BUSINESS LUNCH
AWARDS

The Winners

Best food

Bouchon Racine

Recognising culinary excellence

"The best french cooking in London. You can go in for an hour and leave transformed. The Tete du veau. The bayonne ham. The crème caramel. The tartare. The rabbit in mustard sauce. Unsurpassed."

Best atmosphere

Luca

For ambience that inspires connection

"The food is always delicious, the service is invariably excellent, and the atmosphere is buzzy without being overpowering or distracting. Luca is my go-to for any work lunch."

Best new opening

Legado

Rewarding innovation and fresh ideas

"Since its launch, Legado has made an impressive entrance onto the London dining scene, offering a fresh and vibrant concept that blends creativity, authenticity, and exceptional flavour."

Best out-of-town option

The Bull, Charlbury

Celebrating destinations beyond the city

"We did a day trip to Charlbury recently. As beautiful as the village is, the pub was the highlight. The food and the vibe were outstanding"

Judges' choice

St John

"Chosen directly by the FT Weekend judging panel, this award honours a restaurant which has had a radical impact not only on the UK’s hospitality sector but worldwide. And quite possibly a few business lunches have taken place there too."

Celebrating the restaurants where conversation and cuisine meet

The FT Weekend Business Lunch Awards in partnership with OpenTable, celebrates the unique role of lunch in shaping ideas, sealing deals and building lasting relationships. In its first year, the Awards spotlight restaurants in and around London that bring together conversation and cuisine. From timeless institutions to innovative new openings, we honour the places where business and dining thrive.

FT readers are encouraged to nominate their favourite restaurants digitally before the deadline for a chance to be entered into a prize draw to win Lunch for Two at Simpson’s on the Strand. The selection process begins with the determination of a shortlist which will be announced at the end of October 2025, followed by the grand announcement of the winners at a special Awards lunch in London in December 2025 hosted by FT restaurant critic Jay Rayner.

Recognition for restaurants

Shortlisted restaurants will take their place at the exclusive Awards Lunch, joining the FT Weekend community in celebrating the very best of business dining. Each will receive a coveted FT Weekend decal both digital and physical marking them as a destination of distinction. This badge of honour will also feature on OpenTable where applicable booking pages, showcasing their status to diners everywhere.

View Competition Terms and Conditions.

If you have any questions, please contact us at ftlive@ft.com

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