The Palomar is a Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant at 34 Rupert Street, on the Soho and Chinatown border in London‘s West End. It opened in May 2014, has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand since its first year, and is known for an open kitchen, a counter-focused dining room, and cooking that draws on the Levant, North Africa and Southern Spain with a Jerusalem accent. The name comes from the Spanish word for dovecote, a nod to the bird houses found across the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.
What to Expect at The Palomar
The Palomar is built around its kitchen. Chefs cook in full view of the room, and the restaurant describes the space as a pressure cooker with everything on show: a dropped pot, a burned hand, a look passing from kitchen to floor. Mosaic and wood surrounds frame the room, and the best seats are at the kitchen counter, where you watch plates being assembled and fired a few feet away. Breads are baked in-house daily, and the menu is prepared fresh each morning for that day’s service.
The menu is designed for sharing. Dishes draw on traditional family recipes, modern technique, places the team has travelled to and others they have only dreamed of. The wine list follows the food, organised around terroir and ingredient and leaning toward the eastern Mediterranean and neighbouring regions. The restaurant’s accolades include Best Restaurant of the Year awards from GQ, Tatler and The Observer, and a sister restaurant, The Palomar Sydney, opened in 2025.
- Open kitchen and counter seating: The centrepiece of the room, where cooks work in full view and counter diners sit at the pass.
- Levantine, North African and Southern Spanish cooking: Sharing plates that move across the cuisines of the Eastern Mediterranean, Maghreb and Iberia.
- Daily house-baked breads: Baked on site every day to scoop up dips, sauces and slow-cooked dishes.
- Terroir-led wine list: Bottles chosen to follow the food, with attention to grape, region and ingredient.
- Michelin Bib Gourmand: Held continuously since 2014, recognising high-quality cooking at a moderate price.
The Palomar at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 34 Rupert Street, London W1D 6DN |
| Neighborhood / Area | Soho, on the edge of Chinatown, West End |
| Operating Hours | Mon 5-10pm; Tue-Wed 12-2:30pm and 5-10pm; Thu-Sat 12-2:30pm and 5-10:30pm; Sun 12-2:30pm and 5-9pm |
| Admission / Price Range | No entry fee; $$ price tier, sharing-plate format |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 1.5 to 2.5 hours |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square Underground stations; paid car parks nearby |
| Official Website & Phone | thepalomar.co.uk; +44 20 7439 8777 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Book ahead through the official reservations page, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings and for counter seats, which are the most sought-after in the room. Lunch from Tuesday to Sunday is a calmer way to see the kitchen at work, and early-evening slots tend to be easier to secure than prime time. The menu works best when you order several dishes to share across the table, so a group of two to four suits it well.
The nearest Underground stations are Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines) and Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines), both about a five-minute walk. Rupert Street is a pedestrianised-feeling Soho lane with a street-level entrance, but the dining room is compact with close-set tables and counter stools, so contact the restaurant before visiting if you need step-free seating or have mobility needs. Within a 5 to 15 minute walk you can reach Chinatown’s Gerrard Street, Piccadilly Circus, the theatres of Shaftesbury Avenue and the galleries of Trafalgar Square.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are The Palomar’s opening hours and best time to visit?
The restaurant opens for dinner every day from 5pm and for lunch Tuesday to Sunday from 12pm to 2:30pm. Weekday lunch and early-evening seatings are the quietest options, while Thursday to Saturday evenings run until 10:30pm and are the busiest.
Do I need a reservation and how much does it cost?
Reservations are strongly recommended and are made online through the official booking page. The Palomar sits in the $$ tier, with sharing plates priced for moderate spend, and it has held a Michelin Bib Gourmand since 2014 for good value cooking.
How long should I allow for a meal?
Allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Sharing plates arrive in waves, and counter diners often linger to watch the kitchen, so a relaxed pace suits the format.
Is The Palomar suitable for couples, groups and special occasions?
Yes. The open kitchen, mosaic-and-wood room and shared dishes make it popular for couples, small groups and celebrations. The lively, close-set room is better for sociable evenings than for quiet, private conversation, and there is no formal dress code.
When planning your London travel guide or browsing verified restaurants in London, pair this stop with standout local spots including The Ledbury, Americana London, Regent’s Canal Walk, and Evelyn's Table (nearby).
