The 100 best shops in London – food and drink

The best food shops in London

• The People's Supermarket - Britta Jaschinski

  The People's Supermarket

  72-78 Lamb's Conduit Street, London, WC1N 3LP

  Number 21 in the full list
  Chef Arthur Potts-Dawson and retailer Kate Wickes-Bull opened this co-operative-run supermarket in 2010, in a bid to halt the homogenisation of the high street and offer something different to local residents. The co-operative fits neatly into Cameron's wobbly Big Society idea (but don't let that put you off): simply become a member, volunteer a little in store, and feel rather proud of yourself: Peoples' Supermarket 1-0 Tesco Metro. Read more about The People's Supermarket
• 

  The Hoxton Street Monster Supplies

  159 Hoxton Street, London, N1 6PJ

  Number 34 in the full list
  Would you like ‘Old Fashioned Brain Jam’ on your toast? Or ‘Thickest Human Snot’? No, not the tea-time menu from hell but just some of the products available from this volunteer-run supply shop for monsters that aims to fund The Ministry of Stories, a non-profit organisation that encourages young people to read and write. The brain jam is actually raspberry jam and the ‘Thickest Human Snot’ lemon curd. Our favourite? Organ Marmalade, mmmmm. Read more about The Hoxton Street Monster Supplies
• 

  Lina Stores

  18 Brewer Street, London, W1F 0SH

  Number 39 in the full list
  Lina Stores is a Soho institution with a stupendously well-stocked Italian deli (favourites are the signature fresh pasta and handmade sausages) that has always had loyal customers. Recently new clientele have been lured in by an upgrade (safely administered by the younger members of the family business), a cute rebranding, new layout and great take-away coffee. Read more about Lina Stores
  Recommended by: Russell Norman.
• 

  FARM:shop

  20 Dalston Lane, London, E8 3AZ

  Number 84 in the full list
  A semi-derelict Dalston shopping parade is perhaps not the first place a young farmer might like to proudly install their polytunnel, but Something & Son, an ‘eco design practice’, has done just that. The small shop grows salad greens and raises fish in the front window, has a chicken coop on the roof, and the polytunnel sits in the back yard. Snap up locally grown produce, or hang out in the café and events space. This, literally, is boutique farming. Read more about FARM:shop
  Recommended by: Little Boots.
• 

  TFC Supermarket

  89 Ridley Road, London, E8 2NP

  Number 89 in the full list
  Imagine London where all the big-name supermarkets are replaced with a brilliant outfit, offering fruit and veg, meat and deli counters, and an in-store bakery knocking out fresh bread and Turkish sweets. If it happens it’ll be TFC that does it. The small chain of Turkish and Mediterranean supermarkets was founded in Dalston in 1980 and now has 14 branches in central London. A truly indie alternative to samey-shopping for your groceries –  Food & Drink editor Guy Dimond is, quite rightly, a fan. Read more about TFC Supermarket
  Recommended by: Guy Dimond.
• 

  Neal's Yard Dairy

  17 Shorts Gardens, London, WC2H 9AT

  Number 98 in the full list
  This shop pongs – and we mean seriously. Thick, cheesy wafts drift Covent Garden drawing in a long line of customers by their nose Monday to Saturday to fall upon Neal's Yard Dairy’s delightful selection of British cheeses. The old-fashioned interior features Brit classic pantry essentials sharing shelf space with giant wheels of cheese in various states of gentle and delicious decay. Read more about Neal's Yard Dairy
  Recommended by: Russell Norman.