• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • ABROAD
    • Destinations
    • Itineraries
    • City Guides
    • Resources
  • AT HOME
    • San Francisco
    • Freelance Life
  • CONTACT
  • SHOP

Part-Time Traveler

Find your balance of travel and home.

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

 

4 Comments

SHARE
« One Week in London Itinerary
London Guide: Where to Stay »

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

  • Best Cheap Eats San Francisco
  • Best Places to Eat in San Francisco, Vol. 7
  • Ten Must-Visit European Capitals
  • An Unexpected Attack In Thai Waters

Want to travel more while still keeping a home base?

Sign up for exclusive content:

 

Winner of Gold and Silver 2019 Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing.

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.

Trackbacks

  1. One Week in London: A Guide to Top Spots - Part Time Traveler says:
    May 15, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    […] To Stay // Where to Eat // What […]

    Reply
  2. London Guide: Where to Stay - Part Time Traveler says:
    May 26, 2017 at 1:04 pm

    […] What To See // Where To Eat […]

    Reply
  3. London Guide: Where to Stay • Part-Time Traveler says:
    April 22, 2018 at 9:31 am

    […] What To See // Where To Eat […]

    Reply
  4. Ten Must-Visit European Capitals says:
    May 8, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    […] more:London itinerary, where to eat in London, and where to stay in London, and going beyond […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I’m Anne! I spend part of my time traveling the world and the other part living in my soul city, San Francisco.

I have a love for all things travel. I also have a love for nesting. I do NOT believe the two have to be mutually exclusive. If you seek that balance…you’ve come to the right place.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Where Am I?

Last: Greece (Santorini, Milos, Crete) and Northern Italy (Piemonte, Lombardia, and Emilia Romagna.)

Next: Michigan lake summer

Now: At home in San Francisco

POPULAR POSTS

30 Life Lessons I Learned From Travel (And How They’re Making Me Happier At Home)

Nan: The Quieter Version of Thailand

san francisco restaurants

The Side of San Francisco Most Tourists Don’t See

“If travel is like love, it is mostly because it’s a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful, receptive, undimmed by familiarity and ready to be transformed. That is why the best trips, like the best love affairs, never really end.” – Pico Iyer

Plan a Trip

PLAN A TRIP

 

I’ve got…

PLAN A TRIP

  • One Day
  • One Week
  • Two+ Weeks

JOIN THE LIST

Find your balance between home and travel.

Factoring in a little one has both changed and rei Factoring in a little one has both changed and reinforced how I travel. For so long accommodations have been “just a place to sleep” for me, so I could prioritize my time and money elsewhere.

Now, whether it’s nap schedules or simply the ability for my husband and I to relax longer on a given afternoon, it’s great to be able to experience a destination right from the front step (or even better, from bed.) 🌄

What’s stayed the same, of course, is that a change of place and pace is incredibly restorative and energizing — and you don’t have to go far to get that.

Thank you to @innabovetide for the perfect weekend stay right on the bay. It was just what our family needed 🤍 #parttimetraveler #sausalito #besthotels
Thinking back to my last trip before taking my nex Thinking back to my last trip before taking my next one (with baby!) and wishing I could transport here for a cornetto and cappuccino ☕️

Meanwhile, please send any and all tips for traveling with a five-month-old. (Also, send coffee. All the coffee.)
—
 #parttimetraveler #piedmonte #italianlife #caffè #pasticeria
After the rain. 🌁 #alwaysSF #goldengatebridge After the rain.
🌁 

#alwaysSF #goldengatebridge
Walks around the city look a bit different these d Walks around the city look a bit different these days 🤍

It’s been three months now since I became a mama. It’s the single greatest life transition I’ve ever undergone.

The amount of love I have for my son is immeasurable. But being a new mother is not easy — no matter how well you heal, how much (or really, how little) you sleep, or how much you love your babe. For me it is humbling how challenging it can be and, at the same time, how happy it can make you.

Mamas, I see you. What a profound thing it is to care for a new life.
—
#citybaby #fourthtrimester #newmama
Mendocino moments ✨ Just a few hours drive up t Mendocino moments ✨

Just a few hours drive up the coast from SF, being here always feels like a breath of fresh air (maybe because it is?) The redwood-lined drive in alone puts me instantly at ease. (Balm for this tired new mama’s soul.) 

Even better we were able to visit with baby and dog in tow 🤍 Have you been? 

Don’t miss walking the trail along the headlands, hiking, biking, or canoeing Big River, and the wonderfully fresh seafood and/or produce.

 #parttimetraveler #mendocino #weekendgetaway #dogfriendly
Introducing my son, Luca. He entered this world a Introducing my son, Luca. He entered this world a mere six weeks ago and he is everything 🤍

His name means “bringer of light” and he is the light of our lives. And while we are currently cocooning in the comfort of our family and our home, I can’t wait to take him on adventures and show him the beauty of this world.
One year as man and wife 🤍 highly recommend bot One year as man and wife 🤍 highly recommend both city hall weddings and marrying your favorite person. 15/10, would marry again (I’d choose you over and over and over.)
📷: @amandaweiphoto 

#happyanniversary #myperson #weddingday #sfcityhallwedding
Waiting for baby 💛 I’ve dreamt of becoming a Waiting for baby 💛 I’ve dreamt of becoming a mother as long as I can remember. I stand here, in the final weeks before birth, in some pain and discomfort (the end of pregnancy is no joke,) but mostly in awe of the female body and this experience of growing a life that’s about to enter this world. 

We are beyond excited to meet you, little  one!✨#37weekspregnant #selfportrait #maternityphotos #almostbabytime
Like all of us, the past few years has meant a lot Like all of us, the past few years has meant a lot less part-time travel and a lot more…full-time homebody. I haven’t shared much about my own house in San Francisco, but perhaps it’s time for that to change!

My husband and I merged existing furniture and styles before we were even in this space. And as we prepare to welcome baby, the nesting urge is strong (plus we’ll be spending even more time in our home!) So it feels like a good time to refresh our space to suit both of us cohesively.

Although I already had a plan in mind for the nursery design, when @thehavenly reached out to work together I knew our living room, the heart of our home, could use some fine tuning. I’ve independently used them before to affordably design our home office (soon-to-be nursery or I’d share!) and loved it, so I jumped at the chance to be a #Havenly ambassador. 

I’m working 1:1 with a talented designer now (stay tuned!) and will also share a 25% off discount soon if you’d like to do the same. They also have a fun design quiz (linked in bio) to help you figure out your style. 
More to come! 💛
Load More... CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM

© 2022 PART-TIME TRAVELER         Privacy Policy + Terms of Use          Subscribe

THEME BY ECLAIR DESIGNS