Sunday roast is one of London’s most beloved rituals, and the city’s best tables prove the tradition has never been stronger or more diverse.
Where London’s Sunday roast culture comes from
The Sunday roast has deep roots in British life. The tradition originated in Britain as a meal eaten after the church service on Sunday, and it developed as something unique to British culture. Over time, the meal moved from the home to pubs and restaurants. In London, Sunday roasts have moved from home kitchens to restaurants and upscale gastropubs, and many now eat the meal at pubs with friends regardless of religion.
Today, London’s version of the ritual reflects the city itself: diverse, ambitious, and full of personality. The Sunday roast is now found across London’s incredible gastropubs and restaurants, featuring everything from chicken, lamb, pork and beef to vegetarian and vegan alternatives. Standards have also risen sharply. In the modern era, the only real change to the Sunday ritual is that standards are at an all-time high.
4 classic pubs that raise the bar
Marksman, Shoreditch. As the first London pub to win the Michelin Pub of the Year award, Marksman is one of the best places for a Sunday roast in London. Foodies arrive to enjoy beautifully executed British dishes, including Hereford rump, whole chicken to share, and wing rib with all the trimmings. Book early because tables move fast.
Hawksmoor Seven Dials, Covent Garden. Hawksmoor was created in 2006 with a focus on premium cuts, and the restaurant has more than mastered the art of the roast. You can choose a classic slow-roast rump with all the trimmings, or opt for a sharing cut from their blackboard. The beef dripping roast potatoes are a highlight.
The Red Lion and Sun, Highgate. The Red Lion and Sun is a Highgate Village institution and a pub with excellent seasonal British food and strong alfresco potential. The suckling pig (which you need to order when booking) is totally divine, the roast potatoes are excellent, and the pub remains a firm favourite.
Quality Chop House, Farringdon. The Quality Chop House fully lives up to its name, and it has been feeding the residents of Farringdon since 1896. It is a historical setting mixed with innovative British cooking and is considered a modern classic. The confit potatoes alone are worth the visit.
2 spots that celebrate London’s diversity
London’s Sunday roast scene now embraces the city’s multicultural character, and these 2 restaurants prove the format can hold much more than beef and Yorkshire pudding.
Guanabana, Kentish Town. Guanabana serves one of the best halal Sunday roasts in London, with a jerk beef number that delivers the right ratio of rich jerk gravy to everything else. The perfect bite includes spicy, tender jerk beef, a crispy roast potato, a caramelised baby carrot, sweet plantain, and a corner of Yorkshire pudding soaked in gravy. It is a genuinely joyful place to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Barge East, Hackney Wick. Moored on the River Lee in Hackney Wick, Barge East serves one of the top Sunday lunches in London. The historic Dutch boat turned restaurant combines charm with a commitment to sustainable cooking. Prices sit between £21 and £31 for a 2 or 3 course set menu, and the setting is unlike anywhere else in the city.
What food professionals say about the London Sunday roast
The Sunday roast is far more than a meal in London. It represents a weekly ritual of community and belonging that has survived centuries of change. Today’s best London pubs and restaurants understand that guests want 2 things at once: the comfort of tradition and the excitement of quality. The Yorkshire pudding must be tall and golden. The gravy must be rich and made from real meat juices. The potatoes must be crispy outside and soft inside. When all of those elements come together in a great room with great company, the Sunday roast becomes one of the finest dining experiences the city offers. Chefs who respect that formula and add their own personality to it are the ones who earn the queues.
Industry perspective, gastropub and Sunday lunch professionals in London
2 restaurants worth a longer journey
The Waterman’s Arms, Barnes. This is one of the best Sunday roasts available in London, and the lamb shoulder is the sharing roast to order. The Waterman’s Arms is a riverside pub in Barnes that serves great modern European food and even better Sunday roasts. The journey from central London is part of the experience.
Buster Mantis, Deptford. Buster Mantis in Deptford serves a ravishing Jamaican-inspired roast that brings the energy of South London to a Sunday afternoon. These are not average roasts. The menu features jerk chicken, rice and peas, plantain, and bottomless rum punch. It is a celebration on a plate and a perfect example of why London’s food scene is unlike any other city in the world.
Practical tips before you go
Sunday roasts are usually served between 12pm and 5pm, and arriving no later than 3pm helps ensure you receive a fresh, high-quality plate. Booking in advance is essential to secure a table. For the most popular spots, booking well in advance is the minimum requirement if you want a table around lunchtime.
The best spots book up months in advance, so plan ahead and treat the reservation as part of the ritual.
The Sunday roast is London at its best
The Sunday roast is one of the clearest expressions of what London does well: it takes a tradition, respects its roots, and then opens it up to the whole city. These 8 restaurants show the full range of what a Sunday roast can be. Whether you want a Michelin-quality plate in Shoreditch or a Jamaican-inspired feast in Deptford, there is a Sunday roast in London made exactly for you. Book a table, bring good company, and let the afternoon take care of itself. The Sunday roast deserves your full attention, and London deserves yours.
Discover more about Sunday roast
- London’s 29 Best Sunday Lunch Roasts, Updated June 2026 (Time Out London)
- The Best Sunday Roasts in London 2026: Tried and Tested Guide (DesignMyNight)
- Sunday roast: history, tradition, and cultural significance (Wikipedia)
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Originally published on LONDONwebzine.
