August is the perfect excuse to indulge in one of Britain’s greatest delicacies. From Michelin-starred tasting menus and riverside happy hours to iconic oyster bars and elegant seafood counters, London’s restaurants are serving up exceptional shellfish all month long.
Whether you like yours completely traditional or dressed with everything from jalapeño and apple mignonette to tiger’s milk and strawberry granita, these are the London spots worth adding to your August dining plans.
Kitchen Table, Fitzrovia
At James Knappett’s two Michelin-starred Kitchen Table, oysters become part of an ever evolving tasting menu. Diners might find them topped with black pepper, sour cream, green strawberry granita and pickled strawberries, or with pickled jalapeños, apple blossom, oyster leaf, sorrel, shiso and Attica marinated kohlrabi. Refined, inventive and unmistakably Kitchen Table.
@kitchentable1 | kitchentablelondon.co.uk
Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill, Mayfair
Few restaurants are as synonymous with oysters as Bentley’s. A Mayfair institution for more than a century, Richard Corrigan’s celebrated seafood restaurant remains one of London’s most iconic places to enjoy oysters, with an impressive selection of British varieties served at its famous marble oyster bar or elegant dining room.
@bentleysoysterbar | bentleys.org
Rosewood London, Holborn
At Holborn Dining Room, Rosewood London’s grand British brasserie, the elegant Seafood Counter celebrates the very best of British waters with freshly shucked Maldon oysters, prepared simply to let the quality of the produce shine. If the weather is on your side, head to the hotel’s Summer Terrace, where a luxurious Seafood Platter pairs Maldon oysters with Osietra caviar, mussels and crab salad for a Mediterranean-inspired feast in one of central London’s most beautiful courtyards.
@rosewoodlondon | @holborndiningroom | rosewoodhotels.com/en/london
The Sea, The Sea, Chelsea
One of London’s most exciting seafood destinations is serving a changing selection of Boudeuse, Louët-Feisser or Maldon oysters, accompanied by jalapeño and apple mignonette. Fresh, vibrant and beautifully balanced, it’s a fitting showcase for the quality seafood the Chelsea favourite has become known for.
@theseathesea_ | theseathesea.net
The Garrison, Bermondsey
MasterChef winner Natalie Coleman puts seafood firmly in the spotlight with some of London’s best dressed oysters. Expect Maldon oysters topped with apple dashi, pickled ginger, compressed apple and yoghurt, or opt for the Tide to Table menu featuring Porthilly oysters with blood orange and tarragon.
@thegarrisonse1 | thegarrison.co.uk
Pyro & Baráki, Borough
Yiannis Mexis’ Greek inspired restaurants offer two very different takes on oysters. At Pyro, Maldon oysters are gently cooked in a fennel, tomato and feta saganaki sauce before being topped with croutons. Over at Baráki by Pyro, oysters are served with green zebra sauce and lemon verbena, proving there’s more than one way to dress a shell.
@pyro.restaurant | @baraki.pyro | pyrorestaurant.co.uk
Ayllu, Paddington
Blending Japanese technique with the bold flavours of Peru, Ayllu serves oysters three ways. Choose from sake and cucumber granita, truffle ponzu or tiger’s milk, available as three for £13 or six for £24. Visit on a Friday or Saturday evening and you’ll also be treated to live Spanish guitar from 7pm.
@ayllulondon | ayllu.co.uk
Pippin’s, Kensington
For those who appreciate the classics, Pippin’s keeps things beautifully simple with Carlingford oysters served alongside shallot vinaigrette and lemon. Sometimes less really is more.
@pippinsrestaurant | pippinsrestaurant.com
Sam’s Riverside, Hammersmith & Sam’s Waterside, Brentford
Oysters are a serious affair at Sam Harrison’s riverside restaurants, where diners can choose from Jersey Rock, Carlingford Lough and the highly regarded Achill oysters from Ireland. Better still, Oyster Happy Hour runs Monday to Friday from 5pm to 6.30pm, when oysters are priced at just £1.75 each. Pair them with one of the bar team’s recommended wines or cocktails and don’t leave without trying the famous Parmesan churros.
@samsriverside | @samswaterside | samsriverside.co.uk | samswaterside.co.uk
Fenchurch, Sky Garden
Take your oyster obsession to new heights with Fenchurch’s Champagne & Oyster Experience. For £39 per person, enjoy a glass of Ruinart Brut NV alongside two freshly shucked oysters topped with cucumber and Vietnamese dressing, all while soaking up panoramic views across London’s skyline.
@fenchurchrestaurant | skygarden.london/restaurants/fenchurch
The White Horse, Parsons Green
If oysters and Guinness sound like your perfect pairing, Oyster Hour at The White Horse has you covered. Running Monday to Friday from 3pm to 5pm, enjoy a pint of Guinness with an oyster for £8, or swap the stout for a glass of Champagne for £15.
@whitehorsesw6 | whitehorsesw6.com
The Guinea Grill, Mayfair
One of London’s oldest pubs continues to honour tradition with old school silver service and half a dozen Rock oysters served with shallot mignonette. Afterwards, keep the oyster theme going with the pub’s famous Guinness, beef and oyster pot pie.
@guineagrill | theguinea.co.uk
The Oyster Shed, London Bridge
Living up to its name, The Oyster Shed champions the very best of British coastal seafood with oysters from £5 each alongside generous seafood sharing platters. Add riverside views across the Thames and you’ve got all the ingredients for a leisurely August afternoon by the river.
@theoystershed | oystershed.co.uk
Songbird, Wood Wharf
Set beside the waterfront at Wood Wharf, Songbird serves freshly shucked oysters priced at £12 for three, £24 for six or £44 for a dozen. Pair them with a glass of Chapel Down or one of the restaurant’s signature cocktails for an effortlessly stylish way to celebrate the season.
@songbirdrestaurant | songbirdrestaurant.com
Whether you’re discovering oysters for the first time or already have a favourite variety, August is as good a time as any to pull up a stool, order a dozen and let London’s oyster scene do the rest.
