The UK’s Most Instagrammed Michelin Star Restaurants

Set in the heart of London’s Knightsbridge, Heston Blumenthal’s eponymous restaurant is not only one of the UK’s most celebrated, it also tops our list.

It’s not hard to see why. The famous “Egg in Verjuice” – coconut pannacotta with coffee parfait and sour apple juice inside a white chocolate shell – may look like a simple boiled egg but is in fact a 100-step masterpiece of modern cooking. It’s a sight to behold and has wowed diners since its inception in the mid-2010s.

Heston Blumenthal also takes the second spot on our list with three-Michelin starred The Fat Duck. An unassuming gastropub (from the outside, at least), this has been named “Best Restaurant in the World” multiple times and consistently delivers a magical, playful and innovative experience.

Barrafina – which translates as “Excellent Bar” – is one of the UK’s best Spanish restaurants. It offers a casual atmosphere, but there’s no messing about. If you’re after a modern atmosphere and delicious tapas done well, you’ve come to the right place.

Located at Tower 42 in the centre of London, City Social offers impressive food and stunning views of the capital. This restaurant from Jason Atherton boasts a menu serving the best of British combined with innovation and the latest culinary trends.

Run by chef proprietor Tom Kerridge, the Hand and Flowers is a rustic gastropub and was the first in the UK to be awarded two Michelin stars. Comforting and cosy classics are the stars here – and the Sunday lunch is among the best in the country.

A stalwart of the UK food scene, Ruth Rogers’s The River Café opened in 1987, serving simple Italian classics. Fresh, seasonal ingredients are at the forefront of its offering – which explains why it’s still tricky to get a table there. Oh, and it also happens to be the place where celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall cut their culinary teeth.

Known for his avant-garde style, chef Michael O’Hare provides unconventional dishes in obscure surroundings at his Leeds restaurant. Expect the unexpected: macabre splashes against black plates, wacky cocktails galore and dishes such as “Dali to Delhi” – a tikka prawn served on a black telephone.

This Edinburgh restaurant, which takes after its highly revered and aptly surnamed chef, Tom Kitchin, is a celebration of the best in Scottish fare. The restaurant’s razor-sharp focus on sourcing the best in local, sustainable produce shines throughout the menu, which includes dishes like Hand-Dived Orkney Scallops.

Simon Rogan’s iconic Lake District outpost is an ode to simplicity. The dining room is modest, with whitewashed walls and flagstone floors – all the better a setting to appreciate the chef’s exquisitely presented dishes. Much of the food is home-grown in the restaurant’s own kitchen garden, giving real meaning to the term “from farm to fork”.

This is the second entry for chef Jason Atherton, whose Pollen Street Social also offers an informal yet sophisticated dining experience that describes itself as a “modern urban eating point”. Unsurprisingly, it’s hugely photogenic, with modern, clean lines and a cheese board to rival any in the UK.

With its imposing blue doorway (the restaurant is set within the historic Shoreditch Town Hall), east London newcomer The Clove Club offers modern British cooking that’s bound to blow your mind. The most photo-worthy of chef Isaac McHale’s dishes has to be the Crab Tart snack, which arrives in a beautiful (if other-worldly) spider crab skull.

Mention “Michel Roux JR” and you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t aware of the longstanding culinary dynasty. Le Gavroche, one of the first French fine dining restaurants in London, has lost nothing of its charm since it opened in 1981. The red interior, impeccable service and classic dishes are still a sight to behold – and an experience not to be missed.

Situated in the Four Seasons Hotel in London, this restaurant serves modern French cuisine while retaining its classic French roots. The restaurant is run by Anne-Sophie Pic, the world’s most decorated Michelin starred female chef. She currently holds eight Michelin stars across five restaurants.

Seasonality and ingredient sourcing take centre stage at this restaurant. Often, the menu can change after lunch when certain ingredients are no longer available. The wine list also plays a big part here. This restaurant’s aim is to offer an array of wines that you traditionally wouldn’t see at a restaurant.

Nestled in the beautiful Sussex countryside, this stunning restaurant is the perfect place to relax and enjoy some amazing food. Run by Executive Chef George Blogg, it only serves ingredients sourced from local suppliers or the Kitchen Garden at Gravetye Manor.

The last on our list is probably the best Chinese restaurant in London – and that’s saying something. The world-class oriental cooking combined with incredibly ornate presentation and a darkly lit dining room provides the ultimate opportunity for an Instagram-worthy shot.

This stylish restaurant showcases the essence of modern British cuisine. Run by Head Chef Mark Birchall, it offers innovative and original dishes featuring various different textures and flavours. Watching the chefs work in the open kitchen is also an enjoyable experience.

Despite having the reputation of being the flagship restaurant for Gordon Ramsay, this is still a relaxing and elegant place to eat. Matt Abé, the head chef and co-owner, maintains the Ramsay approach while also combining a range of unique styles and contrasting flavours.

The legendary Raymond Blanc runs this two-starred Michelin restaurant, located at the beautiful Belmond Hotel in Oxfordshire. Since opening its doors in 1984, this restaurant has set the standard for seasonal British cooking.

It may be set within a corporate development in London, but this restaurant is still a vibrant and unique place to eat. With its menu built around British micro-seasonal ingredients, Ikoyi offers a unique dining experience and dishes packed full of flavour.