The capital remains a Mecca for all things cinema. From the buzz of a Leicester Square premiere to the latest arthouse showings on the Southbank and the BFI’s IMAX, to screens small and large around the city, there is always something to catch.
Of course, there’s always the opportunity to make a day or night of it, as the city’s restaurants come to life. But with so many restaurants to choose from, and the pain of chasing bookings on a busy night, there are easier ways to find and enjoy great food across many fine places to eat in central London from the Michelin-starred to close encounters for that hot date.
Mixing Food and Screens
From film festivals like June’s Raindance Film Festival 2026 to the latest blockbusters, if you want to mix food and cinema, then the cunning chefs at Taste Film put fine dining in front of the big screen at smart locations around west and central London and other major UK cities. With a custom menu to match classics like The Goonies, Mama Mia and a seven-course menu for Jaws, they make great dates or experiences.
Another option is Electric Cinema, with locations in Portobello and White City offering classics, indies and the latest hits like Project Hail Mary. They both offer a lively dining experience, offering Wagyu smashed burger, a beef hot dog or Taiwanese fried chicken at Portobello and Dim Sum at Nori above the White City cinema.
The Best of Chinatown and Soho Around Leicester Square
Assuming you want to escape the cinema chatter of Leicester Square’s three main cinemas, the area is handy for Chinatown’s fleet of eateries, and the Cantonese delights of Plum Valley. It offers platters for sharing, plus fine dining, including Mongolian fillet steak, grilled sea bass and scallop dumplings.
Plum Valley’s menu hits every taste bud with delightful force, while you discuss which of the trailers you want to see next, or fancy trying to list all the famous movies and TV shows that have filmed in and around the famous area.
Another great Asian destination diner is Thai Tho in Soho’s Rupert Street, which ships in ingredients from Thailand weekly for genuine flavours. From amazing fishcakes to soups, salads and curries, there are plenty of light options for those in a hurry or on a diet, and the likes of Ped Ma Kham, a sliced and roasted duck topped with tamarind sauce and crispy shallots.
Big Flavours Around the Big-Screen IMAX
The South Bank plays host to the art house crowd checking out the latest indie hits and those who want to see the biggest blockbusters in the best way possible on IMAX. The BFI’s IMAX system delivers a 4K laser projection screen experience with 12-channel surround sound audio and thumping woofers.
Whether it’s a reissue of Jean de Florette, a discussion of The Perfect Storm with the filmmakers, or the anniversary screening of Manga-favourite Akira, hunger will soon hit home after such a visual experience. Fortunately, there are plenty of joyous diners to let the imagery soak in.
Within the BFI is the BFI Riverfront Restaurant & Balcony Bar offering small plates including a great ham hock terrine and a standout chicken ballotine as a main, plus pizzas and salads, with cocktails at the balcony bar to enjoy the views.
Just around the corner is Sticky Mango, offering a modern take on Asia’s finest menus, all set within a gorgeous Instagrammable interior. With the 9 flavours tasting menu for those wanting the full experience, every mouthful is a delight. Or, there’s a set menu including mango salad (naturally), baby squid, and chicken curry puffs among the starters, plus miso-glazed salmon, beef rendang or prawn and squid nasi goreng as mains.
If this is a family trip, then there’s also the likes of Disney’s Dolly’s Cafe pop-up, in Selfridges, Oxford Street to keep the cinema vibe going. Or, finally, if you want to recreate the scents, rather than the scene, of About Time’s dark restaurant, then Dans Le Noir beckons, offering a three-course meal in pitch black (not that movie) for a unique dining experience.
If these don’t appeal, you should have no trouble finding a great spot to dine among the many places to eat in London, just a stone’s throw from this screen! And if you think up a unique idea that might make a great movie, perhaps now’s the time to enrol in film school?
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