"America's USDA Prime steakhouse on the Strand, dry-aged 28 days in the cellar — book the bone-in ribeye for closing a deal."
About Smith & Wollensky
There is a dry-aging room in the cellar, and you walk past the glass on the way in. Smith & Wollensky landed at the Adelphi on John Adam Street in 2015, the first outlet the New York group opened outside the United States, and it built the London kitchen around the thing it is known for: USDA Prime beef, imported and dry-aged on site for 28 days.
This is an American steakhouse run as one — large, loud, beef-first — a stone's throw from Charing Cross and the Savoy, opposite the Adelphi Theatre. It is not trying to be a London restaurant. It is trying to be the New York one, in London, and on the steak it largely succeeds.
The Grill
Executive chef Tom Cook runs the grill and the cellar. The signature is the 680g bone-in ribeye at around £72, cut from USDA Prime aged the full 28 days, charred hard and rested; the 21oz New York cut bone-in sirloin is the other order to judge the kitchen on. Both arrive seared dark outside and pink through, the test of whether a steakhouse can run its broiler hot enough.
Around the beef sit the American steakhouse standards done properly: split pea soup, a crab cake with little filler, creamed spinach and hash browns by the side. The British and Irish cuts give a lighter option than the imported Prime, and the seafood and wine list carry a table that has a non-beef eater in it. Expect £70 to £120 a head before wine. For the wider field, see our guide to the best steakhouses worldwide.
The Room
The room is big and built for occasion: dark wood, white cloths, leather banquettes and a long bar that fills after work. Sound is loud at peak — this is a place for a conversation that benefits from cover, not a whisper across the table. Lighting is warm and forgiving, tables are generously spaced, and the dress code is smart-casual, with suits common at lunch from the nearby offices. It seats around 200 over two floors, so there is almost always a table for a late booking, and the bar takes walk-ins.
Best for Closing a Deal
Book Smith & Wollensky to close a deal because it gets the mechanics right: the room is loud enough to talk freely without being overheard, the tables are wide enough for papers and a laptop, and a £72 ribeye signals you are serious without needing a tasting menu's three hours. Order at the table, keep the wine list moving, and the kitchen turns a working dinner around in ninety minutes if you need it to. For the lunch version, weigh our best restaurants for a business lunch, or browse more of our London dining guide.
Not for
Not for a quiet first date — the room runs loud at peak, the portions are American-sized, and the bar crowd after work makes an intimate conversation hard work.
Frequently Asked
Is Smith & Wollensky London worth it?
Yes, for the steak specifically. It is the only London steakhouse serving USDA Prime dry-aged and butchered on-site, and the 680g bone-in ribeye and 21oz New York cut are the reasons to come. It is pricey and it is loud, so come for the beef and the buzz rather than a delicate meal. For other London steak options, see our London steakhouse guide.
How much does Smith & Wollensky London cost?
Expect £70 to £120 per person before drinks. The signature 680g bone-in ribeye runs around £72, sides are ordered separately at roughly £7 to £10 each, and the wine list climbs quickly. The set lunch is the value entry point. Steaks are priced by weight and cut, so a sharing rib for two can land closer to £130 before wine.
What is the dress code at Smith & Wollensky London?
Smart-casual. There is no jacket requirement, but the room skews polished: collared shirts, smart dresses, and plenty of business suits at lunch from the surrounding offices. Trainers and sportswear look out of place in the dining room, though the bar is more relaxed for a walk-in drink and a steak sandwich.
Where is Smith & Wollensky London?
At The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, WC2N 6HT, on the south side of the Strand in Westminster. It is opposite the Adelphi Theatre, a short walk from Charing Cross and Embankment stations and the Savoy. The dining room and bar sit across two floors, with the dry-aging room visible behind glass near the entrance.
Is Smith & Wollensky good for closing a deal?
Yes — book it to close a deal. The room is loud enough for a frank conversation, the tables take papers and a laptop, and a serious steak does the signalling without a long tasting menu. Ask for a banquette away from the bar and the kitchen can turn the meal around in ninety minutes. See more options in our best restaurants to close a deal.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Smith & Wollensky
Walk-ins welcome at the bar; book ahead for a table at peak.
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Practical Information
AddressThe Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, WC2N 6HT
NeighbourhoodThe Strand, Adelphi
CuisineAmerican steakhouse
Price£72 bone-in ribeye; £70 to £120 per head ex-drinks
Dress CodeSmart-casual
SeatingAround 200, banquettes and bar
ReservationBook via OpenTable or direct
DietarySeafood and a few non-beef mains; vegetarian on request
