The best restaurants in London you should be booking (Updated June 2026)

What is it? A fabulous French bistro in Borough Market. 

Why we love it: Camille is a small, pretty place. It doesn’t shout about its elegance, but rather whispers it seductively into your ear. Head chef Elliot Hashtroudi learned his way around a carcass at St John and comes across like Keith Floyd in a trucker cap. He’s not French himself (he grew up in Devon), but is committed to the full-throttle nature of the country’s rustic and earthy cuisine. A case in point; offal. Our most recent visit saw us feast on cocks comb schnitzel and snout cassoulet, dishes that sound like you might have let Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre into the kitchen. Yet both are sublime. For the less adventurous, there is still a world of wonder here. The tartare is one of the best we’ve ever had, full of smoke and crunch, while little parcels of puffed pig skin are topped with eel and tarragon to create a pillowy light bite that doesn’t scrimp on flavour. Camille is a place where carnivores will be much happier than vegetarians - it is French, after all - but it’s a triumph of imagination, talent, and guts (which you can expect to see on the menu regularly). 

Time Out tip: Go on, order some offal. 

Address: 2-3 Stoney Street, Borough Market, SE1 9AA.

Opening hours: Mon 5.30-10pm, Tue-Sat 12.30-3pm & 5.30-10pm, Sun 12-4pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £6-22, larger plates £26-58.

What is it? Regional Italian knockouts in a revamped pub on cobbled Columbia Road.

Why we love it: The debut restaurant from Dara Klein takes over a gorgeously gabled Victorian boozer on the eastern fringes of Colombia Road. It still feels pubby, with a handpainted sign, 1930s-styled stained glass windows, mahogany wood-pannelling and, inexplicably, a giant portrait of Cher above the bar. The menu dips into rarer regional cracks of Italian cuisine, with historic offerings such as anchovies in saor (a ye olde Venetian marinade), alongside a hypnotic passatelli in brodo, and a furiously fresh chicken Milanese served with dill, fennel, celery, tarragon and crisp green apple.

Time Out tip: Getting a table here can be tough, but the bar area is always reserved for walk-ins. Chance your arm on a drop-in perch, where the full food menu is available.

Address: 109 Columbia Road, Bethnal Green, E2 7RL.

Opening hours: Mon-Tue closed, Wed-Fri 6-10pm, Sat 12-3pm & 6-10pm, Sun 12-4pm.

Expect to pay: Antipasti £5-16, primi £15-19, secondi £20-27.

What is it? An institution, and the gold standard of British cookery.  

Why we love it: How can you not adore St John? St John recently celebrated 30 glorious years in the game and most great modern restaurants in London (if not the world) owe St John a serious and meaty debt. Fergus Henderson’s pioneering nose-to-tail approach still has us in bits and the dishes; from the iconic likes of roast bone marrow and parsley salad, and Eccles cake and Lancashire cheese, to simple stunners such as pigeon served with radishes are peak British dining. If anyone ever says that English food is bad, simply rub their face in a St John menu. 

Time Out tip: Don’t fancy a whole sit-down hoo-ha? Simply visit the walk-ins-only bar, where you’ll be able to get most of the snacky bits on the menu – including the legendary rarebit – and a glass of St John rouge. Nothing could be more chic. 

Address: 26 St John Street, Farringdon, EC1M 4AY.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12-3pm & 6-10.30pm, Sun 12-4pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £13.50-16.60, large plates £26-38, puddings £5.50-12.

What is it? An intimate Filipino restaurant in Kentish Town.

Why we love it: It’s compact and candle-lit, and one of the hottest restaurants in town. One of Belly’s ‘viral dishes’ is cured scallops in big, shallow shells, swimming in coconut cream with basil oil and little pickled chillies. They are things of beauty, fat and meaty and incredibly rich. We also love the soft and tender smoked trout kinilaw – a Filipino take on a ceviche. Everything is subtly spicy with a tickling, warm heat. Belly Bistro will have you hungry for more.

Time Out tip: The dish to order for a bit of a palette switch-up is the smoked aubergine and tomatoes with bagong (shrimp paste) - a nice fruity, fresh accompaniment to all the fish and cream going on.

Address: 157 Kentish Town Road, NW1 8PD.

Opening hours: Mon-Tue closed, Wed-Thu 5-10pm, Fri 5-11pm, Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-10.30pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £8-17, large plates £22-32.

What is it? Extraordinary home-spun Malaysian restaurant in an unassuming setting which is currently under threat. Go while you can. 

Why we love it: Forget the mega-slick super restaurants: if there’s one thing London excels at, it’s small, family-run treasures. Normah’s – named after its chef owner, whose nephew, Aizad, runs the front of house – fits that description perfectly. In the depths of Queensway Market, behind a little doorway adorned with a laminated banner declaring the restaurant’s name, you’ll find a small room dotted with nondescript-looking tables and chairs. It’s your first indication of the culinary sensation you’re about to experience: no-one’s coming for the decor. Instead, you will be awed by fat egg noodles glistening in rich, piquant curry laksa adorned with crispy onion and deep-fried seabass wallowing in rich chili sauce. Accessible and authentic institutions like Normah’s are some of the best London has to offer.

Time Out tip: Normah’s doesn’t do desserts, but the tea tarik – a creamy milk tea – is an excellently comforting substitute.

Address: 23-25 Queensway, W2 4QJ.

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 5-9pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £6-8, mains £10-16. 

What is it? A chophouse in Chingford.

Why we love it: Opened last summer by husband and wife team Ravneet Gill and Mattie Taian after months of renovations, setbacks and test recipes (all shared candidly on @ravneeteats’ Instagram), Gina has done the impossible; put Epping Forest on the gastronomic map. Collectively, the couple have spent over 15 years working in London’s most acclaimed kitchens, but Ravneet is probably best known for her time judging on Junior Bake Off. Gina finds itself somewhere between an authentic Italian and modern British bistro, serving the likes of sweet monkfish cooked with bacon and oak leaf, as well as beetroot served in a pool of its horror movie-worthy juices, swirled with crunchy pistachio butter. Try also ‘Gina’s Pasta’, which is simply a damn good plate of spaghetti in a rich and comforting marinara sauce. 

Time Out tip: You must order the chocolate cake, a light but indulgent sponge, swimming in sauce, with a perfect sphere of vanilla ice cream perched on top and a little jug of cream on the side. It’s a naughty little pud and it absolutely slaps of pleasure.

Address: 92 Station Road, Chingford, E4 7BA.

Opening hours: Mon closed, Tue 5-11pm, Wed-Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-6pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £10-15, mains £16-36, steaks up to £98 for two sharing.

What is it? A vegetarian bistro that might just blow your mind.

Why we love it: Depending on your degree of plant-based militancy, Holy Carrot’s second restaurant either vaguely bends its own rules or totally upends them. At the original outpost in Portobello, head chef Daniel Watkins’s live fire cooking and ferment laboratory established Holy Carrot as one of London’s great pioneers of vegan cuisine. But this new outpost in Spitalfields is not vegan, with all manner of dairy- and/or egg-based wonders across the menu. We previously reckoned that the first Holy Carrot was ‘[not] out to blow your mind’. Well, the second very much is.

Time Out tip: Holy Carrot’s sequel is more chill than its first outing, so it’s fitting that their greatest dish is also its most casual. Pizzettas and flatbreads made using fermented koji and silken tofu get their own section of the menu – and rightly so. 

Address: 61-63 Brushfield Street, Spitalfields, E1 6AA. 

Opening hours: Mon closed, Tue-Fri 12-3.30pm & 5-11pm, Sat 10.30am-3.30pm & 5-11pm, Sun 10.30am-8pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £10-16, flatbreads £14-16, mains £16-19.

What is it? One of London’s oldest restaurants, this hospitality monolith dates back to 1828 but recently re-opened after a fallow period.

Why we love it: Much like everything that’s almost 200 years old, Simpson’s had gotten rather dusty, but a covid-era shuttering gave new owner Jeremy King the chance to spruce the place up. Freshly laundered after a six year spa-break, Simpson’s sparkles where once it spluttered. The sprawling building feels like a luxury hotel, and is a multi-space affair, featuring all-day cafe Romano’s, and two cocktail bars (Simpson’s Bar upstairs and Nellie’s in the basement). There’s also a ballroom, should you ever be in need of a ballroom. 

Time Out tip: The main restaurant is known for the gleaming silver carving trolleys which dish out tableside roast ribs of beef. You’d be silly not to order the cow.

Address: 100 Strand, WC2R 0EW.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7.30am-11.30pm, Sat 8am-11.30pm, Sun 8am-10.30pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £12-19, mains £15-40.

What is it? The latest Michelin-starred Spanish spot from Nieves Barragán Mohacho, the visionary chef behind Mayfair’s Sabor.

Why we love it: Nieves goes deep into her own personal history in this superlative Spanish spot, starting with her Basque roots. An unmissable starter is the quisquillas de cadiz: raw bodied shrimps with crunchy, cooked heads. The Legado sandwich is another must-order, inspired by Nieves’ grandmother: consisting of Swiss chard, cecina (Spanish cured beef) and smoked cheese, woven together with fried breadcrumbs. The headliner is unmistakably the quarter Segovian suckling pig, which is the ultimate indulgent self-treat: the depth of flavour, tenderness of the meat and salty umami of the crackling skin is an unforgettable combination. 

Time Out tip: It would be a crime to miss out on their lengthy dessert menu: deep-fried churros come with saffron ice cream and white chocolate mousse drizzled in olive oil and decorated with roasted pistachios. 

Address: Unit 1C Montacute Yards, Shoreditch, E1 6HU.

Opening hours: Mon-Sun closed, Tue-Sat 12-2.30pm & 5.30-10.30pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £7-25, large plates £14-85.

What is it? A buzzy Chinese canteen in the old-school bit of King’s Cross.

Why we love it: You could easily walk straight past this unassuming joint, were it not for the sprawling queue of punters outside the front door. There’s a good line in TikTok videos of people braving the rain for some of those tasty dumplings. Could they really be worth it? Reader, they could. The tiny café is dominated by a serving counter that looks more like a work canteen than a buzzy London restaurant, but those glistening pockets of dim sum will make you understand the hype: packed with flavour, generously stuffed with pork and prawn, shrimp and chive and – perhaps most lip-smackingly of all – a heady umami broth. For all the fuss, this is unusually excellent, simple dim sum made with love and expertise.

Time Out tip: A second restaurant has just opened around the corner at 186 Pentonville Road, N1 9JP, doubing your chances of getting a table.

Address: 124 King’s Cross Road, WC1X 9DS.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12-5pm & 6-10pm, Sun 11.30am-5pm & 6-10pm.

Expect to pay: Dim sum around £6, soups around £6, noodles soups around £11.

What is it? London’s most-loved Thai restaurant, now relocated to Shoreditch.

Why we love it: For anyone who managed to score a booking at the Leytonstone original, the move is surreal. The new location sits under a railway arch and is a fresh, pared-back space with a stainless steel bar. Singburi 2.0 will be navigating a balancing act of nostalgia and renewal for a while. Some cult dishes haven’t made the jump. There’s no moo krob, salted fish rice, or stir-fried clams yet. But those that have been revamped feel even more accomplished; the fiery yet refreshing watermelon salad now stars peak-season strawberries. Lamb short rib is a revelation, as it their take on nam tok, where wobbly smoked pork belly is offset by nutty roasted rice powder.

Time Out tip: There’s no dessert, but there is a wine list full of funky naturals, and cocktail menu. Try the lemongrass-infused paloma.

Address: Unit 7, Montacute Yards, 185‑186 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6HU.

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 12-3pm & 6-10.30pm, Sun 12-3pm & 6-10pm.

Expect to pay: Dishes £8-22.

What is it? A casual spot specialising in cuisine from the Xian region in North-Central China. 

Why we love it: For a lowkey meetup, this is one of those rare gems in London that is centrally located and affordable. It has lots of delicious vegan options for groups with mixed dietary requirements and also the capacity for al fresco seating. Most importantly though, everything on the menu is delicious. They serve huge bowls of thick biang biang noodles (coated in chilli oil) in large, generous portions. Don’t forget to enjoy the refreshing cold starters before your noodle mains: including vinegar wood ear fungus, smacked cucumber salad and chilli poached chicken strips. Head chef Guirong Wei has five London restaurants, the latest is The Wei in Fulham.

Time Out tip: For a lighter meal than the biang biang noodles, get the cold liangpi noodles instead, either sesame or chilli. For meat eaters, it’s worth adding the poached chicken strips.

Address: 13 Cosmo Place, Bloomsbury, WC1N 3AP.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11.30am-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-10pm, Sun 12-9pm.

Expect to pay: Dishes £6-15.

What is it? A fabulous first restaurant from head chef Nathaniel Mortley, aka NattyCanCook.

Why we love it: 2210 is a vibe from the moment you walk in. There’s a slightly rowdy playlist that will have you questioning whether you’re in a club or restaurant. You’re coming here for Natty’s inventive plays on Caribbean signatures. The ackee and saltfish spring rolls; the confit pork belly; the wiri wiri lamb rump which comes with a light and smoky baba ganoush, sharp pickled onions, mint oil and tamarind jus. Of course, there is jerk chicken on the menu, but it’ll be the lamb that creates the most extreme food envy. 2210 is also a perfect place for the age-old jollof vs rice ‘n’ peas debate to be properly hashed out. The jollof won for us, thanks for asking. 

Time Out tip: Natty’s Sunday lunch is already a firm favourite, offering a Caribbean twist on the classic roast dinner, and prices start from £25.

Address: 75 Norwood Road, Herne Hill, SE24 9AA.

Opening hours: Mon-Tue closed, Wed-Thu 5-10pm, Fri 5-11pm, Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-9pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £5.50-12.50, mains £24-42.

What is it? The latest from Martin Kuczmarski, the man behind The Dover, which has remained a searing hot ticket since it opened in 2023.

Why we love it: Unlike The Dover, Martino’s is a little less New York and a little more Milan, with a simple pasta, pizza, meat and fish menu, and all-day dining (it’s open from 8am on weekdays). Home to the Sexiest Dining Room of The Year, it’s all very sensual; glossy walnut walls, film noir-worthy venetian blinds, extremely flattering light, and staff who glide across the parquet floor like Fred Astaire mid-foxtrot. Food is unobtrusive, yet occasionally surprising. Shoestring zucchini fritti is a stand-out, skinny strands of courgetti that retain the crispness of the batter thanks to vinegar-infused salt. The taste is Brighton chip shop by way of a Calabrian trattoria. There is also beef and pork tortellini in a delicate chicken brodo, tonno tonnato, meatballs zuppetta and aglio e olio spaghetti.

Time Out tip: Can’t decide what to drink? Opt for a Martino’s Shakerato; a fabulously fluffy combo of Campari, gin and orange juice. House wine is also very decent value at £27 for a 500ml carafe. 

Address: 37 Sloane Square, Chelsea, SW1W 8AN.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm & 5.30pm-12.30am, Sat 9am-4pm & 5.30pm-12.30am, Sun 9am-4pm & 5.30pm-midnight.

Expect to pay: Pastas £15-30, mains £24-49, pizza £16-22.

What is it? Arguably the most important British restaurant of the past decade. Michelin stars? You bet. Ikoyi has a casual two, and is shamelessly gunning for a third. 

Why we love it: Ikoyi’s steely and determined head chef Jeremy Chan has such a singular vision that people have come, night after night, since 2017 to spend the best part of an average weekly salary on a single meal. Named after the affluent suburb of Lagos where co-founder Iré Hassan-Odukale was born, Ikoyi has gently moved away from its original west African culinary concept. Now the focus is on what Chan calls ‘spice-based cuisine’ and flamboyance is routine, with every single dish involving more stages than the Tour de France. Mostly though, Chan’s menu defies geographical borders, instead pushing culinary boundaries via dishes that simultaneously make you think and make you feel held.

Time Out tip: A shorter tasting menu is available at lunch for £170, if you’re looking for a more affordable way to enjoy Chan’s world-beating cookery.

Address: 180 Strand, Temple, WC2R 1EA.

Opening hours: Dinner bookings (Mon-Fri) between 6-7pm and lunch bookings (Wed-Fri) between 12-1pm. Closed weekends.

Expect to pay: Tasting menu £380.

What is it? Traditional Turkish meaty wraps.

Why we love it: They only do one thing here, but they do it exceedingly well. If you’re not au fait with the delights of a tantuni, now’s your time to get involved. A Turkish wrap of thinly sliced beef, sauteed with spices and served with parsley, onions and tomato in lavash bread, Durak were the first tantuni-slingers in London and they still serve up the moreish meaty morsels until 2am every night in their canteen-like space near Turnpike Lane tube. Need something a little more hefty to soak up last night’s boozey decisions? The same fillings on thick slabs of bread will sort you out. Remember to squeeze your lemon slice onto the meat before wolfing it down.

Time Out tip: Double up your wrap for a mere 50p extra.

Address: 390 West Green Road, Turnpike Lane, N15 3PX.

Opening hours: Daily 12pm - 2am.

Expect to pay: Single tantuni wrap £4.50, double tantuni wrap £5; on bread £9.

What is it? A sensational Greek-ish spot from David Carter, the brawny chef and restaurateur behind the live-fire restaurant forerunner Smokestak and show-stopping Manteca.

Why we love it: Because Oma will insist on taking you on a serious culinary journey. Greek food is only the jumping-off point for a menu that begins on the Ionian islands before skipping off to the Levant by way of the Balkans, with a South American layover. Boldly, you’ll find it on one of the main drags of Borough Market, so you’ll have to brave a zombie-like parade of hangry tourists and an atmosphere as febrile as Paul Mescal’s DMs. It’s all worth it, though. Kick off with a half-size clementine gimlet before London’s best dip: the salt cod xo with labneh, and a spanakopita gratin. 

Time Out tip: Underneath the first floor Oma is Agora, also from David Carter. There are no bookings and walk-ins only at Agora, and as well as having a not-dissimilar menu it comes at a slightly friendlier price point. 

Address: 3 Bedale Street, Borough Market, SE1 9AL.

Opening hours: Mon-Fr 12-3pm & 5.30-11pm, Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-10pm. 

Expect to pay: Dips and bread £3.50-6, crudo £12-16, small plates £11-15, claypot stews £26-55.

What is it? The Most Controversial Restaurant in London™.

Why we love it: You can only go for lunch. It’s not open on weekends. It doesn’t have a website. It’s cash only. And yet… it’s actually great? The Yellow Bittern has divided London’s foodies, but we found ourselves charmed not just by their vintage Cold Comfort Farm aesthetic, but the sturdy Irish and French classics on offer, the communist bookshop in the basement, and keenness with which they top up your glass of wine even though it’s only 1pm. As of 2026, there’s a set four course menu for £50 and lunch lasts at least 2.5 hours. Sack off any thought of going back to the office. 

Time Out tip: It’s cash only, so bring some. There’s a Tesco with an ATM across the street if you forget. Bookings can only be made over the phone (020 3342 2162) or in person. 

Address: 20 Caledonian Road, King’s Cross, N1 9DU. 

Opening hours: Mon-Fri; one sitting at 1pm. Open as a wine bar on Friday evenings for the summer. 

Expect to pay: £50 a head before booze.

What is it? Found within the Radha-Krishna Temple on Soho Street, Govinda’s restaurant serves up what their website describes as karma-free food. And it’s ludicriously good value.

Why we love it: Vegetarian and vegan dishes with an Indian lean are the speciality here, but you’ll also find veggie burgers, dosas, south Indian breakfasts and a range of sweets. Plus there are at least ten salads on the menu each day – think mango, celery and walnut or fried, marinated courgette and aubergine. It’s all offered to Lord Krishna before it hits the plate, too. The perfect Soho pitstop.

Time Out tip: There’s another branch in Holborn, if you’re after a great deal on a thali in another section of central London. 

Address: 10 Soho Street, W1D 3DL.

Opening times: Daily 7.30am-9pm.

Expect to pay: Thalis from £7.95 to £15.95.

What is it? A boisterous Italian restaurant that recalls decadent and pre-Lizzy Line Soho.

Why we love it: Like Noble Rot with a bawdier sense of humour, Osteria Vibrato might just be your new favourite restaurant. Pasta, wine, and a waiter who might just get up in the middle of service and bash out a little light jazz on the piano - what more could you want? It comes from Charlie Mellor, who, a decade ago, opened Hackney Road’s Laughing Heart, a small plates wine bar named after a rousing Charles Bukowski poem, with a 2am licence and a deeply devious energy. Of course, Hackney is now overrun with small plates wine bars, so Charlie’s done the only thing he could; bring his uproarious brand of hospitality to Soho. 

Time Out tip: The salt cod is supposed to be epic, but it had sold out by the time we got there. If it’s available, do order it.

Address: 6 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 4DE.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 12.30-4pm & 5-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 12.30-4pm & 5-10.45pm, Sun 12.30-5pm,

Expect to pay: Small plates £4-25, pasta £23-30, mains £35-42.

What is it? A trendy Spanish fish bar in a one-time chippy. 

Why we love it: From the same team behind nearby gastro boozers The Plimsoll and the newly-opened pizza joint Bar Etna, Tollington’s is spearheading London’s new wave of Basque cuisine. The space used to be a Finsbury Park fish-and-chip shop and still looks exactly like a Finsbury Park fish-and-chip shop, with tiled floors, old-school pine counters, and original signage intact. Which actually makes it feel more like a backstreet San Sebastian pintxos bar than any fancy refit ever could. The menu is nothing but small plates; sassy smoked eel omelettes, chunky chips done ‘bravas’ style, pickled anchovies, rosy red prawns cooked on the plancha, and cod cheeks with peppers. Booze is plentiful, with cute cañas of Estrella, as well as endless Txakoli. 

Time Out tip: The wibbly wobbly flan is the only pudding to order. Do it.   

Address: ​172 Tollington Park, Finsbury Park, N4 3AJ.

Opening hours: Wed-Fri 6-11pm, Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-6pm.

What is it? A south of the river branch of Thai canteen Plaza Khao Gaeng in Borough Market. 

Why we love it: At 78 covers, it’s at least twice the size of the original Plaza by Tottenham Court Road (and almost as big as the new Covent Garden opening), and makes the most of a spacious railway arch. Menu favourites from the first location remain, such as creamy massaman curry and  perfect fried chicken. But there are also plenty of dishes unique to here. A sexy strawberry dish might look like it was made for Instagram clout, but is actually the hardest fruit salad in south London; a sour orange curry with fillets of flaky sea bass is puckeringly spoonable; the saucy little prawn with red curry and coconut cream surprisingly refreshing. Like most things on the menu here, it’s spicier than a Gaspar Noé movie, but that’s why you’re here, right? 

Time Out tip: It’s £49 a head for a sharing menu including miang pla (miang of fish, pork and peanut sausage), kha muu paloh (braised pork leg with paloh sauce), strawberry salad and whole crispy sea bass.

Address: Arch 207, 18 Stoney Street, London Bridge, SE1 9AD.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12-10.30pm, Sun 12-8.30pm.

Expect to pay: Starters and salads £6.50-15, curries £15-18, stirfry £14-19. 

What is it? A casual but indulgent spot in East Dulwich with the ex-head chef of Gymkhana in the kitchen. 

Why we love it: Co-founder Sanjay Gour’s Zone 2 menu pulls all the same indulgent tricks as his old haunt, but in far more casual, wallet-friendly surroundings. Our feast begins in earnest with golden, deep-fried nuggets of Amritsari fish. They are pub-snack perfection, light but hearty, and a crispy, sturdy foil to the magnificent bowl of sweet chat, that’s served with a samosa in the middle, standing proud like a mountain snow-capped with yogurt and tart tamarind. Both dishes are less than a tenner. Both are demolished in minutes. A lone, kashmiri-chilli marinated lamb cutlet comes with a perfect pink middle, tender and not overly gamey tasting. Elegant enough to parade the catwalk at London Fashion Week, it’s served with a bowl of tiny pink pickled onions, a deft, couture-worthy touch.

Time Out tip: Order the giant lamb shank nirhari, which is dainty, despite its humungous size. The slow-cooked stew is gloopy with collagen and deeply fragrant. It works well alongside a bowl of creamy, almost fruity, butter chicken. 

Address: 58-60 E Dulwich Road, SE22 9AX.

Opening hours: Mon closed, Tue-Fri 5-10.30pm, Sat 12-2.30pm & 5-10.30pm, Sun 12-8.30pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £6-14, curries £16-19, sides £3.50-9.

What is it? Less a ‘listening bar’ and more of a ‘dancing restaurant’.

Why we love it: The disco diva dining hall that is London Fields’ Bambi only opened a couple of years back, but such is the popularity of its eats-plus-beats concept, they recently knocked into the abandoned tattoo parlour next door and doubled the space’s capacity. With a mirror ball, new mezzanine, and absolutely roaring smoking area, Bambi 2:0 feels more like a club than ever before, with tables pushed aside at 11pm to create a dancefloor. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the food must have suffered in the face of such dedication to the sesh. How wrong you would be. Head chef Jamie Thorneycroft honed his flair for fire and ferments over at Lagom and his menu here is potent stuff, with flavours more than capable of making themselves heard over nightly vinyl-only DJs. 

Time Out tip: Bambi is great for anyone avoiding meat. Order the deep fried feta with quince relish, and burnt leeks with escabeche sauce and walnut dukkah.

Address: 1 Westgate Street, London Fields, E8 3RL.

Opening hours: Mon closed, Tue-Thu 6-11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-1am, Sun 1-1.30pm. 

Expect to pay: Snacks and small plates £5-16, larger plates £18-32.

What is it? An extremely late-night noodle bar. 

Why we love it: Cheap, fast and open into the early hours. Will you be crammed into this small space to an almost uncomfortable level? Yes. But will you feast on some of the finest noods in town? Also yes. If you’ve ever found yourself in central London at 3am, you’ll know the city is no competition for places like New York or Tokyo when it comes to late-night eats. What we do have though is thick and freshly hand-pulled noodles at Lanzhou Lamian, a joyfully cramped eatery that closes at 4.30am on weekends, staffed by chefs effortlessly stretching famously chewy, thick noodles. 

Time Out tip: The beef brisket, crispy siu yok or fried pork chop with noodles (soup option!) are eternally popular. For a meatless meal, the spicy peanut noodles always deliver.

Address: 33 Cranbourn Street, WC2H 7AD. 

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am-2am, Sat 10am-4.30am, Sun 10am-11pm. 

Expect to pay: Starters around £5-9, mains and noodle dishes £9-15.

What is it? A sleek, walk-ins only pasta-plus bar that seems far more New York than Notting Hill. 

Why we love it: Canteen is run by the same team as the Cotswoldian fever dream that is the Fat Badger (which you’ll find upstairs in the same Portobello Road building), as well as glammy gastros The Pelican, The Hero in Maida Vale, The Bull in Charlbury, and the newly opened Hart in Marylebone. While they all share a similar putty-palate and monied cottage-core aesthetic, Canteen does things differently. Here, the interior is a friendly jumble of high tables, booths and counter seating, with two roaring open pizza ovens which keep the whole place supremely toasty. The menu is not online, and changes regularly, but you can always rely on there being a couple of great pizzas and a couple of perfect pastas.

Time Out tip: They don’t take bookings, so turn up earlier than you’d like to eat in order to get your name on the waitlist. 

Address: 310 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, W10 5TA.

Opening times: Mon-Sat 12-3pm & 5-10pm, Sun 12-4pm & 6-9pm.

Expect to pay: Pizzas £18, pastas £18-25, mains around £28-38.

What is it? A Malaysian flavour powerhouse and our 2024 restaurant of the year. 

Why we love it: This independent, modern-Malaysian joint moved from a food market in Peckham to a real restaurant in Clapton at the end of 2023 and has been nailing it ever since. Chef-owner Abby Lee’s intensely flavoured dishes are served up in a welcoming, casual style and are so beautiful it’s impossible not to swoon over them. Keeping it in the family, Abby takes hints from her grandmother’s recipes. Make a beeline for anything fish-based, such as charcoal-grilled sardines served with pomelo and fried shallot salad. They say ‘Malaysian heat plus juicy wines’, we say ‘the finest sambal in town’.

Time Out tip: The otak-otak prawn toast is a menu staple for a reason. 

Address: 78 Lower Clapton Road, Lower Clapton, E5 0RN.

Opening hours: Wed-Fri 5.30-10.30pm, Sat 12-3pm & 5.30-10.30pm.

Expect to pay: Starters and snacks £5-17, salads around £12, mains £16-27. 

What is it? Sleek Turkish fare that remains steeped in tradition.

Why we love it: Dalston’s Mangal II came of age when it reopened in 2021. Having wooed east Londoners for decades with ultra-casual kebabs, and hangover-friendly hummus and chips, the venue did an about-turn as an upmarket spot offering organic wines and fluffy sourdough pide. If you’re looking for superior Turkish charcoal ocakbasi, order the broth-infused mushroom manti dumplings or the heady, perfectly balanced lamb sweetbreads. You can still order everything with mountains of hummus, albeit an extremely rich kind that speaks to a sense of tradition that remains at the heart of Mangal II.

Time Out tip: For a taste of how things used to be, visit the original, BYOB Mangal Ocakbasi (better known as Mangal 1) just around the corner, which is so unchanged that they keep a faded ‘90s Time Out review on the wall.

Address: 4 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston, N16 7XN.

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 5.30-11pm, Fri-Sat 12-3pm & 5.30-11pm. 

Expect to pay: Starters £4.50-£5.50, mains £13-£25, dessert £9.50-£11.

What is it? An Highbury pasta paradise that recently painted its shopfront red in tribute to local heroes, Arsenal.

Why we love it: There’s nothing wrong with a bit of a gimmick – we love a whizzy recreation of a bustling Bangkok canteen or a dining room that looks like a disused Wes Anderson movie set. But there’s something uniquely impressive about a restaurant that goes the distance simply by doing their chosen cuisine very well indeed. Step forward Trullo, which has been in the business of serving superior Italian cuisine since 2010. With its distressed flooring, bright white tablecloths and net half-curtains, the trattoria has gone down in legend for its mountainous beef shin ragu pappardelle – though every corner of this menu jostles with greatness. During our last visit, we were knocked out by the buttery ravioli with chicory both and a zingy tagliarini piled high lemony crab.

Time Out tip: Warm ricotta doughnuts, served in a pool of custard with a Rubenesque spooning of blackcurrant, might just change your life.

Address: 300-302 St Paul’s Road, Highbury, N1 2LH.

Opening hours: Mon 12.30-3pm & 6-9.30pm, Tue-Fri 12.30-3pm & 6-10.30pm, Sat 12.30-3pm & 5.30-10.30pm, Sun 12.30-3pm & 5.30-9.30pm

Expect to pay: Starters and snacks £5-£17, mains £14-£43, dessert £7-£11.

What is it? Open in Clerkenwell since 1967, Scotti’s is legendary in London’s Italian caff game.

Why we love it: Family-run, Scotti’s is in what was once the Italian heartland of London. The deeply old-school decor is a delight; Formica tables, mosaic tiles and a vintage Coca-Cola fridge, as well as various photos of Mother Teresa. There isn’t a menu, but there are favourites; the chicken escalope ciabatta sandwich with the works (tomato, lettuce, and mayo) being the main draw at lunchtime, swiftly followed by the cappelletti pasta in brodo (known as the soup), as well as sausage and bacon rolls for breakfast. There’s usually a host of other sandwiches (roast chicken, tuna, beef, cotoletta veal chop) too, but you basically ask for anything you feel like having and then the friendly guys who run the place will see what they can do. A quite unhinged system, but it works a treat. 

Time Out tip: Sitting inside is a joy in itself, but on a sunny day the plastic tables outside overlooking Clerkenwell Green and in front of the shop’s Wes Anderson-worthy primrose yellow frontage are, unsuprisingly, in high demand. 

Address: 38 Clerkenwell Green, EC1R 0DU.

Opening hours: Sat, Sun and Mon closed. Tue-Fri 7am-3pm.

Expect to pay: £10 a head.

What is it? A glam, gallery-style space in South Kensington for posh seasonal food.

Why we love it: South Ken has been waiting for something like The Lavery for years. Bored of Profumo roleplay at Daquise? Then head to this grand Georgian townhouse in the shadow of the Natural History Museum for super seasonal, furiously fresh Med-inspired plates from former Toklas head chef Yohei Furuhashi. Miss, at your peril, the asparagus slathered with decadent fonduta.

Time Out tip: Cocktails are a strong point, we enjoyed a highly potent grapefruit daiquiri.

Address: 4 Cromwell Pl, South Kensington, SW7 2JE.

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 12-3.30pm & 5.30-11pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £6-21, mains £24-34. 

What is it? A casual, counter service-only noodle bar on bustling Broadway Market.

Why we love it: It’s hard to find something more comforting than a hearty bowl of udon, and Koya Ko is sure to hit the spot. A smaller outpost of Koya (which also has restaurants in Soho and the City) the quality of the handmade noodles, which are crafted daily in a workshop close by, and the delicious dashi, feel more comfortably at home in this environment. It’s reminiscent of train station noodle bars found throughout Japan, where some of the most reliable bowls of udon can often be found. If noodles aren’t your thing, they have an extensive offerings of donburi rice bowls and some of the best fried chicken karaage. Go for the constant stream of quirky, imaginative specials, and some of the best Japanese breakfasts you’ll find in London, made up of traditional grilled fish, pickles, miso soup and side of rice.

Time Out tip: Don’t miss the earthy, nutty flavour of the kinako (roasted soy bean) ice-cream sandwich, shot through with kuromitsu (a dark sugar syrup) - a collaboration with the cheekily named Happy Endings.

Address: 10-12 Broadway Market Mews, Hackney, E8 4TS.

Opening times: Mon-Thu 12pm-10pm, Fri 12pm-10.30pm, Sat 11.30am-10.30pm, Sun 11.30am-9.30pm.

Expect to pay: Mains range from around £10 to £17.

What is it? The new project from chef Spasia Dinkovski of acclaimed British-Balkan bakehouse Mystic Burek. 

Why we love it: Doma has taken over a kebab shop space in Sydenham, just across the road from the original Mystic Burek location, but will be doing things differently. Open only on Fridays and Saturdays, Doma will serve grab-and-go second-generation Macedonian cuisine. Expect everything from Balkan barbecue to fried doughnut-esque mekici served with jam and cheese, sausage baps, stuffed cabbage sarma, loads of burek and baklava buns. 

Time Out tip: Come by for burek, their legendary filo pies.

Address: 172 Dartmouth Road, Sydenham, SE26 4QY.

Opening hours: Fri 5-9pm, Saturday 10am-4pm.

Expect to pay: £5-35 a head. 

What is it? An immaculate all-day Hackney restaurant rooted in chef Max Rocha’s Dublin childhood and our London Restaurant of the Year 2023. 

Why we love it: You know what they say about Guinness. At Café Cecilia, you can squeeze in more than the requisite amount of the black stuff before lunchtime and operate heavy machinery afterwards. This deceptively spartan restaurant just off Broadway Market serves up springy hunks of Guinness bread as well as deliciously dense Guinness cake, and even ice cream suffused with that stouty goodness. In-between, you can knock back a series of perfectly formed small plates, from the devilish sage-and-anchovy fritti to juicy onglet swimming in intense, almost spicy chicken sauce. All of this amounts to a culinary cuddle, which is offset by voguish, steel-and-glass-infused décor. 

Time Out tip: Come by on weekends for an Irish breakfast. Guinness bread, boiled eggs and Coolea cheese is the order. 

Address: 32 Andrews Road, Hackney, E8 4FX.

Opening hours: Wed-Sun 12-3pm, Wed-Sat 6-8.45pm, Sat-Sun 9am-10.45am.

Expect to pay: Breakfast £7.50-17, starters £6-16, mains £21-34.

What is it? Jamaican jerk at a proudly independent Battersea spot.  

Why we love it: Tarell ‘Chef Tee’ Mcintosh is a much-loved local character in Battersea. Paradise Cove opened following a crowdfunding campaign after his original restaurant Sugarcane was forced to close. Now it’s a wonderful, community-focused space, with a menu of Jamaican-inspired home-cooked classics. Whilst you’ll find traditional jerk and oxtail here, there are also lots of vegan options. Their turmeric spiced green plantain chips are hand cut and dehydrated in-house, and come served with jerk mayo. 

Time Out tip: The sweetcorn pimento fritters are a must-order. 

Address: 515 Wandsworth Road, Battersea, SW8 4NY. 

Opening hours: Tue-Thu 5-10pm, Fri 5pm-midnight, Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-9pm.

Expect to pay: Dishes from £5-15.

What is it? A family-run ‘modern Korean’ and Time Out’s best London restaurant of 2025. 

Why we love it: Miga is all about exhilarating dishes that smash your tastebuds with integrity and panache. The roots of Miga go back a couple of decades to another family-run spot in New Malden – but in 2024 the younger generation convinced their chef father to take his talent to Hackney in order to rattle the small-plates bistro boys. Mission accomplished – this lowkey, unassuming spot instantly became London’s most acclaimed new restaurant. Traditional flavours have been given a contemporary sheen; their landmark dish is yughwe, a ballsy beef tartare accessorised with skinny, crisp batons of Asian pear and a near-neon egg yolk. The soy braised short ribs and slices of pan-fried pork belly delivered in a glowing apple-and-mustard sauce are also must-orders. Do almost anything you can to eat here. 

Time Out tip: Struggling to score a table? Lunch seatings are easier to come by and you can follow it with a postprandial stroll down the Regent’s Canal or a pint at one of London’s best pubs; The Hare. 

Address: 1 Mare Street, Hackney, E8 4RP.

Opening hours: Tue 5-10.30 pm, Wed-Thu 12-3pm & 5.30-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 12-3pm & 5.30–11pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £9-16, mains around £20 and sides £5.

What is it? A legendary Vietnamese restaurant in Shoreditch.

Why we love it: This original branch of Cây Tre gave many Hoxtonites their first taste of phở and helped to crank up London’s Vietnamese bandwagon. At the helm is Hiếu Bùi, the godfather of London’s Vietnamese food movement (he also runs the Kêu chain and another branch of Cây Tre in Soho). When it comes to phở the signature bone marrow version is particularly notable; the bowl comes spectacularly topped with a marrowbone, which has been cooked in broth, then grilled under a robata. The beautifully clear broth is made by simmering beef bones for 24 hours. This is flavoured with an accomplished balance of spices including cinnamon and star anise. Impeccable.  

Time Out tip: For a deep dive into authentic Northern Vietnamese cuisine, the Hanoi platter (bún đậu mắm tôm) is legit. It comes with blood sausage and a fermented shrimp dipping sauce. 

Address: 301 Old Street, EC1V 9LA.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11am-3pm & 5-10.30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-3pm & 5-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm.

Expect to pay: Mains £15-22, set menu £46 per person.  

What is it? So much more than a wine bar. 

Why we love it: This Bloomsbury beauty started life as a wine lover’s hideaway that just so happened to have pretty good food, but their deftly delicious way with a menu quickly made them into one of London’s most notable restaurants. Now with offshoots in Soho and Mayfair, the original site – on lovely little Lamb’s Conduit Street – remains the best. They just celebrated their 10th anniversary, and food is fancy without ever being smug or exclusionary. Expect anything from confit duck with lentils, cabbage and mustard, to rolled pork belly with saffron roast potatoes and crispy sage, or morel and goat's curd tart with wild garlic sauce. Wine is, of course, exemplary. 

Time Out tip: Noble Rot isn’t a cheap spot for dinner, but their set lunch deal is hilariously good value, with three courses for just £28. 

Address: 51 Lamb’s Conduit Street, Bloomsbury, WC1N 3NB.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12-11pm. 

What is it? A Michelin star-scoring west African wow-maker.

Why we love it: Adejoké ‘Joké’ Bakare first opened Chishuru in Brixton. In our original review, we heralded the perfect collision of sweet, salty and peppery heat, and dubbed it London’s best restaurant of 2022. Alas, it closed due to staffing issues, though was gloriously reborn in Fitzrovia the following year. This current iteration of Chishuru is small, but warmly decorated with deep greens and oranges. Bakare offers a serious set menu that includes a fiery hot pepper soup and peaks with a decadent, crispy skinned guinea fowl yassa. In 2024, Joké became the UK’s first Black female chef to win a Michelin star. Richly deserved. 

Time Out tip: We heartily recommend the spiced okra martini, which is limited to two per customer for good reason.

Address: 3 Great Titchfield Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 8AX.

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12-1.45pm & 5.30-9.30pm.

Expect to pay: The tasting menu is £55 at lunch and £105 at dinner.

What is it? A grand dining room in a Grade II-listed former courthouse.

Why we love it: Find the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it little red door covered in foliage, ride the lift up to the fourth floor and prepare to be transported to another world. This restaurant has the look and feel of a distressed, pastel-hued Tuscan villa, complete with faded plaster walls, beautifully restored double-storey columns, detailed arched windows and a mezzanine from which you can people-watch the diners below. It’s a truly stunning place with an air of fantasy that’ll make you question whether you are in Zone 1 or Narnia. Come for locally sourced, seasonal food from independent producers and suppliers and one of the most seductive vibes in all of London.

Time Out tip: Sunday lunch here is a treat, with live music (usually a bit of Irish trad), and a dessert trolley with the likes of creamy rhubarb trifle and chocolate prune tart. 

Address: Old Sessions House, 24 Clerkenwell Green, EC1R 0NA.

Opening hours: Mon 5.30-10.30pm, Tue-Sat 12-2.30pm & 5.30-10.30pm, Sun 12-5pm. 

Expect to pay: Small plates £5-16, larger plates £20-34.

What is it? This neighbourhood favourite is known for its all-vegetarian, south Indian menu.

Why we love it: The restaurant was born from founder Das Sreedharan’s childhood memories, growing up in a small village near Cochin, Kerala, where he helped his mother turn home-grown vegetables into nutritious and tasty meals. Flavours come through in dishes such as the banana boli – deep-fried plantains with black sesame – and rasa kayi, a spicy vegetable curry from Karnataka. With a striking pink frontage and interior, Rasa brings a pop of colour to Stoke Newington. 

The vibrant beet cheera pachadi, usually reserved for weddings in Kerala, is worth trying. A blend of spinach and beetroot, with yoghurt and mustard seeds, this superfood dish is as pink as the decor and packed with flavour.

Time Out tip: For a mere £27 a head you can order the vegetarian feast option, which is basically a Keralan banquet of almost everything on menu.  

Address: 55 Stoke Newington Church Street, Stoke Newington, N16 0AR.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5.30-10pm, Fri 5.30-10.30pm, Sat 12-2.30pm & 5.30-10.30pm, Sun 12-2.30pm & 5.30-10pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £7, dosas £9-12, mains £8-9, sides £5. Vegetarian feasting menu £27 a head, vegan feasting menu £28 a head. 

What is it? A delightfully retro resto in St John’s Wood.

Why we love it: A trip to Oslo Court, with its pink napkins, octogenarian clientele and rose-patterned plates, is essentially a passport to 1982. Situated at the bottom of a vintage mansion block, that TikTok’s most egregious influencers have discovered this French time machine doesn’t seem to have dampened its appeal (or stopped the old school regulars from booking their usual tables). Onion soup, escargot, melon balls, lobster cocktail, steak diane, and the roast rack of lamb are all present and correct, but the real appeal is the absolute vibe of the place.

Time Out tip: Crêpes Suzette is the only acceptable dessert order. 

Address: Charlbert Street, St John’s Wood, NW8 7EN.

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 12-2.30pm & 6.30-10pm.

Expect to pay: Though you can pick what you like, it’s all from a set menu – lunch is £48 and dinner is £57.

What is it? An almost literally hidden gem that oozes elegant, understated cool.

Why we love it: Rochelle Canteen remains one of London’s buzziest hotspots, more than 20 years since it opened. The fact it’s so hard to find helps: there’s a real sense of being behind the velvet rope once you’re located the buzzer and slipped into its floral paradise. And now you mention it, the restaurant does look like a particularly upmarket garden centre café, albeit one run by London foodie royalty, Melanie Arnold and Margot Henderson. But with its classic and modern European menu boasting the likes of grilled lamb leg and anchovy, and aubergine, borlotti and wild garlic labneh, it’s the epitome of laidback excellence.

Time Out tip: Puddings here are always endearingly old school. Opt for a blood orange polenta cake or apple pavlova.

Address: 16 Playground Gardens, Shoreditch, E2 7FA.

Opening hours: Tues 12-3pm, Weds-Sat 12-3pm & 5.30-7.45pm, Sun 12-3pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £8.50-13.50, mains £19-29, desserts £5-10.

What is it: A party restaurant in Peckham, named after iconic American DJ Larry Levan.

Why we love it: Sometimes, you fall in love with a restaurant before you’ve even tasted the food. Walking into Levan on a Saturday night is like arriving at a house party. The door opens to a blast of disco. The air is thick with chatter, the shelves full of wine. Happily, the food is a delight: think ‘fries’ made from chickpea flour, comté cheese and lashings of butter. Then mushroom tempura, or a shallow plate of stracciatella layered with slivers of pink pickled plums and toasted buckwheat. Gorgeous stuff.

Time Out tip: Throughout the year a series of très bon French restaurants (each serving a £59 lunch menu) will be popping up in Peckham’s Levan one Sunday every month.

Address: 12-16 Blenheim Grove, Peckham, SE15 4QL.

Opening hours: Mon closed, Tue-Sat 12-10pm, Sun 12-4pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates and starters £5-15, mains £20-32.

What is it? A London institution and Time Out’s best restaurant in Soho. 

Why we love it: To feast upon the food of Jeremy Lee is to feast upon the very stuff of life. Decadent, bountiful and with a decent dose of playful charm, come for his iconic smoked eel sandwich, stay for the pie of the day. The menu changes monthly, but you can expect creative takes on offal (lamb’s sweetbreads with peas, almonds and mint), traditional fish dishes (skate with black butter, capers and parsley) and bracingly fresh salads (feta, tomato, courgette, olive and mint).

Time Out tip: Look into monthly ‘Quo Vadis & Friends’ events, special dinners which see the UK’s best chefs – Ravinder Bhogal, Hector Henderson, Tomas Parry and such – popping by for big, family-style dinners. 

Address: 26-29 Dean St, Soho, W1D 3LL.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12-2.30pm & 5.30-10pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £7.50-20, mains £26-38. 

What is it? Claiming to be the the world's first Nigerian tapas restaurant, Chuku’s is a Tottenham landmark.

Why we love it? Launched a decade ago in 2016 and run by brother-and-sister duo Emeka and Ifeyinwa, expect London-inspired twists on classic Nigerian dishes, from jollof quinoa to plantain waffles. Weekend brunch is a serious vibe, and Beyonce is also a fan, giving them a slice of her BeyGood Foundation grant, which pledged money to businesses close to the venues she played on her world tour. 

Time Out tip: If Tottenham is on the other side of town, then you'll be happy to know that Chuku's has just launched its first fast food counter by Liverpool Street.

Address: 274 High Road, N15 4RR.

Opening hours: Mon closed, Tue-Fri 5.30-10.30pm, Sat 12-10.30pm, Sun 12-8.30pm.

Expect to pay: Sharing plates £6.50-14.

What is it? A great Green Lanes gastropub from the Papi chappies, aka chef Matthew Scott and sommelier Charlie Carr.

Why we love it: It’s always a pleasure to see folks evolve and mature. With The Golden Tooth, the duo behind puckish scenester bistro Papi have levelled up to gastro greatness. This is powerful and intense food. Start with a gin pickle martini, mellowed with a splash of elderflower, before chunky beef tartare, bound together with a creamy tonnato dressing, and topped with a gleaming egg yolk. The Golden Tooth twist? Instead of traditional tuna, the tonnato is made with smoked eel. There are also plump mussels resting provocatively under a silky sheet of semi-sheer lardo, like an edible take on Tracey Emin’s bed and a Montgomery cheddar custard tart as wobbly as the very best Basque cheesecake.

Time Out tip: Order the stargazy pie, with a prawn’s head poking out of the golden pastry instead of classic sardines. Our MVP (most valuable prawn) comes with brains still intact, so one lucky diner gets to suck them out. It’s not cheap at £52, but share it between three and you’ll still have leftovers. 

Address: 79 Green Lanes, Newington Green, N16 9BU.

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 5-11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-midnight, Sun 12-10pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £5-18, big plates £22-80.

What is it? Homely and simple comfort food bistro in Bloomsbury.

Why we love it: Cafe Deco feels like an elevated take on the classic National Trust café, populated with off-duty architects and sentient Margaret Howell linen trousers. A joint venture between the always-excellent 40 Maltby Street and chef-owner Anna Tobias, this is impeccable European cuisine with a particular emphasis on French and Italian cult classics. Food at Café Deco is almost disconcertingly simple – verging on the trad – but it’s the ingredients here that are the real champs, with Tobias working closely with small farms to ensure unparalleled quality and winning every time.  

Time Out tip: Always check out the plat du jour, which is £15 (or £20 with a drink). Recent decents include crispy lamb and farro with an onion and mint salad. 

Address: 43 Store Street, Bloomsbury, WC1E 7DB.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12-3pm & 6-9.30pm. 

Expect to pay: Starters £5-17, mains £24-37. 

What is it? Sleek, creative cuisine in a shabby-chic listed building that doubles as an antiques shop.

Why we love it: Although this Grade II* Georgian mansion (built in 1758) has returned to some of its original splendour, Brunswick House still exudes a ruffian charm. The retro décor is ever changing because it’s also a working antiques traders – if you ever wanted to step into the Donna Tartt novel The Goldfinch, this is as near as you can within the M25. You won’t believe the decidedly prosaic Vauxhall roundabout is just a stone’s throw away. Instead, expect art nouveau posters, chandeliers and plush leather seating. Oh, and the food: Jackson Boxer’s menu boasts devilishly fatty pork jowl to share and delicately grilled squid served in zesty slices of blood orange. To finish, you can’t go wrong with a sturdy coffee and walnut cake that’s as decadent as the surroundings. 

Time Out tip: Time your dinner before one of the regular jazz nights in the basement for a truly transportive evening.

Address: 30 Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, SW8 2LG.

Opening hours: Tue-Sat 11am-12pm, Sun 12-5pm.

Expect to pay: Starters £5-7, mains £17-33, sharers (for two to three) £48-95.

What is it? A pretty Palestinian restaurant in a Notting Hill townhouse. 

Why we love it: Chef-founder Fadi Kattan magnificent menu spans rich fava bean stew, plump aubergines stuffed with pickled carrots and – perhaps our favourite – the crunchy mansaf, AKA rich lamb meats and rice deep-fried into golden pockets of crunchy pastry. The result is as warm as the olive branch and lemon-print adorned restaurant, which features keys stuck into the walls to symbolise lost Palestinian homes. If you’re a big dipper, then you’ll want to order the red lentil moutabal, which is deliciously creamy and crying out to be scooped up with great hunks of their pillowy zaatar bread.

Time Out tip: Lighten things up with the dagga ghazzawieh, a spicy tomato salad infused with chilli and great whacks of olive oil. 

Address: 27 Uxbridge Street, Notting Hill, W8 7TQ.

Opening hours: Tues-Thurs 12-3pm & 6-11pm, Fri 12-3pm & 6-11.30pm, Sun 11am-4pm.

Expect to pay: Small plates £9-15, large plates £16-£31, brunch £10-£31.