One of London’s original steakhouses, Hawksmoor is still the place to go if you’re looking for a high-end steak dining experience. Roll on 20 years from the first opening on Commercial Street, and the restaurant group has expanded across London, Manchester, Edinburgh and even as far as New York and Chicago. Their philosophy is simple: keep things simple and do the basics very well – which is clear from their enticing selection of cuts, all expertly cooked. This is reflected in their loyal fan base and a packed restaurant, even when we visited the latest St Pancras opening at 5pm on a typical cold and rainy Tuesday in January.
St Pancras certainly has the wow factor. Opened back in November 2025, it sits within Sir George Gilbert Scott’s Grade I-listed St Pancras hotel, originally designed in 1873 and previously home to the former Midland Grand dining room. Its location couldn’t be more perfect for travellers, especially those heading for the Eurostar who want to sample the best of British dining right next to the terminal.
It would be completely rude not to visit the martini bar and sample a martini, right? Think high ceilings, mood lighting, and an outdoor terrace perfect for when the weather warms up. Hawksmoor’s Martini Bar motto is simple: “Serving the best and coldest Martinis in London.” The sub-zero martini menu features five options, including Vesper’s Vesper and the Steakhouse Martini, each with its own unique twist. If martinis aren’t your thing, fear not – there’s a variety of cocktails to choose from, plus the classic Sacred Six Hawksmoor favourites (in our eyes the double melon daiquiri is award-worthy). You’ll also find Martini Bar bites like a crevettes or celeriac nuggets if you’re just popping in for a drink and a nibble.
In keeping with the historic bones of the building, Hawksmoor has done the space justice – it’s spectacular…like stepping back in time. The décor features signature parquet flooring, a deep green colour palette, Pullman-style booths inspired by train carriages, smart leather banquettes, marbled columns, and enormous windows beneath soaring ceilings.
We can rave about the building more, but let’s get to the food – even the menus are customised per location, with St Pancras playing cleverly into its train-themed setting. If you’re familiar with Hawksmoor’s menu, all the favourites are here, plus a superb value set menu. Expect starters like the classic potted beef & bacon, bone marrow & onions and Caesar salad, as well as newer additions such as Jersey rock oysters and a real celebratory appetiser: Exmoor caviar served with crème fraîche and beef-dripping hash browns.
Can you even visit Hawksmoor without ordering a steak, I hear you ask? Actually, you can – with a wide range of fish dishes including lobster with garlic butter and monkfish, plus charcoal chicken and a vegetarian Wellington.
But for us, steak is always a must, because charcoal-grilled steak the Hawksmoor way just hits differently (as the social media slogan goes). There are specific cuts of the day highlighted on the board, alongside rib-eye, rump and fillet. We highly recommend the utterly delicious bone-in prime rib, full of flavour, and the Chateaubriand (600g), perfect for sharing. There are freshly made classic sauces as well as Hawksmoor’s own spin on steak sauces, like anchovy hollandaise and Cornish blue hollandaise – teamed perfectly with a bottle of red chosen by the in-house sommelier to match our steak selection.
As for sides, you simply can’t go wrong with Hawksmoor classics like the macaroni cheese, beef-dripping chunky chips and creamed spinach.
The team here are warm, friendly and full of personality – believe us, this can be a challenge to find in hospitality. They were knowledgeable, efficient, and we instantly felt relaxed, partly thanks to the no-uniform policy that makes you feel as though you’re chatting to a friend. We mentioned we had a sharp departure time to make a show, and our waiter was completely on it.
Having visited several Hawksmoor locations over the years, dessert has always been non-negotiable. The peanut butter shortbread and sticky toffee pudding are long-standing favourites, but feeling rather full (and it being January), we opted to share the Grand Rocher – Hawksmoor’s take on a Ferrero Rocher, but elevated. It’s only available at St Pancras and New York, and it’s everything you want it to be: edible gold leaf, decadent chocolate mousse, hazelnut ice cream, hazelnut ganache and praline. If desserts were handbags, this would be a classic Chanel 2.55. Worth noting: Hawksmoor donates 50p to charity every time one is ordered.
Another non-negotiable is a box of takeaway salted caramel Rolos for home enjoyment – a perfect midday pick-me-up. Our waiter revealed they’re divine straight from the freezer and we can confirm this has been road-tested and is indeed utterly delicious.
Before you leave, don’t forget to check out the hotel’s iconic staircase – the famous filming location for the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” music video. A must-have photo moment.
Hawksmoor has still got it. With this latest St Pancras opening, its appeal is stronger than ever. In our eyes, this might just be the best Hawksmoor yet, the heritage of the building combined with outstanding food and excellent service is a recipe that simply never goes wrong.
thehawksmoor.com/locations/st-pancras/
St Pancras, Euston Rd., London NW1 2AR
