London Food!

I am dreaming of the day restaurants in London open again! I’m re-sharing this blog post for any of you creating a post-lockdown dining wish list!

*DISCLAIMER* As with all my posts, I’m using my own photos which sometimes aren’t the best. This isn’t the definitive guide to eating and drinking in London… just suggestions from my experiences living in this incredible city.

I have stopped eating meat since visiting many of these restaurants and suggest you do too / reduce your meat intake as much as possible… #savetheanimals #savetheworld xxx

Ace Hotel
Really nice hotel in Shoreditch with amazing views from the rooftop bar.

Aqua Argyll Street

There is an Aqua Kyoto (Japanese food) and an Aqua Nueva (Spanish food) on Argyll Street near Oxford Circus! Gorgeous restaurants with great roof terraces. The food and drinks are pricey. Good for 1/2 drinks but you probably won’t want to spend the entire night paying £14 for a single G&T!

Aqua (at the Shard)

The food doesn’t look particularly appetising in these photos, but I promise the set brunch is great! Aqua is open for breakfast, lunch & dinner – make sure you book in advance to enjoy the views.

Archer Street
My favourite place to go for drinks in London. Sophisticated cocktail bar in the heart of the Westend with Westend standard performers entertaining you through the night. SUCH a good place to go for a night out!

Avenue
Brunch at Avenue (near to Green Park / Piccadilly Circus stations) was very enjoyable -bottomless prosecco for £18 and 2 courses of tasty food for £25. The interior of the restaurant is really nice with big windows letting lots of light in.

Bad Egg
Fun restaurant in the City of London which offers boozy / non-boozy brunches!Food was decent for the price and plentiful… as was the drink! Nothing super fancy but very good to go for a cheap(ish) boozy brunch – about £32 per person.

Bala Baya
Bala Baya is a restaurant inspired by Tel Aviv near to Borough.

I went for brunch which was delicious – lots of non-meat options! Quite pricey but nice atmosphere and cool area.

Barbecoa
This is a swanky Jamie Oliver restaurant with great views of St Paul’s cathedral. It serves pretty standard food (like chicken wings, burgers, steaks, etc.) but tastes better than the standard. It’s a little pricier than other Jamie Olivier restaurants but worth it for the view.

Bar Remo
An authentic Italian restaurant serving rustic food and pizza just off Regent Street and run by the Vignali family for 90 years! If you’re in central London shopping / seeing the sights, Bar Remo is a great escape from the chaos and definitely isn’t a tourist trap like other restaurants in the area.

B Bakery
Enjoy afternoon tea in this bakery near Covent Garden. The bakery itself wasn’t the prettiest, but the afternoon tea was lovely and reasonably priced. I’ve also seen B Bakery buses around London – I think you can go on afternoon tea tours.

Bedales
Bedales is a lovely wine bar near to Spitalfields Market! We went wine tasting – in all honesty, I didn’t learn too much but the wine tasted good and there was plenty of it.

Berners Tavern
A very Instagrammable restaurant, it’s part of the London Edition which is a gorgeous and very cool hotel near to Tottenham Court Road station. Very upmarket and absolutely delicious British cuisine in a stunning setting.

Bianco 43
Authentic Italian restaurant – one in Greenwich & one in Blackheath! I had the most unreal truffle pizza! Very reasonably priced.

Bill’s
A pretty standard yet reliable chain with many restaurants dotted around London.

Big Easy
A ‘BBQ Crabshack‘ with live music! 3 locations – Covent Garden, Kings Road, Canary Wharf! Novelty bibs are essential to protect you from the mess. Fairly priced.

Black Roe
Upmarket ‘Poke Bar & Grill‘ in Mayfair! Very smart restaurant with a cosy ambiance. The food is full of flavour but very expensive (around £15 for a starter and £25+ for mains). We shared a few dishes between 3.

Blacklock
The best roast in London! Make sure you book a table in advance if you’re planning on dining on Sunday. If there’s a big group of you, they’ll put all the food out on an impressive platter for you to help yourselves. I’ve only been to the Soho restaurant but there’s now one in the City too. During the week it’s famous for its ‘chops’!
*DISCLAIMER* – it does not offer a veggie / even chicken option unfortunately. I found this out after I stopped eating meat… my boyfriend and I were set to go. Luckily he checked out the menu the night before our booking and we realised there was nothing for us 😦

Blanchette
Cute French restaurant in Soho.

Bob Bob Cite

Cool French restaurant in the Cheesegrater (Leadenhall Building) in London.

Great service, quirky decor (red and blue room) and a ‘Press for Champagne’ button! Food was good, if not a little expensive for what you get.

Bob Bob Ricard
Press for champagne!! A livelier version of Bob Bob Cite. Love this lively restaurant in Soho! The decor is elegant, made up of swanky booths (all with their own ‘Press for champagne’ buttons) and the staff are exceptional. Yum!! 

Bone Daddies
A ramen bar in Soho serving a variety of Asian dishes in a causal, rock-n-roll setting.

Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack
Bonnie Gull Seafood Shack is a cute little restaurant in Soho (with a bigger version in Fitzrovia). Much of the seating is at the bar which is great as you can see the food being cooked in front of you.You can order lots of small plates to share (which is what we did), or there is the option of ordering a large plate per person. It is expensive so don’t go if you’re on a budget.

Boxpark
A shipping container in Shoreditch turned into a home for pop-up shops and food stalls. A few bars and lots of seating (mainly outside). Great for summer drinks!

Bokan

Incredible views of the city from this restaurant and rooftop cocktail bar in Canary Wharf! We enjoyed bottomless prosecco and a 3 course meal with the best view in the house. Food was great but quite expensive (although not ridiculous).

Brasserie Blanc
Another French restaurant serving delicious food 🙂

Brasserie Zedel
This Soho restaurant is quite interesting. It’s located in a massive building with numerous restaurants / cafes / performance spaces (often live jazz bands and other musicians).Cool and bustling French / European restaurant with plenty of choice at a reasonable price. 

Bread Street Kitchen
Gordan Ramsey restaurant near to Bank station. Good atmosphere with a fun Photo Booth. Not cheap, but food is good and portions are decent 🙂

Breakfast Club
The original breakfast club is very close to where I work and I see massive queues every morning on my way to the office. I went one day to see what the fuss was about… honestly wasn’t wowed. The food is good but the decor isn’t fab in the Soho restaurant.

Brick and Liquor
Great brunch spot in Clapham (there’s also one in Tooting). Food is delicious and very reasonable. The area is gorgeous too – if you fancy a walk, Wandsworth Common is not too far away. There’s another popular brunch place very close by called Milk!

Broadgate Circle
Where city boys and girls go for a drink / bite to eat after work. Broadgate Circle has many restaurants / bars – always busy but especially in the summer.

Buon Appetito

Great Italian in Victoria Park village! Fresh pasta, good quality and big portions. 

The sign outside the front now says ‘Il Parco‘ but I think it’s run by the same people and is still called Buon Appetito when you search for it on googlemaps.

Busaba
Really nice restaurant chain serving quality Thai food.
Atmosphere was great and food really tasty – lots of choice. Would definitely recommend.

BYOC
Really fun to start a night out. You pay a cover cost per head, bring your own spirits and your designated cocktail maker extraordinaire will whip up some tasty cocktails using your spirits and a selection of mixers and ingredients (provided by BYOC). Numerous locations – including The City, Soho & Camden!

Cafe Monico
Another swanky (yet pricey) restaurant on Shaftesbury Avenue – good if you want a nice pre / post theatre dinner. Wasn’t amazed by the food but the decor was pretty!

Cafe Tamra
Gorgeous spot for food on the Northcote Road in Clapham! I particularly enjoy the brunch! Reasonably priced too.

Cahoots
A 1940’s bar in Soho, Cahoots if famous for it’s newspaper menu and extensive, fun cocktails. Great atmosphere with staff in character as and dressed in 40’s attire. Cocktails are £10-£12 each! Kingly Court is right outside which is always lovely to eat / drink in too.

Caravan
There are Caravan restaurants all over the place. I’ve only been to King’s Cross for brunch which was fantastic – lots of choice and very fairly priced.

Casa do Frango
You have to go!! I was so impressed by this restaurant! Algarvian cuisine in London Bridge! Great location, buzzy atmosphere, great decor and unreal food. Make sure you get the garlic prawns with bread to mop up the juice (mmm), chicken (of course) and the rice with crispy chicken skin and chorizo!! I can’t wait to go back. (The pic does not do it justice).

Ceru

Lovely restaurant in the middle of Soho serving Eastern Mediterranean food.
Tapas plates. Great for sharing tasty bites with friends. Wasn’t too expensive per plate but does add up the more your order.

Chambers

This is a local of mine in Victoria Park Village! A Mediterranean (quite Greek heavy) family restaurant – and it’s run by the family so the service is great. You can sit outside during the summer / the inside is lovely too. The food is delicious and the portions are MASSIVE! You better be hungry…

Chambers of Flavour
A multi-dimensional dining project – ‘a riotous fusion of absurdist adventure, interactive theatre, multimedia art installation and avant-garde culinary experimentation’. It’s something different and really fun but you have to book in advance. Location is texted to you on the day of the event.

Chicken Shop
Great for a quick, decently priced lunch / dinner. Love the avocado salad and sweet potato chips as well as the chicken. I’ve been to the Holborn & Whitechapel restaurants – both have a cool interior and a good atmosphere.

Chiltern Firehouse

Known as a celeb hang out, (Jude Law was sitting at the bar almost next to our table), Chiltern Firehouse is a famous luxury hotel and restaurant in Marylebone! In all honesty, I wasn’t wowed by the food for the price, but the ambiance was unsurprisingly fantastic.

Choccywoccydoodah
Does what it says on the tin. Best place in the world!
*UPDATE* this has disappeared but hopefully it will come back soon.

Cigalon
Really cute restaurant in a former auction house near Chancery Lane, serving French dishes which were delicious and reasonably priced.

Cinnamon Soho
Indian restaurant on Kingly St which is really good but does not compare to Dishoom (see further down) which is on the same street.

Clos Maggiore
French restaurant by Covent Garden, voted the most romantic restaurant in the world!!! My boyfriend took me here on one of our first dates… it looks pretty empty but we had overstayed our welcome & everyone else from the lunch sitting had left. Apparently a table in the conservatory is like gold dust, so book in advance and make sure you request one as it really is stunning (and romantic :P). Food is delicious and they have an extensive wine list.

Cookhouse Joe
Love, love, love this restaurant just off Oxford Street. Great for delicious, casual and cheap food. The lunchtime menu is very, very reasonably priced.

Cote Brasserie
Cote is a chain with restaurants all over the place – not just in London.

I have always avoided it knowing it was a chain but I went before a show a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised. Loads of fantastic choice, reasonably priced and super tasty. Would definitely return!

Coq D’Argent
An elegant restaurant right by Bank station. It is expensive and when you dine you don’t actually see the great view (below). You can get the lift up and see the view for free if you want!

Crazy Golf
There are a couple of fun crazy golf places with different themes and bar vibes:
Swingers (City / WestEnd) – nine hole courses with street food and great drinks.
Junkyard Golf (Brick Lane – East London) – a little less classy (the course is made up of ‘pre-loved and reclaimed random shizzle) but lots of fun.
Only downside with crazy golf is you get through 9 holes quite quickly in a couple / small group, so make sure you have a plan afterwards.

Creme
A cookie shop which has recently popped up near to where I work. I noticed long queues outside every night whilst going home from work and was curious so went myself. The cookies are delicious but cost a hefty £4 each! They also serve coffee and soft-serve ice cream. There’s nowhere inside to sit so you have to takeaway. I think more of an Instagram opportunity for tourists than anything else.

Crosstown Doughnuts 
Amazing homemade sourdough doughnuts! Shops are all over the place (they have a vegan shop in Marylebone) but the one I go to is in Soho!

Dean St Townhouse
Nice restaurant in Soho serving delicious afternoon tea.

Dinerama
Is a street food / cool bar set up in Shoreditch! If you want a fun, casual evening with good food, nice drinks and a buzzy atmosphere then look no further. It is mainly outside though, so if it’s cold, make sure you wrap up warm.

Din Tai Fung
I was SO excited for this restaurant to open in Covent Garden as I loved the one in Hong Kong. However, most of the dishes include pork which I no longer eat & so it was less enjoyable.

Luckily the prawn dim sum was great but that’s about all I fancied. It also seemed more expensive than it was in HK for what we got…

I really disagree with the way pigs are farmed across the UK and the rest of the world so I would now actually totally avoid this restaurant as it serves so much pork.

Dirty Bones
Many restaurants dotted around London. Nice and relaxed with reasonable prices. It’s always busy and has a good buzz. Definitely recommend.

Dishoom
My absolute favourite – believe the hype and wait in the queue! I absolutely LOVE Dishoom (‘Irani cafes that were once part of the fabric of life in Bombay’) and there’s one right by my office so I’m able to get a cheeky takeaway every now and then. All the food is good! They will suggest you share a few dishes between 2 – I was a chicken ruby addict so would always go for that but the lentil curry is fantastic too. It will not disappoint. They have restaurants in: Carnaby, Shoreditch, King’s Cross, Covent Garden & Kensington!

Duck & Waffle

Restaurant by Liverpool Street station with incredible views. Quite reasonably priced considering the location. Book in advance if you want to eat at a reasonable time, but it’s open 24 hours so if you’re awake enough to appreciate some nice food after a night out, you may be able to walk in.

Exmouth Market Grind
Great coffee / cocktail bar and restaurant in Clerkenwell! Had a very tasty lunch / brunch here! Don’t drink coffee but heard it’s great.

Fire and Stone
Great Italian restaurant near to Covent Garden with loads of interesting pizza toppings inspired by different world cuisines. Always lively with a good ambience and quite cheap for the area.

Firefly
Cute Thai restaurant in Balham! Great for a casual bite in a relaxed environment. Food is good but I’d just got back from Thailand when I went so was probably underwhelmed.

Fiume
A Mediterranean restaurant in Battersea Power Station which has a nice outdoor seating area. Food is decent (we had a set menu) and not too overpriced.

Flat Iron
They’re dotted all over the place, (Soho, Covent Garden, King’s Cross), and are ALWAYS busy. They don’t take reservations so if you don’t turn up early, you’ll have to wait in line! The food is excellent although I’m no longer a meat eater.

Forza Win
Forza Win is a trendy Italian restaurant in Peckham (South-East London). The restaurant has an open kitchen and tables are communal. The food was delicious… definitely recommend the pasta – homemade and fresh!

Franco Manca
Casual, very fairly priced pizza chain! Amazing (and massive) tiramisu if you have room for pudding.

Gail’s
Absolutely delicious bakery – many dotted around London.

Galvin La Chapelle
A French Michelin star restaurant near to Liverpool Street station. The food is beautifully presented and the service is exceptional, but it is very expensive (as to be expected). If you have cash to splash, then go! If you don’t, there are plenty other fantastic, more fairly priced places to eat.

Gillray’s Steakhouse
Great views over the River Thames of the London Eye and Houses of Parliament! We’ve eaten a couple of times here on a bookatable.com deal which made it fantastic value for money.

Gloria Trattoria

Italian (Capri-inspired) restaurant in trendy Shoreditch. The restaurant is part of the Big Mamma Group and has sister restaurants which are very popular in Paris.

There are plenty of small plates, pastas (with larger plates to share) and pizzas to feast on.

Graphic Bar
Fun bar specialising in gin on Golden Square near to Piccadilly Circus! The drinks menu gives you lots of choice and they serve the gin in paint pots and spray them with different colours depending on the flavours – fun presentation.*THINK THIS CLOSED DOWN*

Grounded Coffee Company
A hidden gem between Whitechapel and Aldgate East stations. The breakfast we had was absolutely delicious and everything on the menu looked good. Close(ish) to Brick Lane if you’re having a morning stroll through the markets.

Guanabara
We had such a good night here! This bar near to Covent Garden has a carnival atmosphere with dancers and musicians performing into the night. We had a decent dinner here too which meant we had a table right in the centre of the action. It turns into a club after last food orders.

Harvey Nics
We went to a fantastic cocktail making course at Harvey Nichols! It was £80 per person including breakfast, lunch and cocktails – really good value for money… I was very drunk! Knightsbridge is the nearest tube stop.

Hawksmoor
Famous steak restaurants dotted about London (Spitalfields, Seven Dials, Knightsbridge, Borough!) The sides (spinach, mac n cheese) are incredibly tasty too. My fave restaurant is the Spitalfields one as it has a cosy, relaxed feel. It is pricey though (& you should reduce your meat intake!)

Heddon Street Kitchen
I absolutely love this restaurant!!! Another Gordon Ramsey in Soho offering European / British cuisine.

They have a pre-theatre menu which is very reasonably priced. The macaroni cheese and truffled mash potato is outstanding.

Atmosphere and service was great too.

HIX
A restaurant in Soho specialising in fish and shellfish! Nice bar downstairs too.

Homeslice
Like pizza? Want a quick, cheap and yummy lunch / dinner? Try Homeslice! They do massive sharing pizzas (with 2 toppings) for £20 OR you can buy pizza by the slice for £4 per slice! Sooooo delicious!!! (Recommend the ricotta, mushroom & pine nut topping)

Hoppers

A ‘family-style Sri Lankan restaurant!’ It’s very chilled (shared tables) and the food is delicious and reasonably priced. Nearest tube stations are Tottenham Court Road / Leicester Square!

House of Ho
The House of Ho is a fantastic modern Vietnamese restaurant in Fitzrovia just off Charlotte Street.

The restaurant is in a cute little townhouse and has a nice outside area for al fresco dining in warmer months. The food was nice (although if you want popcorn shrimp / sushi, go to Pham Sushi instead… much better and cheaper).

The green veggie curry was SO tasty and had a nice kick to it. Lovely atmosphere, good service but quite pricey. Would recommend if you want to splash out.

Hummingbird Bakery
Amazing cakes both in looks and taste! My favourite is the Nutella cupcake! Shop is in Soho!

Hutong (at the Shard)
A Northern Chinese restaurant in the Shard with amazing views of London. They do fantastic lunch deals, but otherwise it’s quite expensive. The food is soooo delicious – we had a few dishes shared between 3. Nearest tube is London Bridge!

Hush Brasserie
Absolutely loved this brasserie down a very quiet street in Mayfair, central London.Gorgeous interior, fantastic cocktails and a menu so full of delicious food, it made choosing a main very difficult! Definitely recommend!

Ice Bar
A bar literally made of ice just off Regent St! A cool (literally) experience.

Imad’s Syrian Kitchen
A ‘true taste of Syria’ in a little pop-up on Broadwick Street (Carnaby). It is run by Syrian refugee Imad Alarnab & charity Help Refugees.
The only thing they sell are falafel boxes – falafel, wrap, salad, 3 sauces (hummus) for just £5. I’ve just read online that all profits go to support Young Roots and Brixton Soup Kitchen which is very cool. Over Christmas the previous pop-up raised £25k for Molham Group (who distribute food packs to Syrian refugees).

Not only an incredibly tasty and cheap lunch, but also doing fantastic work. Definitely worth supporting!

Inamo
Unlimited food and wine for 2 hours for £30 – you’re onto a winner. A few restaurants dotted around (Covent Garden, Soho, Camden)! Food is great but make sure you book a deal because it would be quite expensive if you paid individually for dishes.

Inko Nito
Amazing Japanese restaurant in Soho with a cooking station you can sit by in the middle of the restaurant. Food is delicious but not cheap. Around £30 per person for food alone.

Jak’s
Mediterranean restaurant and cocktail bar on the King’s Road! Gets incredibly lively.

Jinjuu
Cute Korean restaurant which does amazing cocktails on Kingly Street!

Kiln
A little restaurant in Soho serving ‘Thai-inspired dishes using wood-burning ovens and grills’. It’s walk in only (we had to wait a long time for our table) so best to go early, leave your number, plan drinks somewhere else & then come back to tuck into some tasty food.

Kitchen Pizzeria
If you happen to be in Mile End for whatever reason, then try this pizzeria! You can make up your own pasta / pizza from a selection of ingredients. Tagliatelle with garlic butter – YUM! Very reasonably priced too.

Kouzu

I went to a sushi and cocktail making class at swanky London restaurant, Kouzu. I bought the class on Virgin Experience Days. It’s fantastic value: £105 for 2 people.

Included in the price: cocktail and sushi making class, 3 delicious cocktails, a small sushi selection to start & a full plate of your own handmade sushi!

Kricket
Absolutely LOVE this amazing restaurant in Soho! Serving Indian / Asian small plates. Loads of veggie / vegan options!!!

There’s usually a wait, so arrive early, put your name on a waiting list and come back later! Service also fantastic. Definitely recommend. SO YUM!

La Tagliata
Enjoyed a fantastic dinner at La Tagliata with my friend before coronavirus lockdown. It’s a lovely, independent restaurant in the city, near to Liverpool Street station, serving tasty Italian dishes. The service was fantastic and the atmosphere was spot on.If you’re a pasta fan, definitely pay La Tagliata a visit!

Leggero
Lovely gluten free, veggie / vegan friendly restaurant near to Chinatown.Super relaxed vibe. It was quite quiet when we arrived but it filled up quickly. Delicious food, although slightly more expensive than your average pasta restaurant but I can imagine absolutely worth it for those who struggle with gluten!

Le Pain
A chain of bakeries which serve a fantastic brunch. Dotted all over London.

L’ETO Cafe
Super cute cafe in Soho, London. I’ve been visiting this place for years, but recently they’ve upped their game.

For a while I’ve seen queues outside L’ETO as I’ve walked past, but only recently went back in. They have made it incredibly instagrammable! Flowers above the cakes, boards to write your own messages on, different teas in different colours in interesting pots and glasses! The cakes are AMAZING! So much choice and they’re all so beautiful.

Lights of Soho
A bar / members club in Soho! Instagrammers dream.

M Threadneedle Street
Lively steak restaurant near to Bank station. When we were there they were doing bottomless prosecco for 2 hours, which we took full advantage of 🙂

Ma La Sichuan
Chinese food near to Westminster station. The food was quite good but not the best Chinese I’ve ever eaten and the staff weren’t great! Reasonably priced.

Mabel’s Bar and Kitchen
Quite a fun place to go for cocktails and light bites near to Covent Garden! The food isn’t the best but it has a good vibe.

Madison
Bar, lounge and restaurant with amazing views of St Paul’s! It’s a very popular after work hangout, so be prepared to queue to go in during the summer. It’s lively and has an amazing atmosphere.

Mahiki
Fun club in Mayfair, famous for its ‘treasure chests’.

Mildreds

Fantastic veggie / vegan restaurant in Soho. I had the Sri Lankan curry and oh my… it was incredible.

Lovely atmosphere and amazing food! Perfect place to go for dinner if you don’t eat meat. Definitely recommend.

Masala Zone
The name and outside of Masala Zone reminds me of ‘Laser Zone’ (where I used to love playing laser tag!!) It’s actually really nice inside and serves flavourful Indian cuisine! They have a few restaurants but I’ve been to the one in Soho!

Mele e Pere
Cute Italian restaurant in Soho! Ask to sit downstairs for best atmosphere.

Mercato Metropolitano
Fun food hall in South London (Borough High Street!) Lots of people drinking / hanging out after work and plenty of different foods to choose from.

Migrateful
An amazing concept where refugees and migrants struggling to find employment due to legal and linguistic barriers, teach their traditional cuisines.
The two ladies on the night I went (Majeda & Muna) both had jobs in Syria but had to leave when the situation got too dangerous, and they are now struggling to find employment in the UK.
Majeda helped an organisation who was supporting those detained by the Syrian government without trial. She was then imprisoned herself. Her husband paid for her to be bailed out, and she was then exiled and moved to Lebanon and continued to support Syrian detainees. She came to speak at a conference in Edinburgh in February and whilst she was there, she received a phone call telling her that everyone in her office in Lebanon had been arrested. She stayed in the UK, and is seeking asylum so that her two sons and husband can join her here.
Muna studied for years to become an architect, and got a senior position with an architecture organisation. Following the war in Syria, she came over to England with her daughter. Very frustratingly, her architect qualifications are not valid in the UK.

Book in for a cookery class to learn some international recipes, support migrants / refugees trying to rebuild their lives, and eat some incredible food!

MNKY HSE
A swanky Latin American bar / restaurant in Mayfair which turns into a club at about 11pm. The upstairs bar is really cool with interesting furniture and artwork on the walls. The cocktails are delicious although super expensive (we’re talking £16 – £20 per drink!!) The food was absolutely fantastic – everything was so tasty! But you’d be disappointed if that wasn’t the case as prices are very high…
The staff were great – just the right amount of attentive – and the restaurant had a great atmosphere.We went back to the upstairs bar after dinner and enjoyed a few more drinks there. I think the crowd are a little pretentious but it is Mayfair!

Minnow
This restaurant in Clapham served the best veggie roast I have ever had in a restaurant. SO delicious, and (although I’m not a meat eater) the other roasts looked unbelievable too.It’s a tiny restaurant, so make sure you book – preferably a table at the back by the flowers and mirrors to make sure other guests aren’t squeezing past your table. They also allow you to bring your own booze which was great and definitely kept costs down. 100% recommend.

Museum of Happiness
This was a very Instagrammed venue about a year or so ago – so of course, I went to see what all the fuss was about. It’s a bit disappointing as the ‘museum‘ just off Brick Lane consists of 1 room containing a ball pit. However, being in a ball pit as an adult is strangely satisfying and I was somewhat happier after. Another ball pit in East London is Ballie Ballerson – I’ve not been but it looks like a more impressive venue for adult playtime.

Netil360

Really cool rooftop bar with amazing views of London. It’s a 15 min walk from Bethnal Green station! Cheap(ish) drinks + pizza + a view! Ideal! NT’s Bar next door is also fun.

Oblix (at the Shard)
Fine dining on the 32nd floor of the Shard. It’s in the Shard, so of course it was expensive, but the food was delish and the view was sensational.

One Aldwych
We went for afternoon tea at One Aldwych! The afternoon tea itself was creative and scrumptious, but the interior of the restaurant wasn’t great considering it’s advertised as ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory‘ themed.

Pastaio
I am a massive pasta lover so was excited when a new pasta place opened up on Carnaby Street as it’s quite near to where I work. Food was nice but was a bit disappointed as it wasn’t incredible, there wasn’t much choice and it was quite expensive.

Patara
Fine dining Thai restaurant chain with restaurants dotted all over London. I go for the mango & sticky rice (although it is £10.95!!!!)

Peckham Levels
In an old multi-story carpark, Peckham Levels is now home to street food and bars. Quite a trendy, chilled place to go for drinks in Peckham! In the summer the rooftop of the carpark (Frank’s Cafe) is popular for casual drinks and phenomenal views.

Pham Sushi

This is my favourite place for sushi – in my opinion, far better than any of the fancy, popular sushi restaurants. The interior of the restaurants are very basic and sterile, but the food is UNREAL!!!! Make sure you order about 10 portions of the ‘crunchy tuna rolls’ – you won’t regret it. Truffle salmon rolls and the shrimp tempura are great too. Restaurants near Liverpool St / Moorgate / Farringdon!

Pho & Bun

Vietnamese street food in the heart of the West End. It was £24 for 4 courses and a beer which didn’t seem too bad. The food was very good but the portions were quite small. Nice for a quick dinner but nothing super special.

Piano Works
Quite tacky but fun to start a night out! A bar / restaurant in Farringdon where ‘pianists perform audience-requested playlist live’.

Pizza East
Lively pizzeria in Shoreditch! Pizza is really good and the restaurant has a superb atmosphere.

Pizza Pilgrims
Nice for a quick, cheap pizza for lunch. Casual atmosphere, nice food and very fairly priced.

Puttshack
A couple of venues in London offering mini golf courses as well as food and drink. New tech means you don’t have to note down any scores, the ball and software does it for you! Particularly handy if you’ve had a few drinks.It has a great vibe, good cocktails and the food is nice too. If there’s only 2 of you, you might want to book a couple of rounds as you do whiz around the courses quite quickly.

Radio Rooftop Bar
Rooftop bar just off The Strand with stunning views. Quite pricey but nice for a few civilised drinks.

Restaurant Ours
Another Instagrammers dream! Restaurant with beautiful decor (huge trees, high ceilings, a flower wall – oh my goodddddd) serving delicious, upscale British cuisine in Knightsbridge!

Roast
Does what it says on the tin… an amazing roast! Gorgeous restaurant in London Bridge (basically in Borough market!) The food was very enjoyable and not ridiculously priced.

Roka
We went to the Charlotte Street restaurant. Lovely Japanese / Asian food but quite pricey! Am not sure the beautiful flowers are permanent fixture.

Roof East
‘The ultimate rooftop playground experience for grown ups with bar, street food, open air cinema and interactive games area‘ – a really fun rooftop in Stratford!

Rooftop Garden (John Lewis)
John Lewis on Oxford Street has a cute little rooftop bar – great for a coffee / hot choc in the sun.

Rosa’s
Delicious, reasonably priced Thai food. Casual dining just off Carnaby Street.

Royal Inn on the Park
Pub overlooking Victoria Park in Hackney! Food is good (standard pub grub), but quite pricey. It has a nice, big beer garden, great for a drink in the sun.

R.S. Hispaniola

Looking for decent food and unlimited Prosecco with a lovely view of London? Look no further. R.S. Hispaniola is a shabby boat on The Thames which offers 3 courses plus unlimited prosecco for £35 pp.

Not the fanciest boat I’ve ever been on / the most tasty food BUT it was very reasonably priced, the view was great and the prosecco was bottomless.

SAID
If you love chocolate, you have to go to this cafe in Soho for a hot chocolate!

San Carlo Cicchetti

Amazing restaurant just off Piccadilly Circus specialising in the ‘Venetian culinary custom of cicchetti – delicious small plate dishes to share or eat alone, enjoyed with a beer or glass of wine’!

Food was mouth-watering. You should definitely go, but book in advance as it gets busy.

Santi
Cute Italian restaurant near to Westfield Stratford. Didn’t have the best atmosphere in the world but the food was tasty and reasonably priced.

Searcys at the Gherkin
Amazing views and food from literally the top of the Gherkin!! My boyfriend luckily got us a window table, but make sure you confirm it on the booking. Think it would have been less impressive if we were sitting further back.

Secret Cinema
Secret Cinema is AMAZING!!!! They specialise in immersive theatre experiences which combine films with interactive performance, all taking place in massive sets built specific to each film – you are also given characters you have to come dressed as! You must book in advance and make sure you go with it – the more you immerse yourself, the more you’ll get out of it.

Shaka Zulu
A pretty cool restaurant / bar with elaborate and quirky decor. It’s the largest South African restaurant and has some interesting food on the menu like zebra & crocodile. Some nice options for non-meat eaters too.

The food was pretty good but not outstanding. You’re there more for the atmosphere than the food!

Shoryu
Shoryu brings ‘authentic tonkotsu ramen from Hakata, Japan to the UK’! The ramen is delicious – great for a quick lunch or casual dinner.

Sketch
Another iconic London restaurant in Mayfair (particularly well-known for it’s pod toilets!) There are multiple rooms with different themes – great for a cocktail or two. The pink room is the main restaurant and has 200 original prints / drawings by David Shrigley (Turner Prize winner). The food is good, but expensive!

Sky Garden

You can book a trip to Sky Garden for free 2 weeks in advance of the date you plan to go.

The views are absolutely amazing. On a Friday / Saturday they have a band playing too! There is a restaurant, but it’s pricey and you have to book in advance!

Skylon
Beautiful restaurant on the Southbank with floor to ceiling windows letting lots of light in! They do a fantastic bottomless brunch and have musicians playing throughout the day.

Soft Serve Society
Want a sugar overload? Look no further than a freakshake at Soft Serve Society under Boxpark in Shoreditch!

Sticks ‘n’ Sushi

Sushi restaurant between Covent Garden and The Strand! The food was tasty but expensive, and in my opinion, not as good as Pham Sushi!

Sticky Mango
Thai restaurant near to Waterloo and Southbank. It’s quite expensive to order a la carte, but if you eat early and choose from the pre-theatre menu then it’s not so bad. We had a chicken noodle main which was incredible.

STK
Another steakhouse just off The Strand! The restaurant has cool white booths and low lighting creating a chilled atmosphere. The food is nice too 🙂

Sushineon
Nice sushi restaurant near to Aldgate East station which is popular with Japanese students in the area (always a good sign)! They offer loads of different Japanese dishes too.The sushi was tasty although a little saucey for my liking. The spicy tuna rolls were probably my favourite… and the cheapest.

Sushi Samba
Sushi Samba (right by Liverpool Street station) boasts absolutely incredible views of London! I’ve not actually eaten here, but I’ve been for drinks a fair few times. Expectedly, it’s pricey as you’re paying for the view! My boyfriend ate here recently and said the food was good but not as tasty as my fave – Pham Sushi!

Taro
Casual restaurant in Soho serving yummy and reasonably priced Japanese noodles and sushi.
There’s loads of choice and prices are fair. Not as good as some other sushi places I’ve been to (Pham Sushi = my fave) but pretty good. Really good for lunch or a quick bite as the service is quite fast and people were in and out.

Terra Terra
A lovely and relaxed Italian brasserie in North London. There was a nice variety on the menu and everything we ordered tasted delicious (didn’t take pics of everything we ordered). Only downside is there are not a lot of veggie / vegan options.

The Big London Bake
Basically the Great British Bake Off for the average person! A really fun thing to do with a group of friends.

The Churchill Arms
A really cool pub in Knightsbridge, draped in flowers and Churchill memorabilia!

The Dorchester

Had a fantastic dinner at this famous, super swanky London hotel on Park Lane. We had a 3 course set menu with a glass of champagne for £42 per person.

The set menu is really good value if you have that alone. However, we ordered sides and a bottle of wine which nearly doubled the cost (there aren’t cheap options!)

Service was excellent. I put ‘a celebration’ on the booking and our waiter brought over a ‘happy anniversary’, ‘happy birthday’ and ‘congratulations’ plate to cover all bases.

The Folly

The Folly is a bar / restaurant in the City of London. It’s not somewhere to go for a super fancy dinner, but it’s a fun place to go! It has got a great, lively atmosphere – full of city workers letting their hair down. The food is probably a little expensive for what you get. There is lots of choice but it is pretty standard pub grub!

The Founder’s Arms
Cute little pub on the Southbank, right opposite St Paul’s Cathedral.

The Ivy

Once a super exclusive place to eat, there are now versions of The Ivy dotted all over the UK! If you want to go to the original then you should book in advance. You can often just walk in to the others for a casual bite.

The food is really good and incredibly reasonably priced considering the name and reputation of  The Ivy.

The Jam Tree
Colourful gastropub on the King’s Road with a great garden. Food is pub grub but tasty!

The Lord Tredegar
Another local of mine, The Lord Tredegar in Mile End produces some delicious meals. A firm favourite of many friends when they come to visit!

The Ritz
If you’re a tourist visiting London, you’ll probably want to tick The Ritz (Mayfair) off your list. Best to go at Christmas time as it’s beautifully decorated.

The Roof Deck (at Selfridges)
Quite difficult to find your way to the top of Selfridges on Oxford Street, but when you find your way there, it’s great! Wasn’t massively impressed by the food, but the atmosphere is great on a summers evening. I believe it’s also beautifully decorated over Christmas!

The Smoking Goat
This Thai restaurant in Shoreditch is very unassuming but the food is absolutely incredible. Really chilled environment – we shared a few different dishes between us – all were amazing!

The Terrace on Piccadilly
A fine-dining restaurant in the Piccadilly hotel.

The food is pricey but the service, location and interior are fantastic. In the summer you could sit on the balcony – if you’re dining in colder months, request a table by the window. Fantastic deal – 3 courses and free flowing prosecco for £35!

The food was well presented and delicious. The restaurant is gorgeous with great views (when it’s not dark).

The Vaults
Located in the underground of Waterloo station, The Vaults is the ‘home of immersive theatre and alternative art’. Check what’s on!!!

Tramshed
Known for its chicken and beef which is carved at the table and designed to share, the restaurant is home to the Cock ‘n’ Bull installation by Damien Hirst!!

Treadwells
A Marcus Wareing restaurant showcasing ‘the very best in British seasonal produce’! It’s a really nice restaurant but was pretty empty when I went so lacked an exciting atmosphere.

Trufflesecco
Love truffle and prosecco like me? Go to Trufflesecco! It’s a tiny restaurant in Camden serving all things truffle! Considering truffle dishes in London are usually extortionate, this restaurant is incredibly reasonably priced.

Tyyabs
Traditional Punjabi cuisine in Whitechapel! The food is really good and the restaurant is always jam-packed. They try to make you pay in cash though so assuming something dodgy going on there.

Vapiano
I was a Vapiano addict for a long time. A very laid back Italian restaurant where they make the dishes to your taste right in front of you!

Victoria Park Pavilion
Gorgeous location on the waterfront in Victoria Park serving unbelievable breakfasts.

Wagamama
A pretty standard chain restaurant but the food is nice and great for a quick lunch / din! All my friends visiting from lands afar insist on visiting Wagamama when they’re in London.

Whyte and Brown
A free-range chicken restaurant in Kingly Court! The burgers and goujons are great and there’s a lovely outdoor eating area – great for summer and also in winter when heaters are on and the Christmas lights are on!

Yoobi
Yoobi (what a cute name) is super casual sushi restaurant in Soho!

You order from the bar (good if you’re with a group wanting to pay separately) and whilst the menu is quite limited, the food is reasonable and really delicious.

The sushi is made fresh and served to you by super friendly and attentive staff. It’s probably the same price if not cheaper than Itsu but definitely tastier. Recommend for chilled a chilled lunch / dinner.

Zobler’s at The Ned
The Ned is a really cool hotel in the City of London. It houses a bar and group of restaurants serving different cuisines.

It’s New York deli style has a great atmosphere. The food is very reasonably priced considering the quite classy, sophisticated setting / atmosphere.

Zuma

Trendy, high-end Japanese restaurant in Kensington. Food is amazing and atmosphere is great (hang out for celebs… we were sitting next to Jermain Defoe). It was very expensive… definite treat!

xxx