While royal families may have more cooks in their kitchens than Michelin-starred restaurants, dining out can – like most of us – offer an exciting change from the norm.

Often, they choose destinations that have long welcomed generations of their Windsor relatives, places with secret entrances, confidential waiters and familiar “tah-dah!” service in the shape of a silver bell ingrained in their upbringing.

But sometimes it’s the candlelit flickering neighborhood tavern or the easygoing, easygoing restaurant where reggae music and assholes are more important than noble visitors. They can go unnoticed and undisturbed – a chance to revel in the hustle and bustle of the capital’s dining scene like any other Londoner.

Here’s our roundup of the restaurants the royals love.

Bellamy’s, Mayfair

Often referred to as London’s most civilized restaurant, this French bistro is tucked away in Bruton Square, just around the corner from the birthplace of Queen Elizabeth II on Bruton Street (the building is at number 17 and is now home to the Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant Hakkasan) . It has been a favorite of the monarch since she walked through its doors in 2006 to celebrate the 80th birthday of Lady Payne, one of the Queen Mother’s ladies-in-waiting. The trip was a culinary feast, and 10 years later, Her Majesty returned with Princess Anne and Princess Alexandra, who reportedly ate 25 grams of oscietra caviar.

Address: Bellamy’s, 18 Bruton Place, Mayfair, London W1J 6LY
Website: bellamysrestaurant.co.uk

Chiltern Firehouse, Marylebone

André Balazs’ Firehouse is still smoking like it did when it first opened in 2013 and continues to attract celebrities, especially young royals who want a European boite vibe. Princess Eugenie partied here after her engagement to Jack Brooksbank in 2018, and Princess Beatrice and Eduardo Mapelli-Mozzi hosted their engagement party here in December 2019. Meghan Markle was also spotted sipping negronis with friends. The restaurant’s crab doughnuts and fried chicken with smoked bacon ranch dip were a hit.

Address: Chiltern Firehouse, 1 Chiltern Street, Marylebone, London W1U 7PA
Website: chilternfirehouse.com

Launceston Place, Kensington

Located on one of the prettiest corners of Kensington, not far from Kensington Palace, Launceston Place was one of Princess Diana’s favorite restaurants in the nineties. The late royal loved its small private dining room tunnel, where she could escape the prying eyes of the press, and the decadent cheese soufflé it once bore her name. While the battered white tablecloths remain, the food is less flashy and more interesting these days, thanks to young chef Ben Murphy, who has been at the helm since 2017.

Address: Launceston Place, 1A Launceston Place, Kensington, London W8 5RL
Website: launcestonplace-restaurant.co.uk

Dans Le Noir?, Clerkenwell

Perhaps the only restaurant in London where the presentation is absolutely zero. At Clerkenwell, patrons line up like a conga line to enter a pitch-black dining area where visually impaired waiters serve food and you have to use your senses to guess what’s in it. Surely this makes Dans Le Noir? the perfect place to go if you’re undercover royalty – William and Kate are said to have enjoyed dinner dates here before their engagement because they knew they were completely anonymous to everyone.

Address: Dans Le Noir?, 30-31 Clerkenwell Green, Farringdon, London EC1R 0DU
Website: london.danslenoir.com

Quaglino’s, St James’s

Quag’s has long been known for its distinguished clientele. It became the first public restaurant visited by a reigning monarch when the Queen, Prince Philip and the Queen Mother visited its decadent French bistro-style setting in 1956. Philip reportedly had his own private dining area, so formal dress codes didn’t apply (he hated dressing up), Princess Margaret had a permanently reserved table near the dance floor nicknamed the “Royal Paddock,” and Princess Diana used to sneak past the kitchen to eat there. When the restaurant reopened in 2014 after a facelift, more glamorous and super clubby than ever, Prince Harry and friends were the first to enter and were spotted with a plate of oysters.

Address: Quaglino’s, St James’s, 16 Bury Street, St James’s, London SW1Y 6AJ
Website: quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk

Maggie Jones’s, Kensington

It was just a crown away from Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon’s apartment at Kensington Palace, then known as South’s Kitchen. The quirky restaurant, which opened in 1966, became a regular haunt for the couple, who would often slip in around 9:30 p.m. under the pseudonym Maggie Jones (the restaurant was renamed for this purpose in the 1970s) and sit at one or two tables, in a hidden booth at the back of the first floor, for their favorite dish, chicken and artichoke pie. They sometimes bring along Prince Michael and Princess Michael of Kent, who reportedly still love the place but have switched to sending their butler to pick up takeout instead of visiting.

Address: Maggie Jones, 6 Old Court Place, Kensington, London W8 4PL
Website: maggie-jones.co.uk

Julie’s, Notting Hill

Julie’s was one of the original Noblewomen of Notting Hill, opening in 1969 and attracting celebrities and royalty, with Captain Mark Phillips spending his stag night here in 1973 before marrying Princess Anne, and King Charles would spend eight years doing the same here until the papers were discovered. Visits from Mick Jagger, Kate Moss and the Gallagher brothers further cemented its glittering status, and it closed in 2015 for a six-month renovation that ultimately took four years – it reopened in 2019. Today, with former The Goring chef Shay Cooper in the kitchen, it’s back in the game, serving a modern British menu with bohemian charm.

Address: Julie’s, 135 Portland Road, Notting Hill, London W11 4LW
Website: juliesrestaurant.com

Dean Street Townhouse, Soho

It’s housed in a pair of handsome Georgian rowhouses with a nice bar and a sharp dining room that feels genteel and intimate, so it’s no wonder Dean Street Townhouse is part of the Soho House group, the backdrop for Harry and Meghan’s first date. It hums like a honeypot, the kind of place where the prince’s personal gossip isn’t overheard thanks to the general creative chatter going on anywhere else. The food never misses a beat, whether it’s fish, burgers, shellfish or steak. No corners are cut here – just the way royalty likes it.

Address: Dean Street Townhouse, 69-71 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 3SE
Website: deanstreettownhouse.com

The Goring, Westminster

It’s housed in a pair of handsome Georgian rowhouses with a nice bar and a sharp dining room that feels genteel and intimate, so it’s no wonder Dean Street Townhouse is part of the Soho House group, the backdrop for Harry and Meghan’s first date. It hums like a honeypot, the kind of place where the prince’s personal gossip isn’t overheard thanks to the general creative chatter going on anywhere else. The food never misses a beat, whether it’s fish, burgers, shellfish or steak. No corners are cut here – just the way royalty likes it.

Address: The Goring, 15 Beeston Place, Westminster, London SW1W 0JW
Website: thegoring.com

Rum Kitchen, Soho

The Caribbean lodge-style restaurant serves some of the best rum cocktails and jerky-cured chicken wings in town. The original Rum Kitchen restaurant opened in 2013 in Portobello, where Prince Harry and his predecessor Cressida Bonas were spotted chowing down under the distressed “Don’t worry, don’t be happy” sign. Now it’s moved to Kingly Court in Soho (with another location in Brixton), offering the same Moorish menu and reggae soundtrack – a welcome diversion from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Address: Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, Soho, London W1B 5PW
Website: therumkitchen.com

The Ivy, Covent Garden

Since first opening in 1917, the original Ivy Academy has been a West End institution and one of the few restaurants where the late Queen dined. Her last visit was in 2017, when Her Majesty attended a private birthday party for one of her friends – other guests – including the Queen’s cousin Prince Michael and his wife, Princess Michael of Kent, and comedian David Williams. A few years ago, interior design prodigy Martin Brudnizki completely renovated this charming restaurant. It is known for its elegant classic English cuisine – you can’t go wrong with their haddock and chips with pea batter or their veritable shepherd’s pie.

Address: The Ivy, 1-5 West Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9NQ
Website: the-ivy.co.uk

Mount St. Restaurant, Mayfair

When the chic new restaurant opened in Mayfair in late 2022, it immediately gained the royal approval of King Charles and Queen Camilla, who were spotted gorging on the British luxury menu shortly after the restaurant opened. Created by Artfarm, the hotel company founded by gallery owners Iwan and Manuela Wirth, whose stables also include the Fife Arms and Roth Bar & Grill, the art here is almost as important as the food, with works by Andy Warhol and Lucian Freud lining the walls. But if we had to splurge, we’re guessing Charles and Camilla would order the delicious lobster pie for two, the restaurant’s signature dish.

Address: Mount St. Restaurant, 41-43 Mount Street, Mayfair, London W1K 2RX
Website: mountstrestaurant.com