No matter how long you’ve been here, Central London still holds hidden gems and culinary treasures just waiting for you to explore. If you want London culture at its finest, we’ve got the restaurant recommendation for you.
Our destination is nestled amongst London’s most iconic landmarks. It offers fine dining at its finest – masterful chefs transform the freshest ingredients into extraordinary dishes for you to enjoy with unreal views out over the city. For gourmet food in Central London, you’ll be surprised how reasonably priced the menu is, and truly, they earn every penny of it.
Take the scenic route
For the full London experience, we recommend you take the Tube to Westminster Station. Stroll past Big Ben and Parliament, Downing Street and Trafalgar Square, and finally around to the National Portrait Gallery.
Plan for a couple hours wandering the gallery before your reservation, so you can take in the world's largest portrait collection, where painters and photographers spin tales of national heroes and cultural giants.
See? You’re getting a taste of British culture already.
A culinary masterpiece awaits
All finished at the gallery? Great, head upstairs.
On the fourth floor, you’ll find The Portrait restaurant, with the breathtaking London skyline unfurling before you. It is such a unique perspective, looking out across London landmarks from just above Trafalgar Square. Compared to peering down from a crowded observation deck, you really feel a part of it all here with your red wine and lamb chops guarded by the square's iconic lions.
The all-important menu
You can always tell a good restaurant by the way the waiters introduce the menu. So, grab your seat, check out the view and prepare to be dazzled. Everyone we talked to spoke passionately about their favourite dishes. They understood the whole menu thoroughly, down to which farm reared this lamb and where that wild garlic was foraged.
The Portrait’s menu sways with the seasons, designed around whichever ingredients are at the pinnacle of freshness. One day it might be buttery English asparagus, the next, a burst of fresh blackberries. It takes real skill to perfect these recipes so quickly.
We recommend you start with a crisp, light fizz as you look out over St Martin in the Fields, the London Eye, Nelson’s Column, Canada House and let the fresh flavours and iconic sites whisk you away.
The menu when you visit will be different to the one we tried. But here’s a sample to whet your appetite:
The Secret Smokehouse salmon was a triumph of London's curing craft. Its smoky depth was a masterful counterpoint to the vibrant burst of pomegranate and the satisfying crunch of the ciabatta. A dish that celebrated the city's artisanal spirit.
The deep-fried hens egg was the best example of a modern twist on a classic. A crisp, golden exterior gave way to a molten yolk – the ideal balance of textures.
The morels and English asparagus brought an earthy elegance, while the hollandaise was a beautiful light touch. The accompanying garlic, broccoli, and spinach sauce was a bold, unexpected and absolutely delicious companion.
The most impressive part was to have a deep-fried egg and hollandaise at the start of a meal that lifted you up instead of weighing you down.
The spring lamb was a testament to the finest Welsh family-run farms. Cooked to perfection, it was tender and succulent. The couscous surprised us, doing much more than just adding colour and texture to the plate. This flavourful pilaf played a beautiful accompaniment to the lamb with its sweet and rich undertones.
The Dover sole was an elegant example of a classic dish. Its delicate flesh was cooked with real precision, its buttery sauce a rich and indulgent companion. The salty samphire added depth of flavour in this timeless dish.
The best way to finish up to a delectable meal? Vanilla custard with cherry compote and shortbread rounds with a delicate balance of sweet, tart and creamy flavours. A classic combination, executed with finesse.
Corrigan's philosophy
Spearheaded by Michelin-recognised chef Richard Corrigan, The Portrait embraces his philosophy: ‘source the best, treat it with respect, and the flavour will follow.’
If you’re a foodie, you’ve probably heard of Richard Corrigan before, or watched him on Great British Menu, cooked from his recipe books or even dined at one of his eight unique restaurants across London and Ireland.
Corrigan grew up on a farm in Ireland and learned his respect of quality ingredients from his father’s salad garden. He is an ardent supporter of small, family-run independent British and Irish suppliers. In the expert hands The Portrait’s chefs, this milk, butter, duck, fish, wild garlic and spring lamb become ambassadors of our home.
The Portrait’s speciality is in championing British classics. We have all had more fish and chips and Scotch eggs than we can count, but when you pair that with the finest British produce and flawless cooking technique, you get to see our cuisine at its very best.
Finding London’s summer soul
There couldn’t be a better time to visit, as this July marks The Portrait's first anniversary.
For a short while, you can order Six Lives cocktails. They're perfect for mulling over your visit to the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition, Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII's Queens, or as a pre-theatre pitstop before watching SIX the musical.
There's another big reason to indulge...
Londoners cherish the summertime. We are all out and about, shaking off the drizzly grey days and donning our brightest colours. So in this peculiar summer, lacking the usual hot sunshine, don’t you kind of crave that quintessential London Summer magic?
The Portrait has it. They've captured London's likeness in a lovely experience. British dishes at their best, art from the gallery adorning the walls, and breathtaking views of a city we love.
Foxtons Marketing team were invited to dine at The Portrait and share our experience with you. We hope you find it useful, and give them a visit soon!
