09 March 2026
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Great food and great films might not appear to have a lot in common, not at first glance. But scratch a little deeper and you’ll see that they share a truly transportational power. Whether you’re watching light dance across the screen, held captive by your emotions, or being flooded with joy from a single bite, both offer around two hours of escapism. Combine the two and you can live in a sensory reverie for twice the time, while curating the perfect date night while you’re at it.
That’s why we’ve come up with our definitive guide to going for dinner and a film in London. Each cinema on this list offers something distinctive and memorable, a far cry from your standard multiplex chain, while the accompanying restaurants match their vibe and offer cooking that's caught the eye of our MICHELIN Guide Inspectors.
So, with the trailers complete, it’s time to sit back and enjoy our feature presentation…
1. The Prince Charles and The French House: For Proper London Legends
A true one of a kind, The Prince Charles feels like it’s bottled the exuberance of the most ardent film lover and sprinkled it over every corner of its premises. One of London’s few repertory cinemas, its programming focuses on older films being unleashed on the big screen for the first time in years, along with unique immersive experiences. The all-night movie marathons are legendary, as are the sing-a-longs and the Q&As with cult heroes. And to top it all off, it’s one of the only cinemas around that sells lifetime memberships, offering cheaper tickets for as long as you both shall live.On the edge of the permanently bustling Leicester Square in London’s West End, The Prince Charles is about as well-located as it gets for top restaurants. If you're daunted by the choice, just head straight for The French House and you won't be disappointed. Matching the cinema's ‘London icon’ energy, this long-standing pub has been beloved by artists for decades, including Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. The upstairs restaurant is the kind of place that favours simplicity, with deep, honest flavours hitting the spot in the confit garlic and goat’s curd on sourdough, or the signature freshly baked madeleines.
2. BFI Southbank and Lasdun: For the Film Geeks
The headquarters of the British Film Institute (BFI), perched on the south bank of the River Thames, is quite literally the home of British cinema. Screening a mix of new releases and expertly curated seasons peppered with fascinating Q&As and events, it’s the cinema for those who don’t just know their Scorsese from their Spielberg, but who know their Linklater from their Leigh and their Gerwig from their Godard too. Alongside four screens, there’s a café, two bars (one by the riverfront), a shop stocking all manner of cinematic goodness and even a library for those who consider themselves serious students of film.The whole South Bank area in which the BFI is located is known for being London’s arts and culture hub. Here you’ll find the Southbank Centre – a multi-venue space that includes galleries and the Royal Festival Hall performance space – as well as the National Theatre. Inside the latter, the Lasdun restaurant is ideal for an arts lover’s feast. Named after Denys Lasdun, the architect behind the theatre’s divisive Brutalist design, the restaurant serves up seasonal British dishes in a room filled with the brilliant buzz of pre- and post-show crowds.
3. BFI IMAX and The Savoy Grill: For ‘Bigger is Better’ Thrills
If BFI Southbank is like the quiet, bookish person you meet at a party who’s really quite interesting if you take the time to listen, then the BFI IMAX is their more gregarious friend. Yes, there’s a little less depth to what they’re saying, but their stories sure are entertaining. With the largest screen in the UK (65ft x 85ft, or roughly three tennis courts, if you’re wondering), the IMAX doesn’t show many films at a time and is mostly mainstream, but if you really want to feel the thrill of Tom Cruise’s latest death-defying stunt or soak up every inch of the new Christopher Nolan, there’s simply nowhere better.If a splashier kind of entertainment is what you’re after, then why not head over Waterloo Bridge to The Savoy? After all, it is one of the most famous luxury hotels in the world for a reason. Gordon Ramsay oversees all the restaurants here, with 1890 upstairs the best for MICHELIN-Star refinement and The River Restaurant perfect for seafood fans. But for a sense of occasion, it’s hard to beat The Savoy Grill: walk through the marble-floored, chandelier-lit lobby and take your seat in the old-school room then order the beef Wellington and bask in the old-school glamour.
4. Electric Portobello and CORE by Clare Smyth: For Full-On Luxury
Have you ever been at the cinema and thought, “This is great, but I’d be a bit comfier on my sofa or curled up in bed”? Well, the team at the Electric hear you. Possibly the plushest cinema in all of London, this high-end option gives you the choice of red-leather armchairs with footstools, sofas or even a few front-row beds ideal for couples. There are two West London branches, in White City and on Notting Hill’s Portobello Road, but the latter is best if you’re looking for a great restaurant…If the opulent Electric is your cinema of choice, then why not go all out with a meal to match? CORE by Clare Smyth is a mere five minutes away and simply one of the best restaurants in London. Holding Three MICHELIN Stars, it offers a symphony of flavours, using only the very best ingredients in dishes that are at once simple and complex – crafted with skill but so easy to eat. If dinner and a film makes a great date night, then CORE and the Electric are the perfect pair for a special anniversary.
5. The Castle and Behind: For a Dose of the Theatrical
There are plenty of great modern cinemas in London, but sometimes the best picture palaces come with the heft of history. First opened in East London’s Hackney in 1913, The Castle delighted film fans until 1958, when the projectors were packed away and it began life as a bingo hall. After several other iterations and a period of disuse, two cinema enthusiasts restored it to its former glory in 2016, complete with the original proscenium arch and armchair seating. It’s also a great spot for music fans thanks to ‘Pitchback Playback’ sessions where an album is played start-to-finish with no lights and no distractions: just pure musical ecstasy.For post-film food, Mambow is the nearest MICHELIN Guide pick and is a great place to immerse yourself in Malaysian flavours. But to follow The Castle and its theatrical past, Behind feels like a more fitting choice. This horseshoe-shaped chef’s counter offers a performance of its own, with the chefs on view as they slice, dice and generally cook up a storm in front of your eyes. Seafood is at the core of the MICHELIN-Starred surprise menu, with scene-stealing appearances from the likes of Sicilian red prawns and Orkney scallops.
6. Picturehouse Central and Brasserie Zédel: For West End Glamour
Every film lover in London will likely have been to a Picturehouse branch at some point, enticed by the boutique chain’s all-round experience, where the mid-level programming combines mainstream releases with more niche screenings and a focus on cafés, restaurants and bars makes your moviegoing feel like a real event. Of all the branches, Picturehouse Central is unmissable. Located in the heart of the West End, its members’ bar is the kind of exclusive hideaway you’d normally pay a small fortune for around here, providing a relaxed atmosphere, plenty of cosy corners and a stunning roof terrace for the summer.To match Picturehouse Central’s exuberant West End energy, the best choice is surely Brasserie Zédel. A long-standing fixture of the central London dining scene, this cavernous brasserie is forever one of the busiest restaurants in London, with a menu and a vibe that are more French than France. If you’re one of the people who’s been before, then descending the stairs into the basement comes with the warm hug of familiarity; if it’s your first time, then it’s accompanied by a thrill of excitement.
7. Curzon Mayfair and Murano: For a Classy Double Act
With several venues across London, the Curzon cinemas have a lot in common with the Picturehouses: perfectly pitched programming that appeals to all kinds of cinemagoer; cafés and bars where you’ll happily spend hours dissecting a film; and enticing membership options. In looks, the Curzons have a moodier charm and a fondness for basement locations. The neon-lit Soho branch is a great West End spot, but the 1936-born Mayfair flagship is a must-visit for the '60s glamour emanating from its art deco design.Also, if you’re a food lover, then you have to a Mayfair cinema on your radar, given this is the most quality-dense of all London neighbourhoods. Just round the corner from the cinema lies Murano, Chef Angela Hartnett’s MICHELIN-Starred spot for all things Italian. Opened in 2008, it has the same long-standing appeal and confident class as the Curzon, with dishes that understand the simplicity in Italian cooking. One bite of the Amalfi lemon tart and you’ll be booking your return before you know it.
8. Everyman Screen on the Green and Bellanger: For an Icon Reborn
The Screen on the Green is so much more than your typical Everyman cinema – and that’s already pretty great to begin with. Offering the premium experience the chain is known for – think plush, spacious chairs and a little table for your cocktail – this branch also comes with a side order of history. The Screen on the Green, in some form or another, has been leaving its cultural footprint in North London’s Islington since 1913, with a stint as both a cinema and music venue that resulted in a famous Sex Pistols gig that’s the stuff of London music legend.For a bite to eat before or after you’ve marvelled at the latest Marvel or taken a trip with Tarantino, Bellanger is the obvious choice. It could scarcely be closer to the cinema, sitting just across the road and overlooking Islington Green itself. It’s an all day, every day kind of place, where you bask on the sun-dappled terrace with eggs Benedict in the morning or tuck into coq au vin in the evening. The south of France is a key influence on the menu, meaning this cinema-restaurant duo is the closest you’ll get to the Cannes Film Festival without boarding a plane.
9. Peckhamplex and Lai Rai: For Great Value Entertainment
The headline news here is that the tickets are £6.99, which in modern-day London is excellent value. That’s not just off-peak either: it’s all day, every day. This commitment to affordable, flat-rate tickets is what’s made the Peckhamplex so beloved in southeast London. There are cinemas out there with swankier bars, more luxurious seating and a greater focus on specialist screenings, but if what you care about is seeing as many films as possible without taking out a mortgage, the Peckhamplex is invaluable.Given the wallet-friendly nature of the Peckhamplex, it seems appropriate to pair it with a restaurant awarded a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand for its great value cooking. Just a little further along Rye Lane – the famous Peckham street which also has a terrific 2023 romantic comedy named after it – you’ll find Lai Rai. Here, you’re swiftly transported from London to Vietnam, with the help of a fresh, vibrant taste of the country’s cooking. Stop by for a lunchtime bánh mì on the way to an afternoon screening, or come in the evening for a proper Vietnamese feast.
10. Rich Mix and Singburi: For a Taste of East London and The World
If you’re visiting East London’s Shoreditch in search of its famously arty credentials, then you could do a lot worse than starting with Rich Mix. A pillar of the community for the last two decades, it’s so much more than just a cinema: it’s a theatre, a music venue and, crucially, an arts charity. The team’s mission is to offer access to the arts for ‘the communities of East London and the world’, with the latest releases joined by educational screenings, film festivals and specially curated seasons with something to say.If you’re looking to continue the theme of ‘East London and the world’, then Singburi and Rich Mix are about as perfect a match as Scorsese and De Niro. Awarded a Bib Gourmand for its value, Singburi may offer a taste of Thailand with platefuls of spicy goodness – but its reputation was forged in East London. Originally located further east in Leytonstone, it garnered a cult following through social media and eventually relocated to its bigger Shoreditch premises, where more people can now bask in its joys.
11. The Rio and Angelina: For the Eclectic and the Exciting
Combining the art deco chic of the Curzon cinemas with the community focus of Rich Mix, The Rio in Dalston is another East London fixture. Standing tall on a street corner since 1909, it’s a hard place to miss, especially when lit up at night like a north star for film lovers. Q&As, special screenings and film festivals all find their home among the cinematic line-up, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ cinema through the weekly Pink Palace film club. Like The Prince Charles, a lifetime membership is available for true devotees.For a cinema with a true independent spirit, that shows an eclectic blend of films alongside its mainstream movies, pair it with a restaurant that has a similar one-of-a-kind feel. For that, nearby Angelina is ideal thanks to its Japanese-Italian fusion. For those who think those two cuisines don’t belong in the same sentence, wait until you’ve tried the likes of pink bream crudo with blood orange, Sicilian pesto, umeboshi and anchovy. Deliciously different and wholly enjoyable, it’s the perfect restaurant for the curious cinemagoer to digest their latest watch.
12. Close-Up and Cycene: For an Immersive Hidden Gem
For those who like BFI Southbank and Rich Mix but find even them a little too mainstream, then Shoreditch’s Close-Up is the place to be. Tucked down one of the neighbourhood’s signature graffiti-splashed streets, from the outside Close-Up looks more like a coffee shop than it does a cinema. Inside, you’ll find one 40-seater screen that shows films you’ll likely never have heard of – and that’s exactly the point. Discuss your thoughts afterwards over a drink in the book-lined bar, where you’re literally surrounded by decades of film theory and history.Among Shoreditch’s excellent culinary line-up, a meal at MICHELIN-Starred Cycene will best match the unusual energy of Close-Up. Similarly hidden-away, your visit here begins by ringing the doorbell to enter – setting the tone for the immersive experience to come. The tasting menu starts in the bar, then heads up to the romantic, candlelit dining room via a snack in the kitchen. It’s the kind of restaurant where your A5 wagyu beef with langoustine comes with a side of detailed explanation and a sense of performance, tailor made for those who like a show.
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Hero Image: The Electric Cinema in Notting Hill, which combines with CORE by Clare Smyth for one of the best cinema-restaurant combinations in London. © Soho House
