Josephine Restaurant London Review: Lyon Comes to Marylebone in This Parisian Bouchon

In a city saturated with French eateries, Josephine restaurant in London sets itself apart by doing something deceptively simple: celebrating Lyonnaise comfort food with classic savoir-faire and a modern London polish. Into Marylebone’s burgeoning food scene, this is the first London venture from French culinary powerhouse Jérémy Galvan, a Michelin-starred chef from Lyon whose eponymous restaurant in France is known for its precision and warmth.

Here at Josephine, the vibe is far more casual—but no less sophisticated. The space is gorgeous: warm burgundy accents, vintage posters, Art Deco lighting, and crisp white tablecloths evoke the spirit of a traditional bouchon, while an open kitchen and retro tiling keep it grounded in the now. You get the sense that every detail—down to the illustrated menus and framed French caricatures—was chosen to honour the food culture of Lyon without falling into cliché.

Josephine is the kind of restaurant you return to—whether for a quiet weekday lunch with a glass of Côte du Rhône or a Friday dinner with friends. Refined but not pretentious, it brings Lyon’s spirit to London with heart, humour, and a whole lot of butter.

Josephine Restaurant London Menu

The food? As Jay Rayner from The Guardian put it, it’s “proper, hearty, beautifully executed cooking”. The Soufflé au Saint-Félicien (£10.5) is gooey, rich, and indulgent—equal parts cheese and magic. The Steak Tartare (£19.5) arrives hand-cut and seasoned just enough to elevate but never overpower. For something more soulful, the French onion soup (£13.5) is topped with a thick lid of bubbling Gruyère and soaked crouton, the sort of dish that hugs you back.

Mains are bold and satisfying. The Épaule d’agneau ‘Printanière’ (£36)—a lamb shoulder with spring vegetables—is tender and rustic. At the same time, the Filet de bœuf au poivre (£50) is an elevated take on steak au poivre. It has perfectly pink meat and a sauce you’ll want to mop up with frites. More adventurous eaters will love the Ris de veau aux morilles (£49.5)—veal sweetbreads in a creamy morel mushroom sauce that showcases the kitchen’s finesse.

The desserts stick to French comfort classics. The Tarte aux pralines roses (£10) is both visually stunning and deeply nostalgic. The Baba au vieux rhum (£13) comes drenched in just enough boozy warmth and crowned with vanilla Chantilly cream.

Josephine Restaurant London Bookings

Capital A List members can make bookings for Josephine below.

Josephine Restaurant London Cuisine, Dress Code & Address

Cuisine: French

Dress Code: Smart Casual

Area: Marylebone

Address: 6-8 Blandford St, London W1U 4AU

Website: https://josephinebistro.com/