Name: Saint Jacques
Address: 5 St James's Street, St. James's, SW1A 1EF, London, GB
Telephone: 020 7930 2030

The story

Saint Jacques London: Classic French Brasserie Dining in St James’s

The Chef & The Kitchen

Saint Jacques in London serves a relaxed French cuisine along St James’s Street, led by a kitchen that prioritizes daily selected market produce. Richard Weiss guides the cooking philosophy, blending traditional techniques with seasonal British ingredients drawn from trusted suppliers. His partner Cécile Deneuville coordinates floor and kitchen operations to maintain a seamless service rhythm across breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Guests frequently watch the preparation of beef tartare on a rolling guéridon trolley, while Crêpes Suzette finish tableside with visible citrus and alcohol aromas.

Plates & Pairings

The menu balances familiar brasserie staples with precise seasonal adjustments that shift with local availability. A duck foie gras terrine cuts its natural richness with seasonal chutney, and hand-dived scallops rest in a Noilly Prat broth alongside small garden vegetables. Richer plates like the veal kidney with lie de vin mustard or the apricot tarte flambéed with Bénédictine reflect a consistent approach to French cooking. Guests typically pair these dishes from an extensive French wine list developed alongside Berry Bros & Rudd, featuring structured Bordeaux and Burgundy bottles.

Space & Setting

Natural light fills the main dining area, where organic design elements and floral artwork complement the crisp white tablecloths. French windows open directly onto a quiet courtyard terrace, offering one of the most appealing al fresco spots in Central London. Downstairs, an oak-panelled room lined with lily leaf wallpaper provides a more enclosed setting for private gatherings or corporate dinners. This steady combination of reliable cooking and considered interiors recently earned the venue a Good Food Guide recognition for 2026.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026

The Good Food Guide

Good

Details

At a glance

The Good Food Guide 2026 — Good

Cuisines French

Services Breakfast, Dinner, Fine Dining, Outdoor Seating, Private Chef, Private Parties, Private Room, Table Service, Wi-Fi, Wine Pairing

History

On the record

2026

The Good Food Guide — Good

The reincarnation of a similarly named restaurant along St James’s Street, Saint Jacques occupies the space that used to be L’Oranger and more recently, Boulestin. Eating here can feel like a case of déjà vu. It's a beautiful, light-filled room with considerately spaced, white-clothed tables (perfect for enjoying a natter with good wines and food), while the outdoor terrace is one of most attractive in town. The food is unapologetically Gallic, with brasserie staples such as escargots or twice-baked goat’s cheese soufflé appearing on the menu, alongside classics including steak tartare (skilfully prepared on a traditional guéridon trolley). The kitchen also knows how to make familiar ideas interesting: the richness of pan-fried foie gras, for example, is offset by pickled rhubarb and rhubarb jam, while hand-dived scallops are paired with pea purée and ventrèche bacon. Elsewhere, tender rabbit leg is stuffed with a truffle-spiked mousse and partnered by duchesse potatoes and morels, with a rich veal jus helping to amalgamate all the relevant flavours. Desserts are a roll call of classic French greatest hits – how do you choose between tarte tatin, crème brûlée and blood orange soufflé? We plumped for the added theatre – and the boozy, citrussy aromas – of crêpes Suzette flambéed at the table. Food like this is as comforting and reassuring as a warm hug, while staff help to maintain a sense of entente cordiale – although prices reflect the prestige address. With help from next-door wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd, chef-owner Richard Weiss and his experienced sommelier have developed a wine list with a heavy French accent and some marvellous bottles from Burgundy and Bordeaux, plus a flight of Guigal Rhônes – although the dozen by-the-glass selections offer far less excitement.

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Established

Location

Find us

5 St James's Street, St. James's, SW1A 1EF
London, United Kingdom
020 7930 2030
info@saintjacquesrestaurant.com
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