Where To Have A Group Dinner In London

When Berber & Q opened in 2016, the idea of traveling for dinner in a railway arch was still a novelty. Make no mistake, though—the restaurant is a bona fide banger. There’s ample space for anything from a small gathering to an all-out celebration, and chef Josh Katz’s Middle Eastern-inspired sharing plates and cocktails were designed for a communal experience. The whole cauliflower shawarma is as good as ever, and grilled meat arrives with the unmistakable kiss of an open fire.

Discreetly hidden from the street, London Grind’s cavernous dining room and comfy interiors—think velvet banquettes, whitewashed brick and playful neon embellishments—are perfect for a group looking to get loose with dinner and a few cocktails. The menu covers all the bases as well, from vegetarian-friendly dishes, comfort dishes and small plates to share if you’re just after a snack.

Mexican cuisine is to group dining as Rihanna is to house parties; it just makes sense. The closest thing to Mexico City that you’ll get in central London, Corazon’s narrow dining room and diminutive size actually make group dinners better, creating an intimacy that’s reminiscent of a lock-in at a favourite bar. Over-order on the tacos and tostadas, while a couple of larger sharing plates will never go amiss—we’re fans of the comforting oxtail barbacoa and carne asada. Embellish with mezcal, micheladas, and enjoy.

Dalston has several great restaurants, but few of them are in the same league as Earth Kitchen. A sleek restaurant inside the new Earth arts space, it’s headed up by Chris Gillard, who brings a formidable tenure as St. John’s executive chef to the fore. Food is unfussy and Modern British, emphasising seasonality and provenance; tender squid braised with fennel melts in the mouth, while the comforting flavours of roast Tamworth pork and turnip contrast wonderfully with sharp mustard. Perfect for pre-gaming or lazy lunching.

Negotiating group dinners can be a dangerous business, but Granger & Co nails group dining with attentive service and a menu stacked with guaranteed crowd-pleasers. There’s stracciatella-smothered pizzette for the bread crowd, ‘nduja fried rice for grain obsessives, and playful salads loaded with Japanese herbs and inventive dressings. The room’s easy on the eye—even in this part of town—and Bill Granger’s legendary hotcakes are an essential order, whether as a luxe dessert or an over-the-top side.

A warm Gallic sentiment dominates Pique-Nique’s dining room, evoking the atmosphere of a French country cottage. It’s a not-so-subtle giveaway as to the approach of this classic Bermondsey bistro; that is, updated French classics for a dialled-in London clientele. Groups sit at the restaurant’s hefty oak table, making meals feel like family affairs—perfect for a menu of hearty dishes like pâté en croûte with pork, chicken and pistachio, and unquestionably one of the city’s best soufflés.

At 100 Hoxton, Francis Puyat playfully combines Asian and Mediterranean ingredients and flavours, the natural result of his training at Nopi and the chef’s own Southeast Asian (specifically, Filipino) heritage. Dishes (think XO pork belly, or halloumi with chilli jam) encourage sharing, grabbing and tasting, and the industrial-chic room feels quintessentially Hoxton. Afterwards, pop next door to Kinilaw and Buko for more drinks and dessert, Pinoy-style.

From two of the minds behind Sager + Wilde, Marcis Dzelzainis and Michael Sager’s new all-day cafe, bar and restaurant is every bit as good as you’d expect. It’s especially good for groups; the pretty basement dining room is spacious enough for wine-fuelled dinners, while the casual light-filled upstairs is ideal for impromptu get-togethers. Cocktails are superb, and the food—everything from superior pizzas to Mediterranean-inflected sharing plates—hits the sweet spot between shareability and elegance.