RestaurantsLondonPimlicoSW1
231 Ebury St, London, SW1W 8UT

survey result

Summary

£76
 ££££
3
Good
4
Very Good
5
Exceptional
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Nothing changes, and it doesn’t need to” – at this “old-fashioned” French “hideaway” in Pimlico: “always a delightful experience” thanks to its “rustic” and “quirky” candle-lit setting (“you may need your phone torch to read the menu”), which every year ranks near the top of our annual diners’ poll as one of London’s top choices for a smoochy ‘dîner à deux’. Its “comforting, homely cooking” is “unashamedly French”, and essentially unchanged since circa 1964 (which is when it opened); service, similarly, is very Gallic and, for the most part, “utterly charming”. Top Tip – “particularly lovely in the summer: sitting outside, one could be in La Belle France”.

Summary

£76
 ££££
3
Good
4
Very Good
5
Exceptional
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

Dark and candle-lit, this “unchanging French” old charmer in Pimlico has “lots of tiny tables squeezed into its intimate nooks”; and yet again comes highly recommended for a steamy date in our annual diners’ poll. The very Gallic service “can be a bit hit ’n’ miss (it helps if they know you)” but typically “makes you feel so cosseted and looked after”. “There aren’t so many restaurants left in Paris serving such traditional bistro fare” (Tarte à l’Oignon, Beef Bourguignon, Crème Brûlée…), all served in “very generous portions” and “with a sensibly priced wine list”. Top Tip – “great terrace for al fresco dining” in summer.

Summary

£70
  £££
3
Good
4
Very Good
5
Exceptional
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“A candlelit supper for two here first is a surefire route to romance later!” according to fans of this “timeless” Gallic corner of Pimlico, which has “been a favourite for decades” (and which perennially nears the top of our list of London’s most romantic destinations). With its “cosy and intimate” hidden nooks, the “warren-like” interior “oozes rural France”, as do the “charming” and characterful waiters. Its “solid and traditional French bistro-style fare” is entirely in keeping: cassoulet, coq au vin, escargot, onion tart, steak frites, tarte Tatin, all washed down with “vin rouge from the large bottle” (with consumption measured by a dip-stick). “Why would you change anything about it?” Top Tip – in summer, the “good outside tables” come into their own.

Summary

£66
  £££
2
Average
2
Average
5
Exceptional
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“Forty years old, with great character and personality, and never, ever changing” – this “most romantic and cosy”, candle-lit Pimlico charmer has long been in contention as London’s top tip for seduction, thanks not least to its numerous secluded tables in dark niches (or, “you can sit outside on a sunny lunchtime and transport yourself to the South of France”). For a “French hit”, the “typical bistro fare” (circa 1975) is “enjoyable” if resolutely un-foodie and delivered with variable efficiency, but lots of characterful “Gallic charm”. “The magnum bottles of unlabelled wine are fun” too (“they dip it with a stick at the end to measure how much you have had....”)

For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).

Have you eaten at La Poule au Pot?

Owner's description

La Poule au Pot has been a Belgravia institution for as long as anyone cares to remember. The alluring interior, with its intimate nooks and festoons of dried flowers and bric-à-brac has changed little since the 60s and offers an authentic re-creation of “paysan” France. It is no surprise that La Poule has been voted “best for romance” in the whole of London in Hardens guide for the nth year in succession. 

Alongside the wonderfully atmospheric ambience, the menu is classic French too: excellent ingredients, generous portions and fine cooking, presented with exuberant panache. The wine list is honest, thoughtful and interesting. 

In warmer months, the extensive outdoor seating area makes the restaurant 

one of the most desirable alfresco destinations in the capital.

Prices

Availability 2 courses 3 courses coffee included service included
Always £39.50 £44.95

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Pudding
£18.50 £37.50 £0.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £34.50
Filter Coffee £0.00
Extras  
Service 12.50%

Restaurant details

Highchair
Yes
16
No trainers
65
Yes

La Poule au Pot Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of La Poule au Pot Restaurant in SW1, London by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of La Poule au Pot restaurant.
David Y
Twenty years since I last ate here and it...
Reviewed 3 months, 2 days ago

"Twenty years since I last ate here and it’s essentially unchanged including the menu."

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231 Ebury St, London, SW1W 8UT
Opening hours
Monday12 pm‑11 pm
Tuesday12 pm‑11 pm
Wednesday12 pm‑11 pm
Thursday12 pm‑11 pm
Friday12 pm‑11 pm
Saturday12 pm‑11 pm
Sunday12 pm‑11 pm

The 2025 Harden's Guide

2025 Hardens London Restaurant Guide

"User friendly in price, size and outlook"

Financial Times