London's best no-booking restaurants

No-booking restaurants in London

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  Albion at The Boundary Project

    2-4 Boundary St, E2 7DD (020 7729 1051).

  Straightforward Brit café in Shoreditch given a bit of Conran polish.
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  Anchor & Hope

    36 The Cut, SE1 8LP (020 7928 9898).

  Pass the inevitable wait for food by sipping wine from glass tumblers.
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  Barrafina

    54 Frith St, W1D 4SL (020 7440 1463).

  Buzzy Soho tapas destination. The excellent Spanish food makes the queuing worthwhile.
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  Bibendum Oyster Bar

    Michelin House, 81 Fulham Rd, SW3 6RD (020 7589 1480).

  Indulge in a taste for Champagne and crustacea at the ground-floor oyster bar.
• 

  Busaba Eathai

    106-110 Wardour Street W1F 0TR (020 7255 8686)

  Chain of Thai restaurants with communal square tables.
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  Burger & Lobster

    29 Clarges Street, London, W1J 7EF (020 7409 1699)

  Only three choices: burger, lobster or lobster roll, all at a flat rate £20.
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  Capote y Toros

    157 Old Brompton Road, London, SW5 0LJ (020 7373 0567).

  New branch of Cambio de Tercio and Tendido Cero, except that here no reservations are taken.
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  The Charles Lamb

    16 Elia St, N1 8DE (020 837 5040).

  Sweet neighbourhood gastropub in Islington.
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  Comptoir Libanais

    65 Wigmore St,W1U 1PZ (020 7935 1110).

  Chic BYO Lebanese café.
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  Corner Room

    Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, London, E2 9NF (no phone).

  Less expensive than sibling restaurant Viajante in the same building, but with the same chef.
• 

  Da Polpo

    6 Maiden Lane, London, WC2E 7NW (020 7836 8448).

  Fourth, and latest, of the fast-expanding Polpo chain. No bookings after 6pm.
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  Ducksoup

    41 Dean Street, London, W1D 4PY (020 7287 4599).

  Laid-back and fun Soho restaurant. You can book for certain tables, Wednesday to Friday.
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  Dishoom

    12 Upper St Martin’s Lane, WC2H 9FB (020 7420 9320).

  Brasserie inspired by the bustling cafés of Bombay, but with a scrubbed-up look and menu.
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  Granger & Co

    175 Westbourne Grove, London, W11 2SB (020 7229 9111).

  Aussie chef Bill Granger's all-day brasserie that does not take bookings.
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  José

    104 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3UB (020 7403 4902).

  Tapas bar from José Pizarro. This tiny place is is virtually standing-room only in the evenings.
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  Koya

    49 Frith St, W1D 4SG (020 7434 4463).

  Brilliant Japanese noodle bar in Soho.
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  The Luxe

    109 Commercial St, E1 6BG (020 7101 1751).

  Big brasserie in Old Spitalfields Market.
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  Pitt Cue Co.

    1 Newburgh Street, London, W1F 7RB (020 7287 5578)

  The Pitt Cue Co. boys packed up their South Bank food truck to open this permanent site in Soho.
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  Pizarro

    194 Bermondsey Street, London, SE1 3TQ (020 7407 7339)

  José Pizarro's second tapas bar and restaurant on Bermondsey Street.
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  The Princess of Shoreditch

    76 Paul St, EC2A 4NE (020 7729 9270).

  No booking in the bar of this bust Shoreditch gastropub.
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  Princi

    135 Wardour St, W1F 0UT (020 7478 8888).

  Stylish Italian caffè in the heart of Soho.
• 

  Polpo/Polpetto

    Polpo, 41 Beak St, W1F 9SB (020 7734 4479); Polpetto, 49 Dean St, W1D 5BG (020 7734 1969).

  Venetian style and rustic charm can be found at either of these lively Soho wine bars.
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  Spuntino

    61 Rupert St, W1D 7PW (no phone)

  Small plates of US-inspired food (NY diner style), no bookings, buzzy atmosphere.
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  Meat Liquor

    74 Welbeck Street, W1G 0BA (020 7224 4239).

  Booze 'n' burgers just off Oxford Street. Expect epic queues, but know it's worth the wait.
• 

  Morito

    32 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE (020 7278 7007).

  If it is full when you arrive, leave your number and you’ll get a call when a stool comes up.
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  Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecôte

    120 Marylebone Lane, W1U 2QG, (020 7486 0878).

  French steak and chips. And that’s it.
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  Tapas Brindisa

    18-20 Southwark St, SE1 1TJ (020 7357 8880).

  Spanish snacks and sips of sherry next to Borough Market.
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  Union Jacks

    Central St Giles, 1 St Giles High Street, London, WC2H 8LA (020 3597 7888).

  Jamie Oliver and Chris Bianco's restaurant specialises in pizzas, except they call them 'flatbrea...
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  Vinoteca

    15 Seymour Place, W1H 5BD (020 7724 7288). Also at 7 St John St, EC1M 4AA (020 7253 8786).

  Wine bar with Marble Arch branch and the cosy original near Smithfield Market.