In our regular series, we ask famous chefs and personalities to tell us all about ‘their London’. From top tips on where to dine in the city, to their personal haunts ranging from bakeries to book shops, we’ve got the inside track on London’s premier spots from the people who know it best.
He may have been born in Australia, but Matt Abé is a familiar face at the top table of London dining. Moving to the UK in 2007, he joined the Gordon Ramsay group and it wasn’t long before he was heading up the kitchen at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and maintaining its Three MICHELIN Stars year after year. In late 2025, Abé launched his first solo restaurant, Bonheur, and what a success it’s been.
Awarded Two MICHELIN Stars only a few months after opening, Bonheur showcases Abé as a chef with a personality and style all of his own, cementing his place as one of London’s best chefs. Here, Abé tells us all about where he himself loves to eat and how an elite chef spends his downtime.
A beautifully presented scallop dish from Matt Abé’s Two-MICHELIN-Star restaurant. © Bonheur by Matt Abé
Congratulations on your Two Stars for Bonheur. What’s it been like to start this chapter in your London journey? It’s a huge honour. I’m so proud of the team and the work everyone has put into Bonheur since day one. At the same time, awards like this are really just encouragement to keep going. They don’t change the mindset in the kitchen – if anything, they make you push harder. Our focus remains the same, and in many ways, the real work starts now. What other recent London openings have you been impressed by? Corenucopia by Clare Smyth. I love the way Clare has reimagined familiar classics. And I’d be amiss not to include Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High. James Goodyear has created an outstanding menu and it’s a unique, intimate experience – not to mention the incredible views.
One of the unfussy, highly skilled dishes from Trinity in Clapham. © John Carey/Trinity
What’s your go-to restaurant in London when you want to celebrate? I will always tell people to go to Trinity by Adam Byatt in Clapham – I celebrated a big birthday there myself recently. I love the food that Adam and Harry [Kirkpatrick] are cooking. It’s classically rooted with modern interpretation, and with a no frills, no fuss approach. Where do you go for a quick bite? I’d head to Heard Burger by Jordan Bailey. Another classic elevated – smash burgers made with precision and the best ingredients.
Discover more highlights from our My London series:
A typical row of terraced houses in Clapham, Matt Abé’s favourite neighbourhood. © Arsty/iStock
Which is your favourite London neighbourhood and why? That would have to be Clapham. It’s vibrant, there’s great food, great pubs and I love that it has a real village feel. How do you like to spend your free time in London? It sounds simple, but after a busy week, I love to get out for a walk with my dog in all of my local green spaces and enjoy the changes of the seasons.
The Devonshire, one of central London’s most popular pubs. © Joanna Yee/MICHELIN Guide
If you had one day to show an out-of-towner around London, where would you take them? Of course, it would revolve around incredible food: we’d start at Borough Market, followed by a walk along the Thames. We’d swing by for a pint in The Devonshire, have lunch at Dorian and then have dinner at CORE by Clare Smyth. You’ve lived in London for a long time now. What do you miss most about the city when you’re not here? I miss how beautiful the city is, especially in the spring and summer time. For you, what does London taste like? If I had only a few words to play with, I’d say vibrant, rich, zingy, spicy.
Hero Image: Matt Abé, the chef behind Two-MICHELIN-Star restaurant Bonheur by Matt Abé in London. © Joe Howard
Written by
Andrew Young
Andrew Young is The MICHELIN Guide’s Restaurant & Travel Editor for the UK and Republic of Ireland. Originally from Manchester, he is now based in London.
Dining and Cooking