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Few London restaurants have cultivated a reputation like The Wolseley Piccadilly. Occupying a grand historic building beside The Ritz, this celebrated café-restaurant has become a fixture of the capital’s dining scene, attracting everyone from breakfast regulars to theatre-goers and visitors enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea.
With its striking interiors, European-inspired menus and distinctive character, The Wolseley brings a sense of occasion to dining at almost any hour. Its architectural heritage and established culinary traditions have secured its place among London’s most recognisable restaurants.
A Piccadilly Landmark with a Storied Past
The Wolseley’s impressive surroundings have a history stretching back well before its restaurant days. Designed by architect William Curtis Green in the early 1920s, the building originally served as a showroom for Wolseley Motors before becoming a Barclays Bank branch in 1927.
Its transformation into a restaurant came in 2003, with interiors designed by David Collins Studio. The renovation retained much of the building’s original grandeur, including its soaring ceilings, marble columns, arched windows and distinctive monochrome flooring.
The interiors draw inspiration from Europe’s grand cafés, particularly those of Vienna and Paris. Dark furnishings, polished surfaces and neatly arranged tables complement the building’s impressive proportions, creating an elegant setting that remains unmistakably London.
The Menus at The Wolseley
The Wolseley’s extensive menus reflect its all-day dining philosophy, with dedicated offerings for breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. European brasserie favourites sit alongside British classics, seafood specialities and an impressive selection of pâtisserie.
Breakfast at The Wolseley
Breakfast is among The Wolseley’s best-known offerings, with a menu spanning continental staples and substantial cooked dishes.
The viennoiserie selection includes butter croissants, pains au chocolat, almond croissants, and cannelés Bordelais. Lighter options range from The Wolseley muesli and Bircher muesli to caramelised pink grapefruit and yoghurt with granola and fruit compote.
For a traditional start, The English combines eggs prepared to preference with bacon, sausage, baked beans, tomato, black pudding and mushrooms. Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine and Eggs Royale are also available, alongside Omelette Arnold Bennett and smoked salmon with scrambled eggs.
The speciality dishes are particularly distinctive. Fried haggis with duck eggs and whisky sauce, devilled lamb kidneys, grilled kipper with mustard butter and kedgeree with a poached egg reflect the restaurant’s appreciation for traditional British breakfast cooking. Another favourite is The Wolseley Fishcake, served with a poached egg and hollandaise sauce.
Sweeter choices include pancakes or French toast with maple syrup, bacon or seasonal berries, while the drinks selection features freshly prepared smoothies, tea and coffee.
Lunch and Dinner
Lunch and dinner follow the restaurant’s European brasserie traditions, with an extensive selection of seafood, classic meat dishes and lighter café favourites.
Starters include French onion soup with gratinéed croûtons, chicken liver parfait with clementine jelly and brioche, escargots à la Bourguignonne and seared scallops with scallop roe pommes purée and beurre blanc. Steak tartare is another classic, available with toast or as a larger serving accompanied by salad and frites.
Seafood features prominently, with Jersey Rocks and Loch Ryan Native oysters, dressed Dorset crab, crevettes roses with Marie Rose sauce and a petit plateau de fruits de mer. More indulgent options include Prunier Classique Oscietra caviar, smoked salmon blinis with Oscietra and the Lobster & Caviar Omelette ‘Adrian’.
For mains, The Wolseley Fishcakes with lobster bisque sauce and fillet of lemon sole Grenobloise with lemon, capers and croutons are among the seafood choices. Native lobster, served with chips, samphire and garlic butter, offers a more substantial option.
The meat selection includes roast corn-fed chicken with crushed new potatoes, crème fraîche and jus rôti, ossobuco with creamed barley and gremolata, and coq au vin with creamed potatoes. Steaks such as onglet and entrecôte come with béarnaise sauce and pommes frites, while the schnitzel selection includes chicken, Wiener and Wiener Holstein, the latter topped with anchovy, capers and a fried egg.
Vegetarian and vegan dishes include Soufflé Suisse, gnocchi with wild mushroom ragoût and herb pesto, aubergine and Mayfield cheese schnitzel, and cauliflower and chickpea makhani with saffron rice.
For a lighter meal, the café menu offers Croque Monsieur, Croque Madame, Welsh rarebit, salads and The Wolseley Cheeseburger. A two- or three-course prix-fixe menu provides another option, featuring dishes such as salmon rillettes, pan-seared sea bream, chicken fricassée and roast breast of duck.
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea is another established Wolseley tradition, served in the grand dining room with a selection of classic accompaniments.
The Classic Afternoon Tea includes assorted finger sandwiches, fruit scones with homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream, and a selection of cakes. The Wolseley Collection teas range from English Breakfast, Earl Grey and Darjeeling to Assam, Jasmine Bud, Chocolate Tea and Caramel Tea.
The Champagne Afternoon Tea adds a glass of Pommery Brut Royale, Ayala Rosé Majeur, or Bollinger Special Cuvée. Savoury additions include mini Welsh rarebit, mashed avocado bites, fishcake with lobster mayonnaise and steak tartare toasties.
A simpler Cream Tea is available on request, while afternoon tea service begins at 2.30 pm on weekdays and 3 pm at weekends.
Pâtisserie, Desserts and Drinks
The Wolseley’s dessert selection continues its European café influences, featuring traditional pastries, cakes and elaborate ice cream creations.
Classics include crème brûlée, vanilla mille-feuille, Black Forest gâteau, and baked vanilla cheesecake. The Wolseley Fruit Crumble comes with vanilla crème anglaise, while the Apfel Strudel is served with Calvados crème Chantilly. Other choices include berry clafoutis and chocolate and orange truffle torte.
The cake selection features The Wolseley Battenberg, Sachertorte and carrot cake, alongside chocolate and salted caramel éclairs. For something more indulgent, the Coupe Lucian combines pistachio, hazelnut and almond nougatine ice creams with whipped cream and butterscotch sauce. The Coupe Chocolat Liégeois and traditional banana split complete the selection.
The drinks offering includes wines, Champagne and cocktails suited to different occasions, alongside tea and coffee for more leisurely visits.
The Wolseley Dining Experience
The main dining room is central to The Wolseley’s appeal. Its soaring ceilings, marble detailing and dramatic architectural features provide an impressive backdrop, while the steady movement of guests and staff creates the lively atmosphere associated with traditional European café culture.
The experience changes naturally throughout the day. Breakfast attracts early risers and business meetings, lunch brings a mixture of regulars and visitors, and dinner offers a more leisurely opportunity to appreciate the surroundings. Afternoon tea has its own sense of ceremony, particularly for those seeking a traditional London experience.
The restaurant maintains the smart yet approachable character of a grand café, with established service traditions and a menu suited to different occasions. Its Piccadilly location also makes it convenient for a meal before a West End performance or following an afternoon of shopping.
Private Dining and Special Occasions
The Wolseley’s architectural character and established dining traditions make it an appealing setting for celebrations and smaller gatherings.
Its private dining room accommodates up to 15 guests, providing a dedicated space for intimate occasions, business meals and special events. The setting offers greater privacy while retaining the restaurant’s distinctive character.
The main dining room is equally suited to birthday lunches, anniversary dinners and celebratory afternoon teas, with the extensive menus allowing guests to tailor their visit to the occasion.
The Wolseley’s Place in London Dining
More than two decades after opening, The Wolseley remains a distinctive presence on Piccadilly. Its grand interiors, extensive menus and commitment to traditional European café dining have given it a recognisable identity within London’s restaurant scene.
Much of its appeal lies in its familiar traditions. Whether visiting for an English breakfast, a seafood lunch or afternoon tea beneath the soaring ceilings, guests can expect a setting steeped in history and a menu built around established favourites.
For those seeking an elegant London dining experience with impressive surroundings and a generous choice of classic dishes, The Wolseley remains a compelling choice.
Location: 160 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EB
