Jordan Bassett

You say Haringey, I say Harringay – let’s call the whole thing off and have a kebab. Yes, it’s confusing, but Haringey is the borough and within it you’ll find Harringay Green Lanes, a mile-long strip that teems with bars and cafés, music venues, Victorian boozers and staggeringly well-stocked grocery shops. And that’s before we get to the sensational Turkish restaurants that line the main drag. This is the very best of London in all its noisy, aromatic, chaotic glory. It’s not the starriest of London locales, even if the so-called ‘Harringay Ladder’ (a grid of 19 streets to the west of the Lanes) is becoming ever-more desirable. What Green Lanes excels at, though, is sheer stimulation of the senses. Whether you’re grabbing a gözleme flatbread for a few quid or enjoying the mural of John Lennon and Brazilian football ace Alex de Souza (sure!), you’re sure to spark the imagination. It’s an overwhelming place, so here’s our pick of the crop. RECOMMENDED:Ultimate guide to where to stay in LondonThe best things to do in north LondonLondon’s best Turkish restaurantsThe best restaurants in Finsbury Park

Apologies to the sinister shopping centre Santas, but the thing we most truly respect about this time of year is the Christmas sandwich. So pure. So dense. So carby. This year, the gallant staff of Time Out London have taste-tested festive sarnies from 12 bakeries and indie delis across London, in order to find the jolliest Christmas sandwich in town. These are the best Christmas sandwiches in London, according to us. RECOMMENDED: For more festive fun here’s our guide to the best Christmas markets in London.  And don’t miss the best Christmas events, either. 

If this Brixton Village institution feels decidedly old-school, that’s because it is. Many punters might not know that the yellow-fronted Caribbean joint actually has roots in ‘80s America, as Trinidad-born owner Brian Danclair worked in a Washington, D.C restaurant of the same name back in the day. The original is long gone, but Danclair’s move to the UK in 2012 led him to open a London version – with a similar shop front – in one of the city’s greatest food hubs. Think communal outdoor tables and no-nonsense Caribbean fare from jerk chicken and fried plantain to their patented reggae wings (chicken doused in fiery tamarind sauce and served with a stack of cooling pineapple). Naturally, the reggae-heavy restaurant soundtrack is second-to-none and you can’t beat Fish, Wings & Tings for atmosphere. Order this The cod fritters with ginger and lime aioli make for the perfect combo with the glorious energy of Coldharbour Lane. What’s nearby? With an alcohol-free punch and boozy cocktails jostling for space on the menu, this is an ideal spot for a quick bev before a gig at the O2 Brixton Academy.

Bonnington Square is an oasis of calm in Vauxhall, area of London with which you might associate many C words – cool, creative… a little crazy – but not that one. It’s here that you’ll find the mildly surprising Italo, a quaint corner deli that offers delightful views of said square, high-quality Italian produce and a limited lunch menu that’s well worth seeking out. It sort of looks like a café in a ‘90s Richard Curtis movie, if the chintzy filmmaker had ever set a film just off the massive roundabout in Vauxhall, which he has not. Launched in the late ‘00s, the café offers a rotating daily menu of dishes – think the likes of confit garlic and burratina on toast and charred courgette with chickpeas – and great whacking sarnies stuffed with Italian meats and gooey, egg-based deliciousness. Space is tight but the deli is stocked with plenty of goodness to take home, too.  Time Out tip Italo regularly hosts supper clubs and has also increased its dinner offering, so keep an eye on the deli’s Instagram account for more. Order this As you might imagine, they take their coffee very seriously at Italo; if you’re a keen bean aficionado, this is the place for you.

Johnny Lake and Isa Bal, the duo behind this acclaimed London Bridge restaurant, aren’t keen on defining their cuisine, having once joked that they could meaninglessly dub it “‘Modern British’ or ‘Contemporary European’” just to get people off their backs. Much has been made of the fact that they’re alumni of Heston Blumenthal’s famous and wildly innovative Fat Duck, but they’ve gone against the grain with Trivet, which is less showy than their mentor’s gaff. It’s still hugely impressive, mind – and they’ve two Michelin stars to prove it. The calming, minimalist décor belies the experimental action going on in the kitchen, which are understated but exemplary: see the ‘puffini’, a filo pastry sandwich created with a panini machine that was left in the building when they acquired it. Lake and Bal are also obsessive about creating the perfect wine list, with a finely tune array of natural and biodynamic tipples to boot. Time Out tip Some of Trivet’s dishes are available in large or small portions depending on your appetite. Order this Social media lost its collective marbles over the Hokkaido Potato dessert, a seemingly bizarre concoction of potato mille feuille, puff pastry and chocolate mousse. Like Trivet, it’s indefinable yet delicious.

It’s only rock’n’roll, but east Londoners clearly love it. The brainchild of Australian sisters Verity and Sharmaine Cox, Blondies is a down-and-dirty Mecca for music-lovers and a decided riposte to those who say London has lost some of its grit. The tiny bar (with a capacity of about 50) is comprised of delightfully wonky furnishings, which is down to the fact that the Coxes created almost everything themselves. That DIY spirit is reflected in the regular gig nights, which have attracted everyone from Grammy winners Mastadon to legendary Swedish hardcore punks Refused. There’s also a good chance you’ll find team Time Out holding down spicy margaritas and working our way through the ever-changing menu of superior craft beers, including their very own Blondies branded beer. Time Out tip Keep an eye on the ‘upcoming events’ section of the bar’s website, as big bands love to get back to basic at Blondies. What’s nearby? You’re less than a five-minute walk from My Neighbours the Dumplings, a sensational dim sum joint that’ll soak up the booze.

That unpretentious name is a clue as to what to expect from this Regent’s Canal-side slice of homeliness in the heart of Haggerston. When the sun is shining, or perhaps on a breezy spring day, there are arguably fewer idyllic spots in London to slurp a coffee or nibble on classic café lunches such as grilled cheese sarnies (albeit poshed up with a quivering slab of quince jelly) and a hearty soups (OK, kneidlach and chicken broth, as was served on one particularly delicious occasion). You’ve probably gathered that the emphasis is on quality food rather than showiness, as the unflashy décor attests. It’s not a takeaway joint: you’re encouraged to stick around, enjoy the view and unwind. The Towpath Café has very little online presence, which hasn’t stopped the place from attracting celebs such as Alexa Chung and foodie royalty such as St. John legend Fergus Henderson. Order this The menu changes daily, but you can’t go wrong with one of Towpath’s inventive, zesty salads – the blood orange, fennel and bitterleaf lives rent-free in our minds. Time Out tip Set aside the morning or afternoon if you can. This is the perfect place to go with the flow. And keep in mind the fact that you may have to queue on sunny days. 

Museum café. If those words conjure thoughts of the humble panini, cartons of juice and flapjack that could sink a battleship, think again. The eatery that adjoins Lambeth’s Garden Museum is all handled in-house, which is just as well considering the dearth of foodie venues in the area. Here, in a deconsecrated church, the powers that be serve up modern-British and European dishes with a minimum of fuss but maximum flavour and quality. The menu changes dailt, though the hearty Barnsley chop on a bed of braised peas and mint sauce is quintessential Garden Café fare: elegant, simple, easy on the eye and tastebuds. They don’t profess to specialise in vegan cooking, but will happily alter vegetarian dishes to accommodate you as best they can. Still enjoying a new lease of life after its 2017 revamp, it’s that kind of place: friendly, unpretentious and relaxed, exceeding expectations all the way. Time Out tip Even if you’re visiting for the café, the Garden Museum – one of London’s lesser-known destinations and Britain’s only museum dedicated to the art, history and design of gardens – is well worth checking out. Order this The pastries here are so delicious you’ll want them by the shovel-load.

The lighting is low, the food is seriously spicy and there are no airs and graces at Smoking Goat. You’ll be glad of the dim wattage, given how many of the dishes in this fiery Thai BBQ restaurant are best eaten with your hands. A chin slicked with sauce and fingers covered in oil: not always a great look, but it’s certainly a sign of an extremely enjoyable meal. The original Smoking Goat was launched in Soho by Ben Chapman (the man behind Kiln and Brat, two other foodie destinations) and after it shut this Shoreditch branch became the go-to spot. The Moo Hong Braised arrives in a vat of gloriously gloopy sauce, while the fried egg, rice noodle and lardo is Heaven-sent when accompanied by a hoppy draft lager. Get stuck in. Time Out tip Smoking Goat is a buzzy place and the volume level is generally set to: loud. Get ready to shout. What’s nearby? You’re two minutes away from Village Underground if you want to keep the party going – and you will. RECOMMENDED: An expert guide to London’s best BBQ joints by Melissa Thompson.

Simmons comes to us from a different time. A simpler time. The King’s Cross bar opened in 2013, the same year that Little Nan’s Bar served a similar niche as a pop-up in what was then called the Deptford Bunker: cocktails served in chintzy teapots against a colourful, thrift shop-style backdrop. Nan’s has gone legit as an award-winning destination in a permanent space, while there now are loads of swish branches of Simmons throughout London, with one in Manchester. The original King’s Cross gaff, though, has retained its retro vibe, with a skull-shaped glitterball, a neon Top of the Pops logo on the wall and that trusty old SEGA Megadrive ready to rock’n’roll. King’s Cross – and much of London, in fact – has shapeshifted since 2013, but Simmons is forever. When is Happy Hour? This place is famous for its Happy Hour, which stretches the term, gloriously, from 4pm to 9pm Sunday to Friday. What’s nearby? There’s an old-fashioned black-and-white photobooth tucked at the back of Coal Drop’s Yard. Infinitely more fun after a teapot full of booze. RECOMMENDED: The best quirky bars and pubs in London.

Some pairings never go out of fashion – they are simply too perfect. Beer and sausage is the Lennon-McCartney of the food world: crowd-pleasing and nourishing, with each component a complement to the other. Stein’s, a Bavarian beer hall on the banks of the Thames in beautiful Richmond, has the booze and wurst formula down to a fine art (no wonder there's also a branch in Kingston and a more upmarket version in Kensington). Take your seat in the massive, treelined beer garden and sink your teeth into a pillowy pretzel as you await, say, a juicy bratwurst nestled amid golden nuggets of pan-fried spud. Wash it down, perhaps, with a crisp Erdinger wheat beer. Be warned: you can’t order booze without first ordering grub. If you’re looking for somewhere to soak up one of the most picturesque bits of London with a pint in hand, all you need is food. Time Out tip Stein’s has a very cute and pretty large play area for the kids. Since no child has ever wanted to leave a playground, that’s your whole afternoon sorted. Order this It’s not all about wurst, you know: the schnitzels are just as satisfying, while the cheese noodles will be a gift to your future hungover self. RECOMMENDED: The best breweries and taprooms in London.

“Here, each dish is not merely food – it's an exploration of Persian culture and heritage.” So say the owners of Sufi, a family-run restaurant beloved among Shepherd’s Bush locals. A good 20-minute walk from Shepherd’s Bush Market tube station, this is an informal, intimate eatery where sesame seed-topped flat naan breads are baked in a clay oven for all to see. It’s an understated performance where the dishes are the stars of the show: aesthetically, the restaurant’s interior doesn’t feel a million miles away from being in someone’s front room, while the food itself is prepared with palpable care. Generous slabs of chicken and lamb kebab land with an avalanche of steamed rice, while the khoresh gheimeh – a sweet, tomato-based stew packed with tender lamb and chickpeas – arrives like a warm embrace. Service is similarly homely and generous, with staff keen to offer advice on their hearty, carb-tastic cuisine. Time Out tip Much of the menu is, admittedly, meat-ageddon, but Sufi is typically welcoming to vegans and vegetarians, with the aubergine stew a gooey delight. What’s nearby? The Shepherd and Flock pub, another low-key gem that’s also a little tucked away but much more rewarding for it. RECOMMENDED: London's best Persian restaurants.

The Connaught, one of two bars in the ultra-fancy hotel of the same name, is one for special occasions. That’s unless you can happily drop over a grand on a cocktail (their 1893 Sidecar). Not every drink on the menu is quite so overdraft-inducing: mixes such as the bracingly sharp, gin-based Balancer are more realistic for most people (even if the cost is akin to what you might expect to spend on a decent meal). What you’re paying for, though, is a unique experience in one of the best bars in London – if not the world. What with the marble floors and plush leather sofas, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a Bond movie. Spiffy waiters wheel out a Martini trolley and mix your indulgent beverage right in front of you. Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in the Dolphin anymore. Order this The bar’s food menu is, naturally, more comprehensive than that of most boozers, running from posh pizzas to caviar on rye bread. What’s nearby? For a truly decadent night out, dine at swish sushi restaurant Umu and head to the Connaught for a nightcap. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in Mayfair.

Naming no names, but restaurants with a view can sometimes be a bit… complacent. And when it comes to views, you can’t really ask for more than a gorgeous vista of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the gently lapping Thames and the twinkling lights of the South Bank. It’s impressive then, that Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe still pushes the boat out – and then some. This elegant ‘modern British’ venue, linked to the famous theatre next door, offers a fine line in classic seafood and the hearty likes of roast corn-fed chicken, with a more casual bar menu serving up pub classics. No prizes for originality, perhaps, but it beats a lot of the chains in the area and the view is so stunning you really won’t want to leave. Yes: parting is such sweet sorrow. Order this Swan’s afternoon tea, a dreamy delight served the traditional way on a dainty cake stand, is as British as the theatre itself. Time Out tip A portion of the restaurant’s takings go towards supporting the Globe. Mmmm: delicious altruism. RECOMMENDED: London restaurants with the best views.