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Home » City Guides » London Guide: Where to Eat

London Guide: Where to Eat

May 10, 2017 City Guides, Food and Wine, Travel

A Guide to London’s Diverse Food Scene

You heard it here first…despite any preconceived notions about British food, London is one of the world’s best cities for food. Part of this is a revival of traditions and local flavors, and part is its embrace of authentic global cuisine.

On my most recent visit, I planned the larger part of my day around where I’d be eating. I sought out exemplary gastropubs, expanded my curry repertoire, and even sat down for my first formal English afternoon tea. What follows are my recommendations for where to eat whilst in London, tried, tasted, and true and sourced everywhere from food blogs and chefs to local Londoners.

As a general rule, you’ll want to make reservations (sometimes as little as a day in advance.) The formality of the reservations system is a bit more alive and well in the U.K. than elsewhere. It can’t hurt!

So without futher adieu…

Where to Eat London Guide

Classic British Fare

Your first priority (in my opinion,) should be the places that are creating exceptional modern British cuisine rooted in local traditions. Whether an established favorite or a newly opened hot spot, there are plenty of options to taste the best of Britain today.

  • Fish and chips at Rock and Sole Plaice (my favorite)
    47 Endell St. (Covent Garden)
  • Fine British dining at The Game Bird (best I’ve had in London)
    The Stafford Hotel, 16-18 St James’s Place (Green Park)
  • The tasting menu at The Clove Club (with wine pairings!)
    Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St (Shoreditch)
  • Go old school at Rules (one of London’s oldest restaurants)
    35 Maiden Ln (Covent Garden)
  • Or go new and trendy at Pollen Street Social (more affordable at lunch)
    8-10 Pollen St. (Mayfair)

London fish and chips at Rock and Sole PlaiceThe Game Bird at the Stafford London
Pictured: Haddock and chips with mushy peas and a side of curry sauce // The signature dish at The Game Bird at the Stafford Hotel

Pub Food

  • Kitty Fisher’s
    10 Shepherd Market (Mayfair)
  • The Anchor & Hope
    36 The Cut (Southwark)
  • Harwood Arms
    Walham Grove (Fulham)
  • The Princess of Shoreditch
    76 Paul St (Shoreditch)
  • The Sands End
    35-137 Stephendale Rd. (Fulham)

Where to Eat London Guide Dinner at Sky Garden in London

High Tea

  • Flemings Mayfair
    7-12 Half Moon St. (Mayfair)
  • Sketch London
    9 Conduit St (Mayfair)
  • The Ritz
    150 Piccadilly (Green Park)
Afternoon tea at Flemings Mayfair

Afternoon Tea at Flemings Mayfair

A Proper Curry

(Best Indian food I’ve eaten outside of India.)

  • Meraz Cafe
    56 Hanbury St. (Spitalfields – just moved) 
  • Dishoom
    Locations in Shoreditch, Covent Garden and King’s Cross (Shoreditch is my favorite.)
    7 Boundary St (Shoreditch)
  • Gymkana
    42 Albemarle St. (Mayfair)
  • Hoppers (Sri Lankan)
    49 Frith St (Soho)
  • Muhib (Brick Lane)
    73 Brick Lane
Best curry in London

Dishoom Shoreditch is styled as a Bombay cafe.

Dinner with a View

  • Darwin Brasserie at Sky Garden
    20 Fenchurch St. (The City)
  • Babylon at Kensington Roof Gardens
    99 Kensington High St. (Kensington)
  • Duck and Waffle
    Heron Tower at 110 Bishopsgate (The City)
English meats for sampling at Borough Market

English meats for sampling at Borough Market

Other Favorites!

  • Coffee @ Monmouth
    Locations all over the city, my favorite is…
    27 Monmouth St (Covent Garden)
  • Drinks underground @ Freud
    198 Shaftesbury Ave (Covent Garden) 
  • Snacks @ The Kati Roll Company
    24 Poland St. (Soho)
  • Drinks and the venison puffs (trust me) @ Yautacha
    15-17 Broadwick St. (Soho)
  • Wine and scene @ Gordon’s Wine Bar
    47 Villiers St (Covent Garden)

Best Coffee in LondonSticky Toffee Pudding

I’ll leave you with the two rules of eating in London:
1) Don’t skip the markets – at a minimum, stuff your face at Borough.
2) Never, ever skip the sticky toffee pudding for dessert.

For favorite pubs, refer to this post!

For where to stay, including a gin hotel you can roll upstairs to, refer here!

Happy London dining!!

xx

 

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About Anne

Anne Lowrey is an award-winning travel writer based in San Francisco.

After spending a year in the world, she insisted on building a life at home she loved as much as she loves travel. The result was a move to SF, which she affectionately calls her “soul city.” She believes in the balance of and connection between time spent at home and abroad.

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