Top Best French Restaurants in Paddington Basin

"Giving new meaning to the term 'theatrical dining', Sketch is taking guests on a culinary experience from start to finish. Take a seat in one of the West End restaurant's Wes Anderson-esque rooms and tuck into a luxurious breakfast, afternoon tea or three Michelin-starred meal."

"Describe Sketch in one word and it would obviously be ‘pink’. The marshmallow coloured seats and walls will have you reaching for your phone, but the woodland mural in The Glade Bar and egg-shaped loos are pretty cool too. Bet you never thought you’d actually pee in a pod."

"Pierre Gagnaire's uber chic Mayfair restaurant is certainly for special occasions - it's one of the most expensive meals in town. There are multiple dining rooms within the building, all with very different looks and menus. There are also incredibly instagrammable loos."

"Restaurants French Bank. Accessed by a lift, like a supervillain’s lair, the Coq’s chichi heated terrace has panoramic City views, a fine selection of drinks and some classic French dishes. It’s now taking bookings for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch for up to six people, from April 12.We like The Coq!"

"If you haven’t been to Coq d’Argent yet, then you best make sure you get there this year. Surely, you’ve seen the massive rooftop lawns overlooking Bank Junction and the rest of the City on Instagram before. But it’s far from being one of those tourist destinations where you get to see across London but then are inevitably underwhelmed by the food and drink options."

"A long-standing favourite of the SquareMeal team, Coq d'Argent is charmingly luxurious with its fine French menu and traditional, old-school service. A roof terrace adds allure on summer evenings – a perfect spot for pre-dinner drinks."

"This high-ceilinged, architecturally stunning former chapel makes an impressive backdrop for French-minded fine-dining, with doting but not disruptive service sealing the deal. This Spitalfields spot is romance at its most classic, and is a haven from the busy streets of east London. Lovely lighting and a particularly good wine list make it an alluring room to while away hours over a glass or several."

"Chris and Jeff Galvin deliver French fine dining that’s both sophisticated and approachable. With six restaurants now under their belt, the acclaimed brother duo have proven that the atmosphere and hospitality of family-run businesses always works best. Michelin-starred restaurant Galvin La Chapelle, housed within the beautiful high-vaulted St. Botolph’s Hall, is the crown in their collection."

"The first of two award-winning French restaurants from the brothers Galvin. Under the high ceilings of St Botolph’s Hall, the seven-course Menu Gourmand will satisfy your appetite for £85."

"Best for: Vegan fine dining so good you’d never know it’s vegan. The London vegan restaurant scene has proven time and time again that just about any food can be made vegan, and made vegan well, at that; take Pied a Terre, for example, a Goodge Street restaurant offering Michelin-star vegan à la carte and tasting menus. Open for nearly 30 years, the restaurant serves a traditional French cuisine with subtle Greek influences under the watchful eye of new head chef Asimakis Chaniotis, who took the reins in 2017."

"Pied à Terre has held at least one Michelin star since 1993, making it one of the oldest Michelin-starred restaurants in London. Restaurants need to evolve, however, and with an imaginative young chef at the helm in Asimakis Chaniotis, who mixes classical French and Greek cooking, it remains contemporary."

"Gorgeously gourmet, and surprisingly reasonable amongst French restaurants with Michelin stars. Pied à Terre’s lunch menu is £29.50 for a starter and main, or £37.50 for three courses, which is likely as cheap as you’ll get for this standard of cooking."

"Not only does Aubaine deliver exceptional French cuisine, they also deliver on Instagrammable interiors. You already know we’re a sucker for a floral installation but seriously, how cute are these wisteria shots?!. Pull up a pew, grab yourself a cocktail and soak up these dreamy interiors."

"Until we wrote this, Ridley Road was probably one of London’s best kept secrets. Go and embrace the clammy dance floor, and don’t take that lightly – in the summer even the disco ball drips with sweat. Grab a three-quid red stripe (yes, you read that right) and see for yourself what all the fuss is about."

"This quintessentially British restaurant is great for a midday pit stop as they serve a seasonal mix of easy plates. There's something for everyone, with lighter plates including a delicious salmon salad, or if you're feeling famished, try one of their steaks."

"This church was initially built in the 13th century when it was known as St Olave-towards-the-Tower, dedicated to the patron saint of Norway, King Olaf II. It was a favourite place of worship of the diarist Samuel Pepys, and he and his wife Elizabeth are both buried in the nave of the church. The present building was erected in 1450, and survived the Great Fire in 1666 thanks to Sir William Penn (whose son would found Pennsylvania) and his men from the local naval yard."

"As one of several churches in London with Scandinavian connections, St Olave Hart Street is often claimed to have been established as early as 1056. However, this may be true, as the memories of Olaf’s London adventures were at their best during this period. Furthermore, it was just a short period of time before Norway attempted to invade England in 1066."

"It was one of a small number to survive the Great Fire of London. It suffered far greater damage during the London Blitz of World War II, and the 15th century body of the church was restored by the mid-1950s. It’s a small church with a wealth of history."

"This excellent Blackheath bar is pouring out some of the freshest pints in South London. Head over the heath and sample some of the tank-fresh beer, as well as some delicious plates of pizza, pasta and vegan eats from their food menu."

"From the line of massive steel tanks behind Howling Hops’ Hackney Wick bar, beers (both the brewery’s core and seasonal) are served unpasteurised straight from tank to tankard without touching a keg, can, or bottle on the way. Clearly, visitors don’t hold back — in the late evenings, the taproom erupts into a disco of sorts, with limb-throwing patrons all too willing to get involved. Until nightclubs start serving their own lemon goses and US-hopped pale ales, this is the next best thing."

"Quench your thirst with bold beers from Hackney Wick's Howling Hops brewery, where the tanks are connected directly to the taps. Take your pick from the Tropical Deluxe Pale Ale or the strong Platform Contest, alongside more tank-tastic sour beers. And if a pint is not enough, order a flagon."

"Another Hackney Wick hideaway, this unique brewery serves its homemade beers straight from the tap, making it a literal taproom!. With ten beers on sale, you can also find a range of freshly made snacks, meats and coffees made in-house before your very eyes."