Today I want to bring you my guide to the best Belgravia restaurants, pubs, and afternoon teas. This loveliest of London neighborhoods has them all in abundance, and I hope you like them as much as I do.
Belgravia, London
Located a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace and Victoria station, Belgravia is one of the more chi chi central London neighborhoods.
It’s known for its abundance of foreign embassies and record-breaking house prices, not to mention its pretty streets, doors, squares, and mews.
But beyond the eye-wateringly expensive homes and private garden squares are some great restaurants, pubs, and afternoon teas that don’t require one to be a successful hedge fund manager to indulge in.
Belgravia Restaurants, Pubs, and Afternoon Teas
When I moved to the UK, I started my time in London with a three-week stay at a beautiful hotel just off Belgrave Square, a private garden in the heart of the neighborhood.
While there, I had a chance to get to know the area and live like a local, discovering the wonderful world of Waitrose, the hidden alleys and mews off Motcomb Street, and the pubs and restaurants on Elizabeth Street and Eccleston Street.
Since then I’ve been back countless times and I still love the neighborhood. If you want to follow in my footsteps, read on for my top picks for Belgravia restaurants, pubs, and afternoon teas.
Belgravia Pubs
If I want a Belgravia pub, I head to The Thomas Cubitt. It’s one of the area’s most popular watering holes.
This place is always full of Googlers on weeknights given its proximity to their offices on Buckingham Palace Road, and my inner Silicon Valley kid loves the entrepreneurial energy.
Up a pretty little road from Motcomb Street is a secret spot called The Nags Head on Kinnerton Street. It’s one of the most unique pubs in Belgravia—and all of London, for that matter.
Stepping into it is like traveling back in time, what with all the faded memorabilia covering every inch of the walls and the strict ‘no mobile phone’ policy. This is a true drinking establishment.
Belgravia Restaurants and Cafes
If I want to eat, there’s no shortage of pretty cafes and restaurants in Belgravia. Oliveto is my go-to for casual dinners. The dining room can get loud, but the pizzas are good and the atmosphere is always buzzing.
One of its sister restaurants, Olivo, numbers among the best restaurants in London. Located on colorful Eccleston Street, it’s a great place for Sardinian food and wine. The crab linguine is amazing.
Breakfast and coffee at Tomtom Coffee House are also staples, and when I need a cupcake—and I often do—the prettiest cupcakes in London are at Peggy Porschen on Elizabeth Street.
And that’s to say nothing of the best bread, which is baked at Poilane, a famous French bakery that I used to frequent when I worked in Paris.
When I’m in the mood to channel my Scottish ancestry, Boisdale of Belgravia is the perfect place. Its red facade and warren of tartan-filled rooms make it a British classic.
And when I want something different, Uni is my favorite Belgravia restaurant for Nikkei cuisine. Its blend of Japanese and Peruvian dishes means it’s great for everything from bite-size tacos to inventive sushi.
But Belgravia’s not all on the Victoria side of the neighborhood. Up towards Knightsbridge, Motcomb Street has Belgravia restaurants, pubs, and afternoon teas to rival those on the other side of Belgrave Square.
Pantechnicon is my favorite place on Motcomb Street. This complex has everything from cafes to restaurants and a roof terrace.
Tucked away off the street is Amaya, one of my favorite upscale Indian restaurants in London. I love their grilled dishes and cocktails.
Belgravia Afternoon Tea
And speaking of drinks, Belgravia afternoon teas are some of the best in London. The Goring’s afternoon tea is served in a lovely yellow room overlooking a garden.
Afternoon tea at The Halkin is a treat, too. Whether it’s themed or with a seasonal twist, there’s always something to love.
Where to Eat and Drink in Belgravia
I hope this guide to my favorite Belgravia restaurants, pubs, and afternoon teas has inspired you to go to the neighborhood and explore its food and drink scene. There are some great places to eat in Belgravia.
If you need to walk off the calories afterwards, my self-guided Belgravia walking tour is just the ticket. Happy exploring!
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I also love going for some drinks/eats in Belgravia. Last time I went to The Pantechnicon, it’s beautifull and affordable. I’m sure you’ll love it 🙂
M
Thanks Maria! I’ve walked by there a million times and have always meant to go in, so next time I will have to!
Love those stars! Happy new year Lovely! Wishing you health & happiness in 2015 x
Glad you like them! Happy new year!
What a wonderful guide! I’ll save it for our next trip to London. I’m sure we will enjoy it!
Happy 2015!
xx,
E.
Glad you like it! I hope you enjoy exploring Belgravia on your next trip to London!
Great guide – we will be staying not be too far away from Belgravia and I look forward to checking some of these places out!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy exploring the area!
When I move to London later in the year, I’ll be living on the other side of Victoria station and am excited to explore this part of the city (even if I’m a broke grad school student…exploring is still free!)
That’s great! I hope you have fun!
Your post has convinced me that I need to explore Belgravia more! There are so many good spots around there, and I think what kept me away is that I just assume everything will carry a hefty pricetag!
And EVERY DAY should be a cupcake day – I totally need to get to Peggy Porschen very soon 🙂
Yeah, there’s a lot of great places there! You’ll love the cupcakes, too!
I am loving your posts … I am moving to london in June and your post have made me super excited ! Thank
Thanks! Glad to hear it.
It looks lovely, I have to go there next time I visit London. I love these kind of places in a city… especially because of the restaurants and cafes. Beautiful photos as always.
🙂
Yeah! Glad you like the photos.
I absolutely love this post! I’ve never really explored Belgravia so I’ll be bookmarking this. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks! Hope you enjoy discovering Belgravia!
Excellent synopsis of some eating establishments in the Belgravia area. I will be staying in Belgravia soon and will certainly check some of these out, particularly for afternoon tea. I am always looking for recommendations on venues for afternoon tea in London as I like to sample at least 2 on each visit to the city and The Goring has been on my list for awhile.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it. Afternoon tea at The Goring is great!