Food connects people, starts conversations, and inspires the masses. The easiest way to experience and learn about any country’s culture is through their food. The flavours, spices, herbs and presentation all take you to a place, memory and time. A history, science, geography and art lesson on a plate. ⁠

For many years gourmet cuisines and fine dining have been reserved for cultural elites. Exceptional dishes have mostly been acknowledged from European countries but there appears to be a shift in which cuisines are considered gourmet: high-quality and requiring expert preparation. Two Michelin stars were awarded to two black-owned restaurants this year, one of which was the first black female Michelin-starred chef in the UK and the second in the world, both restaurants focus on African cuisine. Dishes influenced by the global majority are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

We have compiled a list of gourmet restaurants owned by members of the global majority for all your refined palate needs.⁠

Akoko

21 Berners St, London W1T 3LP⁠

Cuisine:⁠
West African⁠

Michelin Guide:
One Star – High-quality cooking
⁠
Thoughts from the restaurant:
Our culinary ethos blends innovation, live fire cooking, umami, and an array of exotic spices. Infused with our founder Aji Akokomi’s West African heritage, our dedicated team of chefs expertly craft a diverse range of dishes, honouring tradition while pushing the boundaries of culinary creativity. We blend the freshest seasonal British ingredients with African spices, resulting in a dining experience that is both culturally resonant and distinctly exceptional.

Price range:
£££

Booking Information:
Website // Reservations // Instagram

RapChar⁠

30 Brixton Water Ln, London SW2 1PE⁠

Cuisine:⁠
Caribbean ⁠- Jamaican

Thoughts from the restaurant:
We are dedicated to bringing the authentic flavours and electric spirit of the Caribbean to our customers, providing a memorable dining experience that tantalises the taste buds and uplifts the soul. Our elevated dishes are crafted with love and expertise, bringing rich culinary traditions of the Caribbean islands and innovation together.

Price range:
££
⁠
Booking Information:
Website // Reservations // Instagram

12:51⁠

107 Upper Street, London, N1 1QN, UK⁠

Cuisine:⁠
Caribbean Fusion ⁠

Thoughts from the restaurant:
With parents from St. Vincent in the Caribbean and Glasgow, a mixed-heritage is reflected in Chef James Cochran’s innovative and exciting dishes. He opened 12:51 in Islington, north London in 2018 – the same year he won the BBC’s Great British Menu – a feat he repeated in 2020.

Price range:
££

Booking Information:
Website // Reservations // Instagram

Roger’s Kitchen

71 Camden Rd, London NW1 9EU⁠

Cuisine:⁠
Caribbean – Jamaican
⁠
Thoughts from the restaurant:
Caribbean cuisine created with ingenuity and passion. Our menu is inspired by the flavours of Jamaica and presented with contemporary flair.  Set in easy-going but elegant surroundings, Roger’s Kitchen is sure to have you returning to your favourite dishes over and over again.

Price range:
££

Booking Information:
Website // Reservations // Instagram

Stork⁠

13-14 Cork St, Mayfair, London, W1S 3NS⁠

Cuisine:⁠
Pan African⁠

Thoughts from the restaurant:
An African narrative steeped in colour, flavour, history, and culture. At Stork, we aim to capture the richness of Africa’s culinary and creative offerings through fabulous food and art. Inspired by the 2000-mile journey of the Stork, our dynamic cuisine showcases the migration of African culinary inspiration to nearly every continent in the world. We have nurtured a progressive culture within the restaurant, consistently reimagining what it means to be a Modern Pan-African restaurant today.  The essence of our restaurant is expressed through 3 key areas: Aspiration, Authenticity, and Artistry. Honest flavours, depth, texture, and artistic visuals are core to our ability to achieve in any of these 3 key areas.

Price range:
£££

Booking Information:
Website // Reservations // Instagram

Papa L’s Kitchen

16-17 Jermyn St, St. James’s, London SW1Y 6LT⁠

Cuisine:⁠
African⁠ Fusion – Gambian

Thoughts from the restaurant:
Inspired by his mum’s love for cooking and seeing how something can be created from nothing, Lawrence decided as a teenager that he wanted to be a chef. Lawrence developed his own marinades, using exotic herbs and spices, and experimented with using them on different foods. He wanted to develop his own food concept and flavours, creating something that would appeal to all, drawing on inspiration from his African heritage fused with a modern twist.

Price range:
££

Booking Information:
Website // Reservations // Instagram

Chishuru

3 Great Titchfield St., London W1W 8AX⁠

Cuisine:⁠
African⁠ – Nigerian

Michelin Guide:
One Star – High quality cooking

Thoughts from the restaurant:
A modern west African restaurant. In February 2024, Michelin awarded Chishuru a Michelin star, making Joké the first black female Michelin-starred chef in the UK. Joké was named ‘Chef of the Year’ at the National Restaurant Awards 2024.

Price range:
£££

Booking Information:
Website // Reservations // Instagram

Kol

9 Seymour Street, Marylebone, London W1H 7BA⁠

Cuisine:⁠
Mexican⁠

Michelin Guide:
One Star – High quality cooking

Thoughts from the restaurant:
At KOL, we source and celebrate the finest expressions of British ingredients, championing wild food and seasonality to create dishes that reflect the bright, fresh flavours of Mexican cooking.

Price range:
£££

Booking Information:
Website // Reservations // Instagram

Ikoyi

180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA⁠

Cuisine:⁠
African⁠

Michelin Guide:
Two Stars – Excellent cooking

Thoughts from the restaurant:
Ikoyi builds its own spice-based cuisine around British micro-seasonality: vegetables slowly grown for flavour, sustainable line-caught fish, and aged native beef. Our kitchen serves guests an interpretation of produce in its optimal state, harnessing as much flavour as possible while respecting the true nature of the ingredient. The foundation for our menu is a vast collection of spices with a focus on sub-Saharan West Africa, which we have sourced with utmost care since opening.

Price range:
££££

Booking Information:
Website // Reservations // Instagram

So why not gather those coins and embark on your culinary journey through culture. Please do let us know if you have attended any of these restaurants and leave a comment to talk about your experience.

Make sure to book and be part of the culture.⁠