For those who want more than a takeaway experience, Cédric Grolet and The Berkeley have created a unique dining moment showcasing pastry masterpieces that evolve with the seasons. Within the lab-like patisserie sits the immersive chef’s counter, flanked by two sets of four seats. Guests are treated to a menu of signature tastings – six sweet and two savoury – and champagne, and are wowed as Grolet’s team of pastry chefs make his creations before their eyes. Croissants and champagne – what more could you want?

The Berkeley, Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL, visit the-berkeley.co.uk

L'Atelier Robuchon, Mayfair

The Joël Robuchon group relaunched its Mayfair restaurant as L’Atelier Robuchon London last year, after it closed in 2019​​ following the famed French chef's death the year before​​. On the menu, L’Atelier celebrates legendary Robuchon classics overseen by executive chef Andrea Cofini, from the revered Purée de Pomme de Terre (often described as the best mashed potatoes in the world thanks to the 2:1 potato to butter ratio) to sea bream carpaccio, simply dressed with lemon and chive. 

Guests are welcomed into the grand elegance of L’Atelier with its newly created bar area at the entrance, which leads into the open restaurant area, seating 74 diners. To the left is a sweeping marble countertop which puts the chefs centre stage, a signature feature of all the original Joël Robuchon restaurants where the open kitchen format was pioneered. Soft scarlet seating and subtle warm lighting invites diners to enjoy L’Atelier Robuchon day and night, from long lunches to celebratory dinners. 

6 Clarges Street, W1J 8AE, visit robuchonlondon.co.uk

Counter 71, Shoreditch

Image: Interesting Projects

Serving only 16 guests per night from a raised emerald marble countertop, Counter 71 is Joe Laker’s culinary ode to the British Isles, offering a tasting menu that depicts the minimalist style he has honed throughout his career. Intricate in flavour yet adhering to a ‘fewer-ingredient’ philosophy, Laker’s multi-course menu will showcase the British seasons while also utilising homegrown citrus fruits and chillies, all served in an intimate atmosphere where chefs serve diners at the counter. Menus are constantly evolving, but sample dishes include scallop and fermented fava bean, crab with elderflower and cucumber, and marshmallow with meadowsweet and cherry.

71 Nile Street, N1 7RD, visit counter71.co.uk

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