This list is an update to my original “best of the best” London restaurant list I created on my 1 year anniversary living in London. Over the last ~3 years living in this perfect city, I’ve eaten and drank at over 350 restaurants, pubs, bakeries, and cocktail bars. If you’re ever visiting London, don’t hesitate to email or DM me on Instagram for any specific recommendations! It’s important to note that my original list, linked here, still stands! The below list is just my revised “best of the best” based on the hundreds of additional restaurants I’ve visited since that time. I am grouping this version by area of London for ease.
West London – in general, West London is average (at best) for food and drink spots. I live in West London, so I’ve tried to capture my go-to spots that are consistently good.
- Bakeries / Coffee Shops
- Hjem (Kensington): lovely little Danish coffee shop with delicious pastries. Make sure to go to the one on Launceston Place, as that is the original and has the best surroundings!
- It’s Bagels (Primrose Hill and Notting Hill): Great, but not perfect, bagels. Opened by a NYC native, it’s only place you can get good NYC style bagels in West London. Always busy, but I still find the bagels too dry at times
- Pear Tree Café (Battersea): great when the weather is good, outdoor café inside Battersea park. They also have beer and lunch dishes
- Pubs & Bars
- The Surprise (Chelsea): my favorite London pub, although I may be biased as I got engaged here last August
- Fox & Pheasant (Fulham): owned by James Blunt, this pub is cozy with a fireplace and candles, they brew their own beer, and the food is great!
- Amie Wine Studio (Belgravia): adorable, girly wine bar with great wine and a little patio
- The Hillgate (Notting Hill): one of my go-to pubs in West London, consistent staff, fireplace, and good food (not just British classics!)
- The Mill Tavern (Notting Hill): lovely pub with a great burger (by London standards!)
- The Atlas (Fulham): a great pub with an amazing patio for nice days
- Restaurants
- Zephyr (Notting Hill): my favorite West London restaurant, it’s a great spot to go before a night out. Shareable Greek plates in a fun/buzzy setting. Their bar downstairs, Naked and Famous, is also very fun for drinks before/after dinner
- La Poule Au Pot (Belgravia): French restaurant with AMAZING vibes, very romantic and dimly lit. The food is about a 7/10, but it’s a great option for a nice dinner out
- Roti King (Euston and Battersea): Casual Malaysian food, SO spicy and flavorful, we absolutely love it!
- Archway (Battersea): I was so pleasantly surprised with this restaurant! Very good Italian in a fun setting
- Gold (Notting Hill): I love bringing guests here, menu changes constantly, Mediterranean inspired small plates (but with a little of everything). Great cocktails
- Phat Phuc Noodle Bar (Chelsea): outside seating (they have heaters and cover for rain), walk-ins only, always a line out the door! Great pho and other noodle dishes
- Empire Empire (Notting Hill): good Indian food / small plates with a twist. Casual but not hole-in-the-wall vibes inside, good cocktails!
- Alley Cats Pizza (Chelsea and Marylebone): great, not perfect, NY style pizza. None of the sides/salads are worth ordering, just stick to the pizza. Walk-ins only
- Adora Pizza (Kensington): located in a food court, this is some of my favorite pizza I’ve had in London! I would plan to get it as takeaway vs. dine-in
Central London – convenient and there are some great gems – although they often require trekking through seas of tourists to get to!
- Bakeries / Coffee Shops
- Ottolenghi (many locations): high quality bakery with beautiful pastries and salads
- St. John Bakery (Covent Garden): donuts are to DIE for
- Gail’s (many locations): don’t judge me for loving a chain, it’s my favorite chain in London and serves great coffee and pastries
- Pubs & Bars
- Audley Public House (Mayfair): 10/10 pub with lots of space and a fun upstairs dining room
- Soma (Soho): creative cocktail bar with Indian-inspired drinks, located underneath the restaurant Kricket, which didn’t make my list but is worth trying if you are in the area!
- The Devonshire (Soho): by far the BEST pub in central, and you’ll realize everyone else feels the same when you go. Always crowded! They claim to have the best Guinness in London and the restaurant up top (need a booking) serves amazing pub food at a decent price for central London
- Three Sheets (Soho): great cocktail bar, they also have one in Dalston (the original)
- Le Beaujolais (Soho): no frills wine bar that is authentically French, serves great French food – I’ve asked for extra packets of their French butter to bring home with me…
- Restaurants
- Bubula (Soho and Spitalfields in East London): one of my favorite “repeat” restaurants, it’s all vegetarian but the dishes are incredible and creative!
- Gymkana (Mayfair): still one of my favorite spots for Indian. It’s upscale and expensive, but very worth it. Tasting menu and a la carte available at lunch and dinner
- Bombay Bustle (Mayfair): great Indian food that isn’t as expensive as Gymkana but still high quality. The restaurant is still good for a fancy / fun night out
- BiBi (Mayfair): a one-of-a-kind experience to try unique ingredients across a variety of Indian dishes. Tasting menu only at dinner
- Ducksoup (Soho): has been my constant, go-to spot in central since I moved! Lovely wine bar with seasonal small plates, sit at the bar!
- Rita’s (Soho): Really fun spot with a great martini. I love going at lunch!
- Berenjak (Soho and Borough Market): Persian food – grilled meats, pita, dips, fresh veggie sides. I’ve been many times and it’s a great place to bring a crowd
- Speedboat Bar (Thai): SPICY HOT! We loved this place and I’ve been several times to order different things! Casual but still fun before a night out
East London – the place to go in London to EAT and DRINK. Best restaurants are in East London.
- Bakeries / Coffee Shops
- Papo’s Bagels (Dalston): best bagels in London
- Dusty Knuckle Bakery (Hackney): some of the best pastries I’ve ever had!
- E5 Bakehouse (London Fields): lovely spot to work, have a coffee meeting, or read. They have a little shop too with great gift options (e.g., salt, cook books)
- Jolene (several East London locations): their location in Newington Green is also a (great) sit down restaurant. Pastries are almost too pretty to eat, great coffee
- Pubs & Bars
- Bar with Shapes for a Name (Dalson): incredible cocktails – they are borderline pieces of art. Very fun spot to take visitors
- Oranj (Shoreditch): warehouse-vibe wine bar
- Seed Library (Shoreditch): swanky, dimly lit bar with creative cocktails
- The Royal Oak Pub (Bethnal Green): lovely, proper pub with cozy feel
- Pub on the Park (London Fields): great atmosphere in the summer, right on the park
- Restaurants
- Sune (Dalston): one of the best places I ate in 2024, “modern European” small plates, great vibes for a night out or special occasion, friendly staff, and incredible wine list. Truly everything we ordered was 10/10
- Trullo (Islington): favorite Italian restaurant in London, white tablecloth/candlelit and good portions
- Little Duck and the Picklery (Dalston): wine bar and small plates – great atmosphere and amazing wine list
- Som Saa (Spitalfields): creative Thai dishes, great cocktails. It’s fun to go with a group and get their set menu so you don’t have to choose from the many yummy options!
- Lyle’s (Shoreditch): still one of my favorite upscale restaurants for special occasions. Completely unfussy but strong attention to detail. Make sure you get the wine (or non-alcoholic) pairings!
- Dom’s Subs (Hackney): the best sandwiches you will find in London!
- Borough Market (Borough): Although very touristy, I still love Borough Market! The variety of global foods is worth the visit
Still On My List to Visit in 2025
- Fallow (Central)
- Café Cecilia (Hackney)
- Acme Fire Cult (Dalston)
- Bambi (Dalston)
- Behind (London Fields)
- Miga (Hackney)
- Clipstone (Fitzrovia)
- Scarfes Bar (Holborn)
- Brutto (Holdborn)
- Caravel (Angel)
- Satan’s Whiskers (Hackney)
- Bistro Freddie (Shoreditch)
