12 of the Best Places to be a Foodie in London
I’m a foodie that’s lived and interned in London and otherwise been six times with family and friends. This list is an amalgamation of my favorite dining experiences in London Town over the last decade. I get bored without diversity so this archive spans modern European, Italian, Norwegian, Japanese, British, contemporary Sri-Lankan, Chinese, Indian, Turkish, Ethiopian, French, and more. It encompasses both restaurants and market street food. I hope you enjoy and have the opportunity to discover your own lineup of tempting front-runners.
1 | HIDE, Mayfair
Photo by CN Traveller
Photo by Emily Dean
Situated across from Green Park, one of the Royal Parks of London, is worthy of renown HIDE Restaurant. HIDE is three floors with one of the coolest curvaceous staircases I’ve ever seen, modern European, and Michelin-starred. It’s on CN Traveller’s list of the most beautiful restaurants in London and the staff are so kind. I would order time and again their signature warm acorn cake, roast duck (the duck that will ruin all other duck for my boyfriend), dry-aged beef tartare, and anything they happen to have on the menu with a generous serving of fresh truffle. HIDE is in partnership with Hedonism Wines, a “fine wine and spirits boutique” where “UK’s best buyers have sourced around 6,500 wines and 4,000 spirits, taking the crème de la crème from each region of the world.” You can digitally browse Hedonism Wines and it can be delivered directly to your table. Although it’s not necessary, it’s pretty amazing that you can pre-order wines and receive guidance from the sommelier team in advance.
If you’re looking for pre-dinner drinks or a night cap, this pairs well with Coach & Horses (see article “British Pub Culture: 10 Well Loved Must-Visit Pubs in London”) and/or The Painter's Room at Claridge's, all in Mayfair.
2 | Borough Market x Padella, Southwark
Photo by Emily Dean
Photo by Time Out
These two go hand in hand because Padella is a restaurant inside Borough Market. First, Borough Market really is my favorite London food market. I can and have spent hours exploring the more than 100 shops, stands, stalls, restaurants, and bars, finding beautiful spices, meats, cheeses, fish, pastries, wine, British and international fare…it’s a dream. Meander through without a game plan or take a peek at vendors in advance at this link https://boroughmarket.org.uk/traders/. Second, Padella is a fresh pasta shop with an open kitchen for your viewing pleasure. It’s on all of the best London Italian restaurant lists and take everyone’s word for it—their pici cacio e pepe is iconic, the most delicious cacio e pepe you’ll ever eat.
3 | Sachi at Pantechnicon, Belgravia
Photo by Emily Dean
Photo by Emily Dean
Pantechnicon is an entirely Nordic and Japanese 5 story venue with, among other things, a roof garden, cafe, shopping, and restaurant Sachi. The destination is located on lovely buzzing Motcomb Street where, for instance, the first Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin stores opened. Sachi itself roughly translates to “happiness” in Japanese and I like how The Infatuation describes it as “almost faultless.” The F&B is incredibly fresh, the plant installations breathtaking, and the design perfected minimalism. I recommend the padron peppers, chef’s selection sashimi, beef short ribs, dirty & bloody martini, and Tokyo mule.
Pairs well with The Grenadier (see article “British Pub Culture: 10 Well Loved Must-Visit Pubs in London”).
4 | The Laughing Halibut, Westminster
Photo by The Laughing Halibut
If fish and chips are what you are after, I really don’t believe you can find better than The Laughing Halibut. The shop is very loved by Londoners, has been a family run business for over 30 years, and the team behind the counter has the gift of the gab. Your meal will be authentic, flaky, juicy, and crisp. I got the cod and chips or you can go for their namesake halibut.
5 | Paradise Soho
Photo by Paradise Soho
You know that scene in Along Came Polly when Ben Stiller and Jennifer Anniston are at the Moroccan restaurant and Ben Stiller is soaked with sweat and says he always reacts that way to spicy food? That was my boyfriend, Nick, and it was hilarious. The point is this—Paradise Soho is heaven for those obsessed with spicy food and hell for those who aren’t, and it was the spiciest food I’ve had personally. But the contemporary Sri-Lankan flavors are explosive in the best way so bring on the heat. I recommend the dry-fried red-style minced chicken, grilled dry-aged rump steak (our favorite), stir-fried devilled prawns (spiciest thing on the menu though), lamb fat infused roti, aubergine, heritage tomatoes, clarified chilli mezcal margarita, and ginger arrack sour.
Pairs well with The French House (see article “British Pub Culture: 10 Well Loved Must-Visit Pubs in London”) and/or the American Bar at The Savoy.
6 | Camden Market
Photo by Emily Dean
Go to Camden Market to salivate over international, diverse street food. Here’s a list of vendors to give you a taste https://www.camdenmarket.com/food-drink?page=1. I’ll point out Wok Boy’s chow mein, The Cheese Wheel’s fresh, hand-rolled tagliatelle spun in a giant wheel of grana padano, and Katsu House’s Katsu curry in a bun. My pro tip is to walk your food down the canal towards Feng Shang Princess and Regent’s Park—rather quickly you’ll lose the crowds and the water gets aggressively cleaner so you can eat peacefully sitting by the water.
7 | Dishoom Carnaby, Soho
Photo by Dishoom
Photo by The Infatuation
I didn’t hear about the Dishoom restaurant group, cofounded by a Harvard Business School alum with a rare business focus on quality over revenue, until every friend seemed to be raving about it. The glowingly reviewed small Indian chain is based on Irani cafés, which were super significant in 1960s Bombay. I wish I could roll out of bed all mornings to their signature Bacon Naan Roll!!!
8 | Kazan, Victoria
Photo by Kazan
Kazan is a Turkish restaurant with a spotlight on Ottoman-influenced food that’s been in London for two decades. During that time, the absolutely stellar reviews have not wavered. Come here for the mezzes such as hummus, both traditional and harissa, and tabbouleh, the pomegranate & chilli glazed wings, and EVERYTHING from their fire grill whether that’s the Ottoman grill assortment or adana lamb kofte (“speciality from the south of Turkey - fiery red chillies blended with minced lamb meat and grilled on a open flame”).
9 | Truman Brewery Sunday Upmarket, East End
Photo by Truman Brewery
The Truman Brewery hosts many markets, including the Sunday Upmarket—a food hall with 40 of the most diverse street food traders. It’s a colorful aromatic affair with Ethiopian Injera bread, Spanish paella, Japanese savory pancakes “okonomiyaki,” Colombian arepas, and endless curries. I don’t know if there’s much better than the sight and smell of umpteen cauldrons of steaming hot, bubbling, rich fresh food.
10 | Berners Tavern, Soho
Photo by Andy Hayler’s Restaurant Guide
I love going to Berners Tavern specifically in the morning. The spot is by a Michelin-Starred chef and its dining room is clearly one of grandeur. While being breathtaking, it’s also incredibly cozy. Don’t rush your cup of coffee and British breakfast and thank me later.
11 | Chutney Mary, Mayfair
Photo by the Evening Standard
London does Indian food particularly well and Chutney Mary, a long-standing gorgeous Indian restaurant in the Michelin Guide, exemplifies the best of it. Chutney Mary stands out too for its reinventions of 6-8 greatly different gourmet cuisines of India. The restaurant is so creative that it changes enough not to have a menu online but some mainstays are venison samosas, tandoori sea bass amritsari, Afghani chicken tikka, and Goa green chicken curry.
12 | Chez Antoinette, Covent Garden
Photo by Trip Advisor
Photo by Covent Garden London
Chez Antoinette serves Lyon inspired French food in the Piazza lower floor of Covent Garden. The restaurant specializes in the pictured Tartines or open-faced sandwiches such as one with smoked salmon, ricotta cheese, lemon, dill, and spring onion. Also treat yourself to an amazing charcuterie board in this adorable intimate French cafe setting.
