20 UK restaurants owned and run by women
Join olive in celebrating the very best of female-led restaurants from across the UK
We are putting the spotlight on 20 women at the top of the UK restaurant game. Showcasing the very best of global cuisine, from Africa to Asia and the Galapagos islands, these women show us that running a professional kitchen is anything but a man's world.
Read on for some of our favourite restaurants owned and run by female chefs and restaurateurs, and you might just find the perfect spot for your next evening out. Or check out the best new London restaurant openings and then find out our favourite informal dining spots. Now discover the best restaurants in the Lake District.
20 restaurants owned or run by women
Chishuru, Adejoké Bakare
After a summer as a pop-up in 2020, Chishuru now has a permanent home in Fitzrovia with Nigerian-born chef Adejoké Bakare at the helm. She's recently become the first Black woman in the UK – and only second in the world – to be awarded a Michelin star. The set menu dinner includes dishes such as deep-fried quail, cured mackerel and grilled celeriac cake. chishuru.com
Darjeeling Express, Asma Khan
What started as a supper club in the Kensington home of Asma Khan is now a restaurant at the forefront of London’s Indian food scene. What makes Darjeeling Express unique is that the chefs are all female, coming from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, none of whom have worked in professional kitchens before. darjeeling-express.com
Make some of Asma Khan's dishes at home with her recipes.
Lilac, Harriet Mansell
Tucked away in a 400-year-old wine cellar in Lyme Regis, Harriet Mansell’s Lilac is the perfect stop for a glass of wine, cocktails and sharing plates with friends. The food menu showcases the best of seasonal and local produce with dishes such as Fowey mussels or heritage beetroot and Driftwood goat’s cheese. lilacwine.co.uk
Apricity, Chantelle Nicholson
An advocate for seasonality and sustainability, Chantelle Nicholson is a multi-award-winning chef and owner of Michelin-starred Apricity Restaurant in London. Its tasting menu celebrates British vegetables, regeneratively farmed meat and sustainably caught fish, plus it has an extensive list of low-intervention wines that champion English vineyards and winemakers. apricityrestaurant.com
Uyen Luu
A woman of many talents, Uyen Luu is a food photographer and cookbook author, but also runs a Vietnamese supper club at her home in London. Discover the breadth of Vietnamese cuisine with home-cooked dishes that Uyen holds close to her heart. uyenluu.com
Listen to our podcast interview with Uyen Luu about Vietnamese cuisine and try her Vietnamese ginger chicken recipe here.
The Pem, Sally Abé
One of the country’s most-celebrated and awarded chefs, Sally Abé and her team at The Pem serve nostalgic British cuisine using innovative techniques to give them a modern twist, like Lake District rose veal tartare and wild mushroom and truffle suet pudding. This much-loved restaurant was included in the 2023 National Restaurant Awards and The Square Meal Top 100. thepemrestaurant.com
Caribe', Keshia Sakarah
Keshia Sakarah’s Caribe’ is a celebration of the diverse food culture that exists in the Caribbean. The dishes are inspired by Keshia’s travels throughout the Caribbean and the food she grew up on, which was cooked by her grandparents, who emigrated to the UK during the Windrush. She also runs a supper club, Baruru, which takes diners on a food journey of the same region. caribeuk.com
Try Keshia's Caribbean recipes here.
The Little Chartroom, Roberta Hall
Roberta Hall has been working in professional kitchens since the age of 16, and in 2018 opened The Little Chartroom in Edinburgh with her husband Shaun McCarron. Starting as a cosy 18-cover bistro, in 2021 they moved to a bigger premises, serving a simple, seasonal British menu with a French influence. thelittlechartroom.com
Sambal Shiok, Mandy Yin
Mandy Yin is Malaysian-born Chinese of Peranakan Nyonya heritage, and founder of Sambal Shiok. Experience ultimate Malaysian comfort with warming bowls of laksa noodles and crispy Malaysian fried chicken with peanut sauce. sambalshiok.co.uk
Learn about Malaysian cuisine through Mandy Yin's guide here.
Jikoni, Ravinder Bhogal
Nestled in the heart of Marylebone, Jikoni describes itself as ‘an extension of our home and home kitchen’. Owner Ravinder Bhogal was born in Nairobi, Kenya, but grew up in London and is of Indian descent. Jikoni serves immigrant-inspired dishes from east Asian, Middle Eastern, east African and British cuisines. jikonilondon.com
Rochelle Canteen, Melanie Arnold & Margot Henderson
Opened in 2004, Rochelle Canteen has become a Shoreditch staple and a must-visit if you’re looking to dine alfresco in the warmer months. Hidden away from the busy streets, you’ll be transported to a lush walled garden wonderland that comes to life in spring and summer. rochellecanteen.com
Sabor, Nieves Barragán
Founded by Nieves Barragán and José Etura, Sabor brings the tapas bars on Andalucía and seafood restaurants of Galicia to central London. This open-plan Michelin-starred restaurant allows customers to interact with the wait staff, front of house and even the chefs easily, creating a welcoming food experience. saborrestaurants.co.uk
Murano, Angela Hartnett
Angela Hartnett is one of the UK’s most-loved chefs and restaurateurs, with Michelin-starred Murano being a crown jewel for over 15 years. Expect a wonderful selection of regional Italian dishes, like chicken Milanese and osso bucco risotto. muranolondon.com
Core, Clare Smyth
Core is an elegant British fine-dining restaurant from ex-Gordon Ramsay chef Clare Smyth. Celebrate the best of British ingredients, like scallops from the Isle of Harris, Scotland and venison from the Rhug Estate in Wales. corebyclaresmith.com
Cook House, Anna Hedworth
Cook House in Newcastle prides itself on casual all-day dining. Watch Anna rustle up plates of whipped feta and smoked leeks on toast with black sesame, and wild garlic and spinach soup from her open kitchen for a truly intimate food experience. cookhouse.org
Chuku's, Ifeyinwa Frederick
Founded by siblings Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederick, Chuku’s is the world’s first Nigerian tapas bar, located in Tottenham, London. It allows patrons to experience the vastness of Nigerian flavours in one sitting. Enjoy jollof quinoa and plantain waffles for a unique twist on west African cuisine. chukuslondon.co.uk
Koya, Shuko Oda
Transport yourself to Tokyo at chef Shuko Oda’s Soho restaurant Koya. Since 2010, patrons have been slurping away at its famous bowls of springy udon noodles. We recommend the sweet tofu and spring onion, or lamb mince with cumin miso and herbs. koya.co.uk
La Dame de Pic, Anne-Sophie Pic
Anne-Sophie Pic is the most-decorated Michelin-starred female chef in the world, currently holding 10 Michelin stars across her restaurants, three of which are for her renowned restaurant Maison Pic in south-east France. If you’re looking to get a taste of Pic’s stunning food in the UK, you can find her two-Michelin-starred La Dame de Pic at the Four Seasons hotel in London. ladamedepiclondon.co.uk
Ana Ortiz
Galapagos Islands-born chef Ana Ortiz is an expert at live-fire cooking. Along with husband Tom Bray, she launched Country Fire Kitchen – now called Fire Made – designing and producing fire cookery equipment for chefs. Previously chef-director at The Mess in Wilshire, Ana has also collaborated with restaurants like Holm, helping showcase her Latin American cooking roots. firemade.co.uk
Listen to our podcast interview with Ana Ortiz about Galapagos cuisine.
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