Few rituals matter more to Londoners than the Sunday roast. Popularised under Henry VIII and traditionally timed to be ready when families returned from church, it has evolved into a full-blown weekly institution — one that Londoners take surprisingly seriously, arguing for hours over the “correct” amount of gravy, whether pork crackling beats beef, and which pub does the biggest Yorkshire pudding.
From cult gastropubs booked out six weeks in advance to Michelin-calibre kitchens and trolley-service theatre in five-star hotels, this guide rounds up London’s best Sunday roasts right now.
What Makes a Great Sunday Roast?
Before the list, here’s what separates a good roast from a great one:
- Properly roasted potatoes — crisp and golden outside, fluffy inside, usually cooked in beef dripping or duck fat
- A generous Yorkshire pudding — risen tall, not stodgy
- Well-rested meat — beef pink in the middle, pork with proper crackling, lamb tender
- Rich, unctuous gravy — ideally topped up tableside, not rationed
- Seasonal vegetables — not an afterthought
- A genuine plant-based option — the best places now treat vegetarian and vegan roasts as equally important, not a last-minute substitution
The Best Sunday Roasts in London
The Harwood Arms — Fulham (Best Michelin-Starred Roast)
London’s first Michelin-starred pub, The Harwood Arms is built around game and rigorously sourced British produce. Its Sunday roast brings fine-dining precision to a genuinely cosy pub setting, and remains one of the most consistently recommended roasts in the city.
Best for: A Michelin-calibre Sunday lunch without the stuffiness of formal fine dining.
Blacklock — Soho & Shoreditch (Best Cult Sharing Roast)
Named after the cast-iron “black lock” found on Georgian London tenement doors, Blacklock built its reputation on whole joints of beef, pork, and lamb cooked over open coals. Its “All In” sharing roast — with bottomless potatoes and proper Yorkshire puddings — has become a genuine cult favourite; expect to book six to eight weeks ahead for Sunday lunch.
Best for: Big appetites and even bigger value via the sharing format.
The Camberwell Arms — Camberwell (Best Neighbourhood Institution)
Established in the 1940s, this rustic, pastel-walled south London gastropub pairs an innovative approach to British cooking with genuine neighbourhood warmth. The spit-roasted chicken with cicoria, potatoes, and aioli is a standout, and vegetarians are treated with real care rather than an afterthought.
Best for: A relaxed, unpretentious south London roast with real culinary ambition behind it.
The Marksman — Hackney Road (Best Modern Gastropub)
Open since 2015, The Marksman blends Victorian pub charm — polished oak, green leather seats — with genuinely accomplished modern British cooking. The Hereford beef rump with Yorkshire pudding is the standout order.
Best for: East Londoners who want serious cooking in an unfussy pub setting.
The Devonshire — Soho (Best Buzzy Central Roast)
One of the most talked-about pubs in London right now, The Devonshire serves its Sunday roast with real confidence, including tableside top-ups of sauces and horseradish from servers carrying hefty white ceramic pots. Booking releases at 10:30am on Thursdays and go fast.
Best for: A high-energy, high-demand central London roast worth planning your week around.
Quality Chop House — Clerkenwell (Best Serious Meat Feast)
A Victorian former “working class caterer” turned modern classic, Quality Chop House takes its Sunday roast as seriously as the rest of its meat-focused menu — expect a genuinely substantial, carnivore-focused feast.
Best for: Diners who want a serious, no-compromise meat course.
The Guinea Grill — Mayfair (Best Old-School Institution)
A long-running Mayfair favourite known for Yorkshire puddings “the size of hubcaps,” perfectly pink beef, and a gravy with a devoted following. It’s the kind of place regulars treat as a non-negotiable weekly ritual.
Best for: A classic, old-school Mayfair roast with real staying power.
Charlie’s at Brown’s Hotel — Mayfair (Best Trolley-Service Theatre)
Set inside London’s oldest hotel (dating to 1837), Charlie’s serves roasts carved tableside from gleaming trolleys, all under eccentric floral wallpaper and ornate crockery. British chef Adam Byatt (of Clapham’s Trinity) leads the kitchen, with contemporary options like Fosse Meadow chicken alongside the classics.
Best for: Full theatrical ceremony and Michelin-worthy cooking in one sitting.
Rosi — Mayfair (Best Art Deco Elegance)
An Art Deco-inspired Mayfair dining room built around meticulous provenance — think impeccably sourced British lamb and beef. Widely considered one of the neighbourhood’s most polished Sunday feasts.
Best for: A refined, glamorous Mayfair setting with serious ingredient quality to match.
The Parakeet — North London (Best Fire-Cooked Precision)
Centred around a custom wood-fired grill and led by ex-Brat chef Ben Allen, The Parakeet brings Michelin-calibre technique to salt-aged beef, lamb rump, and hay-smoked chicken, served with honey-roasted carrots and notably tall Yorkshire puddings.
Best for: North Londoners chasing serious fire-cooked flavour depth.
Elliot’s — Borough Market & Hackney (Best Wood-Fired Newcomer)
Chef-owner Brett Redman applies Elliot’s signature wood-fired philosophy to its Sunday roast, with a sirloin and bone marrow option served with Yorkshire puddings and horseradish standing out as the highlight.
Best for: Fans of Elliot’s usual cooking style looking for a Sunday-specific version.
Barge East — Hackney Wick (Best Unique Setting)
A genuinely unusual setting: a converted Dutch barge moored on the River Lee, with wooden fixtures, parquet floors, and porthole windows nodding to its nautical past and sustainable ethos.
Best for: A memorable, photogenic setting alongside a properly cooked roast.
Hawksmoor — Seven Dials & other locations (Best for Beef Purists)
Founded in 2006 by Will Beckett and Huw Gott around a mission to serve the best possible cuts of beef, Hawksmoor’s Sunday roast draws on the same premium-cut expertise as its famous steaks — the Chateaubriand with all the trimmings is a standout when available.
Best for: Beef purists who want restaurant-grade cuts on their Sunday plate.
Jam Delish — Angel (Best Plant-Based Roast)
Proof that a brilliant Sunday roast doesn’t need a joint of meat at the centre. Jam Delish brings bold, Caribbean-inspired flavour to its vegan roasts, with pimento-marinated proteins and vibrant, technically precise sides.
Best for: Vegan diners who want a genuinely creative, flavour-forward alternative to the traditional format.
Café François — Borough Yards (Best Stylish Alternative)
A stylish, all-day Borough Yards brasserie where the rotisserie roast chicken — served with Toulouse sausage stuffing and gooey leek gratin — is the standout order, alongside reliable French classics for anyone at the table craving something other than a roast.
Best for: Mixed groups who want roast chicken done well alongside proper French bistro cooking.
Quaglino’s — St James’s (Best for a Glamorous Occasion)
A St James’s institution combining contemporary European cooking, a live jazz soundtrack, and legendary cocktails. This is Sunday lunch as an occasion rather than a quiet ritual.
Best for: Celebratory Sunday lunches that are happy to run late into the afternoon.
Best Sunday Roasts in London: Quick Comparison
| Restaurant | Area | Vibe | Best For |
| The Harwood Arms | Fulham | Michelin-starred pub | Game and precision cooking |
| Blacklock | Soho / Shoreditch | Cult sharing roast | Value and big appetites |
| The Camberwell Arms | Camberwell | Rustic neighbourhood | Relaxed south London roast |
| The Marksman | Hackney Road | Modern gastropub | Serious East London cooking |
| The Devonshire | Soho | Buzzy, in-demand | High-energy central roast |
| Quality Chop House | Clerkenwell | Meat-forward Victorian | Serious carnivores |
| The Guinea Grill | Mayfair | Old-school institution | Classic Mayfair ritual |
| Charlie’s at Brown’s | Mayfair | Trolley-service theatre | Ceremony and history |
| Rosi | Mayfair | Art Deco elegance | Polished provenance-led feast |
| The Parakeet | North London | Fire-cooked precision | Michelin-calibre technique |
| Elliot’s | Borough / Hackney | Wood-fired | Bone marrow and sirloin fans |
| Barge East | Hackney Wick | Converted river barge | A unique, memorable setting |
| Hawksmoor | Seven Dials + more | Premium steakhouse | Beef purists |
| Jam Delish | Angel | Caribbean plant-based | Vegan diners |
| Café François | Borough Yards | Stylish brasserie | Rotisserie chicken lovers |
| Quaglino’s | St James’s | Glamorous, jazz-soundtracked | Celebratory occasions |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Sunday roast usually served in London? Most pubs and restaurants serve Sunday roast between 12pm and 5pm, with earlier sittings (12–1pm) typically offering the freshest food and a more relaxed atmosphere. It’s worth arriving no later than 3pm to guarantee full menu availability.
Do I need to book a Sunday roast in advance? Yes, for anywhere popular. Some of London’s best-known roasts, like Blacklock, need six to eight weeks’ notice, while others, like The Devonshire, release bookings on a specific day and time each week. Walk-ins are rarely reliable for well-regarded spots.
How much does a Sunday roast cost in London? A pub Sunday roast typically costs £18–£31 per person. Higher-end options at places like The Harwood Arms or Quality Chop House can run £35–£55, while sharing-format roasts like Blacklock’s “All In” can offer better value at around £25–£30 per person including trimmings.
Where can I find a good vegetarian or vegan Sunday roast in London? The Camberwell Arms does a well-regarded vegetarian option, and Jam Delish in Angel specialises in Caribbean-inspired vegan roasts with real technical ambition rather than a simple meat substitution.
Is a Sunday roast the same as a Sunday lunch? Yes — “Sunday roast” and “Sunday lunch” are used interchangeably in London to describe the same meal: roasted meat (or a plant-based alternative), roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables, and gravy.
Which areas of London have the best concentration of Sunday roasts? East London (Hackney and Shoreditch) and North London (Highgate and Kentish Town) tend to have the highest concentration of well-regarded Sunday roasts, though Mayfair leads on grandeur and ceremony.
One More Bite
London’s Sunday roast scene spans everything from a converted barge on the River Lee to a Michelin-starred pub in Fulham and trolley-service theatre in a 187-year-old Mayfair hotel. Whatever your priority — value, ceremony, serious meat, or a genuinely inventive plant-based option — there’s a table in London worth planning your Sunday around.
Just remember to book ahead. In London, showing up to a good roast without a reservation is its own kind of Sunday tragedy.