"London's best Peking duck in a St James's former bank — book the banquet weeks ahead to impress a client."
About Imperial Treasure
The Imperial Treasure group runs fine-Chinese rooms across Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and chose a former bank on Waterloo Place for its first European address. It opened in December 2018, a few steps off Piccadilly, in a high-ceilinged hall with marble, white linen and a carving station for the duck. The cooking is traditional Cantonese, the service formal, and the bill among the steepest of any Chinese restaurant in the city. The signature Peking duck is the reason most people book. Browse the rest of the London dining guide.
The Kitchen
The Waterloo Place kitchen is led by chef Goh Wee Boon, who came to Imperial Treasure after years at Hakkasan's Hanway Place, and the menu is built around the group's signature Peking duck. Each whole bird is ordered 24 hours ahead, roasted to a lacquered finish and carved at the table, skin first with sugar and pancakes, then the meat. The duck runs about £100 on its own, or roughly £198 paired with wine, while set menus span £39 for a four-course lunch up to £148 for eight courses at dinner, so a full à la carte spread past £120 a head is easy. Beyond the duck, the dim sum and Cantonese roasts are precise and classical rather than experimental. Imperial Treasure has carried a Michelin Plate in the guide since its London debut. For the wider field, see the best Chinese restaurants worldwide.
The Room
The dining room fills a converted banking hall, with ceilings high enough to swallow noise, columns, and tables spaced generously enough for a private conversation. Lighting is warm and even, the sound a low murmur rather than a buzz, and white-linen tables sit far enough apart that a client across the table can hear every word. Dress runs smart, with most guests in business attire. The room seats well over a hundred, with private dining rooms for larger parties, and service is attentive and formal. It is built for occasion dining, not a quick bite.
Best for Impressing Clients
Imperial Treasure is one of St James's most reliable client rooms for three reasons. The former-bank setting does the work of signalling occasion before a menu is opened, so a guest knows the evening matters. The tableside Peking duck gives the dinner a centrepiece and a moment of theatre that carries the conversation. And the generous table spacing means business can be discussed without the next table listening in. Picture a partner and two clients at a corner table, the duck carved beside them, pancakes passed around as the deal is raised. Pre-order the duck and book a few weeks out for prime evenings. See our impress clients guide for more rooms built to land an impression.
Not for
Not for a budget dinner or a casual catch-up: the duck alone is about £100, set dinners reach £148, and the formal banking-hall room expects you to dress and linger.
Frequently Asked
Is Imperial Treasure London worth it?
Yes, if you come for the Peking duck and the occasion. Opened in December 2018 as the London arm of Singapore's Imperial Treasure group, it is widely rated the city's best address for traditional roasted duck, carved tableside in a grand St James's banking hall. The Cantonese cooking is serious and the room is formal. The bill is steep, so it earns its keep for client dinners and celebrations rather than a casual midweek meal.
How much does Imperial Treasure London cost?
Set menus run from around £39 for a four-course lunch to £148 for an eight-course dinner, while the signature whole Peking duck is about £100 and a duck-and-wine set roughly £198. Order à la carte with the duck and per-person spend climbs past £120 before drinks. It is one of London's pricier Chinese rooms. See our London dining guide for the range.
Do I need to pre-order the Peking duck at Imperial Treasure?
Yes, the whole Peking duck must be ordered 24 hours ahead. Each bird is roasted to order and carved at the table, skin first, then the meat, so the kitchen needs the lead time to prepare it properly. Mention it when you book. If you have not pre-ordered, ask about availability on arrival, but do not count on it for a special dinner.
What is the dress code at Imperial Treasure London?
Smart. The Waterloo Place dining room is formal, set in a converted bank with high ceilings and white linen, and most guests arrive in business or smart-casual dress. Jackets are not strictly required but suit the room. Trainers and sportswear look out of place. Dress as you would for a client dinner and you will fit the setting.
Is Imperial Treasure London good for impressing clients?
Yes, it is one of St James's strongest client rooms. The grand former-bank setting signals occasion before the food arrives, the tableside duck service gives the dinner a centrepiece, and the formal Cantonese menu reads as generous without being showy. The central location near Piccadilly is easy for guests to reach. See our impress clients guide for more rooms built to land an impression.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Imperial Treasure
Pre-order the whole duck 24 hours ahead; book prime evenings weeks out.
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Practical Information
Address9 Waterloo Place, London SW1Y 4BE
NeighbourhoodSt James's
CuisineCantonese fine dining
Price£39 lunch–£148 dinner; duck ~£100
MichelinMichelin Plate (since 2019)
OpenedDecember 2018
Dress CodeSmart
ReservationOnline / phone +44 20 3011 1838
KidsWelcome; high chairs available
AccessibilityStep-free access
DietaryVegetarian menu; ask on booking for vegan and gluten-free
