Anna Sulan Masing

One of central London’s most low-key neighbourhoods, Clerkenwell has all the charm of a village but all the high-end dining options of a bustling world city. Catering to office workers, late-night partiers at Fabric and local residents, this coolly über-trendy part of London has it all – and people come from across the capital to sample its seriously good restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a lovely brunch spot, a poshed-up boozer or an old-school French dining room, there are loads of classic and contemporary eateries worthy of a visit. Here’s our pick of the best, including Luca, a swanky pasta joint from the Clove Club team, that mainstay of British fine dining, St John and newcomer Morchella. RECOMMENDED: The very best restaurants in London.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Whether you’re after a simple chippy or something a bit more snazzy (or even Michelin-starred), Notting Hill is jam-packed with great cafés and restaurants. Whatever you desire – from a Carnival time top-up to a posh dinner – pile through our list below of the best eateries in this ace area. Fancy a pint afterwards? Here are Notting Hill's standout pubs. Or head for something a little more refined at the area's best bars. RECOMMENDED: The 50 Best Restaurants in London. 

Malaysian food is impossible to pin down. Each region, town and family, will have their own take on laksa, rendang, chicken curry, roti canai… This makes sense when you understand the makeup of Malaysia. The Malay are Muslim, but are not a singular group, rather a number of different communities, each with their own culture and histories. There are seven royal Malay families that take turns being ‘the’ royal family. There are also over 100 indigenous peoples. For centuries migrants from different regions in China came, as well as Tamil Indians, and many more migrants have made Malaysia their home. It’s unsurprising the food is ever-changing.  Med Salleh Kopitiam is inspired by Malaysian ‘coffee shops’, casual spaces serving drinks alongside food stalls. Although a restaurant, the menu is representative of kopitiams with dishes now seen as quintessentially Malaysian, such as roti canai (created by the Indian community), rendang (originally an Indonesian Malay dish), and char kway teow (‘char’ meaning stir-fry in Hokkien and Teochew).  The pièce de résistance was the ice kacang atas dessert, a towering display of shaved ice, with jellies, red bean, and sweetened condensed milk The owners are Chinese-Malaysian from Ipoh and Raub, centre-west of West Malaysia. The food leans towards a sweet palate and doesn’t have the heat of some Malaysian regions or communities. The roti canai was served with non-battered fried chicken, where the skin is crispy and meat is tender and accompani

Bouchon Racine comes with history, baggage and devoted fans. Firstly, it is on the top floor of a 300-year-old pub in the heart of Farringdon. Secondly, it is run by stalwarts of the industry, with renowned reputations. It has a lot to live up to. Which is does; in fact, it’s hard not to wax lyrical.  Chef Henry Harris’s restaurant Racine, a French bistro in Knightsbridge, ran for 13 years, until 2015. A much-loved neighbourhood joint, it anchored itself in many a heart – west Londoners and beyond. But the neighbourhood changed and Harris decided to close. Since then he has been bringing French comfort to various pubs in and around London, before opening Bouchon Racine at the top of The Three Compasses at the end of 2022. With Harris in this venture is David Strauss, previously operations director for Goodman steak restaurants, which included, among over ventures, overseeing Beast restaurant in Mayfair. All this is to say that these two know London well and know restaurants even better, which is why I decided to go to Bouchon Racine accompanied by someone also in the industry and who is from Lyon.  The ‘head of veal’ was a delight – the only challenging part of this dish might be the name The menu is unashamedly French, with humble roots and an emphasis on hearty food. A ‘bouchon’ is a type of restaurant found in Lyon that historically catered to workers, and remains focused on the idea of relaxed conviviality, which captures Bouchon Racine perfectly. Bouchon Racine’s offeri