These days, we consider oysters a luxury food, but until the 19th century, they were mostly nourishment for the poor, who would eat them as a substitute for meat. With National Oyster Week round the corner, we asked our Editor-in-Chief – a self-confessed oyster lover – to find the best oysters in London.
WILTONS
Tucked in between tailors, business consultants and law firms lies Wiltons. This Mayfair institution started its journey more than 280 years ago as a modest shellfish stall near Haymarket and is considered by many the place to eat the best oysters in London.
Wiltons offers a wide variety of these molluscs depending on the season, but Jersey, Cooley Irish and Scottish rock oysters are always on the menu. If you are not sure about what wine to pair them with, you can always ask the waiter. The staff at Wiltons are highly trained, so I am sure you’ll have an unparalleled experience. Book your table HERE.
THE OYSTERMEN AT THIRTY7
While their critically acclaimed seafood restaurant and oyster bar in Covent Garden, The Oystermen, is being refurbished, founders Matt Lovell and Rob Hampton are running an exclusive menu at sister restaurant, Thirty7. Diners can expect several of The Oystermen’s most iconic dishes, including the Whole Dressed Dorset Crab and a selection of cooked and raw rock and native oysters sourced from the best waters around Britain.
Should you want to take some home with you, in Bedford Street they have a brilliantly stocked wine shop. Book your oyster fix at Thirty7 HERE.
WRIGHT BROTHERS
From Monday to Friday, 3pm-6pm, Wright Brothers are offering oysters from their own farms for “A Pound a Pop”. The offer is available at their three London restaurants (Borough, South Kensington and Battersea Power Station). This is a great way to try several types of oysters.
Order the local naked selection, or choose oysters ranging from Ireland, France and the Channel Islands. Choose your location and book HERE.
BENTLEY’S OYSTER BAR & GRILL
Another “Grande Dame” of the London seafood scene, Bentley’s has been delighting the Mayfair crowd since 1916. It has an exquisite selection of oysters, sourced directly from U.K. shores.
If you are really into your oysters and want to learn more, Bentley’s runs an oyster masterclass every other Saturday and includes Champagne on arrival, sommelier-matched wine to go with your oysters and a selection of raw and cooked, native and rock oysters, all shucked by your own hand. Make your reservation HERE.
LOUIE LONDON
Behind the inconspicuous front of a 19th century townhouse in Covent Garden, we find Louie London, the French restaurant that brought New Orleans. The southern American city is well known for its seafood and oysters, so it is not surprising that Louie’s menu is a candy store of ocean delicacies.
Overlooking the main dining room, the Raw Bar offers a spectacular choice of seafood, including three varieties of oysters, Carlingford, La Boudeuse and Gillardeau. Sommelier Alex Morelle is at hand to help you pair them with the perfect wine, with or without bubbles. Book your table HERE.
J SHEEKEY ATLANTIC BAR
Another classic of the London scene, J Sheekey Atlantic Bar is well known for its exceptional oyster menu that showcases a variety of the freshest oysters, sourced from the most renowned oyster beds around the British Isles and beyond. Patrons can savour a selection that includes native oysters, prized for their rich, complex flavours, and rock oysters, known for their crisp, clean taste and meaty texture.
Each oyster is meticulously shucked to order. For National Oyster Week, J Sheekey Atlantic Bar has put together a limited-edition menu featuring Spéciales De Claire from France, paired with a glass of Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Champagne, Louët-Feisser from Northern Ireland perfectly paired with Guinness, English Jersey oysters with Nyetimber Classic Cuvee, and Cumbrae oysters from the west of Scotland paired with a smoky martini finished with an Ardberg Whisky mist. Book your table HERE.
I hope these suggestions have inspired you to make this year’s National Oyster Week the excuse you needed to spend seven days stuffing yourself with the best oysters in London. And in case you are wondering, I always pair them with Champagne.
Author: Julia Pasarón
Opening image: Raw Bar at Louie London.
J Sheekey Atlantic Bar images © Johnny Stephens Photography
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