We love a home-cooked meal - and let’s face it, with the current cost of, well everything, we’re all eating at home more than we used to. But there are still those special occasions - be it a birthday, anniversary or simply a long overdue date night - when the absolute best thing to do is to swap the sweat pants for your smartest sneakers and head out for a special meal in town. 

In recent years, some of the best chefs in London have combined their passion for excellent food and ingredients with a commitment to sustainability. The Michelin Guide has even introduced a Green Star award to recognise the outstanding restaurants who are going above and beyond to be eco-friendly. 

The result is a whole host of elegant and exceptional restaurants who are using ethically sourced, seasonal and local produce, and coming up with inventive ways to keep their carbon footprint down and food waste to the minimum. 

So if you’re looking for a special dinner location in London but still care about being sustainable, then you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our top recommendations for an unforgettable evening out to book now. 

For a super stylish outdoor dining experience in the heart of London: 

Native at Browns 

Inventive sustainable small plates with a focus on seasonal and foraged ingredients. You'll find Native inside the high-end boutique store Browns and its large courtyard outside, lined with trees, is especially special for al fresco dining. The menu changes regularly, reflecting the seasons. Leave room for their signature ‘marrowmel’ dessert, a caramelised white chocolate and bone marrow caramel, served in a sliced bone. You won't regret it.

For an “ethical, sexy and downright cool” dinner for two:

Fallow Restaurant 

Described as "ethical, sexy and downright cool”. Since 2021, Fallow has earned both the Marie Claire and GQ ‘sustainable restaurant of the year’ and the Caterer award for ‘best new restaurant’. Much of the produce is sourced from Fallow's own vegetable plots, which are less than 20 miles away, and mushrooms are even grown in a dedicated space beneath the restaurant. 

For elegant dining at an iconic London cultural institution:

Spring 

A warm and elegant restaurant set within a beautiful dining space set in the New Wing of the iconic Somerset House, in the arts and cultural heart of London. Spring was the first single-use plastic free restaurant in London from acclaimed Australian chef Skye Gyngell. In addition to their a la carte menu, Spring serves their Scratch menu Tuesday to Saturday between 5.30pm and 6.30pm. The dishes are created using ‘waste’ produce which using a little love and innovation, are turned into something new and delicious. 

For innovative zero-waste dining in London’s coolest neighbourhood:

Silo London

Absolute commitment to a zero-waste waste, which means that zero-waste ethos, meaning everything from the furniture to the plates is made with recycled materials, but don’t think this means any compromise on style or quality. Silo's menu changes frequently based on seasonal availability and the creativity of the chef, so you can expect a unique dining experience every time you visit. It is regularly lauded as one of London's best sustainable restaurants, and we can absolutely see (and taste!) why. 

For elegant pre-theatre dining:

Sussex Bar and Restaurant

Sussex bar and restaurant is one in a series of farm-led restaurants owned by the Gladwin Brothers, three brothers who share a love for delicious food, foraging, and farming. 

Their food aims to be seasonal and their menu prioritises British produce sourced from local British farmers. They have a no-wastage policy by ensuring that every part of the animal is used. Alongside the food, the drinks served at the Sussex bar are also locally sourced - the wine is collected from their vineyard in West Sussex which aims to be sustainable by protecting the natural habitat. And better yet, it is only a ten minute walk from your favourite West End theatres.

For fresh Italian fine dining that celebrates nature:

Petersham Nurseries Restaurant

Located in the heart of West London, a 10 minute drive from Richmond Tube Station, this restaurant offers an immersive experience for customers looking to enjoy a fresh fine dining experience with no green guilt - their pumpkin gnocchi is apparently a must try! Petersham Nurseries is dedicated to championing sustainability, having received a Green Michelin Star, and working with multiple partners, including the Friendship Estate and Marine Conservation Society, to promote ethical restaurant standards. 

For the ultimate blow-out:

Frog by Adam Handling 

Frog by Adam Handling is his flagship fine dining restaurant, serving modern and seasonal British cuisine. Having received its first Michelin Star in 2022, Frog by Adam Handling offers a tasting menu that showcases the best of British ingredients. They are committed to supporting local producers and reducing food waste, having previously instituted an outdoor dining terrace named Toad on the Road, which uses only food waste to create outrageously creative dishes - making Frog a pioneer in the move towards zero waste in the restaurant industry. 

Rough-luxe warmth at a Michelin Green Star award-winner:

Apricity

Symbolising regeneration, rejuvenation, generosity, and light, Apricity, the latest restaurant from multi-award-winning chef and owner Chantelle Nicholson and her team is a sustainable restaurant, in Mayfair, with a purpose - to create a sustainable community. Their mission is to not only meet acceptable levels of responsibility towards sustainability but to work hard to find best practices and to share these learnings. They have a range of menus available, including a dedicated tasting menu celebrating British vegetables and a tasting menu featuring regeneratively farmed meat and sustainably caught fish from the British Isles.

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