14 Best Seafood Restaurants in London Worth Booking
London may be miles from the coast, but you wouldn’t know it from the city’s seafood scene. From century-old oyster bars and elegant Mayfair restaurants to lively seafood counters and modern spots serving the day’s catch, the capital has an impressive range of places for anyone who loves fish and shellfish.
The city’s seafood restaurants cover almost every craving: fresh oysters, lobster, crab, Dover sole, whole fish, mussels, prawns, seafood platters and modern British seafood dishes. Recent 2026 London food guides continue to highlight both established institutions and newer seafood destinations across the city.
So, whether you’re looking for somewhere special for dinner or simply want a great plate of seafood, here are 14 of the best seafood restaurants in London worth knowing about.
Best Seafood Restaurants in London at a Glance
| Restaurant | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Scott’s | Mayfair | Luxury seafood |
| J Sheekey | Covent Garden | Theatre nights |
| Bentley’s | Mayfair | Oysters |
| The Seafood Bar | Soho | Seafood platters |
| The Oystermen | Covent Garden | Oysters |
| Parsons | Covent Garden | Relaxed seafood |
| The Shell | Holborn | Seafood platters |
| Randall & Aubin | Soho | Lively dining |
| Santo Mare | Marylebone | Italian seafood |
| The Sea, The Sea | Chelsea | Fresh seafood |
| Wiltons | St James’s | Traditional luxury |
| Burger & Lobster | Soho | Lobster |
| La Petite Poissonnerie | Marylebone | Intimate dining |
| Smith’s of Wapping | Wapping | Riverside seafood |
1. Scott’s
📍 Address: 20 Mount Street, London W1K 2HE
Scott’s is one of London’s most famous seafood restaurants and a natural choice when you’re looking for a sophisticated seafood dinner.
The Mayfair institution is particularly known for its oysters, shellfish, caviar, crab and beautifully prepared fish. The dining room has an elegant, timeless atmosphere, while the famous oyster bar gives you the option of a more casual experience.
It’s the sort of restaurant where you can make the meal as simple or extravagant as you like — perhaps a few oysters and champagne, or a full seafood feast.
Recent London seafood guides continue to place Scott’s among the capital’s leading seafood destinations.
Best for: Special occasions, oysters, fine dining and classic London glamour.
2. J Sheekey
📍 Address: 28–32 St Martin’s Court, London WC2N 4AL
J Sheekey is one of the West End’s classic seafood restaurants and has long been associated with London’s theatre scene.
The restaurant has a wonderfully old-fashioned interior, with dark wood, mirrors and a cosy atmosphere that feels perfectly suited to a pre-theatre dinner.
Its menu focuses heavily on fish and shellfish, with oysters, grilled fish, seafood dishes and its famous fish pie among the attractions. Time Out currently highlights J Sheekey as a top London destination for fish pie.
Its location just off St Martin’s Lane makes it particularly convenient before a show.
Best for: Theatre nights, traditional seafood and romantic dinners.
3. Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill
📍 Address: 11–15 Swallow Street, London W1B 4DG
Bentley’s is one of London’s great oyster institutions. It first opened in 1916 and continues to specialise in oysters, fish and shellfish. Visit London describes it as one of the city’s longest-running seafood restaurants.
The marble oyster bar is one of the best places to sit if you’re visiting specifically for oysters. Depending on what’s available, you can find oysters from different British and international waters alongside lobster, crab and other seafood.
It’s a great choice when you want a classic London seafood experience rather than something trendy and experimental.
Best for: Oysters, champagne and traditional seafood dining.
4. The Seafood Bar
📍 Address: 77 Dean Street, London W1D 3SH
The Seafood Bar brings a lively, contemporary approach to seafood right into the heart of Soho.
The menu is ideal for sharing, with seafood platters, oysters, lobster, crab and other fresh catches providing plenty of options for groups.
Its Dean Street location is particularly convenient for anyone exploring Soho, Chinatown or the West End.
The restaurant currently has a strong local following, with business listings showing a 4.8 rating from more than 12,000 reviews.
Best for: Seafood platters, groups and Soho dining.
5. The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen
📍 Address: 32 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8NA
The Oystermen Seafood Bar & Kitchen is a small, lively seafood restaurant close to Covent Garden Market.
As the name suggests, oysters are a major attraction, but the restaurant offers considerably more, with a changing selection of fish and shellfish.
The intimate setting makes it particularly good for a relaxed lunch or dinner when you want something more informal than London’s grand seafood institutions.
Best for: Oysters, seafood sharing and Covent Garden.
6. Parsons
📍 Address: 39 Endell Street, London WC2H 9BA
Parsons is tucked away on Endell Street, close to Covent Garden and Seven Dials.
The restaurant has a relatively intimate feel and focuses on carefully prepared seafood rather than trying to overwhelm diners with an enormous menu.
Its location makes it particularly handy for combining lunch or dinner with a West End day out.
Best for: Casual seafood dining, couples and Covent Garden.
7. The Shell
📍 Address: 124 Southampton Row, London WC1B 5AA
The Shell is a strong option around Holborn and Russell Square if you’re after a generous seafood-focused meal.
The restaurant has become particularly well known for substantial seafood selections, including oysters and seafood platters. TripAdvisor’s current London seafood listings also feature The Shell prominently among the city’s seafood restaurants.
It’s a useful choice for groups because there is plenty to share.
Best for: Seafood platters, groups and generous portions.
8. Randall & Aubin
📍 Address: 16 Brewer Street, London W1F 0SQ
Randall & Aubin is a long-standing Soho restaurant with a strong seafood identity.
The atmosphere is lively and informal, making it a good alternative to some of London’s more formal seafood restaurants. Expect oysters, shellfish and fish alongside other dishes.
Its Brewer Street location also makes it convenient for an evening exploring Soho.
Best for: Lively dinners, oysters and Soho.
9. Santo Mare
📍 Address: 87–89 George Street, London W1U 8AQ
Santo Mare offers a more Italian-influenced approach to seafood.
Located in Marylebone, it focuses on fresh fish and shellfish prepared in a style that lets the quality of the ingredients take centre stage.
The restaurant has built a strong reputation among seafood lovers and currently holds a 4.7 rating in local business listings.
Best for: Italian seafood, whole fish and elegant dinners.
10. The Sea, The Sea
📍 Address: 243 Pavilion Road, London SW1X 0BP
The Sea, The Sea combines a seafood market-style approach with a restaurant experience.
The Pavilion Road location puts it close to Chelsea and Sloane Square, making it a particularly appealing option for a leisurely lunch while exploring the neighbourhood.
Its seafood-focused concept means the selection can change depending on what’s available, which is exactly what you want from a restaurant built around fresh produce.
Best for: Fresh seafood, lunch and Chelsea.
11. Wiltons
📍 Address: 55 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6LX
Wiltons Restaurant is one of London’s grand traditional restaurants and has a particularly strong reputation for fish and seafood.
The setting is formal and elegant, making it much more suited to a special lunch or dinner than a casual seafood stop.
For diners who appreciate old-school British hospitality and beautifully presented seafood, Wiltons offers something quite different from London’s newer, trendier restaurants.
Best for: Special occasions, traditional dining and seafood classics.
12. Burger & Lobster Soho
📍 Address: 36–38 Dean Street, London W1D 4PS
Burger & Lobster Soho takes a deliberately focused approach: lobster, burgers and a handful of accompanying dishes.
If your idea of a great seafood meal is a whole lobster or a lobster roll rather than an extensive fish menu, this is an easy recommendation.
The Soho location is also excellent for an informal dinner before heading into London’s nightlife.
Best for: Lobster, casual dining and groups.
13. La Petite Poissonnerie
📍 Address: 19 New Quebec Street, London W1H 7RY
La Petite Poissonnerie is a smaller seafood bar and fishmonger-style restaurant in the Marylebone area.
Its intimate scale makes it feel quite different from the grand seafood restaurants around Mayfair and the West End.
It’s worth considering when you’re looking for a more low-key seafood experience, particularly if oysters and fresh fish are the priority.
Best for: Intimate meals, oysters and Marylebone.
14. Smith’s of Wapping
📍 Address: 22 Wapping High Street, London E1W 1NJ
Smith’s of Wapping is slightly farther east than most of the restaurants on this list, but its riverside setting makes the trip worthwhile.
The restaurant sits beside the Thames in historic Wapping and specialises in fish and seafood alongside a wider menu.
It is a particularly good choice when you want to turn dinner into more of an occasion, with the waterside surroundings adding something that central restaurants can’t always provide.
Best for: Riverside dining, special occasions and East London.
What Should You Order?
The great thing about London’s seafood restaurants is that you don’t have to stick to one particular style.
🦪 For oysters
Start with Bentley’s, Scott’s or The Oystermen. London’s classic oyster bars are ideal when you want to taste the seafood with minimal intervention.
🦞 For lobster
Burger & Lobster is the obvious choice for a casual lobster-focused meal, while more formal restaurants such as Scott’s offer a broader luxury seafood experience.
🐟 For whole fish
Look towards Santo Mare, Scott’s or Wiltons, where the quality of the fish is allowed to take centre stage.
🍽️ For a seafood platter
The Seafood Bar and The Shell are particularly good choices if you’re dining with friends and want something designed for sharing.
❤️ For a special occasion
For a memorable dinner, Scott’s, J Sheekey, Wiltons and Santo Mare are among the strongest options on this list.
Final Thoughts
London’s seafood scene is much more diverse than simply fish and chips.
You can spend an afternoon eating oysters at a historic oyster bar, order a spectacular seafood platter in Soho, enjoy Italian-style fish in Marylebone or sit beside the Thames with a plate of fresh seafood.
For a classic London experience, Scott’s, Bentley’s and J Sheekey are difficult to beat. If you want something more relaxed and contemporary, The Seafood Bar, The Oystermen and Parsons are excellent alternatives.
And if you’re willing to explore beyond the centre, Smith’s of Wapping gives you the added bonus of a riverside setting.
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