Where to Eat in London: Our Favorite Restaurants & Cafés

Eating Out in London: General Tips

Before we dive into our picks for the best cafés and restaurants in London, here are two general dining tips to keep in mind.

When in Doubt, Make a Reservation

Found some great spots and can’t wait to try them? Book ahead. During typical rush hours for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you’ll otherwise have a really hard time finding a seat.

At most London restaurants, you can easily do this online via their website. Sometimes, though, you can only reserve for certain time slots.

Tipping in London

In Great Britain, tipping your server is standard — around 10 percent is the norm. But watch out: many restaurants automatically add a service charge to the bill, which means the tip is essentially already included.

Otherwise, the same rule applies as anywhere: great service deserves a great tip; so-so service, a smaller one.

Cafés and Breakfast in London

Want to fuel up before a full day of sightseeing? Here are a few great cafés where you can grab a seriously good breakfast in London.

26 Grains

We personally love porridge. If you feel the same way — or if you’d like to use your time in London to try porridge for breakfast — then 26 Grains is exactly the right place for you.

The little café is tucked into the Neal’s Yard courtyard in Covent Garden, just a few steps from the Seven Dials intersection, which should definitely be on your list of top London sights.

The breakfast café is really small and doesn’t take reservations. There are a few tables and chairs spread between inside and outside. We arrived around 9:45 AM and managed to snag a free table.

If you’re not that lucky, just head to another nearby breakfast spot and try again another day.

There’s savory and sweet porridge, plus a variety of delicious breads — so you could easily pop in for lunch too.

GAIL's Bakery

GAIL’s Bakery has several locations across London and is the perfect spot for a quick but still really tasty breakfast.

We had a GAIL’s almost right next to our Wilde Aparthotels Paddington and went there for breakfast several times. Delicious breads, pastries, yogurts, juices — basically everything you need to start a London trip on the right foot.

After your breakfast, you can head out refreshed and explore the city — for example, on a hop-on/hop-off bus.

Bondi Green

The Australian brunch restaurant Bondi Green was also right around the corner from our hotel in London. There are several restaurants in the Green chain dotted around the city.

We visited the one at the Grand Union Canal in Paddington and can highly recommend it for breakfast. They also serve Aussie brunch and dinner.

Not sure what Australian breakfast looks like? A few keywords: avocado toast, shakshuka, poached eggs, smoked salmon. Now we’re hungry all over again.

Jusu Brothers

On our way to Notting Hill, we were hunting for a good breakfast and ended up at Jusu Brothers in the Westbourne Grove neighborhood.

They offer all-day breakfast as well as lunch. For breakfast, you can get things like porridge, breakfast bowls, and the obligatory avocado toast.

The fresh juices here are absolutely delicious too — don’t skip them.

Snacks on the Go

Eating out in London can get pricey. But it doesn’t always have to be a sit-down dinner. London is full of wonderfully tasty snacks you can grab on the move.

Ottolenghi

If you love food as much as we do, you’ve probably already heard of Ottolenghi. If not: anyone with a cookbook collection at home very likely has at least one book by Israeli chef and author Yotam Ottolenghi on their shelf.

But it’s not just cookbooks — there are also several restaurants in London serving Arabic and Israeli delicacies.

If you want a full sit-down meal, reserve a table in advance. The restaurants are a mix between a restaurant and a deli, though, so you can also grab your food to go and enjoy it in the park.

Rather than trying to describe exactly what’s on the menu, we’ll just say: give it a try. You won’t regret it.

Maison Puget

Maison Puget is a French bakery on Portobello Road in Notting Hill. You can smell the freshly baked bread from a distance, and you won’t be disappointed: the baguettes and sweet pastries are simply incredible. The value for money is excellent too.

We grabbed our pastries to go and enjoyed them on a bench at the nearby Colville Square Gardens. Our son had a great time running around on the playground next door.

Fish and Seafood

When you’re in London, give British cuisine a proper chance. Here’s our top pick for great, traditional British food.

Applebee's Fish

Fresh fish, delicious oysters — the seafood at the family-run Applebee’s Fish truly won us over!

The restaurant sits right at Borough Market, one of the coolest markets in London. After wandering through the market, you can sit back and enjoy your meal in a relaxed atmosphere. The wine selection is excellent too, by the way.

Applebee’s is no secret, so make sure to reserve a table in advance if you’re planning to go during peak dining hours.

International Cuisine

London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and that’s reflected in its food scene. Here are our picks for the best restaurants in London serving international cuisine.

Dishoom

If you asked us for our single top restaurant recommendation when it comes to where to eat in London, we’d answer without hesitation: Dishoom! Possibly the best Indian food we’ve ever had.

There are several Dishoom locations in London — in Shoreditch, Covent Garden, King’s Cross, Carnaby, Kensington, and Canary Wharf. The concept is so successful that there will likely be even more soon, so it’s always worth checking the restaurant’s website.

After being told we’d have to wait over an hour for a table at Dishoom Covent Garden, we tried our luck at Dishoom Kensington around 5:30 PM — and got lucky!

The restaurant is a tribute to two of Bombay’s most beautiful stories: Art Deco and Jazz. And wow, they’ve pulled it off brilliantly. A stunningly beautiful, cozy, and truly special space.

The menu at all London Dishoom locations is the same, but each restaurant has a completely different style — each one special in its own right.

What they all share: inspiration from the café culture of Bombay. The idea is to bring people of different cultures together over food and drink — and that comes through in every detail.

Reservations are only accepted until 5:45 PM; after that, you can simply walk in and try your luck.

Our tip: Make sure to order the Black Daal and the Nalli Nihari Biryani.

Din Tai Fung

Already know Din Tai Fung? If not, London is a great place to find out what the fuss is about.

What’s on the menu? Very, very good dim sum — the traditional Chinese dumplings. Din Tai Fung actually has its roots in Taiwan, not China. The first restaurant opened in Taipei in 1972, and nearly 20 years later the New York Times ranked it among the Top 10 Restaurants in the World.

Today there are over 170 locations in 13 countries. We’ve tried the dim sum in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sydney, and we’ve always been impressed.

The London location is in the Covent Garden area, right next to Covent Garden Market.

Pizza Pilgrims

Pizza Pilgrims serves seriously good Neapolitan pizza — it almost feels like you’re in Italy!

There are several Pizza Pilgrims locations in London. We visited Pizza Pilgrims Kingly and waited about 15 minutes for a table. The chain is really popular, so plan for a short wait — or book online in advance if you’d rather skip it.

In good weather, you can sit outside too. There are a few seats right out front, but the real highlight is the courtyard at Kingly Court — seriously cool!

The Best Burgers in London

We love burgers, so of course we worked our way through plenty of burger joints while figuring out where to eat in London. Here are our favorites.

Shake Shack

You’ve probably heard of Shake Shack. If you’ve ever been to New York, you likely didn’t manage to walk past one without stopping.

There are now over 200 Shake Shack restaurants worldwide — including several in London. We ate at the Covent Garden location and the burgers were really good.

You’ll find it right inside Covent Garden Market, with plenty of seating both outside and inside — so you’re covered whatever the weather.

BrewDog

BrewDog is a Scottish craft beer brand at heart. We first discovered the non-alcoholic BrewDog IPA in Australia and were thrilled to find it again in London.

There are 24 BrewDog locations in London. We visited the BrewDog in Paddington several times since it was practically right next to our hotel. Inside or outside — your call.

Beyond the genuinely great craft beer, BrewDog also serves really tasty burgers, including options for kids. Super handy if you’re exploring London with children.

The Best Pubs in London

What would a trip to London be without a proper pub visit? Great atmosphere, a cold pint, and rugby on the TV — that’s just part of English culture. And there’s no better place to meet locals.

The Black Dog

The Black Dog is in the Vauxhall neighborhood in south London and is a classic London pub through and through.

You’ll find good drinks, freshly poured beer, and solid pub food here. The fish & chips really blew us away — and the mushy peas in particular nearly knocked us off our chairs.

Prices are mid-range and absolutely fair for London. Since 2024, though, the pub has gotten noticeably busier. The reason? Taylor Swift, who made it world-famous with her song “The Black Dog.” Book a table online in advance — that’s what we did.

The Old Blue Last

The Old Blue Last is right in the heart of Shoreditch and has a bit of a rougher, more alternative edge. But that’s exactly what gives it its charm.

It’s less about the food and more about the atmosphere. There are cheap drinks, good music, and regular live concerts that have featured some well-known acts. Just walk in, grab a beer, and let the evening take care of itself.

Queen of Hoxton

Queen of Hoxton is also in Shoreditch and is so much more than just a pub — it’s a mix between a bar, event venue, and rooftop spot.

It’s especially known for its rooftop terrace, which gets a completely new look each season — think winter huts or summery themes. Locals come mainly for cocktails and good vibes, along with street food or smaller bites.

You can sit inside or outside, though the rooftop is obviously the highlight. Prices are mid-range, which is typical for spots like this in London.

The Starman

The Starman is in Soho, right in the heart of London, and is an absolute must for any David Bowie fan. The bar sits on the very street where the legendary Ziggy Stardust album cover was shot.

The pub has a great, cozy feel and is exactly what you’d imagine: dark wood, packed tables, and a really lively atmosphere. It gets pretty crowded, but that somehow just adds to the energy — especially because a lot of younger people come here.

The food is classic pub fare, paired with a good Guinness and plenty of other drinks. Prices are mid-range.

Hamilton Hall

Hamilton Hall is right next to Liverpool Street Station and is part of the well-known Wetherspoon chain — but it’s definitely one of the more impressive locations.

The pub is housed in a huge, historic hall with high ceilings, ornate decorations, and plenty of space, so you can almost always find a seat. No reservation needed.

Here you’ll find classic pub food, breakfast, and a wide selection of drinks — all at genuinely low prices, especially by London standards.