5 Delicious Private Dining Venues In London
A good private dining room does half the work for you. The right setting turns a client dinner or year-end thank-you into something people talk about long after the last course, and London has no shortage of rooms that deliver, from candlelit oak-panelled libraries to Grade I listed townhouses and a rooftop above the City skyline.
With the festive season around the corner and diaries filling fast, now is the time to secure a space with real character and food worth travelling for. Here are five of our favourite spots for intimate, memorable dining, whether you're hosting 12 guests or 200.
1. The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn gives you a choice of rooms, each with its own mood, all behind a quiet Chancery Lane gate. For the most intimate dinners, the oak-panelled Small Pension Room seats 16 around a mahogany table, while The Benchers' Library seats 12 with light pouring in over the private gardens. Need more room? The Large Pension Room seats 60 for dining and The Hall seats up to 170 with exclusive hire.
Start with drinks on the terrace bar among five acres of private gardens (a marquee is your wet-weather fallback). The venue is licensed until 11pm, with extensions available.
Location: Chancery Lane
Capacity: Up to 84 cabaret
2. Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace gives you a Grade I listed St James's townhouse with a choice of ornate dining rooms, all with a polished, academic air. The Reading Room has a high ceiling, central chandelier and views over The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, with an alcove for pre-dinner drinks. Seat up to 50 for dining, or 40 for a boardroom dinner. The Radhakrishnan Room adds 1820s detailing, British Academy artwork and views towards Big Ben and the London Eye, seating 50 for dining.
Want a grander table? The Council Room seats 70 for dining and connects to the Music Room for a separate drinks reception. Step-free public floors and strong AV help too, and Charing Cross and Piccadilly Circus are both close.
Location: Piccadilly Circus/Charing Cross
Capacity: Up to 40 boardroom
3. CORD Restaurant by Le Cordon Bleu
CORD Restaurant by Le Cordon Bleu
CORD Restaurant by Le Cordon Bleu puts a wine-led private dining room inside a Grade II listed Fleet Street building, and the culinary pedigree shows in the polished service. The Viceroy suits the quieter kind of occasion, such as a 15-guest tasting where the food and the pairings are the main event. It seats up to 26 for dining or 22 for a reception, so you can open with drinks before moving to the table.
The City setting works well for client hosting after a day of meetings, with Blackfriars station close by. get in touch with the team to talk through menus and wine pairings.
Location: City of London
Capacity:
4. Aviary
Aviary
Aviary sits on the 10th floor of the Montcalm Royal London House Hotel, and the skyline does a lot of the talking before the first course arrives. Book the 10th floor exclusive hire and you get the bar, terrace bar and restaurant facilities to yourself, with dining for up to 90 guests. It's a glamorous choice for a client dinner or a year-end celebration with tailored drinks and dining packages.
Moorgate Station is close by, which keeps the evening easy for guests. For a smaller drinks reception, the Glass Box holds 50 standing and opens onto the terrace. Minimum spends apply for parties of eight or more.
Location: Finsbury Square
Capacity:
5. Big Easy Covent Garden
Big Easy Covent Garden
Big Easy Covent Garden gives you a private dinner with a bit of theatre, fitting for the heart of the West End. The former 1887 power station still shows off its original steel beams across two floors, and the nine-metre Wall of Fire display kitchen gives guests something to watch between courses. The menu runs from American BBQ and premium steaks to fresh lobster and seafood, with handcrafted cocktails from the main bar.
Book the Whole Venue and you get both floors, the bars and the live music to yourselves, seating 236 for dining or 300 standing. It's moments from Covent Garden station, which keeps arrivals easy.
Location: Covent Gardem
Capacity:
Whether you're after a candlelit library for 12 or a skyline dinner for 90, these five rooms prove that the right setting makes a table feel like an occasion. With festive diaries filling fast, the best spaces won't stay free for long, so start the conversation early and give your guests an evening worth remembering. If you'd like help matching a venue to your guest list and menu, get in touch with the team and we'll point you in the right direction.
Find your table in London
From candlelit cellars to chef's-table kitchens, London's private dining rooms are ready for your guest list. Filter by capacity, cuisine and style, or get in touch with the team and we'll shortlist venues for you.
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Account Executive at Hire Space with seven years in B2B events, including The Brewery on Chiswell Street from intern to Senior Sales Manager. He knows London's venues inside out and finds the right room for meetings, parties and conferences.
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