15 Best Restaurants For Sunday Roasts In London

The Sunday roast has been a part of British tradition since the 15th century, a legacy carried over from King Henry VII, as a way to break the fast from meat after church. Those who could not afford ovens of their own (which was many) were said to have stopped by the local bakers on the way to church, placing what meat they could afford in their unused bread ovens to be collected after church and doled out through the week. This carnivorous practice was encouraged by cookbook author William Kitchener, who wrote in 1871 that a healthy diet included 6 1/2 pounds of meat, a pint of beer, and 4 pounds of bread each week.

Great Britain is known for its love of predictability and order. Summertime is for the Pimm's Cup, Cricket, and Wimbledon. Winter is for brisk walks swiftly followed by trips to the pub. And Sundays, regardless of the weather, tend to be reserved for the Sunday roast. Though the name suggests slow-cooked meats, this has come to signify a long lunch with friends or family, whether at the pub or at home.

Londoners are spoilt for choice, with numerous pubs and restaurants serving incredible Sunday roasts and elaborate, well-cooked lunch options. Here are just fifteen great options for where to relax and enjoy one of the nation's best traditions. Afternoon naps are served separately.

Stop by The Castle, a traditional pub in the village of Walthamstow for a Sunday lunch to find out why Britons will forever defend this age-old tradition. Bring the kids, bring the dogs; a good pub will welcome both (as long as they're well-behaved) with loving arms.

We recommend starting the meal with a classic scotch egg, a hard or soft-boiled egg surrounded by sausage meat and bread crumbs then deep-fried. Or, venture a little off the beaten track with a Montgomery cheddar croquette served with chili jam. Then move onto the mains, choosing between beef with tongue-tingling horseradish sauce, roast chicken, or a vegan-friendly nut roast. Keeping in line with Sunday roast traditions, each main is served with mounds of roast potatoes, crispy Yorkshire puddings, carrots, celeriac (or celery root as it's known state-side), and broccoli, all smothered in a savory gravy. Desserts are slightly less traditional but worth saving room for, including a chargrilled rum-soaked pineapple with coconut cream, cherry chocolate brownie, or ice cream for the kids. 

Ling Lings at The Gun in Homerton stands out from the competition for many reasons, including the seamlessly incorporated, undeniably delicious Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese ingredients and flavors, giving roast dinners a whole new dimension. Founded and run by Jenny Phung and her partner James Shepherd Yorkshire, puddings are dusted with sesame, mustard greens have nori, and even the gravy has been generously infused with miso. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, creating a dedicated Ling Ling's fan club. 

Ling Lings, like a few others on this list, takes a summer sabbatical when the weather becomes too hot for customers and cooks alike to enjoy a roast anything. However, don't despair; all think roast chicken, pork, short rib, and sea bass will resume service in September. So, mark your calendars and start building up your appetite — you won't want to miss these thrilling and unique flavors. 

This newly renovated pub in Highgate offers cozy bedrooms and rooms upstairs to rent for the night. Consider this your invitation to book one, revel in a big Saturday night out in the city, a long lie-in on Sunday, then lazily make your way to the pub downstairs to dig into a Sunday lunch powerful enough to cure any lingering hangover. To maximalize the location, follow the pub lunch with a long digestion-inducing walk through the tree-lined area of Hampstead Heath.

The Sunday lunch offering is ever-changing to reflect the seasons. Dishes like ricotta stuffed courgette flower with honey and grilled English asparagus pay homage to the short-but-much-loved spring and summer seasons. Some classics never venture off the menu, like the sirloin of Shorthorn beef, served with carrots, parsnips, kale, roast potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding. No matter what you order, you don't want to miss the cauliflower cheese, Britain's answer to mac and cheese, and a classic Sunday roast favorite of all ages. 

Frankly, we'd eat anything that comes out of the kitchen of Cafe Cecilia, in Hackney, no matter what day or meal. Run and owned by Max Rocha, who cut his teeth at other well-respected establishments like The River Cafe and St John's Bread & Wine, Cafe Cecilia's menu reads like an homage to understated-but-exceptional traditions, encouraging hunger pangs and anticipation from even the pickiest of eaters.

Though there is no specific 'Sunday Roast' menu, there also doesn't need to be; the entire menu feels created in the spirit of the tradition of simplicity, comfort, and quality. Check the daily blackboard for seasonal offerings. A plateful of Delicia squash, butter beans, cavolo nero, and labneh or leg of lamb served with pommes Anna and Anchovy, followed by deep-fried bread & butter pudding with cold custard, offers customers Sunday roast classics on any day it's open for lunch. The Guinness bread and Guinness bread ice cream are not to be missed.

The Marksman in the hip borough of Hackney offers its customers seasonal dishes, drawing on diasporas from various regions that have settled in London. Having recently been named Michelin's pub of the year, a Sunday reservation seems like a no-brainer.

Choose a two-course or three-course menu ranging from £38 – £42 ($48 – $53), then select the dishes that make your mouth water the most. The slow roast lamb shoulder and roast Norfolk chicken are ordered per pair, for maximum home-style comfort.

The Marksman has recently started offering workman's lunch on Fridays for only £15 ($19), showcasing hearty dishes like sausage and mash or braised chicken with Jersey royal potatoes and a drink. Consider it a miniature Sunday lunch that you can slip in on a Friday afternoon. No matter what you order or when you go, we advise you to finish the meal with the brown butter and honey tart; you don't want to miss it.

Those looking for a great Sunday roast need look no further than Blacklock. With five London locations, Blacklock takes its inspiration from the chophouse traditions of the past, known for serving cuts of meat still on the bone in an unpretentious environment.

Blacklock roasts its joints, whether beef, lamb, pork, or whole celeriac, over coals, then serves them with the obligatory Yorkshire pudding, duck fat-roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and gravy. For those who want to try it all, split an order of the "All In" between two for a mixture of beef, lamb, and pork with all the trimmings.

We beg of you to add a bowl of bubbling cauliflower and four cheese to your order, whatever it may be. For those needing a bit of hair of the dog, the breakfast martini or beefy Mary will set you right. Vegetarians, however, may want to avoid the beefy Mary as beef jus is involved.

This is a restaurant that not only draws inspiration from chophouses of the past — it was one! Farringdon's The Quality Chop House has been around since 1869, which is reason alone to visit the place. The other reason to visit this establishment is stated right in the name. It is one of the most highly regarded places to experience all the Sunday roast classics, a known favorite amongst several of the city's respected food writers.

Head chef Shaun Searley puts out nothing but the best; three courses for £45 ($57) seems like a steal. Start with crab minestrone, mussels, or other seasonal favorites before moving on to the main attraction — the roasts. Lamb, beef, pork belly, or the chateaubriand, a cut similar to filet mignon for making the juiciest roast beef. Finish with the olive oil ice cream for a truly epic meal that will send you right into a food coma in the nicest way possible.

Hawksmoor has become synonymous with all things carnivorous. Now with restaurants in three English cities, one Scottish, one Irish, and two in the U.S., it has become much easier to access the group's award-winning offerings than ever before. Londoners are spoilt for choice with eight locations, each with slightly different offerings on the lunch and dinner menus. All London locations, save The Lowback Bar, offer a Sunday Roast menu.

The Sunday Roast menu at any Hawksmoor – the Sunday Feasting section in particular – is one to seek out. It features a slow roast rump mainstay and comes with all the trimmings, including a bone marrow and onion gravy that will leave you dreaming of filling a bathtub with the stuff and then slipping in for a long soak. Cuts of meat advertised on the blackboard are of epic proportions meant for sharing between two along with all of the sides. We wouldn't blame you if you decided to add an additional order of Hawksmoor stuffing.

Despite preparing for a 'Roast holiday' until the weather cools back down again, Brentford's Black Dog Beer House should be on everyone's destination list for a Sunday roast — just not in August. As its website proudly states, its claim is for customers to "expect a slice of the unexpected along with some reworked classics." This ethos translates in a few different ways throughout the menus.

Go for tradition with roast beef served with bitingly fresh horseradish and red wine gravy, or try something a bit different. The lamb shoulder offers thick, tahini-laden hummus, pomegranate, and thyme gravy, incorporating several influential cultures into one deeply comforting dish. For those who want the Sunday lunch experience but not the roast, there are plenty of other options, including mussels, fried halloumi, or smoked duck. For those looking for a craft beer to accompany their roast lunch, The Black Dog Beer House is your spot, with over a dozen on tap at any one time. 

The Harwood Arms in the southwest neighborhood of Fulham has made a name for itself over the years. It remains the only Michelin-starred pub in London and continues to live up to the high standard as several different chefs have stood at the helm. 

It is also known as one of London's best spots for an exceptional example of a Sunday roast tradition. Using a good amount of wild game like venison, The Harwood Arms also has a rooftop garden to keep its carbon footprint to a minimum. Pubs like this practically beg customers to order scotch eggs; no matter what experience you may have had with them in the past, these will leave you wanting more.

Roasts here should be ordered in pairs with a choice of beef, venison, pork, or cod, all sustainably sourced within the U.K. Orders come with all the classic trimmings: Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, baked carrots, cauliflower cheese, and greens. Try to save room for dessert, as the puddings are also exceptional. 

Tourists and locals searching for a quintessentially British meal should look no further than the cozy and striking Canton Arms to deliver just that. The Sunday roast lunch is, after all, one of the markings of the British Empire. 

The Canton Arms in Lambeth offers more than just British food, bringing in other cultural influences to create delicious dishes. Food is all served in a comfortable, family-friendly environment that highlights the best aspects of what a good British pub can offer. If eating in pairs, the soy-braised Dexter short rib, served with potato roasties and Asian slaw, will fill you up. Those looking to feed themselves plus another four should order the sever-hour slow-cooked Salt March lamb shoulder with Greek salad. The team lists daily specials and other sharing options on its blackboard, so make sure to look up when you're there — you won't want to miss them!

Frankly, we don't think there's a bad dish coming out of the kitchen at The Camberwell Arms. The warm, worn wood-accented dining room plays host to locals and those from afar searching for seasonal, thoughtfully made dishes.

Like many other pubs, the Sunday lunch menu features a variety of dishes meant to share, including succulent spit roast chicken for two, served with spinach, chili schmaltz yogurt, and roast potatoes. The aged steaks each come with smoked garlic butter, which is reason enough to order. If you fancy fish, The Camberwell Arms offers whole grilled brill with tantalizing saffron butter and chips. Roast potatoes flow through the entire menu, so spud lovers rejoice! We beg of you to save room for dessert; a spoonful of the baked custard, blackberries, and buckwheat crumble or the apricot and almond galette will be all it takes to convince you the efforts were worthwhile.

This all-vegan restaurant is a bit of a wildcard, setting itself apart from the other carnivorous-leaning listings. It is the go-to spot for the city's non-meat-eating public searching for a great Sunday lunch and a bit of heavy metal-meets-dive bar vibes. Located in none other than Camden Town, known for its predilection for all things rebellious the menu reads like your favorite hole-in-the-wall.

The menu's heading labels the offerings as "plant-based food for the soul." Vegan wings, macaroni and cheese, fries, and tater tots are on the menu most days. On Sundays, you'll find a Sunday roast list that will knock your socks off, vegan or not. Choose from a mock roasted chicken breast, pork tofu belly, or a beef-style steak with sage and garlic butter. Each plateful comes with the obligatory roast potatoes, greens, and other veggies, plus a quintessential plant-based Yorkshire pudding — because no proper roast would be complete without it.

Opened in 2013, the Smokehouse Islington is a cross between a pub and a restaurant that's made a distinctive name for itself in the city by smoking the meats and a focus on sustainability. The Smokehouse is run by a family-owned business, Noble Inns, who look after two other humble-but-remarkable pubs within London, The Pig and Butcher, and The Princess of Shoreditch.

Sunday roast lunches at the Smokehouse feature lamb shoulder, pork, chicken, and beef, all of which have been smoked, of course. There's also a lentil and nut roast for vegetarian and vegan eaters. Each protein choice comes with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, gravy, and greens, as any self-respecting joint offering a Sunday roast lunch would do.

If you manage to save room for dessert, a trio of classic and comforting British puddings are on offer, including a crumble for two, a burnt butter and honey tart, and sticky toffee pudding. There is no wrong choice unless, of course, the choice is total abstention. 

It takes a lot of conviction to decide to open up a restaurant in central London, let alone one that features a fire pit right in the middle of said restaurant. But that's what the folks behind Temper did, and the risk has paid off. The restaurant has since opened up several other locations in the city. 

As you might assume, this is a meat-forward establishment that prides itself on sourcing the animals used, each from small farms, which are then butchered in-house to ensure high quality and high animal welfare. Meats are then smoked on site and in sight of diners. Sunday roasts are an event at Temper and include a selection of smoked meats, some of which are then pulled, like the lamb or beef shin. If you can't decide which one you want, the 'Three Beast Feast' is for you. Remember that cauliflower cheese, roast potatoes, and Yorkshire puddings are all sold separately, so don't forget to order them by name.