The historic London restaurant that has been named one of the best in the world

In London, you can’t move for acclaimed restaurants. There are Michelin star stalwarts, like nose-to-tail pioneer St John, taco joints that could hold their own in Mexico City and a growing number of world-class Korean joints from Miga to Dotori. Which is why it is quite something to be a restaurant in the capital and be crowned as one of the best in the world.

That rare feat, however, has been achieved by historic family-run restaurant Tower Tandoori in London Bridge. It’s one of only two UK restaurants to make TripAdvisor’s top ten ‘All-Time Best’ as part of its recent Travellers’ Choice awards. If not already clear, it’s a big deal: the accolade is based on a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the Tripadvisor community. Out of the site’s 8 million listings, fewer than 1 per cent achieve this milestone.

Tower Tandoori has been going strong for nearly half a century, after first opening its doors in 1978. The menu features bangers like paneer lababdar, a rich Punjabi curry, mutton biryani and Mughlai lamb shank. TripAdvisor reviewers call the food ‘exceptional’ and a ’real treasure trove of Indian cuisine in London’, with service praised as ‘attentive’ and ‘excellent’.

TripAdvisor itself describes Tower Tandoori as offering ‘fresh, vibrant Indian dishes in a beautifully decorated space that feels both elegant and inviting’. The result? A number nine spot in the global top ten for ’All-Time Best’ and an impressive 4.8 rating on TripAdvisor from over 3,200 reviews, nearly 3,000 of which are five stars.

The only other UK restaurant on the list is The Witchery in Edinburgh at number six, which is a masterclass in Scottish cooking, balancing indulgence and tradition with classics like beef ribeye steak. Taking the top spot is Bodegas Mezquita Céspedes in Spain, a little tapas restaurant that is ‘loved by reviewers for its authentic local dishes and warm hospitality’.

TripAdvisor’s all-time 10 best restaurants

Here are the world-class restos which made their way into the top 10 ‘All Time Best’, according to the Travellers’ Choice Awards:

1. Bodegas Mezquita Céspedes, Spain
2. Floresta Das Escadinhas, Portugal
3. The Balkan Mediterranean Restaurant, Canada
4. Fellini, Uruguay
5. Restaurante Marius Degustare, Brazil
6. The Witchery Restaurant, UK
7. Vivi Cafe, Italy
8. GYOPAO Gyoza Roppongi, Japan
9. Tower Tandoori Restaurant, UK
10. Gabah Indonesian Cuisine, Indonesia

You can have a look at the full list in detail on TripAdvisor here.

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