Islington restaurants

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Find the best places to eat in Islington

There's plenty to please the sophisticated palate in N1. Expect inventive fine dining in gastropub Compass, Turkish delights in Antepliler, or some of the best burgers in town at Byron. Check out Time Out's guide to these and all the best restaurants in Islington.


Think we've missed out a great restaurant in Islington? Let us know in the comments box below.


  • Antepliler

    Rating: 4/5 Restaurant: Turkish, 139 Upper Street, London, N1 1QP

    The tongue-twister of a name refers to Antep, a town in south-eastern Anatolia, near the Turkish border with Syria; 'Antepliler' means someone from that town. Antep is famous throughout Turkey for its excellent...
    Read Antepliler review

  • Ottolenghi

    Rating: 5/5 Patisserie/Bakery: Creative contemporary, 287 Upper Street, London, N1 2TZ

    Most Ottolenghi outlets (there are four in London at the time of writing) are small traiteur/takeaway set-ups, but the Islington branch has tables to seat around 50, and a kitchen...
    Read Ottolenghi review

  • Byron

    Rating: 5/5 Restaurant: North American, 341 Upper Street, London, N1 0PB

    Byron's bovine influence continues to circulate around town, with several new branches having opened in the first part of 2010 already.
    Read Byron review

  • Duke of Cambridge

    Rating: 4/5 Gastropub, 30 St Peter's Street, London, N1 8JT

    Ten years on, and this light-filled corner pub may no longer be singular in its commitment to an organic menu and drinks list, but it remains near the top in terms of sheer good food.
    Read Duke of Cambridge review

  • Compass

    Rating: 4/5 Gastropub: British, 58 Penton Street, London, N1 9PZ

    This corner building was once a so-so bar called the Salmon & Compass. Half the name lives on in its current incarnation as a gastropub - but it's twice the venue it was. Food is imaginative and generally very good, created by two T-shirted chefs in an open kitchen.
    Read Compass review

  • Public House

    Public House

    Rating: 4/5 Gastropub, 54 Islington Park Street, London, N1 1PX

    A Mexican wave of new bars has recently opened along Upper Street. I've visited all of them, and been disappointed by their mediocrity. The rock bar made my ears bleed, while another had the sort of...
    Read Public House review

  • Almeida

    Restaurant: French (modern), 30 Almeida Street, London, N1 1AD

    The Almeida brings a breath of modern French cuisine to a trendy part of N1. A totally grown-up restaurant with sophisticated interior, warm woods are joined by white table cloths and the...
    Read Almeida review

  • The Drapers Arms

    Rating: 3/5 Gastropub, 44 Barnsbury Street, London, N1 1ER

    This handsome Georgian-style Islington gastropub has an upstairs restaurant that has been simply renovated in pale tones with painted boards and bare wooden tables, lending an airy, spacious, even slightly austere look.
    Read The Drapers Arms review

  • Charles Lamb

    Rating: 4/5 Gastropub: Modern European, 16 Elia Street, London, N1 8DE

    'Eat seasonably here' says a sticker in the corner of the Charles Lamb's blackboard menu. It underlines something you'd probably guess from a list including wild garlic and robiola risotto, jerusalem artichoke soup and an...
    Read Charles Lamb review

  • Morgan M

    Rating: 5/5 Restaurant: French (modern), 489 Liverpool Road, London, N7 8NS

    From the smell of an uncovered cheeseboard and the complex, classical menu, to the old world wine list and thickly accented staff - Morgan M is unreservedly French. The restaurant consists of an intimate dining room with...
    Read Morgan M review

  • S&M Café

    Rating: 4/5 Café: British, 4-6 Essex Road, London, N1 8LN

    S&M Cafés present the acceptable face of chain dining. While traditionalists will balk at the funky menus and Super Furry Animals on the stereo, they'll be reassured that - in this branch - original Italianate caff...
    Read S&M Café review

  • Gallipoli Again

    Rating: 4/5 Restaurant: Turkish, 120 Upper Street, London, N1 1QP

    Come on Saturday night to witness this place in full swing, behind the enticing window display of dolmas and baklava. There's a queue for tables. Cynics might put
    Read Gallipoli Again review

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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 5/5 (1 rating)

  • Please review Food Lab - 56 Essex Rd London, N1 8LR. Their website isnt up and running yet, however this place is a local gem! Its a Cafe, Deli and Restaurant, run by Liliana Tamberi. It's rustic Italian food, she owns an Olive grove in Tuscany and cooks with it and sell it by the bottle at Food Lab. The menu has a delicous Italian cooked breakfast that consists of roasted veg, scrambled egg, the most amazing Tuscan saugages, fried egg, homemade tomatoe beans and fresh focaccia. Homemade pasta, eat in or take away in glass jars. Salad bar that can be taken away in glass jars, home made preserves, pickles all on the menu and for sale. Everything I have tasted seesm to be bursting with flavour, with a really homemade rustic style. The waiting staff are predominantly Italian with little english, however it does seem to make the dining expirience more authentic! Lol. Please go and review this one off orginal spot that seems to be doing so well. Thanks .

    Claire Ottley Tue Apr 16
    Rated as: 5/5
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  • HOW can the reviews in pne of the most subscribed London Guides, in one of the most diverse/popular food & drink destinations in London, be so dismally out if date...? Good luck with the Compass or S&M... long gone. Poor, poor effort Time Out...

    Sean Fri Mar 22
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  • Hi guys, I think you are missing on one great restaurant called Zoe on main drag of upperstreet , islington. They are ranked on #61 in 10,870 restaurant in London on trip advisor and that's how we found them. Fabulous food and good service .serves French Mediterranean food and excellent wine to accompany. You should add them to your list of upperstreet restaurant

    Zoe Restaurant Mon Jan 14
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  • Roots, indian resteraunt, in Hemingford rd, barnsbury islington, is wonerful, the food superb , the service fantastic, and the leafy barnsbury area,perfect. Food not too hot either ,very delicate, tasty food. friendly place, good wine from India .sunday lunch a great find , seats outside and child friendly.

    Deirdre Walker Tue Aug 7 2012
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