The Ritz has been named the UK's best restaurant at the National Restaurant Awards
Congratulations are in order for a little spot known as The Ritz. Maybe you've heard of it?
Yes, this plucky up-and-comer has been named Best Restaurant in the UK 2025 at this year's National Restaurant Awards.
We jest, of course. The Ritz Restaurant is world-famous, but seems to be having something of a second wind. Earlier this year, their executive chef John Williams secured the Mayfair spot's second Michelin star (after getting the first in 2016).
The Ritz Restaurant has been open since 1906 (when the hotel itself opened), and Williams has ruled the roost since 2004. Speaking about the win for The Ritz, restaurant editor Stefan Chomka commented: 'As a bastion of fine French food served in unashamedly refined surroundings, The Ritz stands alone in the UK.
'The top 100 restaurants list reflects the diverse nature of our eating out scene and the changing trends within it, whether they be less formality, more farm to fork menus, or embracing new cuisines, but it's also wonderful to see a restaurant unwavering in its focus finally get the recognition it merits. The Ritz is an exemplary restaurant, one fully deserving of the title National Restaurant of the Year.'
We had similar thoughts when we last visited the restaurant, awarding it a glowing five star review. 'It's a performance worthy of any world-beating theatre down the road, and it's all we can do not to burst into applause after each dish,' we wrote.
The awards - which were held on June 9 in London - also saw another local win, with David Carter named Restaurateur of the Year 2025. Carter has two restaurants on the winning list of 100 UK restaurants, including the Highest New Entry, Oma (in at number six!), and Agora at 51, both in Borough Market. Oma also features highly in Time Out's very own Best Restaurants of 2025 list, which you can read here.
Other London wins included Opening of the Year, which went to AngloThai in Marylebone. The newly opened One Club Row in Shoreditch was named 'One to Watch', while 'Gastropub of the Year' went to The Devonshire in Soho and 'Lifetime Achievement Award' went to Skye Gyngell of Spring in Somerset House.
Other London restaurants to make the top 10 included Notting Hill's The Ledbury at number 3, Trinity in Clapham at number 4, Bouchon Racine in Farringdon at number five, Oma at number six, AngloThai at number seven, and Notting Hill's Dorian at number 10.
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