The Ivy Windsor — Restaurant in Great Britain

The Ivy Windsor, officially The Ivy Royal Windsor Brasserie, brings the unmistakable style of The Ivy brand to the historic heart of Windsor. Situated just a short stroll from the castle gates, its location could hardly be more fitting—chic yet steeped in local character.

The interior is immediately impressive: a signature blend of Art Deco glamour, floral motifs, and curated artwork that gives a nod to both Windsor’s royal heritage and The Ivy’s timeless charm. It manages to feel indulgent without tipping into ostentation—a rare balance.

Service is generally warm, efficient, and attentive without being overbearing. The staff are well-drilled and courteous, even during busy weekend sittings.

The menu offers a familiar Ivy experience: British brasserie staples with a cosmopolitan twist. Starters such as the truffle arancini or crispy duck salad are reliably well-executed, while mains range from comfort classics like shepherd’s pie to more refined dishes such as grilled sea bass or miso-glazed cod. The vegetarian and vegan options are thoughtfully integrated rather than feeling like an afterthought. The cocktail list is confident and clever, with seasonal specials worth trying.

Prices reflect the brand, the location, and the decor—on the higher end, but justifiable for a special lunch, pre-theatre dinner, or celebratory occasion. The people-watching is an added bonus, with a clientele ranging from well-heeled locals to castle tourists and the odd familiar face from the county set.

An elegant, well-managed dining spot in the heart of royal Windsor. Dependable for quality and atmosphere, ideal for entertaining guests or marking an occasion—though not quite a place of...

Wow, the quality of the food is truly shocking. I’ve been to the Ivy in Soho, along the Thames, in Chelsea, and even Windsor – and I am convinced that the only thing holding the brand together is the interior design. From what I know, the Ivy is in the same group as Annabel's in Mayfair, aiming for a luxury image. But in my several experiences, the food has been absolute rubbish. I say this because it’s all style over substance – flashy on the outside, dreadful on the inside.

Take the Angus burger in the photo: the patty had not a drop of juice, and I’d honestly rate it worse than a McDonald’s burger. The ribeye steak was the worst I’ve ever had in my life. The smell was off, the taste was unpleasant, and although I ordered medium-rare, it came out looking as if it had been boiled – completely well done. To make matters worse, it was full of tendons. Was there even a chef in the kitchen that day? It was disgraceful, and the so-called “recommended sauce” only made it worse.

The baby gem lettuce was limp, as if it had been sitting around for over a week past its best. The chicken breast was laughable – topped with a fried egg in a way that made me seriously question whether a proper chef had prepared it.

Out of five main dishes, the chips were the only thing remotely edible.

Why did I return to the Ivy knowing this would happen? That was my mistake. To the management: you should be ashamed. You lure customers in with interior design and atmosphere, then serve them this low-grade food and take their money? Never again. This was, without question, the worst dining experience – an absolute...

Really disappointing! This was my first visit to the Ivy, I went with a friend for brunch. I walked in and thought “Wow! What a beautiful place…” however, from then on it was disappointing…

The food was fine, but I was not wowed by it and it was very expensive for what it was.

But the most disappointing part of the visit was the service. We had been at our table for less than 20 minutes and had only just received our drinks, when the waiter came over and asked if we had decided on our food (for the third time) and we asked him for a few more minutes. He then told us that we were on a time limit and we couldn’t have the table all day, so we needed to order there and then. I completely understand that we can’t have the table all day, and we certainly didn’t expect to… but we instantly felt like we were being rushed and they just wanted us “in and out again asap” we hadn’t even been in the restaurant for 20 minutes at this point…

When my friend finished her food, the same waiter came over and took her bowl away and then attempted to pick mine up too… while I was still eating. He did apologise, but this was just another thing that made us feel that they couldn’t wait for us to leave. It ended up being a very quick, and very expensive brunch… and that was definitely not what we were looking for. I wouldn’t return to The Ivy, my experience was that it is over priced and the service was...