[title]
From Dumbo to Bleecker, Heard to Black Bear, London has no shortage of magnificent, mouthwateringly filthy burgers. And at Time Out, we make it our mission to try as many of them as humanly possible (our own Leonie Cooper is a judge at the National Burger Awards), so that you know which really are the best of the best.
After spending the last 12 months trying even more meat-and-bun offerings across the city, we’ve given our ranking of the capital’s best burgers a bit of reshuffle. And a new number one has emerged. Time Out’s new best burger in London is the smash burger at Whole Beast in Brixton.
Whole Beast opened in Brixton following a series of pub and brewery residencies. Before moving to its permanent home, it was at the Montpelier in Peckham. While there, its Aged Cheeseburger (which is, indeed, a beast) was crowned the ‘champion of champions’ at the National Burger Awards. Time Out food editor Leonie Cooper confirms that, at it’s new Brixton restaurant, Whole Beast’s signature smash burger ‘remains a triumph’.
Leonie said of the winning creation: ‘Aged beef is smashed to within an inch of its life and sprawls out of the softly steamed Martin’s potato bun (no other buns need apply) as if trying to outrun its demons. The square of cheese is luminous orange and does its best to hold the meat in place, while a bracingly sharp dill and mustard-infused mayo brings the whole thing together with the fluency and timing of a great orchestra.’
If it sounds sloppy, that’s because it is. But Leonie attests that that’s no issue, as long as you don’t mind making a bit of a mess. We all know that the best burgers are never neat and tidy, anyway.
The sides at Whole Beast are worth talking about, too. Hash browns come with whipped cod roe and handful of crushed Scampi Fries crumbled over the top, Texas toast is topped with caviar and burnt hispi cabbage is loaded with pork fat, smoked sausage, shallots and sesame.
Hanbaagaasuuteeki took second place in our updated ranking, while the Plimsoll’s Dexter cheeseburger sits in third place.
🍔 Dig into Time Out’s top 20 burgers in London here.
ICYMI: 14 London restaurants were added to the Michelin Guide in October 2026.
Plus: The 15 best new London restaurants opening in November 2026.
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.