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    The Ivy

    4.0 (254 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 11:30 PM

    The Ivy Photos

    THE IVY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - The Ivy

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    Reviews With Photos

    Truffle chicken
    lis b.

    Came to celebrate our 25th anniversary before watching a show at the Theater District. Rezzies were made a few weeks in advance. We were seated right away. We had a nice corner table. Our server was very pleasant. The place is nice, perfect for a nice dinner out. We ordered the cheese soufflé to start, I had the fish and chips and he had the truffle stuffed chicken breast. All were great and tasty. We also ordered a sticky toffee pudding for desert but we were also served with a cute "Happy Anniversary" plate with truffle bonbons. We had a very lovely time. Highly recommend.

    Tempura shrimp
    Heidi B.

    My sister and I booked for a special lunch in the city. The hostess was friendly and took our bags and coats. We were seated in a lovely corner table, ambience was great. They do pack people in so be prepared to get to know your neighbor. it was a busy lunchtime (we had a reservation). Cocktails were great. Service was interesting. Lots of waiters, they did give us space and time to review the menu. Our server totally upsold us into sides by telling us our entrees were small portions. There was plenty on the plate and no need for the upsell. Overall a special experience for my sister, food was delicious but the waiters and service were disappointing.

    Shepherd's pie
    Kayla C.

    Stumbled across The Ivy while venturing the Theatre District and Covent Gardens in London. It was October and I was a bit chilly so I decided to grab food. I kept wondering if this Ivy was part of The Ivy back home (Los Angeles) and it certainly seemed like it was. Because I was dining solo, I sat at the bar and only ordered a small bit but it was the best Shepherd's pie I'd had in a long time; a braised lamb Shepherd's pie. Service was wonderful and attentive and the inside of the restaurant was cozy and beautiful.

    Beef Wellington
    Zacharias P.

    It's always a pleasure to dine at the Ivy on West Street. There are a number of Ivy restaurants as part of the franchise now, but this one on west street is the original. It's a classic setting with a beautiful interior and a gorgeous bar that dominates the room. The stained glass windows create a lot of atmosphere. The menu centers around classic British cuisine. I started out with the steak tartar and followed it up with a beef Wellington (for two) and which is carved table side. Puddings are also classic ranging from baked Alaska to rumbabas. Excellent and attentive service. I always return to this place.

    Abbe K.

    You must go here and sit at the bar and order one of the signature cocktails. This classic London spot near the theater district has a dark wood decor, cozy booths, and ambient lighting. The drinks were excellent although I would have preferred a full glass than one three-quarters filled for the price. As for dinner, you won't get the same wow factor. The rib eye steak I ordered medium arrived very well done, although with a delicious peppercorn sauce and a fine jus that carried the steak flavor. No steak knife offered, and with some effort, I could use the provided butter knife. Seated at the bar, our waiter/bartender was a bit distracted - understandably- which may explain why the steak didn't arrive hot and perhaps more cooked in the "standing." The traditional Shepard's pie also had a nice flavor with a rich gravy. After a few bites, though, there was nothing refreshing about the taste. The green beans needed salt (only offered at a table, not the bar), and the minced onions didn't add much value. The avocado prawn salad hd more of the former than the latter, and a tasteful amount of mayonnaise. Stop in for a drink and enjoy the atmosphere. I'll be back for that.

    Danielle L.

    I loved this place!! It was beautiful, classy, well designed and most importantly the food was great! It was all high quality and fresh. Our server was kind and super attentive! One thing to keep in mind about dining in Europe is that when you reserve your table, you have it for the entire evening. It's not like American where they are rushing you out so they can seat the next party! Dinner here is a classy experience, not the wham bam thank you ma'am nonsense that you get here in the states. If you are in London give this place a try! I promise you won't be sorry!

    Mark M.

    A beautiful place inside and out. Great bar and bartender. The seating is a little close. Sheppards pie was good, burger was uninspiring, excellent bread basket. The server was poor and the hostesses are not the friendliest, even with a reservation. They sat us right near the entrance with the cold air. They told us nothing else available.

    Kellie D.

    This chain is usually reliable and good. The interior is pretty and the service at the bar was pleasant. Unfortunately my fish and chips were very oily and the smell and taste of the fish itself was very fishy and possibly off. Which put me off!

    Pimms
    Julie D.

    Had a lovely late lunch here with my cousin. My first full day in the city. I was actually planning on having a meal on the other side of town, but by the time my cousin met me I had a hankering for some fried food so we walked to this vicinity. We were seated right away by a friendly hostess. They placed us inside, but got moved to the last table before the outside area as we wanted an outside table. It was a nice compromise. I'd say this was the most local meal I had while I was in town. Nice meal and the service was amazing. We were so well taken care of.

    High tea tower
    Sobia B.

    We went here expecting your normal high tea, and we were blown away by the service and ambiance. We were well taken care of the whole way. The bottomless champagne stayed bottomless. The food was amazing. We dream of this every now and then. The food was plenty. Each of us got our own stack, as opposed to some places where one stack is for two. We were positively stuffed. The sandwiches had yummy fillings and the deserts were fresh. The smoothie was the favorite.

    Danielle G.

    Service is slow, but it was packed so we attribute the lack of staff for lack of attention. Food and cocktails are delicious, the design and decor, along with the charming area of covent Garden makes this a really wonderful afternoon lunch.! Will return soon!

    Fish and chips

    The waitress obviously discriminated Chinese people. She didn't give any greetings or smile through out the service. She checked on other tables multiple times, but even when we want to call her, she deliberately avoided it. Very bad experience. Ruined a good day. Chinese people, don't go.

    Frank A.

    The Ivy -- the original -- is a truly wonderful experience with great cocktails and good food. The small room has not changed in decades but it is always full and lively. The service is always friendly and welcoming. An old favorite for me.

    Expresso Caramel martini

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    11 months ago

    Loved Sunday brunch! Amazing food, drinks and service. Live music was not too loud so you could still have a conversation.

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    The Modern Pantry - Passion fruit & yuzu mille feuille

    The Modern Pantry

    3.8(156 reviews)
    1.3 miClerkenwell
    ££

    Came here for breakfast during my solo trip in London and was very pleased with the service. I went…read moreat around 11 and was seated promptly. The interior is quite nice. Put my order in and it came out very quickly (under 10 minutes). Everything tasted AMAZING. I've honestly never had better toast at brunch. The tomatoes were flavorful and juicy. The eggs weren't over done. Everything was great. Staff checked in to see if I needed anything a couple times throughout the meal so I definitely didn't feel neglected. Overall a great experience. I would definitely go back during my next trip to London!

    The Modern Pantry is one of the more well-known brunch spots in the city. This restaurant, located…read morein Clerkenwell, has quite the pleasant ambiance - bright, clean, and quaint. The staff is friendly and welcoming as well. Although it does get quite busy during peak hours, reservations on OpenTable are not difficult to come by. I would have wanted to give a better rating, but the food was nothing special. // Sugar Cured Prawn Omelette (£9.80) - 3 stars The smoked chili sambal is really what gave this dish a burst of flavor. Although the size of the omelette itself was quite small, it comes with two slices of bread to fill you up. // Tea Smoked Salmon (£10.50) - 2 stars Contrary to the dish's name, the salmon was actually served baked, rather than smoked. I would have preferred the latter on an eggs Benedict, as it turned out to be quite bland. The English muffins also lacked that extra crunch.

    Photos
    The Modern Pantry
    The Modern Pantry - Interior

    Interior

    The Modern Pantry - Flat White

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    Flat White

    Duck & Waffle - Duck & Waffle (with a view)

    Duck & Waffle

    4.0(1k reviews)
    2.0 miAldgate
    £££

    We came here since the big boss was in town. This was my first visit and our seating area wasn't…read morethe best (we sat in the bar area) but the views were great and the food wasn't too bad either. 3/5 Corn ribs - never had a corn rib before. Good, a bit sweet. Messy to eat. 3/5 Truffle fries - good but average 4/5 Polenta - very tasty, a must. 3/5 Duck and waffle - I expected this to be bigger but it was good. I normally prefer chicken but the duck wasn't bad. All the food was decent and the staff were all nice. It's unfortunate that the walk to the restaurant passes by the smelly toilets. Also there was only one lift working that day so it took a little time to get up/down.

    I've been looking forward to visiting Duck & Waffle for quite some time. The views are incredible,…read morethe space itself is striking, and on paper it promises that perfect London mix of skyline, late-night energy, and elevated comfort food. Unfortunately, our experience was soured before it even had a chance to begin. My girlfriend and I walked in excited, completely amicable, simply hoping to head upstairs for a bite and drinks. We were greeted by the doorman with an immediate, dismissive "Are you good?" -- not in a welcoming or helpful tone, but in a way that felt skeptical and unnecessarily confrontational. There was no warmth, no "welcome in," no attempt at hospitality. It immediately set an uncomfortable tone. He then proceeded to call upstairs as though he were doing us some sort of favor just by allowing us to go up. The entire interaction felt transactional and judgmental rather than gracious. First impressions matter, especially at a place that positions itself as a premium dining destination. Hospitality begins at the door, not at the table. When we finally made it upstairs, the room was filled with visibly drunk, rowdy groups -- which only made the earlier attitude feel even more misplaced. If that environment is acceptable (and profitable), then two polite guests looking for drinks and food shouldn't be met with suspicion at the entrance. By that point, the damage was done. The initial interaction had already rubbed us the wrong way, and the energy upstairs didn't help. We ultimately decided to leave before even sitting at our table. That's how strongly the first impression impacted us. It's difficult to justify staying somewhere when you don't feel genuinely welcomed from the outset. Duck & Waffle has the potential to be memorable for all the right reasons. But someone representing the brand at the very front needs to understand that hospitality isn't optional -- it's foundational. A simple, respectful welcome would have changed everything. I hope management takes this seriously, because no guest should feel judged or dismissed before they even step inside.

    Photos
    Duck & Waffle - The dining area with views of the kitchen

    The dining area with views of the kitchen

    Duck & Waffle - Rice Pudding. Really great

    Rice Pudding. Really great

    Duck & Waffle - Inside

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    Inside

    The Jugged Hare - Sea snails with butter, garlic and sourdough

    The Jugged Hare

    3.9(82 reviews)
    1.7 miBarbican
    £££

    In London over the Christmas holiday and took our brother-in-law's advice to try a British staple,…read moreThe Jugged Hare. They are located just outside downtown London and near the financial district. After a long underground ride, we arrived at a classic looking British pub. We were seated downstairs in a very busy dining hall that looked like a proper hunting lodge kitchen. For Christmas eve, the place was packed with large groups celebrating the holidays. We ordered the sea snails with garlic / butter and sourdough, and deer tartar with game chips, mustard, bone marrow and toast. These were good and had a very rustic flare. For dinner, I ordered the red legged partridge, spelt, njuda and kale. The partridge was tough and not much flavor. The spelt and njuda was fantastic and a real flavor bomb. My first spelt encounter but definitely not the last. The kale was fine. The meal was solid but nothing to write home about. The atmosphere and setting was good along with the service. I'm glad we tried a standard English pub but not impressed by the food. Regardless of the meal, it was still a great family memory.

    Came here for pre-theater fare before a show at the Barbican. Its proximity to it is a big plus…read more But service was a bit lackadaisical. We arrived with plenty of time and finished our main course with time too but then dessert inexplicably took a while. No servers came over to help and we had to get up to express the fact that our show -- again we ordered from the pre theatre menu and told them of our plans -- started in 15 mins. They finally came over with the dessert which we had to scarf down instead of getting the refund of dessert. Wasn't worth the fight but ruined an otherwise good meal. The burger was terrific for example. They also sat us at a weird table in the back that was difficult for the servers to get to and had sound reverberate so the loud table next to us just dominated the sound in the room. Just shows that a meal needs to have more than a good food to be enjoyable.

    Photos
    The Jugged Hare
    The Jugged Hare
    The Jugged Hare - Leg of lamb Sunday roast

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    Leg of lamb Sunday roast

    Karpo - The Gallery table

    Karpo

    3.8(43 reviews)
    1.2 miBloomsbury
    ££

    No longer exists. The new hotel lobby in it's place was cool, and the staff was friendly, but they…read moreconfirmed it's not longer there.

    Usually, I turn my nose up at "hotel restaurants," as my experience leads me to summarize them as…read moreoverpriced steakhouses (and the like), cartoonish cafes, or boring and lacking character. However, I must say in my two dining experiences at Karpo....I found none of the above to be true, and in fact quite the opposite. First of all, its not REALLY a hotel restaurant. Yes it has an entrance from the Megaro Hotel and provides their in-room dining, but it really seems much more of a "stand-alone." Room Service: A pleasant gentlemen delivered me a spread including: hot tea, lam shank with asparagus and pea puree, mac 'n cheese and a vegetable medley. I didn't have any expectations much, just needed a warm meal on a Friday evening after a particularly exhausting week. And...there it was. It arrived within 20 minutes, fresh, hot and satisfying. I actually remarked to myself that the lamb was some of the best I've had. Certainly not typical "room service" fare. I enjoyed it so much, I headed down for brunch the following morning before tackling all that is London. I perched myself at the bar, enjoyed a double espresso followed by an Americano (told you the week was long!) and then indulged in the eggs benedict. Its not usually my type of dish, but of the few brunch options this seemed to be the best bet for some protein to sustain me through the day. It arrived within 10 minutes, and was delicious. Also, each interaction with the staff was delightful. Including when one of their "regulars" sat beside me and was blitzed out drunk at noon. Not an issue for me, but after being quizzed on the bio of the British Prime Minister (before coffee!) and then told to take a (expletive) taxi back to the States if I wasn't going to learn the ins and outs of the British Parliament...the staff jumped into high gear, distracting the...errr...passionate gentlemen so that I could enjoy my breakfast. A nice gesture, and I was appreciative. Otherwise the service was also good...all smiles and quite warm and friendly, while staying efficient. Cost of both meals (on my hotel bill): 43 GBP. The colors are bright and I am glad I popped into Karpo...worth a try, and conveniently located near Kings Cross, and near many hotels/hostels. Worth the splurge or even just for a pop in for a coffee and croissant to start your day. Skip the chains!

    Photos
    Karpo - Karpo Restaurant

    Karpo Restaurant

    Karpo - Karpo restaurant

    Karpo restaurant

    Karpo - Karpo mezzanine

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    Karpo mezzanine

    Brasserie Max - Chips and Salad with Chicken

    Brasserie Max

    4.3(30 reviews)
    0.1 miCovent Garden
    £££

    Stopped by on a Sunday afternoon for a nibble and ended up having a full lunch. The staff were…read moreextremely kind and helpful with menu modifications for allergies. They went out of their way to make forthright suggestions about items and the wines by the glass. The winner was the pea and mint soup. The delicate balance between the fresh mint and the creamed peas was remarkably well done. The cafe is beautifully designed, warm and welcoming. It's the sort of place where you could sit and let the hours pass as you look at the cafe windows and the passersby.

    We came here for afternoon tea and it was one of my favorite things to do in London! The food and…read moreservice were both excellent, and honestly you can't beat the price point. We made reservations at 3pm but it seemed like they had several other tables available for walk-in. The server asked if this was our first time for high tea (not sure if this is protocol or if we were dripping with American vibes). Either way, they were great at walking us through everything to make sure we didn't have any questions. The table settings and overall vibe made me feel like we were super fancy! I ordered the Egyptian Chamomile tea and my husband ordered the Earl Gray. The menu had descriptions of the types of teas which can help you pick out what you'd like. I think we both liked my Chamomile better with a tad of sugar which was on the table. We happened to visit during the Chelsea Flower Show time, so they had 2 different types of specialty desserts- we ordered one of each. The sandwiches were all delicious- I loved the salmon and my husband wanted to ask for the Coronation Chicken Salad recipe. The scones were out of this world, and I have a new favorite food called clotted cream. The desserts were so, so good and had a little bit of everything- chocolate, tarts, fruity...you'll find something you like! To be quite frank, we did our due diligence with finding a place to have high tea. There were some that were almost twice as expensive as this place, and I have a hard time believing they would have been twice as good. If you're looking for a simple afternoon tea experience, make sure to add this to your short list. Brasserie Max is elegant, simple, and delicious- highly recommended!

    Photos
    Brasserie Max - Restaurant

    Restaurant

    Brasserie Max - Scones, Sandwiches and desserts

    Scones, Sandwiches and desserts

    Brasserie Max - Entrance

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    Entrance

    The Ivy - british - Updated May 2026

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