📍Noble Rot – 51 Lamb’s Conduit St, London WC1N 3NB, United Kingdom
🌍Country: England  
🔥Must-try dish: Sweetbreads
🪑Seating: Indoor and outdoor seating available.
👍The high: The tuna tartare with beef-fat crisps stole the show.
👎The low: The menu is changing daily, so there’s a good chance most of the below dishes will be available when you go, but there will be new, seasonal options! 

Watching Noble Rot go from quirky wine mag to one of London’s top tables has been a real treat, even if getting a reservation now feels like trying to join an exclusive wine cult.

I first stumbled across it in 2015, when their cheeky magazine caught my eye at the checkout of a Maida Vale wine shop. It was full of dry humour and even drier wine reviews, a match made in heaven. Since then, the magazine has kept rolling, a couple of books have landed on shelves, and the OG restaurant on Lamb’s Conduit Street has spawned two more across the city.

And let’s be clear: this is my favourite restaurant in London. Possibly the world.

The wine list is a full-blown novel, and the staff? Like sommeliers with personality. They’re encyclopedic in their knowledge but refreshingly unpretentious. Whether you go bottle-deep or tiptoe through the by-the-glass selection, you’re in for something exciting, unusual, and very drinkable.

The food? Comforting, clever, and unapologetically British – think ingredients from farms you can actually point to on a map, menus that shift daily, and dishes that make you wonder why you ever settled for sad pub pies. What’s fun is that each location runs its own menu, so you could easily justify multiple visits in one trip… you know, for research.

As for the vibe – it’s moody in the best way. Think dark wood, candlelight, and just the right amount of creaky floorboard charm. The walls are adorned with framed covers and art from the Noble Rot magazine, giving it an edge that says, “Yes, we’re into wine, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.” It’s intimate, stylish, and a little eccentric, like your coolest friend’s dining room if they also had a wine cellar and a Michelin nod.

So of course, on my latest trip to London, my first booking was at Noble Rot.

While I’ll always love the original Lamb’s Conduit Street spot, I couldn’t resist squeezing in a long, slightly indulgent lunch at the Mayfair location too. I started solo with a glass of sherry and a bowl of those glossy, bright green Spanish olives, you know the ones that look like they belong in a Bond film? The pairing was spot-on: savoury, briny, smooth. A very civilised way to warm up for what was to come.

Now, onto the good stuff:

Tuna Tartare
Fresh from the Cornish coast, this dish let the tuna shine without drowning it in soy or sesame. A hint of seaweed, a touch of seasoning, and crisps soaked in beef fat? I mean. Come on.

Comté Cheese Tart
Imagine if cheesecake took a sharp turn toward savoury – rich, silky, and deeply satisfying. Paired with a simple green salad and pickled walnuts for contrast. Light lunch? Not quite. Worth it? Absolutely.

Sweetbreads
I see sweetbreads, I order sweetbreads. It’s a rule. These lamb ones were golden, crispy, and swimming in a citrusy sauce that cut right through their richness. The big pieces? Chef’s kiss. Don’t hesitate if they’re on the menu.

Gnocchi
Noble Rot doesn’t always do pasta, which made this dish a lovely surprise. Pillowy gnocchi with goat cheese, chanterelles, and pesto, the kind of plate you want to curl up with and never share.

Rabbit
Yes, it’s rabbit, and no, it’s not weird. Think roast loin that leans more chicken than cartoon character, served with creamy white beans and a punchy salsa verde. Clean, light, and totally delicious.

Hogget
Hogget: because sometimes lamb wants a little more depth. This slow-cooked version came in a tomato-based sauce with fasolakia (Greek-style green beans that deserve their own spotlight). Deep, rich, and begging for a glass of something earthy.

Cheese Plate
I always save room for cheese. Three rotating selections, usually a blue, a soft, and a hard, with honey or jelly on the side. An elegant way to finish, and far more satisfying (for me) than something sugary.

If you’re in a small group, playing the field with the by-the-glass menu is a must. You’ll try new varietals, learn something in the process, and maybe even surprise yourself (I certainly did). A special mention to the A Bain Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire – it singlehandedly redeemed the grape for me and would’ve easily passed for something far different in a blind tasting.

So yes, whether you’re a wine geek, a foodie, or just someone who appreciates a good meal and better banter, Noble Rot is the place.

It’s fun, it’s unpretentious, and it’s always evolving. You might leave with a tote bag, a magazine, or a new favourite grape. You’ll definitely leave planning your next visit.

Until next time…

Eat with you soon!