The 38 Must-Visit Restaurants in London

Jonathan Nunn highlights in his guide to the best budget dining in north London that Durak, a tantuni spot run by Dogan Yesil on West Green Road, is the ultimate late-night snack destination. This place specializes solely in tantuni, a dish originating from Mersin in southern Turkey. Here, beef is boiled and seasoned with tomato, pul biber, sumac, and cumin, then fried in cotton oil. It's served in a thin lavash with chopped parsley, tomato, and onion, and folded neatly. High-acid sides like pickled chillis and lemon add a refreshing contrast.

Opened in summer 2017 near Walthamstow Central station, Mukaddes Yadikar’s restaurant was London’s pioneering Uyghur Mytoury and has quickly become a standout in E17. A few tips for your visit: First, bring a group. Second, start with the Chaomian, a stir-fry of short noodle pieces tossed with beef, spring onions, and tomato. Most importantly, don’t miss the signature da pan ji (“big plate chicken”): a hearty, spicy chicken and potato stew loaded with Sichuan peppercorns, served alongside hand-pulled flat noodles. This spot offers a cozy, cherished dining experience in east London.

Despite late 2023 rumors about its potential closure, Singburi, led by chef Sirichai Kularbwong and family, has reopened its doors as London’s top Thai neighborhood restaurant. Returning diners will find beloved classics like pad thai, wok-fried morning glory with garlic and fish sauce, tangy tom yum, and crispy tilapia. However, the real draw for devoted fans is the blackboard specials where Kularbwong shines. Expect unique offerings like herbal fruit salads with mangosteen, lychee, shallot, and mint; jungle curries with prawns; spicy larbs; grilled ribs; and the unrivaled twice-fried moo krob with garlic, chile, and holy basil.

This cozy cafe in Stoke Newington exceeds expectations, serving some of the finest American diner-style smash burgers, Nashville hot chicken, inventive samosas, and the standout chicken makhani sandwich on weekends, complemented by a reliable menu for weekdays. Don’t miss the delectable creme brulee cookie, an innovative creation by pastry chef Chloe-Rose Crabtree inspired by Los Angeles’s Dough and Arrow, or the seasonal ice cream crafted by Crabtree and co-founder Feroz Gajia during the warmer months.

Chef Oded Oren’s intimate and softly lit venue on Dalston’s Shacklewell Lane epitomizes the quintessential London neighborhood bistro of 2024. It offers a range of sharing plates, both large and small, many of which are vegetarian or vegan, drawing inspiration from Eastern Mediterranean and contemporary Israeli cuisines, influenced by Oren’s experiences at cutting-edge Tel Aviv Mytouries. The highlight is the Jerusalem mix grill: a delectable pita stuffed with grilled chicken thigh, hearts, and liver, complemented by tahini and raw onions. Bread is a standout, with the stone-baked flatbread topped with tomato and olive oil being exceptional. Equally impressive are the meticulously seasoned salads, roasted roots, fried seafood, and sizable grilled meats.

When P. Franco, one of London’s most acclaimed wine bars and restaurants of the past decade, shut its doors in March, it left a void filled with surprise and regret. But for aficionados of natural wine and small plates, there's no need for despair. 107 Wine Shop and Bar has taken its place—on the same premises, with many of the original team members (led by Will Gee), the same rotating guest chefs (such as Mitchell Damota and Elliot Hashtroudi), and the same focus on low-intervention wines that P. Franco popularized in Hackney. The communal high table is still there, as is the weather-beaten remnant of the Chinese takeaway sign that preceded P. Franco. The more things change, the more they stay the same?

Dinogo London’s Restaurant of the Year 2022 features a unique blend of three connected ventures. In the basement, George Jephson skillfully butchers whole animals, transforming them into exquisite charcuterie. Upstairs, chef Jamie Smart crafts straightforward dishes using top-notch ingredients, focusing on French and southern European flavors—imagine butter-poached trout with roe and sorrel, or roasted game bird with quince and bitter greens. The wine bar and floor are managed by sommeliers Tom Beattie and Fran Roberts, who also run a wine importing business under their names. Cadet seamlessly integrates a wine bar, restaurant, charcuterie, and shopfront; it exudes a distinctly French yet quintessentially London vibe, and has always felt spot-on since its inception.

Bad Manners, a breakfast and lunch spot that began as Quarter Kitchen, was founded by Max Fishman and chef Rodrigo Cervantes in a Hackney churchyard in the summer of 2022. It stands out for offering some of London’s finest Mexican cuisine. Chef Cervantes, hailing from Mexico City and with a background from Smoking Goat, Koya, and Rita’s, creates an impressive breakfast spread. The menu features tortillas with hash browns, fried eggs, and maple-glazed smoked bacon; breakfast burritos inspired by the American McDonald’s version; gorditas; tepache; tacos al pastor cooked on a small yakitori grill; and the vividly red pambazo. Bad Manners also excels in coffee, offering a selection of espressos from top European roasters.

This quaint spot on Hackney’s Graham Road offers one of the finest sandwiches in the city, nestled within an exceptional baguette. Despite its small size with only one table and a few seats, Bánh Mì Hội-An is renowned for its warm hospitality. The team behind the counter crafts fresh sandwiches to go, and while the pork classic is superb, the turmeric-rich fried catfish available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays is a must-try. Infused with coriander, mayo, fermented chili paste, sriracha, and pickled vegetables, it’s a masterclass in flavor, texture, and balance.

Trullo’s sophisticated ambiance and seasonal fare establish it as one of London’s premier Italian dining spots and a top neighborhood gem. With its dark wooden furnishings, subdued lighting, white tablecloths, and unpretentious presentation, Trullo steers clear of Instagram trends. Its culinary heritage traces back to influential establishments like the River Cafe and St. John. The menu blends Italian classics with British and Italian ingredients, offering antipasti, house-made pastas, and second courses, many of which are grilled over charcoal. While Padella, its sister restaurant, is known for its affordability and quick service, Trullo provides a more refined dining experience with the same standout dishes like beef shin pappardelle. Its Italian-focused, natural wine list is thoughtfully curated to match its cuisine.

Yukiyasu Kaneko, a former sommelier from Noma, has crafted a wine bar under a railway arch near London Fields that might set a new standard for natural wine bars, a scene that has become somewhat clichéd. Yuki Bar stands out with its distinctive style and inviting atmosphere. The extensive and reasonably priced wine list features selections from the Jura, Savoie, and Loire regions, along with other notable Old World bottles. The food, while secondary, is thoughtfully prepared, offering small plates like tahini eggs, house-made potato crisps with sansho pepper, cured beet tops, silky tofu with mushrooms, and freshly made beef tartare.

In East Ham, where London's largest Kerala community thrives and South Indian cuisine is abundant, Thattukada stands out as a top choice, overseen by chef-owners Biju and Preeti Gopinath. The curries and roasts are rich in flavor and spices beyond their modest names, best enjoyed with crispy parottas or fluffy appams. However, the real star here is the legendary fries: half chicken pieces, skillfully fried with chili and crispy onions; tiny netholi (anchovies) cooked whole; or battered mussels that burst with flavor.

Nestled beneath a railway arch in Haggerston, this refined wine club has earned its place among London's premier French dining spots. Chef Seb Myers brings a modern and playful twist to French country cuisine, complementing the impressive wine selection curated by patron Jonathan Alphandery. With offerings like red mullet tartine, grilled leeks with Tunworth cheese, duck offal choux farcis, and mackerel with coco beans and greens, plus a caramel tart paired with blue cheese, Planque exemplifies what makes contemporary European dining exceptional.

Since its debut in 2021, Cafe Cecilia has consistently earned acclaim from the trendiest circles, partly thanks to chef-owner Max Rocha's ties to the fashion world (with his father John and sister Simone being designers). Yet, this sleek, minimalist café-bistro offers much more than just a stylish appearance. Rocha and his team are the latest in a line of ingredient-centric establishments like River Cafe, Rochelle Canteen, and Quo Vadis. Similar to Anna Tobias’s offerings at Cafe Deco, Rocha’s cuisine may seem understated, but it’s certainly worthy of the praise it garners. Be sure to try the steak and chips with peppercorn sauce, and don’t miss the fruit tart for dessert.

Near Euston station, the options for no-frills, satisfying meals are plentiful. Among them, chef Sugen Gopal’s basement Mytoury on Doric Way stands out. This spot offers freshly made, high-moisture roti canai—perfect for dining in or taking away—paired ideally with curry dal. Priced at just £4.50, it’s so good you might want to come back for more. The newly implemented online queue system adds a touch of efficiency to your visit.

Chef Ed Wilson’s robust French-Italian menu reflects his deep-seated passion for food. Dining here is a chance to share that enthusiasm, particularly with its renewed focus on fresh pasta and indulgent comfort dishes. The wine list leans heavily towards natural and biodynamic selections. The whitewashed brick walls adorned with illustrated wine posters, art, and curios make the two laid-back dining rooms on Columbia Road some of the most stylish and inviting in London. Not to mention, the city’s smallest and most exquisite bathrooms feature Aesop products, setting a high bar for elegance.

Following a major renovation of its kitchen and space, this gem on Farringdon Road has returned to its former glory, solidifying its status as a vital spot in the city’s dining scene. Chef Nick Bramham now explores Aegean flavors, featuring dishes like giouvarlakia, which are herbed meatballs simmered in avgolemono. The menu evolves weekly, drawing inspiration from southern Europe, with inventive takes on BLTs, lobster rolls, and masterfully seasoned pasta dishes. Be sure to try the exquisite gildas and the impeccable sour cherry cannoli.

Since March 2023, the innovative Ben Chapman and his talented development chef Kim SongSoo have transformed the laid-back Shoreditch Thai spot, Smoking Goat, into a “chicken shop” concept. The menu now features delectable fried chicken, fish sauce wings, and crispy seasoned chicken skin snacks. Kim has also introduced exciting new wok-cooked dishes, including a must-try fried noodle creation with egg, chili, and green onions. This flavorful dish can stand alone or complement other offerings like the sweet, umami-packed pork with Chinese olives.

Getting a table at Sushi Tetsu in Clerkenwell is no easy feat, partly due to its limited seven-seat capacity. However, it consistently offers exceptional value sushi in London. Witnessing Toru Takahashi’s masterful knife techniques and enjoying his omakase menu, while being warmly hosted by his wife, Harumi Takahashi, makes for an extraordinary dining experience. For booking details, please send an email.

Otto’s is a restaurant that proudly celebrates the grandeur of yesteryears, featuring theatrical table-side preparations. Witness the spectacle of Otto Tepasse’s signature canard à la presse (pressed duck), a dish prepared with antique silverware and served with a decadent brandy-laced gravy made from the duck's carcass. Accompanied by ethereal pommes soufflées, Otto’s sets a high bar for restaurant self-naming, proving it to be a fitting tribute rather than an indulgent vanity.

Chef Wei Guirong has become a luminary in London’s dining scene. Her initial venture, Xi’an Impression near the Emirates stadium, earned a devoted following. Now, Master Wei, her independent endeavor in Bloomsbury, is making waves with its larger space and exceptional offerings. Enjoy the famous biang biang noodles with your choice of vegetables or beef, refreshing liang pi cold noodles with a savory dressing, and Xi’an-style 'burgers' filled with cumin-spiced beef or pork.

While St. John remains a cornerstone of British dining, its sibling, Bread & Wine in Spitalfields, stands out as a more compelling and refined dining experience today. If food were a sacred practice, this would be its cathedral. Classic offerings include Welsh rarebit, bone marrow with parsley salad, foie gras on toast, cider-infused mussels, devilled kidneys, madeleines, and a whole roast suckling pig. Dining here delivers one of London's most sublime and unadulterated restaurant experiences.

This iconic Cantonese haven in London truly comes alive on Sundays, with families flocking for baskets brimming with soup-filled xiao long bao, har gow, siu mai, crispy spring onion pancakes, and cheung fun loaded with sweet-savory pork or plump prawns. A well-oiled institution for decades, Royal China Club stands as one of the city’s premier dim sum destinations. Its grand, carpeted dining rooms with expansive round tables make it an ideal venue for festive gatherings.

Shuko Oda’s intimate bar in Soho ranks among London’s top Japanese dining spots. Behind a sleek blond wood counter, chefs skillfully serve steaming bowls of freshly made noodles, adorned with tempura prawns, smoked mackerel, or seasonal greens from Sussex’s Namayasai farm. The daily-changing specials board showcases some of the best modern British cuisine in the city, while the traditional Japanese breakfast remains a steadfast favorite in London.

Bar Italia stands as a cherished London landmark, a steadfast reminder of mid-20th century charm amidst Soho’s evolving landscape. In a neighborhood often swept by trends and ephemeral Mytouries (remember the now-gone Flavour Bastard?), Bar Italia remains an unchanging constant. Its unwavering consistency offers a comforting anchor in a world that’s constantly shifting. Here, you can always count on a bitter espresso, a chilled Peroni, and a bacon ciabatta that surpasses almost anything else available in this iconic, yet often overrun, part of the city.

Cloud Land stands out as one of only two London spots dedicated to the unique cuisine of Yunnan province in southwestern China. This culinary style, as described by a restaurant staff member, blends Thai and Sichuan influences. The restaurant serves bold and innovative dishes, with the Yunnan spicy chicken—vibrant with red chiles and aromatic Chinese black cardamom—being a standout (and quite rare in the city). Other highlights include the ceremonial cross-bridge noodle soup and Dai-style fried beef and minced meat dishes, the latter resembling Thai larbs. There’s also a lighter side to the menu, with crispy pork and vinegar-dressed fried cabbage that provides a refreshing counterpoint to the spicier, richer offerings.

Wong Kei, a stalwart of Gerrard Street, needs no grand introduction. This long-standing London Cantonese restaurant is renowned for its sprawling multi-level dining space, succulent roast meats like duck and char siu, savory wontons, and iconic red-ringed plates. Its famously blunt service might be overrated, but the restaurant’s charm lies in its dedication to traditional, reliable Cantonese fare in the U.K., a nostalgic nod to the past. In essence, Wong Kei stands as a vast, 500-seat tribute to a time before trendy bubble waffles and Instagram-driven openings.

At the heart of Queensway Market, Chef Normah Abd Hamid and her family serve up a delightful Malaysian comfort menu that has earned the restaurant a top spot among the city's culinary gems. With tangy assam pedas, roti that rivals London’s best, and hearty beef rendang or nasi lemak, Normah’s offers a cozy, charming dining experience. It’s an ideal spot for a small group of friends or for impressing visitors with authentic Malaysian flavors in central London.

Gymkhana, the acclaimed two-Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Mayfair, expertly balances celebrity allure with exceptional cuisine. Renowned for its tandoori masala lamb chops, butter chicken masala, and signature wild muntjac biryani, Gymkhana offers a dining experience that justifies its premium pricing. Perfect for marking special occasions, the restaurant’s ambiance matches the high standards of its dishes.

Including the Ritz in a list of London's must-visit restaurants might seem like a given, but it's well-deserved. Headed by the esteemed John Williams MBE, this restaurant excels in classic French haute cuisine, combining precise technique with delectable flavors. Despite its opulence and hefty price tag, a meal at the Ritz boils down to simple perfection: impeccably seasoned ingredients, artfully arranged into harmonious dishes. Highlights include the Dorset crab with crème fraîche and Imperial caviar, veal filet with white asparagus and lovage, the iconic beef Wellington, and the dramatic crêpe Suzette.

Chef Faye Gomes’s renowned Guyanese food stall has moved to Castle Square after the controversial demolition of Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, where she had served for 17 years. For a taste of Gomes’s signature dishes, like pepper pot, garlic pork, and cow foot souse, check out her Instagram. Alternatively, discover a variety of dishes influenced by Guyana’s diverse culinary history, including dal puri roti, pholourie, fried fish with tomato, curry with potato, green mango, okra, and coconut, and the richly spiced stewed brown chicken, flavored with cassareep, cloves, and cinnamon, along with stew pumpkin.

This expansive dining venue is curiously located on the ground floor of a Holiday Inn Express near the A102, just south of the Blackwall Tunnel. Despite its location, it offers an exceptional dining experience, ideal for both midweek and weekend meals, especially for larger groups. The restaurant boasts a diverse dim sum menu, with a standout dish being the fried prawn and Chinese chive dumplings—arguably the best single-bite treat in town. The noodle dishes, particularly the king prawns, are cooked to perfection with a delightful wok-charred flavor. Saikei is an excellent choice for family and group dining.

Recently, London has embraced a new style of pizza, leaning towards the American slice-joint variety. These pizzas are drier and crispier compared to the saucier Neapolitan types that have long been popular. Crisp Pizza, named after Crisp Street, is serving up these well-baked pies with classic toppings like pepperoni with mozzarella and tomato, ’nduja, and seasoned mushrooms. They also offer a four-cheese calzone. Available Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and Friday to Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Chancellors pub in Hammersmith, Crisp Pizza’s straightforward approach includes calling Parmesan “Parm,” showcasing their back-to-basics ethos.

Riaz Phillips praises Adulis in his guide to East African cuisine, highlighting its “grand ambiance” as one of the top East African and Eritrean Mytouries in the city. The dark wooden decor enhances the sense of dining grandeur. Ideal for both solo and group meals, Adulis offers menus tailored for individual diners or larger groups of two, four, or eight. The selection caters superbly to vegans, vegetarians, and meat lovers alike. Noteworthy dishes include kwanta fitfit—smoked, dried beef with green chili and injera—and zilzl assa—grilled red snapper with Eritrean spices. Don’t miss their array of vegetarian and vegan stews, featuring spinach, beans, chickpeas, and lentils, all complemented by the deliciously tangy injera.

The second outpost of the beloved Nandine—meaning “kitchen” in Kurdish—is helmed by Pary Baban, her spouse Pola, and their sons Rang and Raman. By day, the menu features a delightful array of brunch items, meze, and delicate pastries. In the evening, their vibrant meze platters take center stage, offering dishes such as kubba (minced beef and rice cakes), onion dolma, and qawarma. Be sure to indulge in their pastries, including borek made with galgali (Kurdish pastry) and exquisite baklava.

Arguably the finest Jamaican jerk spot in London, Tasty Jerk stands on the periphery of Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park. The room, distinguished by its rich smoky aroma detectable from afar, is dedicated solely to expertly seasoned meats grilled to perfection. Thanks to the seasoned expertise of Chef Murphy Lawrence and his team, expect jerked pork belly, chicken, goat, and even lobster, all infused with deep smoke flavor and enhanced by allspice, Scotch bonnet, and salt. Dining at Tasty Jerk is a deeply satisfying and incredibly affordable culinary adventure.