Thanks to the proliferation of gastropubs and gourmet burger chains in recent years, London can take pride in its burgers. But some restaurants stand out from the herd, and our experts know where to find the city's best sandwiches. The Ivy Burger is one of the restaurant's most popular dishes, and L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon is known for its foie gras mini-burger. Here's a selection of our favourite places, but call us for more suggestions in your area.
Haché Burger
24 Inverness Street, Camden, London NW1 7HJ
329-331 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW10 9QL
With its cascading chandeliers and delicate fairy-lights, Haché offers a refreshingly offbeat - and slightly ethereal - take on the gourmet burger restaurant, that makes it as well suited for a romantic date as a fun night with friends.
The basic hamburgers and cheeseburgers are high-quality and have earned Haché a loyal following far beyond the boundaries of Camden, but adventurous diners are also well served with patties coated in curry spices (Le Raj) or topped with peanut butter (Steak Louisiana). Duck, lamb, veggie, and chicken burgers are also available but we recommend opting for the fish & chips burger, complete with tartare sauce, for a distinctly British sandwich.
Smiths of Smithfield
67-77 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M 6HJ
Masterchef presenter and Smiths owner John Torode wrote the book on beef (literally - ‘Beef' was published to some acclaim in 2008) so he knows a thing or two about how to make a good burger. Available on the second floor dining room of his Clerkenwell restaurant, the Smiths burger is a 10oz meat patty made using beef sourced from Smithfield market across the road, served with mature cheddar and Old Spot bacon. Torode uses a dash of Chinese oyster sauce to season his meat instead of salt, which he argues dries the patty out too much, then toasts the buns slightly and spreads them with mayonnaise. Simple and supremely satisfying.
Maze Grill
10-13 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6JP
The best burger in the world, according to Maze's Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton, is found at Le Parker Meridien in New York. Rather than reinvent the bun, Atherton has taken this paragon as the inspiration for the burger at Maze Grill, his sleek, business-like Mayfair steakhouse. He adds sautéed shallots, thyme and rosemary to minced beef and serves with onions, tomatoes and melted cheese. Combine this with an unctuous aioli sauce and Maze Grill serves up something close to burger nirvana.
Lucky Seven Diner
127 Westbourne Park Road, London W2 5QL
Tom Conran's ersatz tribute to the American diner will make ex-pats swell with nostalgia, while Brits will, thanks to Hollywood, be instantly familiar with its booths and retro décor. It may serve its American classics with a healthy dose of irony - there's even a $5 Shake on the menu, currently priced at £7.50 - but Lucky Seven takes food seriously, especially its burgers. The patties are prime Aberdeen Angus beef, perfectly seasoned, cooked medium, and can be customised with sundry sauces, cheeses and extras - it's enough to make you salute Old Glory and break into The Star-Spangled Banner.
Ground
217 Chiswick High Road, London W4 2DW
‘Organic', ‘homemade' and ‘artisan' are the bywords at Chiswick's boutique burger bar. Grass-fed premium Aberdeen Angus beef, sesame buns baked on the premises and homemade relishes form the base for each of the burger choices, which range from the classic cheeseburger to more elaborate creations. Kids' burgers, vegetarian options and patties made from salmon or lamb (both organic, of course) round off the comprehensive menu, but whatever you choose don't miss out on the tasty beer-battered onion rings.
Sophie's Steakhouse
29-31 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7DB
311-313 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London SW10 9QH
Sophie's Steakhouse has outposts in Chelsea and Covent Garden, but whether diners opt for the buzzy Fulham Road branch or the larger West End venue (with late opening times well-suited to post-theatre dining) they won't be disappointed. These New-York-loft-style restaurants are about quality and simplicity. Sophie's chopped prime beef is mixed with herbs and garlic, well-seasoned and can be accompanied with bacon or cheese for a hamburger that's simple in style but bold with flavour.
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