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Why Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal Earns a Place on Our Top 50 French Outside France
Alex Dilling ran the kitchen at Helene Darroze at The Connaught and held two stars at The Greenhouse in Mayfair before he opened under his own name on 1 September 2022. The recognition came fast: two Michelin stars within six months, held again in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 guides. That is the shortest road to a second star any London chef has walked in recent memory, and it is why our Top 50 French Restaurants Outside France ranks the room at #16.
The cooking is classical French technique with a contemporary register. Dilling builds plates around luxury produce handled without theatre. The caviar service, the roasted langoustine and the foie gras course are the dishes regulars come back for, and the sauce work, from a precise beurre blanc to a vin jaune reduction, is the part that separates this kitchen from the merely expensive. Ben Miller, long the sous-chef, now runs the pass as head chef while Dilling keeps the standard.
How to Book Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal
The room seats only 34, set on the first floor of Hotel Cafe Royal overlooking the curve of Regent Street, so prime weekend tables go eight to twelve weeks out. Book direct through the restaurant or its reservation line; lunch is the value play and a markedly easier seat than a Friday or Saturday dinner.
Expect to spend £180 to £300 per person before wine, with the tasting menu the way most diners go. The wine list runs deep and French, with Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne and Loire verticals; a pairing pushes the bill well past the food figure. Dress is smart. There is no jacket rule, but trainers read wrong in this room.
The Verdict: Is Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal Worth the Pilgrimage?
"Two Michelin stars inside six months and a 34-seat room on Regent Street that cooks luxury French produce without a wasted gesture. Reserve weeks ahead for an anniversary or a deal you want to land."
Our editorial scoring places the food at 9/10, ambience at 9/10 and value at 7/10. The value mark is the honest one: this is among the most expensive seats in London, and you pay for the produce and the precision rather than for volume.
Not for a long, loose, share-everything dinner. The room is small and formal, the menu is a set tasting, and the pacing is deliberate. If you want a three-hour table you can sprawl across, book elsewhere.
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Reservation links may be affiliate links; bookings cost you nothing extra and never influence our editorial scoring. Compiled by the Restaurants for Kings editorial team from Michelin Guide, The World's 50 Best and named press; see our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Michelin stars does Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal have?
Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal holds two Michelin stars, awarded within six months of its September 2022 opening and retained in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 guides. It is one of a small group of London rooms to reach a second star that quickly, and it sits at #16 on our Top 50 French restaurants outside France.
How hard is it to book Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal?
Hard for prime dinners. The room seats only 34, so Friday and Saturday tables disappear eight to twelve weeks ahead. Book direct through the restaurant. Weekday lunch is far easier to land and is the better-value way in, with the same kitchen and a quieter Regent Street view.
What is the dress code at Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal?
Smart. There is no formal jacket requirement, but this is a polished first-floor dining room overlooking Regent Street, so smart-casual at the very least is expected. Tailoring or a jacket suits the room; trainers and sportswear look out of place against the service and the price.
How much does dinner cost at Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal?
Budget £180 to £300 per person before drinks, with the tasting menu the standard route. The wine list is deep and French, so a pairing or a good bottle adds substantially to the bill. Lunch is the lower-cost entry point for the same cooking from the same kitchen.
Related Reading
- Top 50 French Restaurants Outside France. The full editorial ranking, where Alex Dilling sits at #16.
- London dining guide · Frenchie Covent Garden, the city's bistronomy counterpoint.
- Best restaurants for closing a deal · Best for an anniversary.
- Browse all RFK rankings.