Most London steakhouses pile on options and push up prices, but Swiss Butter on Southampton Row in Holborn does the opposite — three mains, one signature sauce, and a walk-in policy that cuts through the booking anxiety. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

Price range: £19.95 – £25 ·
Location: 114-118 Southampton Row, Holborn ·
Number of mains: 3 ·
Opening hours: 12 PM – 12 AM

Quick snapshot

1Menu & Prices
2Location & Hours
3Walk-ins & Booking
4Dress Code

Eight key facts, one pattern: Swiss Butter keeps it simple – limited menu, fixed hours, no fuss.

Attribute Details
Full name Swiss Butter
Address 114-118 Southampton Row, London WC1B
Hours 12 PM – 12 AM
Price range £19.95 – £25 (approx)
Cuisine Steakhouse / Swiss-inspired sauce
Number of mains 3
Dress code Not specified (casual)
Reservations Not required (walk-ins only)

The implication: Swiss Butter’s entire model rests on stripping away everything except the meal itself.

How much is a meal at Swiss Butter?

Pricing at Swiss Butter is refreshingly simple: one price for steak platters, a similar range for chicken and salmon. Here’s what you’ll pay.

Steak platter prices

Chicken and salmon pricing

Exact prices for chicken breast and salmon fillet are not listed publicly, but Tripadvisor (user reviews) indicate all three mains sit in a similar £19–£20 bracket. A pint of beer adds £5, per Foodepedia (restaurant review).

Value for money

At under £20 for a steak platter in central London, Swiss Butter undercuts most competitors by a wide margin.

Why this matters

For a central London steakhouse, a £19.95 fillet steak platter is a serious outlier. Most competitors charge £25+ for a comparable cut. The price-to-location ratio is the core of its appeal.

Bottom line: Swiss Butter is genuinely affordable for Holborn – a full meal with a pint stays under £25. Budget diners should order the fillet; larger spenders can upgrade to ribeye without breaking the bank.

Is Swiss Butter walk-ins only or do you need to book?

Swiss Butter’s booking policy is one of its most talked‑about features. The answer is clear: no reservations are accepted.

Walk-in availability

The official Swiss Butter (official website) explicitly states that the restaurant operates on a walk‑in basis. The Instagram (official profile) bio lists hours but makes no mention of a booking system.

Reservation options

No online reservation portal exists on the site, and third‑party platforms like OpenTable don’t list Swiss Butter. For large parties, the restaurant has not indicated whether exceptions are made.

Peak times

Instagram posts frequently show queues, suggesting that evenings – especially weekends – fill quickly. Arriving early is the safest strategy.

The trade-off: you save the booking hassle but risk a wait. Plan accordingly – a 6 PM arrival is wise for dinner.

Why is Swiss Butter so popular in London?

The restaurant has generated a surprising amount of buzz for a three‑item menu. The reasons boil down to sauce, simplicity, and location.

Secret sauce appeal

The “secret Swiss Butter sauce” is the headline act. Swiss Butter (official website) promotes it as the defining flavour across all mains. Foodepedia (restaurant review) describes the concept as bringing “a bit of Beirut, Riyadh, and Dubai to Holborn.”

Limited menu strategy

By offering only three proteins, Swiss Butter avoids choice paralysis. The model relies on doing one thing well – and that thing is steak with sauce. Tripadvisor (user reviews) consistently praise the focused menu.

Location and value

Holborn is a busy central London hub, and Swiss Butter sits right on Southampton Row. The £19.95 steak price, confirmed by Facebook (visitor review), is a bargain for the area. Tripadvisor (user reviews) call it “incredible value.”

The catch

Popularity creates queues. The same walk‑in policy that makes it accessible also means you’ll likely wait on peak evenings. The trade‑off is part of the brand’s identity.

The pattern: Swiss Butter bet on scarcity – one sauce, three proteins, one UK location – and it paid off.

Is there a dress code at Swiss Butter?

No official dress code has been published, and the question seems to arise largely from online curiosity.

Casual dress code expectation

Swiss Butter (official website) does not mention any dress requirements. Photos on Tripadvisor (user reviews) show diners in jeans, T‑shirts, and casual footwear.

Source of dress code question

The question appears frequently in “People also ask” search results, suggesting that visitors want reassurance before arriving. In practice, any reasonable casual attire is fine.

The catch: the absence of a stated dress code means anything goes – but that also means no surprises if you show up in shorts.

What is on the Swiss Butter Holborn menu?

The menu is deliberately tiny. Here is the full breakdown, confirmed by multiple sources.

Mains: beef, chicken, salmon

  • Beef fillet or ribeye steak
  • Chicken breast
  • Salmon fillet
  • All three are smothered in the secret Swiss Butter sauce (Swiss Butter (official website))

The secret Swiss Butter sauce

The recipe is not publicly disclosed. Swiss Butter (official website) calls it “secret” and uses it as the unifying element across the menu.

Sides and drinks

Each main comes with a mesclun salad, a baguette, chili flakes, and a choice of fries or baked potato (Swiss Butter (official website)). For dessert, Tripadvisor (user reviews) list molten chocolate fondant and pain perdu. A pint of beer costs £5 (Foodepedia (restaurant review)).

What this means: the menu is deliberately tiny – the focus is execution, not choice.

“Last weekend we tried @swissbutter in Holborn… Fillet steak, and ribeye steak platters. £19.95 each. Tremendous.”

— Facebook visitor review

“Swiss Butter is a casual steakhouse that serves 3 mains: Beef filet or Ribeye, Chicken breast & Salmon filet smothered in our secret Swiss Butter sauce.”

— Tripadvisor listing description

“Bringing a bit of Beirut, Riyadh, and Dubai to Holborn.”

— Foodepedia (restaurant review)

For anyone looking for a no‑fuss steak dinner in central London, Swiss Butter offers a formula that’s hard to beat: a tight menu, a distinctive sauce, and a price that undercuts most of its Holborn neighbours. The walk‑in policy keeps things honest – no reservation, no dress code, just show up and eat. For the budget‑conscious diner, the choice is clear: get there early, order the fillet, and save your £5 for a pint.

Related reading: M&S Cakes to Order – Prices, Sizes and How to Buy · B&Q Exeter – Opening Hours, Phone Number and Store Guide

Additional sources

menuswall.com

For a detailed breakdown of prices and walk-in tips, check out this Swiss Butter Holborn menu guide from another London food source.

Frequently asked questions

Does Swiss Butter have vegetarian options?

No. The menu lists only beef, chicken, and salmon (Swiss Butter (official website)). No vegetarian mains are confirmed.

Can I order takeaway from Swiss Butter Holborn?

Takeaway is not mentioned on the official website or social media. It is not confirmed to be available.

Is there a kids menu at Swiss Butter?

No kids menu has been published. The standard mains are the only options.

What is the secret Swiss Butter sauce made of?

The recipe is not publicly disclosed. It is marketed as a secret sauce.

Are there other Swiss Butter locations besides Holborn?

Yes. The Swiss Butter (official website) lists multiple locations across the Middle East. The Holborn branch is the only one in the UK.

Does Swiss Butter offer delivery through apps?

No delivery partners are listed on the website or social media. Delivery is not confirmed.

What credit cards does Swiss Butter accept?

Payment policies are not stated online. Standard credit and debit cards are likely accepted, but this is unconfirmed.