21 awesome places to eat in London

Whether you’re just visiting London or you live in the city, here are 21 awesome places to eat. With a melting pot of cultures, you’ll find meals to suit every taste and budget.

I have personally visited every single one of the places I’m recommending – some several times (even as much as 7 or 8 times!). I hope you’ll love them as much as I do.

I’ve indicated price ranges for each restaurant using £ for budget, ££ mid priced and £££ expensive.

Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields Market has always been one of my favourite places in London to visit. As a market, there are lots of stalls selling all sorts of things – from clothing to art prints. On Thursdays it’s transformed into an arts market and on Saturdays it’s all about style – from clothing to accessories.

But you don’t necessarily have to go there for the shopping as it’s a foodie destination too with established restaurants and lots of food stalls. One of my favourite places in the market is an Ethiopian stall where the food is all vegan. Another firm favourite of mine is Ahi Poke where I like to create my own poke bowl. There are so many different food stalls, serving food from all over the world, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

Price range £

Margot

We love dining at Margot, which is an Italian restaurant situated in Covent Garden. It’s a beautiful setting, with tables or bar counter seating (our favourite) where you can watch the chefs at work. The food is great! We always have an excellent meal whenever we visit (which is fairly often).

Price range ££/£££

Market Halls (numerous locations)

Food halls seem to be the latest craze in London with Market Halls opening three in London since 2018. There’s one in Victoria, Fulham and the West End (Oxford Circus) with plans for more.

I’ve been to both the Victoria and West End ones and they’re great. There’s a good variety of eateries to choose from and a cool vibe. If you love Asian food, try the Dan Dan noodles from Baozilnn.

Price range £

Briciole

Tucked away in Marylebone is Bricole – an understated, authentic Italian restaurant where food is the focus. The menu doesn’t change that often but there are always a couple of special starters and mains on the specials board. The last time we went I had the spaghetti vongole, which I was a bit dubious about ordering but it was delicious! It transported me to the Amalfi Coast, which on a grey day in January was a lovely thing.

Price range ££

Casse-Croûte

If you want to feel like you’re in Paris, then Casse-Croûte in Bermondsey will transport you there with its authentic French cuisine and delightful red-checked table cloths (if you dine inside). The menu changes every day and only consists of three starters, three mains and three desserts. The food is fabulous! Just a note – you can’t book online, only via telephone.

Price range ££/£££

Bar Douro (two locations)

Bar Douro is a Portuguese restaurant with locations in London Bridge (Flat Iron Square) and the City (Broadgate Circle). They serve authentic Portuguese food and wine and the food is meant to be enjoyed tapas style. I went with friends for lunch to the one in the city and the food was delicious. We shared around 7 dishes and then enjoyed traditional Pastel de nata for dessert.

The London Bridge restaurant has a very reasonable lunch menu for around £10 for two courses or under £12 for three.

Price range £/££

Brigit’s Bakery (B-Bakery)

Do you love cake? Stupid question, right? Well, whether you’re vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free, B-Bakery caters for everyone. Enjoy afternoon tea at their Covent Garden restaurant or, for something a bit more fun and unusual, book afternoon tea on their bus! I was invited along to a blogger event on the bus and the food was amazing!

I’ve also been to their restaurant – not gifted – and enjoyed their cakes. They don’t just do cakes though, they serve breakfast and lunch too.

Price range £/££

Sticks ‘n Sushi (numerous locations)

If you’re a sushi lover, you’ll do well to pay Sticks ‘n Sushi a visit. Not only is the sushi fresh and delicious, there are some amazing non-sushi dishes too – my favourite being the cauliflower. Trust me, it’s divine!

There are nine branches in the UK, with 7 in London – or just outside London. I’ve been to both the Wimbledon branch and the Covent Garden one and both are beautifully decorated and stylish. If you’re looking for great sushi in a lovely setting, then give Sticks ‘n Sushi a try.

Price range ££

Hide

If you’re looking to splash the cash for a special meal then Hide, by Ollie Dabbous, is the place to go. Located opposite Green Park and set over three floors, you can choose Above, Ground or Below. Above and Ground are dining areas whereas Below is the bar.

We went for lunch on Christmas Eve and the food was excellent. The prices though – especially for the wine – are pretty eye watering!

Price range £££

Barrafina (various locations)

If you love to share food then head on over to a Barrafina for fabulous tapas, made for sharing. This is no ordinary tapas though… rather modern tapas consisting of regional dishes from around Spain.

All the locations have counter seating and none take reservations so you may have a short wait – it’s definitely worth it though. Top tip – order the tomato bread!

Price range ££

Bob’s Lobster

Situated under the arches of London Bridge train station is Bob’s Lobster – a seafood lover’s delight. The restaurant is funky, with a red and white VW camper van inside!

My favourite dishes are the tuna tacos, the kale hush puppies and of course the famous lobster and crayfish roll.

Price range ££/£££

Maltby Street Market

Street food lovers, this one’s for you! Tucked away amongst 19th century railway arches, you’ll find over 30 food stalls to tantalise your taste buds – plus a few restaurants and an antique shop thrown in for good measure. It’s situated between London Bridge and Bermondsey and you might to bring out Google maps to find it – it’s definitely a bit of a hidden gem in London!

Price range £

Aqua Shard

If you’re looking for fine dining with a view, then Aqua Shard is the place to go. Located on the 31st floor of The Shard, in London Bridge, the views are spectacular. I’ve been for both dinner and afternoon tea and the food and service is great. Unfortunately window tables are not guaranteed but wherever you sit, you’ll have a lovely view over London.

They do a reasonable lunch menu of two courses for £29. Note though that on weekends they serve brunch instead of lunch.

Price range ££/£££

Jose Pizarro (various locations)

Another delight for Spanish food lovers. Jose Pizarro has two restaurants in London, a tapas bar and one restaurant in Esher, Surrey. Named after the critically acclaimed chef of the same name, Jose Pizarro, the food is beautifully modern Spanish dishes. Our favourite venue is the restaurant in Bermondsey where we love to sit at the counter and watch the chefs at work. Be sure to order the croquetas, which change daily. Whatever they are, they’re ALWAYS delicious.

They offer a very reasonable lunch set menu between £17 and £20.

Price range ££/£££

The Summerhouse

There are few places in London that can transport you to another place. Whenever I visit The Summerhouse in Little Venice it makes me feel like I’m on holiday in France or somewhere in the Mediterranean! It’s honestly the best place to be when the sun is shining.

They specialise in seafood, although there are a few meat dishes on the menu too. There are few vegetarian dishes – only one main and a couple of starters. The best place to sit is right by the canal, although they can’t guarantee it when you book. Wherever you sit though, there’s a great view!

Price range ££/£££

Lina Stores

Lina Stores deli has been a Soho institution since 1944. In May 2018 they decided to open Lina Stores restaurant in Greek Street and boy is it popular! You need to book in advance if you want to get a table – it’s very rare you could get a walk-in table.

The food is delicious and if you’re lucky to get a counter seat upstairs, you can watch the chefs in action. The pasta is also made fresh every day and the menu changes fairly regularly. The portions are not small but not huge either. A top tip is to order three between two of you. Trust me, you’ll want to order everything anyway!

Price range £/££

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal

With not one but two Michelin stars, you’re guaranteed fabulous food and service at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. Located in the luxurious Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge this is reserved for a very special occasion.

Inspired by historic British gastronomy, each dish has been researched and brought up to date in a modern dining experience. The food was faultless.

Price range £££

Seabird

Another fine dining restaurant that offers gorgeous views over London – particularly from their roof terrace. The focus is on seafood so not ideal for vegetarians or non-seafood lovers. The decor is stunning with a Miami vibe.

They also have a great bar and outside terrace for cocktails with a whole menu dedicated just to oysters.

Price range ££/£££

The Grand Duchess

If you’re looking for something a little unusual, then book a table at The Grand Duchess. It’s a floating restaurant that’s moored in Paddington Basin. The food is great and they even make their own sparkling wine! Enjoy watching Goboats, paddlers, barges and ducks go by whilst enjoying your meal.

Price range ££

Babbo

If you’re looking for fine dining Italian, then Babbo is a good bet. Situated around the corner from The Ritz in Mayfair, it’s an elegant and eclectic restaurant – with street art adorning the walls and a Fiat 500 outside.

The food is inspired by the south of Italy and is really good, but fairly pricey. All the pasta and bread is made fresh daily and everything is made with love.

Price range ££/£££

Petersham Nurseries

I just adore Petersham Nurseries in Richmond. It’s a gorgeous, tranquil place to escape the hustle and bustle of London and city living. Lose yourself in the greenhouses filled with plants, flowers and home decor. Be sure to go for lunch as the food is simply wonderful and the setting is just magical.

There’s also a Petersham Nurseries in London’s Covent Garden if you can’t make it out to Richmond. If you can get an outside table when the weather is good, you’ll be smiling!

Price range ££/£££

I hope you’ve found this post useful! Please let me know what your favourite London restaurants are in the comments.

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