People slide into my DMs asking for London restaurant recommendations a LOT but, as this list is ever-changing, I’ve always been loath to add it to my main Instagram feed because once it’s out in public it can’t be changed. But here in my own domain I can pop by and add or delete places as I see fit.
I am not by any means saying that these are THE best restaurants in my fair city, they’re just the ones I have been to and enjoyed over the past year or so. Also, they’re in no particular order, just random, like my brain…
NOBLE ROT — Mayfair
Noble Rot has three locations and I’ve been to all of them, but the Mayfair branch is my favourite. Excellent ‘ye olde worlde’ location in Shepherd Market, straight out of a Dickens novel. Great seasonal food, and the ONLY place I’ve been to where I’ve left dreaming about a tomato salad. Very expansive wine list and the staff really know their stuff, so I always ask what they recommend before ordering.
THE SUSSEX — Soho
This one is in the heart of Soho and, like Noble Rot, deals with seasonal produce. It’s part of the Gladwin Brothers group of restaurants – The Shed, Rabbit and The Black Lamb are some of the others, and they’re all equally as good but this is the most central one. The restaurants serve meals using produce sourced from their own and other local farms. Have the ‘marmite’ mushroom eclairs and thank me later.
BANCONE — Soho
I initially went here because we needed somewhere central that wasn’t too expensive. Bancone is both and it exceeded expectations. Excellent fresh pasta, lively atmos, won’t break the bank. I’ve only been to the Golden Square location, but they also have one in Covent Garden and one in Borough Yards south of the river.
RITA’S — Soho
Tucked away on Lexington Street in Soho, Rita’s is small but mighty. The menu has been different each time I’ve been there but it’s ALWAYS been good. A relaxed, casual atmosphere – it feels like a great little local resturant. Good cocktails too.
NOPI — Soho
If you’re familiar with Ottolenghi and love his recipes, then Nopi will be heaven for you. It’s perfect for lunch, serving small plates that you can share so you don’t get food envy from having chosen the wrong thing (although I’ve never had a wrong thing here), and it’s great for veggies. Book a table upstairs unless you’re happy to share with people you don’t know. Watch out for the toilets: you may never find your way out again. When you go, you’ll see.
MILK BEACH ‑Soho
If sleek and sophisticated yet easy-breezy interiors are your thing, you will feel right at home at Milk Beach in Soho. The staff wear cream linen and look like they should be summering in the Hamptons but it’s actually an Australian resturant. I’m not entirely sure what Australian cuisine is but – don’t panic – there’s no kangaroo steak on the menu. It’s more of an Asian/fusion vibe here and very tasty indeed.
ANY LINA STORES — all over
If, like me, you mourned the loss of Carluccio’s (or most of them, anyway), Lina Stores is here to fill that quick pasta gap and, to be honest, it’s better than Carluccio’s ever was. Perfect for pre-theatre or lunch with a friend. Nothing fancy, just easy Italian food done very well. Plus the restaurants look pretty. There are about nine locations in London now.
NESSA — Soho
Nessa is fast becoming my go-to restaurant for breakfast, lunch, dinner OR drinks. On the edge of Soho, near Regent Street, Nessa’s staff are always lovely and the food is seasonal British. They even make me want to eat cabbage over and over again, which is unheard of.
CAVITA — Marylebone
If Mexican is your thing (it’s very much my thing) then Cavita in Marylebone is a must-go. I think they do the best fish tacos I’ve ever had, and I’ve had a LOT of fish tacos. They also have a hidden basement cocktail bar. Make mine a spicy marg.
THE WOLSELEY — Piccadilly
If you want to impress, go to The Wolseley. I like it best for breakfast, but they do an excellent all-day menu and their steak tartare is one of the finest. I once saw Kate Moss, Anna Wintour and Bryan Adams all having a fry-up together there. OK, maybe not a fry-up, but someone definitely had an egg. Maybe.
JOSEPHINE BOUCHON — Fulham Road
I went to Joséphine just before Christmas and it was a perfect winter pick-me-up. It looks and feels like a classic French bistro and serves the food you would expect at such a place, yet it’s on the Fulham Road, not in Lyon. Their steak tartare was perfect, and if you order a cheese board for afters, they leave you the full board and tell you to take the ones you want. All of which were divine.
GRASSO — Soho
If you’re hungry for Italian/American food, go to Grasso. Their portions are HUGE but, like any good US resturant, they’ll give you a doggy bag if you can’t finish your chicken parm. It’s always busy, there’s a disco in the toilet and the tiramisu is enough for four people. Great cocktails, too.
SIDE HUSTLE — Covent Garden
Talking of cocktails, you would be hard-pressed to find any better than those at Side Hustle in the NoMad hotel in Covent Garden. You can just sit at the bar and have a few drinks, but the Mexican food is also worth sampling, so book a booth in the evening if you can.
GOLD — Portobello
A great place for lunch or dinner if you’re down Portobello way. Buzzy atmosphere but not so noisy you can’t hold a conversation. They serve small plates so you can share, but no one is sharing my meatballs here as they are superb.
THE DEVONSHIRE — Soho
Yes, they’re known for serving the best pint of Guinness in all of London town (apparently), but the resturant upstairs is where you really need to be. The scallops are so good that I had to drink the sauce directly out of the shell so nothing went to waste. They also do roast carrots that you will fantasise about for weeks after. Any resturant that makes me want to eat more vegetables is automatically added to this list.
AVE MARIO — Covent Garden
If you’re with teenagers who you want to impress with Instagrammable decor and cool toilets then go to Ave Mario. The food is good, too: it isn’t all style over substance. Serves classic Italian fare, decent portion sizes. I recommend the huge plate of beef carpaccio with the burrata as a side.
SAMS WATERSIDE — BRENTFORD
I couldn’t finish without a mention of our best local resturant: Sam’s Waterside. It’s been a game changer, and we no longer have to schlep into town for a really good meal in lovely surroundings. Instead we can now get the E8 bus down to Brentford and enjoy the perfect smash burger, half a dozen oysters and a side of parmesan churros almost on our doorstep.
I hope this helps if you’re visiting London soon. It’s worthwhile booking in advance for all these places as it’s unlikely you’ll get a table if you rock up on the night. But you never know. I’ll try to update and add each time I find somewhere else good to recommend.
K x