She birthed you. She washed your pants for decades. She put up with your teenage angst. And now the time of the year has come around again to thank her for tolerating you for this long. You guessed it, it’s Mother’s Day.
And what better way to thank her than take her out for a lovely Mother’s Day lunch on 10 March? There are many factors one must master for the perfect Mother’s Day meal. Comfortable chairs, readable menus, perfect acoustics – the list goes on.
Many spots on this list are tried and tested spots we have taken our own mothers to, and they are ladies of high standards, so rest assured you’re in good hands for ticking all the boxes.
From hidden east London faves to central London classics, here is our round-up of the best restaurants to take your mum to on this Mother’s Day.
The Best Restaurants in London for Mother's Day
Rochelle Canteen
16 Playground Gardens, E2 7FA
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Rochelle Canteen has a reputation for serving great food whilst simultaneously being really hard to find, so get ready for your city-mapper-armed mum to be unleashed. The hunt for Rochelle Canteen is worth the hassle. It’s the sort of place you find yourself asking why you didn't visit sooner. The food here sits under the vast umbrella of ‘modern European’, and it takes strong influences from old-school British classics. It does that clever thing of taking dishes which have a reputation for being dated, frumpy or brutish, and transforming them into something elegant and appealing. Case in point: oxtail and mash, rabbit terrine and devilled eggs. Owned by Margot Henderson, the canteen lets beautiful cooking and the verdant garden setting do the talking. Its classic puds are a must order – the custard is something we would bathe in, if socially acceptable.
Senor Ceviche, Kingly Court
Kingly Court, W1B 5PW
Senor Ceviche is a pop-up turned permanent venue, which channels downtown Lima, serving up zingy Peruvian food and killer cocktails. Tucked away in Kingly Court near Carnaby Street it’s the perfect spot to take your mam after a spot of Soho retail therapy. We can all agree that after leaving the dystopian vortex of Zara, Oxford Street, you’re going to need a glass of something strong, and Senor Ceviche has got you covered with its iconic Pisco sour. The food here is served as small, sharing plates so you can try a little of everything, and as the name suggests, ceviche is a must-order. Choose between seabass, salmon, yellowfin tuna or artichoke ceviche, all doused in the gloriously sharp tiger’s milk. Beyond the raw fish classic, the restaurant also serves up some great plates of Peruvian BBQ. With vibrant interiors, tasty cocktails, and a central location, it’s a great lunch spot for Mother’s Day.
Jikoni
19-21 Blandford Street, W1U 3DJ
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You could blame it on the dusky pink exterior, but Marylebone's Jikoni has a healthy dose of soothing feminine energy – something that feels fitting for a day celebrating your family's matriarch. Ravinder Bhogal has designed a menu that she calls 'cooking across borders', something that manifests itself in dishes that sit at the intersection of Asian, African and Middle Eastern cuisines. Expect slow cooked lamb rubbed with ras el hanout sitting alongside hake moilee, and crispy kale chaat across the table from cauliflower popcorn with chinkiang vinegar dipping sauce. You'll be rolling out.
The Drapers Arms
44 Barnsbury Street, N1 1ER
There is no better spot to take your mum for a Mother’s Day than the Drapers Arms for a Sunday roast. Housed in a fine-featured Georgian Building, this Islington gastro pub is serving up sturdy plates of quintessentially British classics, with a side of ale for good measure. The roasts here are made for sharing and serve 2-3 people, so Dad might be able to cop an invite. Choose between a whole roast chicken, seven-hour shoulder of lamb or roast forerib of beef, all accompanied by the crispiest roasties, vegetables, and buckets of gravy.
Artusi
161 Bellenden Road, SE15 4DH
Artusi is a no-frills Italian restaurant, serving unfussy, well-executed food in Peckham. With stripped-back decor, expect to sit on an old-school chair and order from a blackboard menu scribbled in chalk. It's the perfect spot to take your mum for a reasonably priced and well executed bowl of pasta. The restaurant nails bold simplicity, taking reliable ingredients and treating them with minimal intervention – think anchovies, bottarga, capers, cima di rapa. The menu is ever-changing and seasonally influenced, with only a handful of starters, mains and desserts to choose from. Don’t be surprised if you get a heavy dose of “Peckham didn’t used to be this fancy” from your mum throughout the meal, but the food is worth the commentary.
The Good Egg
Various Locations
The Good Egg is an all-day restaurant serving up an winning trifecta of Jewish deli goods, Tel Aviv Street food and ultra-stylish decor. Located in both Stoke Newington and Kingly Court, Soho, it’s the perfect spot for you and mumsy to expand your brunch horizons. With challah French toast with blood orange syrup and salt beef bagels on the menu, you can leave the shackles of avocado on toast behind you. But it doesn’t stop at brunch. With a whole host of options on the menu including mezze plates, dips, grills, bakery goods, cocktails and even tahini milkshakes, you really can chow down from dawn till dusk. That said, whatever time you visit, ordering a huge slice of their oven-warm chocolate babka is non-negotiable.
Wright Brothers
26 Circus West Village, Battersea Power Station, SW11 8EZ
Head to Wright Brothers Battersea for seafood and oysters
Head to Wright Brothers Battersea for seafood and oysters
Head to Wright Brothers Battersea for seafood and oysters
Head to Wright Brothers Battersea for seafood and oysters
Head to Wright Brothers Battersea for seafood and oysters
Head to Wright Brothers Battersea for seafood and oysters
Starting out in Borough market as a reliable seafood restaurant, Wright Brothers has now washed up on the shores of Battersea. Located in the iconic Battersea Power Station, it’s a winning combination of waterside views, unrivalled oysters, and irresistible seafood platters. A large reason for the restaurant's loyal clientele is its oysters, which are truly unmissable. Choose between four seasonal varieties, plus deep-fried, grilled, dressed and citrus-marinated versions. Best enjoyed with a glass of something cold, naturally. If the slippery molluscs aren't your thing, never fear – there's also an expansive selection of classics including potted prawns and dressed crab, or opt for one of the sizeable seafood sharing platters.
Cafe Cecilia
32 Andrews Road, E8 4FX
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There are lots of good things to say about Café Cecilia, but we’ll start with the deep fried bread and butter pudding. Aside from outrageous desserts, this ever popular Hackney bistro is the perfect spot to take your mum for a mothers day breakfast, lunch or dinner. Run by Max Rocha, who has culinary heritage at both St John and the River Cafe, expect well-executed plates with notions of Italy, England and his Irish roots. From Guinness bread with preserves for breakfast to onglet and chips for dinner, Cafe Cecilia should be on your hit list this Mother's Day.
Cafe Murano
Various Locations
You can find Angela Hartnett’s relaxed and regional Italian restaurants in the heart of St James’s, Bermondsey, and Covent Garden
John Carey
You can find Angela Hartnett’s relaxed and regional Italian restaurants in the heart of St James’s, Bermondsey, and Covent Garden
John Carey
You can find Angela Hartnett’s relaxed and regional Italian restaurants in the heart of St James’s, Bermondsey, and Covent Garden
John Carey
You can find Angela Hartnett’s relaxed and regional Italian restaurants in the heart of St James’s, Bermondsey, and Covent Garden
You can find Angela Hartnett’s relaxed and regional Italian restaurants in the heart of St James’s, Bermondsey, and Covent Garden
The name is perhaps a misnomer because it’s far more grandiose than your average caff, with a marble trimmed bar, leather banquettes and bottles of Puglian Primativo. Headed up by Angela Harnett, Cafe Murano serves up well-made Italian classics alongside cocktails and good wine, making it the perfect spot for a mothers day lunch at either the St James’s, Bermondsey, or Covent Garden venues. Expect to feast on crowd pleasing plates such as chicken Milanese, vitello tonnato, and mushroom arancini, as well as some lesser known classics like pumpkin and sage fritti and cavatelli with black cabbage pesto. All washed down with a Cafe Murano spritz, naturally.
Santo Remedio
Various locations
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Margs with Mum is always a good idea, and Santo Remedio in either Shoreditch or London Bridge has them by the bucket load. Choose between classic, coconut, hibiscus flour and mezcal or equally switch things up with a paloma, mezcal negroni or El Rayo espresso martini. The food at Santo Remedio is similarly impressive, and its seafood dishes are worth writing home about. Be sure to make the sashimi-grade tuna tostadas, Baja-style fish tacos, and the whole seabass with green and red adobo your plan of attack.
Gerrard's Corner
30 Wardour Street, W1D 6QW
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Dim sum on a Sunday is a treat most weekends, so make it that bit extra special by taking your mum. China Town is abundant with great spots, but Gerrard’s Corner might just be our favourite. It’s a large, bustling, slightly austere dining room packed with punters hoovering up dumplings by the steamer load. On the menu are all the classics like plump har gau, siu mai, prawn cheung fun and turnip cake. Make sure not to skip the pillowy buns stuffed with melting char sui pork – some of the best in the business.
Tiella at The Compton Arms
Compton Arms, 4 Compton Avenue, N1 2XD
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Does mum love a pub but hate a roast? Take her to The Compton Arms, easily one of the capital's best pubs which is now home to one of the city's best chefs, too. Dara Klein is manning the pans in the kitchen at this much-loved spot, cooking up the food of her Italian heritage. Expect warm, hearty bowls of food that soothe the soul.
JOIA
15th Floor, 1 Electric Boulevard, SW11 8BJ
JOIA's gasp-worthy location on the 15th floor of Art'otel with sweeping views of Battersea Power Station is delicious enough as it is – but they have a Mother's Day set menu that's even tastier. For £75 per person, you can tuck into a three-course sharing menu, including a section of Portuguese petiscos and tapas, before tucking into larger plates like umami-rich arroz de marisco, and a melting rack of lamb with rosemary, pancetta sauce and roast potatoes. Plus, for little ones celebrating their mothers, JOIA is offering a kids' menu featuring orzo pasta, cod fish fingers, chicken breast, and finishing with a dark chocolate mousse or a selection of ice creams.
