Best Culinary Jobs in London 2026: Where to Work and How to Get Hired

London remains one of the best cities in the world for a chef to build a career. With 75 Michelin-starred restaurants, a chronic shortage of skilled cooks, and restaurants increasingly willing to sponsor visas, the opportunities here are real.

Here's the current landscape.

The London kitchen job market in 2026

Post-Brexit, the UK hospitality industry lost a significant chunk of its European workforce. The result: restaurants are struggling to fill positions, especially at the CDP and sous chef level.

This is good news for job-seeking chefs. Restaurants that previously wouldn't consider sponsoring a visa are now doing it routinely. If you have solid experience, London wants you.

Top restaurants currently hiring

The following restaurants are frequently recruiting or accepting stages (check their websites and social media for current openings):

3-Star Michelin

• Restaurant Gordon Ramsay — Chelsea. Classic French fine dining. Demanding but the training is world-class.
• Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester — Park Lane. French haute cuisine with a modern approach.
• Core by Clare Smyth — Notting Hill. British ingredients, refined technique. Known for treating staff well.

2-Star Michelin

• The Clove Club — Shoreditch. Modern British tasting menu. Creative, seasonal.
• Ikoyi — St. James's. West African-inspired fine dining. One of London's most exciting kitchens.
• Da Terra — Bethnal Green. Brazilian-Italian fusion. Tight, focused team.
• The Ledbury — Notting Hill. Brett Graham's flagship. Reopened and stronger than ever.

1-Star and Rising

• Brat — Shoreditch. Wood-fire cooking. Less traditional brigade structure.
• Kol — Marylebone. Mexican fine dining. Unique flavour profiles.
• Mãos — Shoreditch. Contemporary with Asian and Latin influences.
• The Barbary — Covent Garden. North African and Middle Eastern. Fast-paced, flavour-forward.

Salary expectations in London

London pay has improved over the past two years as restaurants compete for talent:

Role	Annual Salary	Monthly Take-Home (approx.)
Commis Chef	£24,000–£28,000	£1,600–£1,850
Chef de Partie	£28,000–£35,000	£1,850–£2,250
Senior CDP	£33,000–£38,000	£2,150–£2,450
Sous Chef	£38,000–£48,000	£2,450–£3,000
Head Chef	£48,000–£75,000+	£3,000–£4,500+

Many restaurants also provide a staff meal, and some offer accommodation or accommodation allowances — always ask.

How to get hired in London

If you're already in the UK

1. Apply directly — email the restaurant with a short, personalised cover letter and your CV as a PDF
2. Walk in during prep hours (10am–11am) — some kitchens still value the in-person approach. Bring a printed CV
3. Use your network — the London chef community is well-connected. A recommendation from someone who's worked there goes a long way
4. Check job boards — Caterer.com, Harri, and our own Job Board list live London openings

If you're applying from abroad

1. Start with a stage — offer to do 2–4 weeks unpaid. This gives the restaurant a chance to evaluate you before committing to visa sponsorship
2. Confirm visa sponsorship upfront — ask "Do you hold a sponsor licence?" in your initial email
3. Have your documents ready — passport, qualifications, references. The visa process moves faster when you're prepared
4. Apply 8–12 weeks ahead — international logistics take time

The best areas to live

Where you live in London matters because commuting after a midnight finish is miserable:

• East London (Bethnal Green, Hackney, Dalston) — Affordable(ish). Close to many top restaurants. The chef neighbourhood.
• Brixton / Peckham — South London. Good value. Strong food scene of its own.
• Shared accommodation near your restaurant — Many chefs share flats near their workplace. Ask the team when you start.

Budget: Expect to spend £700–£1,100/month on a room in a shared flat. Living alone in London on a chef's salary is very difficult.

The London advantage

A year or two in London kitchens opens doors globally. "Worked in London" on a CV signals that you've been tested in one of the world's most competitive and demanding markets. Restaurants in Dubai, Singapore, Sydney, and New York actively recruit from London's talent pool.

Start with one application. See where it leads.

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