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Shot by a City Insiders curator.
The Lavery
★ 4.0(1 review)Café
elegantminimalistwhite-interior
About the Vibe
Tucked into a Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse opposite the Natural History Museum, The Lavery is South Kensington's newest dining jewel. Chef Yohei Furuhashi (formerly of the River Cafe) serves up Mediterranean small plates in a room so white it's practically blinding—think "John Lennon Imagine White" meets leftover grandeur. The space is undeniably beautiful with gilt mirrors and original fireplaces, though the menu prices will make you do a double-take: £49 for langoustines and £68 for sea bass? Yeah, this is River Cafe money. The food is genuinely excellent—those gnocchi with fresh peas and the monkfish with mojo verde are worth the splurge—but if you're bringing kids or budget-conscious friends, you might want to skip the main courses and stick to sharing plates at the bar.
Known For
- •Mediterranean small plates
- •Original Bean chocolate mousse
- •Yohei Furuhashi's Mediterranean cuisine
- •Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse
- •Bar seating for pre-dinner drinks
Best For
date nightmuseum day lunchspecial occasion dinner
1 review
City InsidersEditorialMarch 30, 2026
Beautiful but pricey—worth it for the chocolate mousse
The Lavery is the kind of place that makes you wish you had more money to spend on food. Chef Yohei Furuhashi has created a menu that's equal parts Mediterranean soul and British seasonal produce, and the execution is nearly flawless. The gnocchi with fresh peas is a standout—light, pillowy, and perfectly seasoned. The monkfish with alubia beans and that "pleasingly rough-and-ready" mojo verde is another winner, though the £68 sea bass might make you question your life choices. The dining room itself is a masterclass in white-on-white minimalism, with floor-to-ceiling gilt mirrors and original fireplaces that scream "I'm expensive." It's beautiful, yes, but also a bit cold—this isn't a cozy neighborhood bistro. The Original Bean chocolate mousse is genuinely one of the best desserts in London, though, so you'll forgive the price tag for that.