London is a foodies dream! Don’t worry about what you are going to do while you are here, the most important question you have to ask yourself is: where are you going to eat out?
I have put together a varied selection of 17 restaurants I have enjoyed in London. Read why you should go to them and how much you can expect to pay:
Brickwood Coffee & Bread (Australian/NZ coffee and brunch)
16, Clapham Common South Side, Lambeth, SW4 7AB
(Other locations are opening around SW London)
For: quality brunch and coffee, a comfy neighbourhood feel, great music & laid back but efficient service. My friend Tina (Australian) believes this to be one of the best places for coffee in London (and she would know). Gluten free options are available.
££: Very decently priced; under £4 for a coffee and under £15 for great brunch.
Busaba Eathai (Thai)
12 locations in London – Shoreditch, Tottenham Court Road, Hoxton Square
For: Flavoursome, authentic, modern Thai food. The generous set menu is great for large groups of people – I had my 29th birthday there in 2015.
££: Great value for money. A £19pp set menu comes with a variety of starters, mains and desert.
Clapham Tandoori (Indian)
10 Clapham Common SW4 7AA
+44 20 7622 0926
For: A delicious range of signature dishes from in and around India. Forget Brick Lane, Clapham Tandoori is the top pick for incredibly scrumptious dishes that will leave you full but craving more.
££: The food is averagely priced, but well worth it – about £7-£15 for a main.
Duck and Waffle (British/European)
Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY
+44 20 3640 7310
For: Views! Duck and Waffle serves British and European cuisine 24/7, just above Sushi Samba and on the 40th floor of the Heron Tower. With floor-to-ceiling glass walls and food served all day, every day, you can enjoy the amazing views at sunrise, lunch, sunset or midnight. Try the signature dish, Duck and Waffle.
££: Breakfast is £11-15, all day fare is £9-16.
Haz (Turkish)
Many locations around City of London
For: Turkish cuisine served with fresh food and large serves of hot starters, vegetable dishes, grills, mixed maze and seafood specialities accompanied by a decent wine list.
££: Mains are usually less than £15 unless you are after a steak or specialty dish. Special weekend menus (50% off) apply to some of the restaurants and special lunch time menus (£10 for starter and main) apply during the week.
Honest Burger (burgers)
Several locations around London
http://www.honestburgers.co.uk/
For: Legendary beefy burgers and salty, rosemary-flecked, skin-on chips. You can also enjoy a chicken or vegetable burger and each burger can be paired with a craft beer or cider. There are delicious gluten free options available.
££: Burgers and chips start at £10, but with add-ons, sauces and sides you could stretch to £16.
Jamie’s Italian (Italian)
Many locations around London
http://www.jamieoliver.com/italian/
For: Italian restaurants with good and quick service serving fresh, quality food from Jamie Oliver. Pastas are handmade on site and are amazing. The casual atmosphere and homey ambience is a lovely surprise in a big city. There is an assortment of good wine and gluten free options.
££: A large portion of pasta is £10-£13.50, a main is £13.50-£22.50 and the (yummy) famous “plank” for starter is £6.95-£10.50 per person.
Kish Restaurant (Iranian/Persian), Kilburn
7-9 Kilburn High Rd, London NW6 5SD
+44 20 7624 2525
www.kishpersianrestaurant.com/
For: Tasty Persian cuisine and warm and authentic Middle Eastern atmosphere.
££: A starter is around £4-5 with a main priced at £8-15.
Mien Tay (Vietnamese), Clapham Junction
180 Lavender Hill, Battersea, London SW11 5TQ
For: A Vietnamese restaurant with genuinely authentic food, cold Vietnamese beer, mini Vietnamese villages built into the tables, and a busy atmosphere.
££: Great value for money – generous dinner and a drink for 2 for around £25!
Red Dog Saloon (American BBQ)
27-31 Bedford Road, Clapham, London, SW4 7SH / 37 Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, London, N1 6NN
+44 20 3714 2747 / +44 20 3551 8014
££: Pit cooked Bar-B-Q meals will set you back £12 – £17 while most of the burgers are under £10.
Shoryu (Japanese)
33 Broadgate Circle, London EC2M 2QS
+44 20 3405 4535
For: yummy Japanese ramen (noodles and soup), sake and Japanese liqueur.
££: Decent value for money and good portions. A large ramen noodle dish will set you back £9 – £15
Soho’s Secret Tea Room (British afternoon tea)
Above Coach & Horses, 29 Greek St W1D 5DH
+44 20 7437 5920
For: A generous and delicious selection of sandwiches, cakes, scones, teas and champagne (for an extra fee) on playfully mismatched vintage plates, cups and saucers. Always book ahead.
££: At less than £30 per person, this is the best value for money for traditional British afternoon tea in London.
Sushi Samba (Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian)
Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY
+44 20 3640 7330
For: The view, cocktails and tasty food! Share tapas-style Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian sushi on the 38th-floor Heron Tower overlooking London. This is the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion and the cocktails are great! Always book ahead.
££: It’s not cheap. Budget for £30-£60 per person for food, depending on how much you eat. Cocktails are £10-£16 each.
Tayyabs (Punjabi), Whitechapel
83-89 Fieldgate St, London E1 1JU
For: lively and loud atmosphere, group bookings and awesome curries! The best curries I have tried in London, and better than what you will find on Brick Lane.
££: Very reasonably priced. A very filling meal and leftovers to take home will set you back under £30 for 2 people.
Ting (European with Asian twist)
The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG
+44 (0)20 7234 8108
For: Located on level 35 of The Shard, this glass walled restaurant serves modern European cuisine with an Asian twist as you enjoy breathtaking views across London. They also have a nice British/Asian afternoon tea option in the Ting Lounge. Book ahead.
££: It can get pricy (even for London), but it’s great for a special occasion. Starters are £15-£19, mains/grills £20-38 and sides are £4 each.
Tuk Tuk (Thai)
56 Old Compton St, London W1D 4UE
+44 20 7734 5951
For: Tasty and budget friendly Thai food, noodles and Asian beers in the heart of Soho. With very quick service and a high turnover of tables, it makes for a great place to eat before a show or night out.
££: A main will set you back £6-£10.
YoKOYA (Japanese), Camden
9A Delancey St Camden Town NW1 7NL
+44 20 7388 8595
For: Wines and Yoshuku (Japanese tapas). The restaurant is quite small, seating less than 30 people, and features a large bar with a great selection of cocktails, wines and Japanese specialties. The staff are vey hands on and can help you choose.
££: Wines are £25-£30 per bottle while tapas plates are £3-£13 each and would serve approximately 2 people.
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