Dishoom Kensington
South Kensington, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$30–50per person
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Dishoom Kensington is a strong choice for a lively Kensington meal when the group needs range, energy, and less formality than a special-occasion splurge. Pick lunch for easier conversation and dinner for a busier celebration feel; skip it if the brief is quiet, formal, or wine-led.
About Dishoom Kensington
Dishoom Kensington is a London venue with opening hours across the full week and a smart casual dress code. The schedule is 8 AM–11 PM Monday to Friday and 9 AM–11 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
A notable quality marker is its Good Food Guide 2025 listing as GFG Good for Dishoom Kensington.
Choose it for a London meal with daily opening hours
The practical reason to consider Dishoom Kensington is direct: it is open every day, with earlier weekday opening and later weekend starts. That can make it useful when planning around other London commitments, but specific service periods and menu availability should not be assumed from the hours alone.
Dress code is smart casual. If dress expectations matter for your booking, use that as your guidance.
The value is in the basics, not assumptions
Good Food Guide 2025 recognition is a useful reference point.
For comparison, other dining venues include Ivy Kensington Brasserie, Akira, Jacuzzi, Bugis Kitchen, and Krokodilos. Choose among them based on current availability and the details each venue confirms directly.
Quick reference
- Venue: Dishoom Kensington, London.
- Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–11 PM; Sat–Sun 9 AM–11 PM.
- Dress code: smart casual.
- Recognition: The Good Food Guide 2025, GFG Good.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 8 AM–11 PM · Tuesday: 8 AM–11 PM
- Location
- 4 Derry St, London W8 5SE, United Kingdom
- Reservations
- Book on the venue's website
- Website
- dishoom.com/kensington/?y_source=1_MjMwNDkyMDctNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D
- Phone
- +44 20 7420 9325
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Dishoom Kensington leans on architecture as much as on menu to set its tone. Housed in part of the old Barkers department store, the room’s Art Deco bones, high ceilings, booth seating and a giant clock, make the space feel like a transplanted Bombay railway buffet room. On Thursday and Friday evenings a resident jazz band layers in live music, so the dining room alternates between relaxed daytime hum and a more animated evening energy. The effect is an urbane, classically informed dining room that reads as both historically rooted and distinctly London.
Best For
The restaurant is built around an all-day Irani café programme and suits anyone looking for flexible dining across the day. Early risers find Parsi omelettes and bacon naan rolls at breakfast; midday options run to small plates like chilli cheese toast and lamb samosas; evenings broaden into larger mains and richer plates. The front-of-house team deliberately manages the room at different registers, so Dishoom works for brunch groups, casual midday visits and more animated evening gatherings where the live music contributes to the mood.
Ordering Tips
Treat the menu as a day-long journey: start with breakfast classics if you visit in the morning (Parsi omelette or bacon naan roll), sample small plates at lunch (chilli cheese toast, lamb samosas) and move to heartier evening dishes after sunset. Signature favourites like House Black Daal, Chicken Ruby, Lamb Chops and the Paneer Roomali Roll sit comfortably alongside evening dishes referenced in the room, jackfruit biryani and mutton pepper fry, so consider sharing a mix of small plates and mains to get the breadth of the kitchen. Expect a livelier room on Thursday and Friday nights when the jazz band plays.
Venue details
Ambiance
Extravagant Art Deco setting with booth seating, chandeliers, and a nostalgic 1940s atmosphere, though often described as loud and bustling.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Large
- Kitchen
- Modern
- Menu Format
- A la carte, Small plates
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten-free options
Signature Dishes
- House Black Daal
- Chicken Ruby
- Lamb Chops
- Paneer Roomali Roll
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 4 Derry St, London W8 5SE, United Kingdom
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 8 AM–11 PM
- Tuesday
- 8 AM–11 PM
- Wednesday
- 8 AM–11 PM
- Thursday
- 8 AM–11 PM
- Friday
- 8 AM–11 PM
- Saturday
- 9 AM–11 PM
- Sunday
- 9 AM–11 PM
Location
4 Derry St, London W8 5SE, United Kingdom · Directions
dishoom.com/kensington/?y_source=1_MjMwNDkyMDctNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
Choose Ivy Kensington Brasserie if the table needs a calmer Kensington meal with a more conventional brasserie feel. Choose Akira if the night calls for Japanese food and a higher-spend special occasion.
Restaurant context
How Dishoom Kensington compares in London
Against Akira and Krokodilos, Dishoom Kensington is the lower-commitment choice. Akira and Krokodilos sit in a higher-spend bracket, so they make more sense when the meal needs to feel like a planned splurge. Choose Dishoom when the group wants energy, range, and less pressure around the bill.
Ivy Kensington Brasserie is the closest cross-shop for location and occasion use. Ivy is better for a polished brasserie mood and quieter catch-ups; Dishoom is better when the table wants more pace and a less formal room. For a mixed group in Kensington, Dishoom is the safer social booking; for a client meal, Ivy may be easier to manage.
Bugis Kitchen and Jacuzzi are useful alternatives if the brief shifts away from Dishoom's all-day, high-energy format. Bugis Kitchen is the one to check when the group wants a more casual change of direction, while Jacuzzi suits diners who want a bigger room statement and a more theatrical night out.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Dishoom Kensington guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Dishoom Kensington
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dishoom Kensington | London | The Good Food Guide 2025 | ||
| Akira | London | Japanese | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | £££ |
| Bugis Kitchen | London | No published awards | ||
| Jacuzzi | London | No published awards | ||
| Ivy Kensington Brasserie | London | No published awards | ||
| Krokodilos | London | Greek | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 Michelin Plate | £££ |
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How Dishoom Kensington London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch or dinner better at Dishoom Kensington?
Dishoom Kensington is open 8 AM–11 PM Monday to Friday and 9 AM–11 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Is Dishoom Kensington good for a special occasion?
Dishoom Kensington has a smart casual dress code and Good Food Guide 2025 recognition as GFG Good.
What are alternatives to Dishoom Kensington?
Other venues to compare include Ivy Kensington Brasserie, Akira, Jacuzzi, Bugis Kitchen, and Krokodilos.
