You’re welcome.
This is the first trip since New York where I’ve actively sought out good food.
I’m kicking myself for gallivanting all over Europe, all over the “must-do cities” like Berlin, Amsterdam, Vienna, Rome, Venice and not exploring its culinary offerings properly.
But not this time.
I researched. I wrote myself a list. I starred so many places on Google Maps. I was ready.
So without further ado, here are some of my recommendations.
Where to eat for breakfast
Dishoom, 5 Stable St
There’s a few of these around London so you’re in luck. Perfect for when it’s cold or when you’re just after a hearty meal. The house chai is to-die for.
Farm Girl, 59A Portobello Rd
For those after a health kick / a detox from all the yellow and brown-hued meals. This place serves smashed avo, smoothies, coloured lattes – all the superfoods. It’s also nested in the cute area of Notting Hill so go for a little peruse prior.
Granger and Co, Stanley Building, 7 Pancras Square
If you’re craving an Australian-style brunch and not this baked beans and eggs only business, eat here. There’s a few around London and they’re pretty fancy with their dishes – I had a soft shell crab and chorizo kim chi fried rice and an almond milk-spiced chai.
Where to eat for lunch
Borough Market, 8 Southwark St
Okay this is an obvious one. I went here the first time I was ever in London so this an exception to the “new me”. It’s great for sampling different dishes and there’s almost something for everybody. My personal favourite? The paella. That and the fresh fruit on offer (because we all know how hard that is to find in central London).
NOPI, 21-22 Warwick St
Ottolenghi’s all-day brasserie with dishes designed to be shared.
Where to eat for dinner
Strut & Cluck, 151 Commercial St
Modern Middle Eastern food – absolutely delicious. A cute little restaurant in Shoreditch with impeccable service, you need to order the labneh, smoked eggplant and lamb kofta.
Sketch, 9 Conduit St
Save your pennies because this place is expensiveeeeee. It does, however, also have the best interiors and bathroom/toilet (strange, I know, but true) of any restaurant I’ve been to. I hear they also do afternoon tea so that may be a more inexpensive way of checking the place out/ticking it off your list.
Breddos Tacos, 82 Goswell Rd, Islington
Great Mexican-style tacos and cocktails. You should try and get there early though because there is a bit of a wait – we were seated at the bench by the door. It was fine but I mean not ideal when you’ve ordered what feels like a zillion dishes.
Sheba, 136 Brick Ln
Okay I know there are a ton of Indian restaurants on Brick Lane and sometimes it can get quite daunting, what with everyone yelling their offers at you. I highly recommend this place. It was actually where we had our last dinner and boy was it memorable.
Quick Bites
Biscuiteers, 194 Kensington Park Rd
Stumbled upon this place because if it’s extremely cute exterior but BOY OH BOY we had the BEST carrot cake of our lives here! We still regularly recall the cake and would go back and order five more if possible. A definite must if you’re in the area and the service was just wonderful.
Debenhams, 334-348 Oxford St
Okay we went to use their toilet but stayed for scones and tea because honestly you just have to when in England. And it was delicious comfort food (as you’d expect).
Coffee
Trade, 47 Commercial Street
Kaffeine, 66 Great Titchfield St
Flat White, 17 Berwick St
