July 9, 2026
Lilibet’s restaurant in London is Mayfair seafood with a tiara slightly askew. It sits on Bruton Street, where Queen Elizabeth II was born, and leans into the royal connection with no trace of embarrassment.
The room is floral, gilded, theatrical and faintly ridiculous. In lesser hands, that would be fatal. Here, it becomes part of the fun. The food is seafood-led, luxurious and more interesting than the décor might lead a cynic to expect.
Come for oysters, grilled fish, lobster mash and a room that seems determined to make lunch feel like an occasion.
At a Glance
Best for: Glamorous lunches, date nights, seafood dinners and Mayfair theatre
Cuisine: British seafood with Mediterranean and global influences
Location: Bruton Street, Mayfair
Price: Around £80–£130 per person with drinks
Signature dishes: Fire-roasted oysters, anchovy éclair, fish triptych, lobster spaghetti and Lilibet’s mash
Atmosphere: Opulent, eccentric and deliberately camp
Nearest station: Green Park
Booking tip: Ask for the seafood bar or terrace if you want the most characterful seats
What Is Lilibet’s Restaurant in London?
Lilibet’s is a seafood restaurant and oyster bar from Ross Shonhan, the chef-restaurateur best known for Bone Daddies and Shackfuyu, with earlier experience at Nobu and Zuma.
The restaurant takes its name from Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood nickname. Its address gives the idea some legitimacy: No.17 Bruton Street was once the site of the townhouse where the late Queen was born.
The concept is not subtle. It imagines a more playful, pleasure-seeking version of Mayfair seafood dining, somewhere between a grand hotel restaurant, a raw bar and a slightly tipsy royal fantasy.
The Atmosphere and Design
The dining room is all pattern, velvet, flowers, and polished surfaces. It does not whisper, but it enters the room before you do.
There are several distinct spaces: a marble seafood counter, a cocktail bar, a clubbier central dining room, a more formal restaurant area, and a heated terrace. This makes Lilibet’s more flexible than it first appears.
The best seats are at the seafood bar if you want movement, or on the terrace if the weather is behaving. The main room is better suited to guests who enjoy a bit of spectacle at dinner.
It is neither minimalist nor discreet. But it has the courage of its own absurdity.
Lilibet’s Menu
The menu is large, seafood-heavy, and built for indecision. Start with oysters, either dressed with cucumber, apple and gin, roasted with beef fat, or served more simply with red wine, shallot, and house hot sauce.
Small plates are where the kitchen shows its wit. The crab tart with grapefruit and coriander is a neat two-bite thing. The anchovy éclair, filled with parfait and sweet-and-sour sauce, sounds like a dare but makes sense at the table.
Raw dishes include red prawn carpaccio with chilli and lime, sea bass crudo with lemon and verjus, and hand-dived scallop with basil and pine nuts. Larger choices move towards grilled seafood, whole fish, lobster spaghetti and the fish triptych, where one fish is served three ways: raw, grilled, then as soup.
The side to order is Lilibet’s mash, enriched with shellfish bisque and lobster. It is not there to support the fish but to steal focus.
Desserts continue the joke, elegantly. Princess cake is inevitable, while crêpe Suzette and choux à la crème bring old-fashioned dining-room pleasure back into view.
For two people, order oysters, two snacks, one raw dish, the fish triptych or a whole fish, and the mash. Add dessert because this is not a restaurant built for restraint.
Drinks & Wine
Martinis are central to the cocktail list, which suits the room. The Tomatini, made with grilled tomato and vodka, is the clever order before seafood. The wine list gives proper attention to bottles by the glass and carafe, which is useful when moving between oysters, crudo, grilled fish and richer lobster dishes.
Who Is Lilibet’s Best For?
Lilibet’s restaurant in London is best for diners who want Mayfair seafood with theatre. It works for birthdays, glamorous lunches, visiting guests, dates, and anyone who prefers restaurants with a sense of humor.
It is less suited to minimalists, quiet business dinners, or people who believe seafood should arrive in a plain white room with no emotional complications.
Is Lilibet’s Worth Booking?
Yes, if you are in the mood for opulence with a wink. Lilibet’s could easily have been all costume and no cooking, but the menu has enough intelligence to keep the fantasy upright.
The room may be too much for some. So may the prices. But the best dishes are genuinely enjoyable, and the whole thing has a confidence that many shinier Mayfair restaurants lack.
Book for seafood, stay for the theatre, and do not pretend you are above the princess cake.
Practical Information
Address: 17 Bruton Street, London W1J 6QB
Area: Mayfair
Nearest station: Green Park
Cuisine: Seafood, oysters and wood-grilled fish
Opening hours: Lunch Monday to Saturday, 12pm–2.30pm; Sunday lunch, 12pm–6pm; dinner Monday to Tuesday, 5.30pm–9.30pm; Wednesday to Saturday, 5.30pm–11pm
Service charge: 12.5% discretionary service charge
Private dining: Available
Best for: Seafood lunches, special occasions, date nights and Mayfair dining with personality
FAQs
What type of food does Lilibet’s serve?
Lilibet’s serves seafood-led cooking with British, Mediterranean and global influences. The menu includes oysters, caviar, seafood platters, crudo, grilled fish, whole fish, lobster spaghetti and several more playful dishes.
Who owns Lilibet’s?
Lilibet’s is from Ross Shonhan, the chef-restaurateur behind Bone Daddies and Shackfuyu. He previously worked as executive chef at Nobu and Zuma.
Why is it called Lilibet’s?
The restaurant is named after Queen Elizabeth II’s childhood nickname. Its Bruton Street address is linked to the townhouse where the late Queen was born in 1926.
What should I order at Lilibet’s?
Order the fire-roasted oysters, crab tart, anchovy éclair, sea bass crudo and either the fish triptych or a whole grilled fish. Lilibet’s mash with shellfish bisque and lobster is the side to add.
Is Lilibet’s expensive?
Yes. Lilibet’s sits firmly in Mayfair seafood territory. Oysters, lobster, caviar and whole fish can make the bill rise quickly, although the set lunch offers a more approachable way in.
Is Lilibet’s good for a date?
Yes, especially for a date that wants glamour rather than restraint. The room is theatrical, the seafood bar has energy, and the terrace is a good choice for something slightly lighter.
Does Lilibet’s have a terrace?
Yes. Lilibet’s has a heated terrace as well as a seafood bar, cocktail bar and several dining areas inside the restaurant.
Lilibet’s Restaurant London Bookings
Capital A List members can make bookings for Lilibet’s below.
