In prime position on Pimlico Road, a restored Victorian corner pub has become one of Belgravia’s most talked about dining rooms. It’s a clever marriage of neighbourhood local meet’s part Basque-inspired restaurant, and thanks to this unique approach, it’s also now a Michelin Guide name with serious momentum. Usually when there is too much hype about a restaurant, I don’t visit as I don’t want to be let down.
However, The Prince Arthur really does live up to the hysteria and continues to refresh its menu to ensure they offer the best dishes with the best possible produce to keep diners (both new and repeat) coming back for more!
Set at 11 Pimlico Road, sitting on the tip of the Belgravia postcode area, it has the confidence of a classic neighbourhood address but the appetite of somewhere far more ambitious. Being a local myself, I’ve seen this property be numerous restaurants in the past which have come and gone. It’s been transformed into a welcoming pub with craft beers, cocktails, fine wines and the promise of a properly poured Guinness! But then beyond that, a Basque-inspired restaurant built around seafood, fire-grilled meats and exceptional produce. Any of the usual pub grub is NOT on the menu! Instead of a scotch egg, think devilled eggs topped with caviar. A cheeky side of chips – nope instead you can order turbot dripping potatoes with sour cream and caviar!
A pub with the fire as its centrepiece
Ensuring the pub is anything but ordinary, the heart of the Prince Arthur’s restaurant is its bespoke wood-fired grill (which is imported from Spain), used to bring out the best in both fish and meat. The kitchen is open plan so you get to see all the action and chefs intense, food focused attitude to the most humble of ingredients. The menu leans into Basque tradition with a few creative twists: Wild Turbot, Bluefin Tuna, Galician Blond Beef, Octopus and Lobster Rice. At the Prince Arthur, the grill is not a gimmick.
The Dish I Couldn’t Stop Thinking About
As a seafood fan, I can confirm it’s now one of my favourites for Oysters and Hamachi! Every great restaurant has a dish that becomes the whispered recommendation. On the date in which I had dinner, a brand new Hamachi dish had been added that very day. Bright, clean and beautifully balanced, it has the kind of freshness that makes you pause after the first bite and instantly has you craving more. I ended up ordering two. Not because the portion was small, but because it was that good! The little drops of garlic confit sitting on top of each piece was a gamechanger! It was the perfect symbol of what the Prince Arthur is doing well: taking a familiar luxury ingredient and giving it the relaxed charisma of a dish you want to order again immediately. In a room where the grill gets much of the attention, the Hamachi proves the cold side of the kitchen has just as much star power.
The Michelin Guide Listing
The Prince Arthur’s inclusion in the Michelin Guide has given the restaurant a new kind of visibility. Not just that of Instagram and Tik-Tok influencers. Michelin describes it as ‘an imposing Victorian corner pub where the fish counter and aromas of the wood-fired grill announce the style of cooking immediately, praising the Basque roots of the concept and the appeal of wood-fired cooking for top-quality fish and meats’. That recognition makes the place even more interesting. The Michelin attention alongside the pub’s everyday energy is a winning combination. You have the usual bar chatter, match-day crowd (they have been screening the World Cup), the terrace in good weather and the bottles popping with plates passing from table to table. It is just more polished, and I am here for it!
The word-of-mouth popularity makes sense. The old question – “pub or restaurant?” no longer applies. Belgravia has always had beautiful rooms and polished service but there is something warmer about the whole experience at Prince Arthur. It’s got enough style for a destination dinner and enough ease to feel like a local secret. Yes, the Michelin Guide listing has amplified the buzz, but the reason people return is simpler: the food has personality and zest.
Why It’s Worth the Reservation
The Prince Arthur has brought fresh energy to Belgravia. It’s no longer seen as too pretentious because of new openings like this. By combining the comfort of a neighbourhood pub with ambitious Basque-inspired cooking, it’s been a recipe for success (even against its strong contenders in the area). In less than a year, The Prince Arthur became a worthy addition to London’s dining scene and it continues to stand out. Having watched this corner address evolve over the years, it’s refreshing to see a restaurant that not only lives up to the hype but delivers a dining experience worth returning for.
www.princearthurbelgravia.co.uk
Review and Images by Zoe Laing @_zozogram_
Feature image supplied
