The Ivy

Reviews

• Lena R.

  star star star star star 10 June 2026

  Walked into this classic place the first night in London and what a way to start our vacation!
  From the moment you walk in, the beauty of the stained glass windows, stunning bar and decor, enhances what a special place you are in.
  We were unable to secure a reservation for a table but, we were happy to dine at the bar.
  The service was incredible. Our bartender was helpful in choosing the perfect scotch whiskey to create the perfect Old Fashioned. The menu offered many choices but prix fix menu was perfect.
  The duck croquettes were fabulous! Tasty, crunchy topping , totally unique. From start to finish, the meal, drinks, service, was impeccable and an amazing way to kick off a vacation. I can see why celebrities live this place!
  Be sure to book ahead before leaving home. The online booking is easy and the communication was speedy, especially when we had to make some changes to our reservation. The staff was very accommodating.

• Lucas W.

  star star star star_border star_border 3 June 2026

  Very fancy and classy establishment with a beautiful decor that takes you back in history.
  
  Service was terribly slow though, they were good about taking our initial order but then didn't come back and we struggled to find someone to pay our bill. It was frustrating to say the least.
  
  As for the food, it was rather elegant but at the same time it didn't really taste all that great. I got the steamed Thai seabass. The flavor was fine but i wished the flavour was more intensive. It left me wanting more. It also would've been better had the fish been fully de-boned.
  Also had some mashed potatoes which were honestly quite bland. You'd think they'd have added more butter, more herbs, etc.
  
  The price is also not friendly. Not worth it in my opinion. Don't plan on returning despite the history associated with the restaurant.

• Jana H.

  star star star star star 24 May 2026

  I absolutely love the decor of this restaurant. It dates back to 1917 and I believe has the original marble counter tops at the bar. It has an old worldly vibe and takes you back to the 20's.
  The cocktails are the star for me! The bar tenders are excellent and with expansive knowledge on drinks.
  The food is good and you have some classic dishes such as Shepherd's Pie. The starters are quite fun as well - the tiger prawns were amazing. Deserts delicious!
  In all this is a lovely time and a gastro excursion but it will set you back a few bob so it's for special occasions only

• Walt B.

  star star star star star 18 May 2026

  We had dinner at The Ivy prior to attending a musical. You walk into a beautiful and charming restaurant. Rather than order on a the pre-theatre set menu,  we choose to a la carte offerings. We highly recommend the following: Burrata tomato salad; Ginger chicken; Bisque soup; Fish and chips; (4) Veal Cutlet and the baked cheese cake.  In addition, The Ivy has a nice wine list. The Chablis Colom was very enjoyable.  
  
  The service was superb. The place was packed with theatre goers, yet, the we were able to enjoy a leisure two hour dinner with out being rushed.
  
  We look forward to returning to The Ivy on our next visit to London.

• Victor W.

  star star star star_border star_border 15 May 2026

  A solid 4 star experience for food taste, a soft 3 for hospitality/service by the wait staff and a 3.5 ambience.
  
  Time arrived: We had a reservation for 6:30pm but showed up at 6:15pm on a Sunday evening. They were able to seat us at our table, but offered to seat us at the bar first. When we first arrived, they asked if we would like to leave our coats by the front, while I appreciate this gesture, it feels a bit odd to have our coats taken and left in the front of the chilly, dark winter's night. I would rather they stored the coats somewhere in the back or elsewhere. So we decided to hold onto our coats.
  
  Ambience:
  This restaurant supposedly has a lovely history, but the menu itself seemed to not highlight this fact at all, it felt unapproachable to a foreigner as myself to come into this establishment blind and not really be given the chance to learn more. I would suggest the restaurant have wait staff tell patrons about the restaurant's history or at least provide this on the table. It is beautiful inside, without much ambient noise, a tranquil yellow lighting with large pieces of artwork all around and a beautiful bar smack in the middle of the room.
  
  Service: We were greeted by one waiter for appetizer and drinks and one for main service. They were attentive and polite, although they were pushy about trying to get us to order more. I felt some slight judgment that we did not order any alcoholic beverages, my guest was sick so he got a tea.
  As for main courses: I asked the waiter his suggestions and he seemed a bit taken aback by this question, oddly enough - he pointed to the middle and said, well, our classics are classic and they are all good, and slowly he warmed up and talked about his personal favorites/top choices with scallops, the shepherd's pie and the sea bass. I ordered the sea bass, and my guest had ordered the bang bang chicken and steak. The waiter looked at me expecting me to order more but we had a large lunch and nothing else on the menu was singing to me at the time. My guest ordered a spinach and the waiter seemed appeased.
  
  Food:
  -The complimentary bread was a bit dry for my liking.
  -The bang bang chicken offers a punch of peanut flavor and a healthy array of wondrous color and lovely notes of savory, sweet, hints of acidity from the vegetables - all around a dynamic 5/5 stars for the interplay of texture, taste, color and price
  -The sea bass - the presentation was beautiful with the fish over a leaf. While the taste and sauce were truly stunning, the fact that the entire fish was full of bones for most every bite truly was frustrating. A 5/5 for taste, but the bones galore really were a distraction, lowering it to a 3.5 for me.
  -The spinach side dish was fine, a little undersalted, but adding this with the sauce from my fish was a great mix.
  
  Tips/Takeaways:
  -Reservations are key
  -The bang bang chicken is an excellent starter
  -Service is a bit pushy and I hope the restaurant can offer its patrons more of a welcoming experience by having a nice table-side introduction to the restaurant or the menu (or at least having a printout within the menu).
  -I enjoyed my evening here, but I felt the fanciness of the experience led to a slightly arrogant vybe that was not entirely welcoming to someone traveling in, such as myself.
  -The food was overall a solid 4 stars, but I think I wouldn't come again for a dinner experience.