Leonie Cooper

Need a place to stay in London? We’re here to make it easy for you. Every year, a wealth of new hotels open in the capital – a testament to the fact that London remains one of the most desirable places to visit in the world. That can, however, make it rather tricky to decide which hotel to choose. But worry not: we have slept our way across the city and hand-picked our favourites, to bring you this ultimate list of London hotels, from Mayfair to Shoreditch, and from budget to blowout (butler included).  Newcomers to our list include the all-new July in Victoria, apartment-hotels which opened in July 2025, and eco-hotel 1 Hotel Mayfair, as well as a few old classics we’ve re-reviewed just for good measure (hint: The Dorchester is just about as great as we remembered). We’ve got a brand-new number one too, but we won’t give that one away just yet. For everything from genuine good value stays to all-out, Zone 1 luxury, you’ll find something on this list for every kind of trip. Superb bars, great architecture, world-class hospitality and the opportunity to have a home-from-home in the best city in the world await you – here are the best hotels in London.  🏘️ Looking for even more options? Check out our list of the best Airbnbs in London Which area is best to stay in London? It’s not just the range of hotels that’s so impressive – you’re also spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a neighbourhood to stay in London. The city is made up of a sprawling network of dynamic neighb

Fancy a big night out? Head to Shoreditch. Want Danish craft beer co-owned by Rick Astley or independently produced Italian wine? Shoreditch. In the mood to drink in a jazz-era speakeasy, old police station or quirky cocktail bar? You guessed it: Shoreditch is the place for you. The east London neighbourhood pretty much has it all when it comes to large evenings on the town, and we’ve handpicked the bars you should visit next time you’re in the area pining for more than a pint. You can also check out the best pubs in Shoreditch if cocktails aren't quite your thing.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Shoreditch. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. So east London it hurts? Follow our Time Out East London WhatsApp channel for the latest news, openings and goss from the coolest bit of the capital. (Yeah, we said it.)

Want a drink? You've come to the right place. This is Time Out’s list of best bars in London, our curated guide to London’s drinking scene, featuring the buzziest bars in the capital right now. These are the 50 places we'd recommend to a friend, because we love drinking in them and have done many, many times over. From classy cocktail counters to delightful dives, sleek hotel bars, rooftop bars, liquor lounges and places to quaff wine, London's got them all. But what makes a truly good bar? Our critieria for inclusion on this list is simple; a menu of genius drinks is important, but so is overall vibe – there’s no point having the perfect paloma if you have to drink it in a bar that smells of bin juice. To make our Top 50, a bar has to be fun, friendly, and inclusive, as well as looking (and tasting) the part.  The best bars in London at a glance: 🍸 Best hotel bar: Scarfes Bar, Holborn 🍷 Best wine bar: Godet, Islington 🍻 Best dive bar: Blondies, Clapton 🎶 Best listening bar: Jumbi, Peckham July 2025: Congrats to the newly-opened bars that have made the immediate jump into our hallowed Top 50, such as Ellie's – a lowkey Dalston cocktail bar recently anointed by Charli XCX, who chose it for the site of her wedding afterparty, House Party, a rowdy Soho bar co-founded by Stormzy, and wine pub Godet. They sit alongside some proper London classics which have returned to this list due to their outstanding excellence and unerring commitment to getting us tipsy in style, like th

Forget super expensive spots with Michelin stars, some of the finest food in London is dished up at street markets, in food halls and from food trucks. Oh, and eaten with a wooden fork. If you’re a foodie on a budget, street stalls are here to save you. From sublime steak to brilliant burittos, we’ve rounded up the cream of the crop. Now pack some wet wipes and get out there (and do check your fave trader’s IG before heading out, just to make sure they’re open). RECOMMENDED: Find London’s best street-food markets and food halls.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

July 2026: Al fresco weather is fully here, and here are the spots that spring into action when the sun is out. These are the places ideal for visiting in your nice new sunglasses while looking important and snacking on a salt cod fritter. Grab a sarnie in the sunshine at Dusty Knuckle's Dalston location, trek to Epping Forest for seafood at the Oyster Shack, test out the terrace at the new Forza Wine Soho, gorge yourself on gastropub fare in the hidden garden at The Red Lion & Sun in Highgate, munch on a bench at Mondo Sando's new Deptford location, lunch in sun at Hackney hero Lardo, or trot down the Regent's Canal to Towpath Cafe. Ace Indian restaurant Kokum in Dulwich is also doing al fresco BBQs every weekend until September. The best outdoor restaurants in London at a glance: 🍸 Best in central London: Forza Wine, Soho 🚣‍♂️ Best in east London: Towpath, Haggerston 🏡 Best in north London: Red Lion & Sun, Highgate  💦 Best in west London: Canal, Westbourne Park 🍃 Best in south London: Italo, Vauxhall When it comes to outdoor dining there are some excellent – and hopefully sun-dappled - options at some of London’s best restaurants. These terraces, canal-side spots, gardens and al fresco restos should make you feel like you’re on a proper holiday in your hometown. Whether you’re in the mood to have spaghetti in the sun or snack on sushi by starlight, our list has you covered. If you don’t mind heights, then check out some of the finest rooftop restaurants with views in

Whether you're after old school fish and chips, arty cafes, fancy fine dining or down-to-earth little neighbourhood eateries, you'll find it in Holborn and nearby Bloomsbury. The area might not have the most glamorous of reputations, but you only have to stroll these historic streets for a few moments to find some seriously good eating, with none of the hype of Soho or manic pre-theatre rush of Covent Garden. RECOMMENDED: Check out London's 50 Best Restaurants. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

July 2026: Our latest update includes tasty new openings Tiella in Bethnal Green and Casa Felicia in Queen's Park, as well as much-loved neighbourhood joints like Peckham's Artusi, the legendary Ciao Bella in Bloomsbury and Lardo in Hackney. Try also the well-worth-seeking-out Polentina in Bow and walk-ins only Canteen in Notting Hill. If you've got the cash to spare, there are super plush spots such as Luca and Murano, which both have Michelin stars. If you're on budget, then one-stop pasta shop Padella is a good shout, and if you're really, really skint, then a simple coffee and cannoli at Bar Italia is never a bad move. Wherever you end up, London’s Italian dining scene is irreproachable.  London’s best Italian restaurants at a glance:  🇮🇹 Best for an old school vibe: Ciao Bella, Bloomsbury 💅 Best for the fashion crowd: Auguste, London Fields 🍕 Best for pub pizza: Elephant, Clapton 🍝 Best for pasta: Artusi, Peckham 🍷 Best for date night: Brutto, Farringdon Pasta and pizza are way more than just fast-food comfort carbs at these exceptional London restaurants and trattorias, which excel in properly good and authentic Italian cuisine. The basics – a creamy carbonara, say, or a simple margherita – are all present and correct, but the capital’s repertoire extends to stylish antipasti, sourdough pizzas, richly sauced pasta and beyond. You can also find finely crafted specialities drawn from the traditional trattorias of the rustic south and fashion-conscious north of the

July 2026: There's a brand new Number 1, with the exceptional Maai by Nikita in Clapham taking the top spot as our favourite new restaurant in London. Other fresh additions include Auguste and Teal in London Fields, Jackson Boxer's Vesper in Clerkenwell, All Roads in Brixton, Bar Etna in Newington Green and the nearby Golden Tooth gastropub, Maza in Mayfair, Oudh 1722 in Borough, and the sensational supper club at Haggerston cafe, Logma. Hungry yet? Every week, a frankly silly amount of brilliant new restaurants, cafés and street food joints arrive in London. Which makes whittling down a shortlist of the best newbies a serious challenge. But here it is. The 20 very best new restaurants in the capital, ranked in order of greatness and deliciousness. All of them have opened over the past 12 months and been visited by our hungry critics. So go forth and take inspo from this list, which is updated regularly. Check in often to find out what we really rate on the London restaurant scene. And look here for all the info about the best new openings in July 2026. London's best new restaurants at a glance: 🍝 Central: Osteria Vibrato, Soho 🍷 North: The Golden Tooth, Newington Green 🦐 South: The Victory, East Dulwich 🍝 East: Holy Carrot, Spitalfields 🥗 West: Maai by Nikita, Fulham Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in London. The hottest new openings, the tasties

The yearly unveiling of the Michelin Guide’s ‘Great Britain and Ireland’ edition is always big news in the UK food-nerd world. For very good reason, too – London is one of the top-ranked cities in the world for fine dining. And it’s got plenty of those coveted stars. Newcomers on 2026’s list include the excellent Legado in Shoreditch, as well as Ambassadors Clubhouse in Mayfair, gastropub The Kerfield Arms in Camberwell, and 12-seater Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, which is on the 60th floor of 22 Bishopsgate in the City. They join plenty more places that also appear in our meticulously compiled list of the best restaurants in London. Newly minted two star restaurants for 2026 include Bonheur by Matt Abé in Mayfair, which takes over the site previously occupied by the legendary Le Gavroche, and only launched at the end of 2025. Row on 5 on Savile Row was also awarded a second star, after winning its debut star last year. No new London restaurant was awarded three stars in 2026. While Michelin’s expertise on expensive, upmarket restaurants is well known, the Michelin Guide has been criticised for its lack of relevance to ordinary diners. Conspicuous by their absence yet again are London’s more affordable places to eat. Still, if you’re feeling flush, read on to find all London restaurants with a Michelin star (or two, or three). London’s best Michelin star restaurants at a glance:  👛 Best value: Casa Fofò, Hackney 💰 Best for a blow-out: The Ritz Restaurant, Mayfair 🫚 Best

Updated July 2026: Welcome to our new ranking of the Top 50 restaurants in London for the year. Every summer we give this legendary list a thorough makeover and announce a brand new Number 1, and that’s what we did last month. This is a snapshot of where London dining is at right now; a city of global flavours, hilariously varying budgets and some of the best food you’ve ever eaten. We’re extremely proud of what this city has to offer and especially pleased to crown Camille in Borough Market as the Best London Restaurant of 2026.  Best Restaurants in London: Our Critics’ Picks: ⭐ Best Michelin-star restaurant: St John, Clerkenwell - a London institution and inspiration for pretty much every great modern restaurant you’ve ever eaten at. 👛 Best affordable restaurant: Lanzhou Lamian Noodle Bar, Covent Garden - late-night noodles at a great price. 🥦 Best vegetarian restaurant: Holy Carrot, Spitalfields - a lively bistro with inventive plant-based dishes.  🍝 Best Italian restaurant: Tiella, Bethnal Green - a new school trattoria with old school energy. 🍻 Best gastropub: The Golden Tooth, Green Lanes - a proper pub with proper food. Order the stargazy pie.  London doesn’t stand still and neither do we. We’re constantly adding new restaurants to the list and taking away ones that no longer make the grade. From freshly starred fine-dining rooms and hidden gems to neighbourhood favourites, these are the 50 restaurants we think you need to be eating out at in London right now. M

June 2026: From Asian patisseries to sourdough specialists and beigel gurus, when it comes to bakeries London is one big doughy goldmine. This means whittling down the very best bakehouses in the city is no mean feat. But, we’ve risen to the challenge and eaten our way through the lot to round up London’s yeasty royalty. The best London bakeries at a glance: 🥐 Best for croissants: Toad, Camberwell 🍩 Best for beignets: Fortitude, Bloomsbury 🍯 Best for sticky buns: Bunhead Bakery, Herne Hill 🍞 Best for bread: Dusty Knuckle, Dalston 🫓 Best for flatbreads: Babans Naan, Finsbury Park 🍰 Best for mankoushe: Edami, Hackney Whether you want fluffy naan breads from north London institutions, exquisitely-made pastries, perfectly-proved sourdough, or heritage-grain flaky goodness, there’s an oven in London cooking up something for you. Why not pair your pastry goodies with a hot drink at one of the best cafés and coffee shops in London?  RECOMMENDED: London's best cheap eats. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. The hottest new openings, the tastiest tips, the spiciest reviews: we’re serving it all on our London restaurants WhatsApp channel. Follow us now.

Londoners love coffee. In the summer, the city’s coffee shops are swarming with queues of thirsty commuters hankering for an iced latte. During the rest of the year, hot coffee pumps through our veins. Whether it’s a flat white or a chai latte, the capital’s cafés and coffee shops are here churning out caffeine-laden cups to keep you buzzing. There are plenty of spots for speciality drinks too, like pumpkin, turmeric or matcha lattes. Read on for our top picks of London’s best coffee shops, stands and stalls. Many of these super spots are also great for all the freelancers out there, acting as de facto offices – as long as you keep the rounds of cake coming.  RECOMMENDED: Best breakfasts in London.  Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Lardo has been a Hackney failsafe since the heady days of 2012. A blissfully fuss-free and reliable neighbourhood pizza parlour, its semi-industrial set-up on Richmond Road acted as a Swiss Army knife of restaurants; not only ideal for washing away Spurstowe hangovers, but for entertaining troublesome toddlers and dates you weren’t sure were definitely dates. A menu bristling with anarchic innovation It didn’t particularly need to switch things up (aside from tackling thr hilarious trek through an apartment block foyer to find the shared toilets) but almost 15 years after opening, Lardo has reinvented itself by installing the idiosyncratic Marta Sandini in the kitchen. After stints at triple Michelin-starred Hiša Franko in Slovenia and the one-star Luca in Clerkenwell, as well as a little time in China, the Veneto-raised chef has been tasked with bringing Lardo up to par with east London’s new wave of trendy tablecloth trattorias (Tiella, Auguste, Dalla etc).  Rather than leaning into their sleek energy, she’s done it with a global approach to casual Italian cuisine that’s as playful as it is unhinged. Take, for example, a giant spring roll stuffed with smooshed potato and mushed-up mushroom, which rests its heroically crispy bottom on a puddle of parmesan cream and crispy chilli oil. Tuscan dining by way of Cantonese cookery, it’s an A-list take on a Findus Crispy Pancake. Insane? Yes, but whole-heartedly brilliant, too. Slightly more sensible, but only just, is a brined wa

Uncle John’s Bakery has been serving Ghanaian specialities to Tottenham for over 30 years. Set up in 1995 by John and Emelia Mensah, the family-run bakery is famous for its soft and brilliantly bouncy sweet bread, but also has a host of other tricks up its sleeve. There are bags of savoury chin chin snacks with cracked black pepper and warm bofrot doughnuts (try the addictive coconut version with a crunchy, deep-fried outer layer), as well as hot pies which are individually heated up for customers. Our favourite is the fish pie, where flakey and toothsome butter shortcrust pastry is stuffed with sardines, onions, tomatoes and Ghanaian spices. The ideal lunch to-go. As well as committed regulars who’ve been coming since the bakery opened, a recent visitor to Uncle John’s was John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana.

The Victory has a rousing origin story. Much-loved local restaurant Franklins was a jewel in East Dulwich’s not insignificant dining crown, but closed earlier this year after 26 years in business. Aghast, the locals rallied, including restaurateur Jamie Younger of the nearby and equally beloved Begging Bowl. Within weeks, the place was his. A new name was easy. Before Franklins was Franklins it was a pub called The Victory, and the name, previously hidden by a Franklins hoarding, remained carved in sturdy tile at the top of the building. Suddenly there was a new southeast London gastropub that seemed like it’d been there forever, because in a way, it had.  Grilled langoustines bring some Cajun energy to the table This year has seen a wave of gastropubs doing things a little differently. From The Golden Tooth to The Latimer, these aren’t just traditional restaurants bulldozing their way into a pub space, but proper boozers with proper food, with plenty of room for anyone who just wants five pints for dinner and nothing more. The Victory fits the fresh mould with steely relish and relaxed aplomb. This is by no means Younger’s first rodeo, and he’s got former Noble Rotter Seán Breen in to exec chef the menu, which is a little bit French and a whole lot perfect for the heatwave during which we eat a not insignificant proportion of it.  In the elegant but not overblown back room, classic cocktails (make ours an aviation, captain) are sipped in dainty Nick & Nora glasses as we sna

As I polish off east London’s smallest vanilla ice-cream, I can’t help but think I’ve been dosed with potion and wound up in an Alice's Adventures In Wonderland fever dream. This diminutive scoop comes at the end of a majestic meal pumped full of psychedelic Victoriana from chef Sally Abe.  More greens than a Beatrix Potter illustration You might already be familiar with Teal, as this living room-like space on the quaint Wilton Way has already been home to two great east London restaurants; Michelin star-scoring Pidgin and scotched olive sensation Sesta. Yet the venue feels wildly different from its previous incarnations. It remains shoebox-like in size, but now possesses the gentle energy of a parochial bistro in the Cotswolds, with soft green walls, upholstered bar stools and marble-topped tables.  It makes for a bucolic backdrop to the freshest of veg, the meatiest of meats, and more greens than a Beatrix Potter illustration. Sally Abe’s progressive take on English country garden cookery casts her as a millennial Mrs Beeton, and with her years at game-tastic Harwood Arms (there’s a framed picture of her Fulham alma mater by the loo), the menu is rooted in tradition, but unafraid to give it a tender kick up the arse.  Our timewarp feast starts with ‘savouries’, i.e. salty little Victorian picnic snacks. Locket’s savoury is the best, a pissed-up Beau Brummell-worthy midnight feast where pears and stilton are served on toast, while a girthy brawn scotch egg hums even more vi

Ornella is a bit of a looker. Sat on London Fields’ village-y Wilton Way, its quaint, butterscotch exterior gleams, and, as if placed there by central casting, two elegant girlies sip orange wine in the Sunday afternoon sunshine. It’s a Pinterest-perfect scene, and inside is even more aesthetically perfect; half-pannelled wood walls, a 1960s trattoria energy, and daubed floral paintings that have either been done by a six-year-old genius or a 78-year-old drunk. Either way, lovely stuff.  Tajarin al brodo di cipolla is a lesson in minimalism The latest from the team behind Highbury’s Lupa (which does hearty Roman cookery, such as creamy pastas with plenty of guanciale, as well as hunks of porchetta and salty spuds), Ornella’s thing is contrastingly chic Milanese cuisine, meaning everything is a little more stripped back. For some dishes this works a treat, the tajarin al brodo di cipolla is a lesson in minimalism; a dark and moody roscoff onion broth provides a murky moat around a proud hillock of tagliolini, with two squares of molten cheese on toast provided for mopping up purposes. Branzino in a bag is also impressive, the sea bass flaky, the beurre blanc heroically buttery, and a fresh and bright preboggion sauce of green herbs to add into the mix. Yet our chicken Milanese, though cooked well, lacks pizzaz. Unlike the fennel and apple-accessorised version at Tiella down the road, there’s little to tart up this smashed cutlet aside from mayo. For £26, couldn’t they have se

Perhaps the most iconic motel in America, the Madonna Inn is a roaringly fun roadside attraction. From its Disney-esque Alpine turrets and bright pink tennis courts to the swirling, psychedelic carpets and 110 themed guest rooms and suites, a stay here is comparable only to being locked inside Dolly Parton’s powder room.  Construction king and rancher Alex Madonna and his wife Phyliss opened this vast monument to kitsch just outside the small central coast town of San Luis Obispo in 1958. Surrounded by the rolling hills of California wine country it’s a theme park and hotel rolled into one and no two rooms are the same. Spanning the sublime to the ridiculous, you can hunker down in a room that recalls 1880s riverboats, an English country estate, the story of William Tell, the cliffs of Yosemite or antique cars. The throughline is a very blousy, very 1960s brand of camp. I stayed in ‘Romance’, a baby blue confection of Louis XVI-style sofas and flock wallpaper with a mezzanine level and Swiss-style wooden balcony which wouldn’t seem out of place on a Lee Hazlewood album cover. Most bathrooms feature showers hewn from rock, while a number of bedrooms are modeled entirely on Flintstones-like caverns and giant boulders make up much of the resort’s main building. If you’re looking for lowkey minimalism, you’ve come to the wrong place.  Alex Madonna died in 2004, but this landmark property is still run by the Madonna family and retains the friendly feel of an independent operation.

What’s the vibe? When people talk about Glastonbury, it’s usually in reference to the internationally renowned local music festival or its major league status on the druidic scene. They probably aren’t talking about the Somerset town as a food destination. But Queen of Cups might change all of that. With chef Ayesha Kalaji in charge, this Michelin Bib Gourmand-recommended gastropub opened in 2021 and has been quietly wowing locals ever since. Set inside a 17th century coaching inn off the town’s main drag of crystal shops and incense emporiums, there’s a small nod to Glastonbury’s hippy heritage in the restaurant’s tarot card-referencing name, but that’s where the woo-woo ends. The innovative menu is the product of Ayesha’s Welsh-Jordanian heritage, meaning Middle Eastern flavours peppered with Welsh touches – such as laverbread falafels – all made with local Somerset and West Country produce.  What should I order? Let’s talk some more about those falafels. Dark and crunchy on the outside, gloriously green on the inside and with some perky fronds of lime-pickled fennel on the top, they’re a must-order, hot and oily in the best possible way. This being Glastonbury, the menu is extremely vegetarian and vegan-friendly, but there is a decent amount of meat and fish available. You can order the silky hummus with crispy chilli and sweetly spiced date confiture with or without a dollop of creamy apricot and harissa hogget. Puffs of Moroccan-style frena bread come hot and pillowy and

Mayfair is on a voyage of discovery. With The Dover leading the charge, this once shamelessly flashy neighbourhood is currently seeing a barrage of actually really quite good restaurant openings. Cringe outposts for oligarchs and confused tourists be damned!  The Greek salad is a primo example of the form Maza is proudly one of the new guard. That’s not to say that this Greek ‘neo-taverna’ isn’t plush. Situated directly opposite old school steakhouse Guinea Grill on bougie Bruton Place, it’s a convivial, low-ceilinged space with conspiratorial, 1970s conversation pit energy, and a mirrored walkway to the bathrooms that you may find overwhelming after two cocktails. The trouble is, you’ll want to have at least three, because their tzatziki martini, which is laced with the pine forest hum of mastiha, is enthralling.  When it comes to food, the menu is big and – pleasingly – the portions even more so. A complimentary puck of ‘maza’ bread comes first, but it’s the leek loaf, brushed with olive oil and flaunting its char marks, that really impresses, especially when dipped into a tzatziki that’s as thick and rich as the fellas loitering by the Lamborghini shop around the corner. The Greek salad is a primo example of the form; succulent cherry tomatoes, crumbly feta, crisp cucumbers and snappable chunks of rusk to soak up all the juice. The tuna crudo, dressed with sundried Mediterranean ponzu, is beautifully thick and fleshy, and round courgette cakes come on like falafel after a

This stately hotel is as much part of the fabric of Rome as the Colosseum or Trevi Fountain. Hotel Eden dates back to 1889 – which is pretty recent for such an ancient city – and was built as an apartment building before quickly being converted into a hotel. Swanky from the start, it was the first hotel in Rome with elevators and electricity and remains the height of luxury. Since 2013 it’s been part of the Dorchester Collection, alongside the London hotel of the same name, the Beverly Hills Hotel in California and Le Meurice in Paris, so you’re in safe (and extremely) fancy hospitality hands. Why stay at Hotel Eden? This lavish six storey hotel had a thorough revamp in 2017, and the number of guest rooms was cut from 121 to 98, meaning bigger and better suites in addition to a glitzy new rooftop restaurant. If you’re used to the finer things in life, you’ll feel very at home here, and if you’re set on exploring Rome by foot (the easiest way to traverse such a hectic city), then you’ve found the ideal base. Painted bright yellow and sat on the corner of Via Ludovisi, it’s situated directly to the south of the landscaped Villa Borghese gardens. You’re also a moment’s stroll from the Spanish Steps as well as the ultra classy Via Veneto. Ten minutes more and you’ll get to the chaos of the Trevi Fountain. Compared to the crowds outside, Eden feels like an oasis.  What are the rooms like at Hotel Eden? There are 68 rooms and 30 suites. Ours has high ceilings, mirrored wardrobes, a

Hiding in plain sight, you’ll find the demure Camille in one of the busiest foodie destinations in London, if not the world. Happily, it’s on the very edge of Borough Market, meaning you don’t have to experience the full chaos of the foodie nexus, merely skirt around the rim.  Eating at Camille is basically a religious experience  Camille is a small, pretty place. There are a handful of tables outside, and a chic burgundy and primrose colour scheme within. It doesn’t shout about its elegance, but rather whispers it seductively into your ear. There are white candles dotted about the mirrored dining room, some of them dripping with so much built-up wax one might confuse the place with a bijoux gothic cathedral. You’re not too far off, though, because eating at Camille is basically a religious experience.  Opened a couple of years back by the same team behind Soho’s Ducksoup, this French bistro immediately blew its forebear out of the water thanks to the skill and tenacity of head chef Elliot Hashtroudi. Learning his way around a carcass at St John (and his way around Borough Market at Padella across the road), he was tempted into the kitchen following a run of giddily-received pop-ups across the capital, ready to indulge in the regional cookery he fell in love with when visiting his aunt in the south of France, but with local British produce.  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 c

Ever wanted to ditch real life and run away to the Tuscan countryside? We’ve found the perfect place to do just that. Bid farewell to friends, family and significant others before pitching up at the luscious L’Andana. Set amongst vineyards and olive groves, and with rolling mountains in the distance, this historic hotel has an exclusive-feeling energy, which makes sense – the main building was the summer gaff of Grand Duke Leopold II in the mid 1800s. It remains deeply regal – as well as the sprawling grounds, dotted with roses and rosemary, there are three pools, a classy spa and a Michelin star restaurant.  Why stay at L'Andana? Come here for a peaceful stay with a hint of Godfather-worthy majesty. First impressions count for a lot, and the one made by L’Andana is spectacular. Guests reach this hillside escape via a long, umbrella pine tree-lined approach which makes for a fittingly cinematic build-up to one of the loveliest hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. There’s also a helipad, should you wish to arrive in a James Bond-like fashion. There’s not much to do at the hotel apart from chill the hell out, which you can do by the picture perfect pool, or by sauntering around the landscaped grounds, indulging in a cake-heavy breakfast buffet and sipping Vermentino at the on-site winery. Come sunset, swallows chirp wildly as they murmurate around the main – they’re the only souls here who are in a less than majorly relaxed state, the poor things.  What are the rooms

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.  Once a rampantly mid pub called The Leconfield, this vast Green Lanes boozer’s makeover is subtle but important. It’s fabulously roomy inside, with a designated dining area under colossal sky lights. There are a couple of discreet paintings, a few flourishing pot plants, but no wanky or unnecessary touches. Unlike Papi (which closed earlier this year, its building now home to the excellent Auguste), The Golden Tooth is not particularly ‘London’, it’s simply a pub; the ideal blank canvas for the regal cookery and wondrous wine choices of the Papi chappies, aka chef Matthew Scott and sommelier Charlie Carr.  This is powerful and intense food A gin pickle martini, mellowed with a splash of elderflower, and the liquid roast dinner that is a rosemary vodka version, are greedily sipped as the first menu highlight amongst many arrives. It’s 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, offering an unparalleled decadence. On top are some naughty summer truffle shavings, and there’s a glistening slab of beef dripping toast to pile it onto. Yet despite the indulgent ingredients, there's a playful lightness to the dish. Bury me with a bowl of it.  Next comes plump mussels resting

While Michelin stars only get announced once a year (London’s last batch of stars were dished out in February), Michelin adds new restaurants to its Michelin Guide every month or so. Additions are made based on the assessments of Michelin’s army of anonymous restaurant inspectors, and a place in the guide puts restaurants in the running to get a coveted Michelin star.  How does a restaurant make the grade? They must prove that they have quality ingredients, mastery of flavour and cooking techniques and consistency. It also helps if the personality of the chef shines through in their cookery. Last month, just three London restaurants passed muster. Here’s everything you need to know about them.  RECOMMENDED: Every Michelin starred restaurant in London. Burro, Covent Garden The newest restaurant from Conor Gadd, chef co-owner of Islington’s pasta paradise Trullo, has a simple concept; classic Italian dishes made with primo ingredients. There’s bruschetta of Venetian chicken livers, fried artichokes with bottarga and chilli, tagliatelle with duck and porcini ragù, and a decadent vitello al burro AKA veal cooked in butter.   Helen CathcarttBurro Taq, Notting Hill Longstanding Notting Hill fave Taqueria recently got a serious spruce-up, as well as a new name; Taq. With Jackson Boxer of Brunswick House (and nearby Dove) on board, as well as new culinary director Eduardo Yishima (CDMX Tacos, Side Hustle), the Mexican restaurant has a totally new menu of tacos, tostadas and quesadi

A mini chain of independent coffee shops has been named England’s top place for a cup of joe in a new ranking by Europe’s 100 best coffee shops. Rosslyn, which has nine outlets in the City of London, was named 12th overall in Europe in the top 100, but was the highest ranking English coffee shop in the European rankings. The top rated coffee shop in Europe was Tim Wendelboe in Oslo, Norway, Speaking about the win, James Hennebry, Co-Founder and CEO of Rosslyn, commented: ‘To be counted among the best coffee shops in Europe is a huge deal. ‘The City of London has one of the richest coffee histories in the world, dating back to the 1600s, and we’ve always wanted to do our bit for the Square Mile and help London become the number one city for coffee in the world again.’ Rosslyn now qualifies for next year’s ranking of The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops, which will be revealed in March 2027.  Photograph: RosslynRosslyn Fenchurch Street Rosslyn – which has outlets on Fenchurch Street, London Wall, the Royal Exchange and Cannon Street – was founded in 2018 on Queen Victoria Street. Photograph: RosslynRosslyn Fenchurch Street The chain also features in Time Out’s own ranking of the very best coffee shops in London. ‘Rosslyn Coffee offers a friendly face in the often soulless financial district. The founders come from Australia and Ireland, and you can feel both nations present in the sheer hospitality of their coffee shops,’ we said. ‘Specialty coffee with charm is their thing.

One of the last bastions of ‘old Soho’ has closed down. St Moritz club and alpine-themed restaurant on Wardour Street had remained largely unchanged since it opened in 1960. Earlier this month it was announced that the venue would be shutting up shop. ‘The restaurant and club will be closed temporarily until further notice,’ said an Instagram post by the restaurant.  However, the closure is thought to be permanent by some. The long-running ska, punk, reggae and rhythm ’n’ blues night Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues Club – hosted by DJ Gaz Mayall – which has been at the venue since the 1990s after moving from Gossips on Dean Street, also posted: ‘Next Thursday we were due to celebrate the 46th anniversary of Gaz’s Rockin Blues at St Moritz which has sadly had to close due to pending change of ownership’. Check out some excellent photos of the club here.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by St Moritz Restaurant (@stmoritzrestaurant) The news follows the death of St Moritz owner, Armin Lötscher, who passed away in March of this year. ‘Soho has lost an icon, but we are forever grateful to have known him,’ said a post on the St Moritz Instagram account. ‘We will forever remember him as one of the great characters who have graced Soho, and we hope that you will keep him in your heart and memory. He has run the St. Moritz Restaurant and Club since the 60’s, and that is no easy feat, but he has never given up, never backed down, and remained an extraordinary persona

It seems somewhat fitting that the new residents at what was the Piccadilly Circus branch of Angus Steakhouse, which closed in 2021, will be US import Raising Cane’s. The fast food joint, which specialises in chicken fingers, was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1996, and now has over 900 locations in the US. The West End opening at 21-22 Coventry Street will be Raising Cane’s first European opening, but by no means the last - there are plans for more London diners this year, as well as drive-thru restaurants in Greater London.  The menu includes Crispy Chicken Fingers, which come with its house mayo-based dipping sauce ‘Cane’s Sauce®’, as well as buttered and griddled toast, coleslaw and crinkle-cut fries.  Photograph: Raising Cane’sRaising Cane’s feast Speaking about the new opening, Raising Cane’s founder, Todd Graves, commented: ‘We receive more requests to come to the UK than anywhere else in the world, so I started looking at real estate with the team a few years ago and began identifying top locations to open Raising Cane’s across London and the UK.’ He added that he’s also been looking at locations in the Strand, Oxford Circus, Paddington and South Bank.’ The chain is named after a labrador Graves once owned. Earlier this year, Angus Steakhouse closed one of its other few remaining central London locations. There are now only three London locations remaining of the once-thriving, omnipresent and oft-mocked Angus Steakhouse chain, including Leicester Square and Padd

Some of our favourite places to eat in London might have shuttered this year, but there is hope, believe us. This summer sees the launch of numerous new restaurants where you can stuff yourself with impunity. We now bring you all the places that it’s worth getting excited about during July, with BBQ for the sunny days ahead, a limited edition set lunch inspired by the most hyped London art exhibition in years, and a diner where you can get drunk on Friday night and return on Saturday morning to sort out the hangover.  Still desperate for more? In case you missed it, this iconic pie and mash shop just reopened in Angel, and we’ve just reviewed new openings Teal in London Fields, Maai in Clapham by a Masterchef champ, Vesper in Exmouth Market from Time Out fave Jackson Boxer, and the lavish Oudh 1722 in Borough.   The best new restaurants opening in London, July 2026 Hon's BBQHon's BBQ 1.The brilliant barbecue Hon’s BBQ, Hackney Wick Ok, we’re excited about this one. Taking over the former Silo site is a Chinese-Texas BBQ joint run by chef Man Hon Luk, which has already wowed meat-hungry Londoners during a residency stint at nearby bar All My Friends. Everything will be smoked on-site, and the menu looks set to include short rib with Sichuan peppercorn sauce, Iberico pork ribs in a Texan rub, and Taiwanese pork belly. There’ll also be all manner of excellent sides, such as Lap Cheong sausage smoked mac and cheese. Opens: July 17 Address: First Floor, Unit 7, The White Buildi

In a year that’s seen a host of great London restaurants closing, we bring you sad news of another.  Bethnal Green’s excellent Italian restaurant Ombra will be shutting its doors at the end of this week, with owners citing rising costs and rates as the reason. ‘In our 15 years at Hackney's canalside we've never traded through an environment quite like the one we're experiencing now,’ said an Instagram post announcing the closure. ‘In the last couple of years we've been consumed by a rising tide of labour costs, utilities, rent hikes, business rate increases and the most stubborn VAT policy in Europe.’ Photograph: Harriet LangfordOmbra The pasta restaurant, which opened in 2011, was a Time Out favourite. ‘A canalside restaurant that wears its scuffed edges and imperfections with pride, Ombra just might be one of Hackney’s most well-loved restaurants,’ said Time Out’s most recent review. ‘Since Milanese super-chef Mitshel Ibrahim took over in 2018, this unapologetically ramshackle neighbourhood Italian has gone from being a local favourite to a city-wide smash.’  Ombra’s spin-off bakery, Forno, will remain open at sites in Hackney, Leytonstone and at the cafe in the Ragged School Museum in Mile End. Their ‘Brillo’ Friday night pizza evenings at Forno on Andrews Road in Hackney will also continue to run.  🇮🇹 The best Italian restaurants in London. Did you see that an iconic north London pie and mash shop has reopened? Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from

It’s been a bit of a bloodbath when it comes to the number of great London restaurants that have closed so far this year.  At the halfway point of 2026, a host of legendary London eateries have shuttered, from our favourite east London graveyard burrito takeout spot Bad Manners to Holloway laksa bar Sambal Shiok. Many have cited rising operating costs such as business and VAT rates, which has lead to the likes of the #VATsTheProblem campaign, which is supported by many of the industry’s leading chefs, and is calling for hospitality VAT to be cut to 10 percent.  Other restaurants we wish to RIP include vegetarian pizza joint Flat Earth in Bethnal Green and historic Notting Hill Italian Da Maria. The best London restaurants that have shut in 2026 so far Here’s a full list of Time Out’s most-missed restaurants, which all closed in the past six months.  Photograph: Rebecca DickinsonOmbra Ombra, Bethnal Green Closing June  This is your last chance to grab fresh pasta from canal-side Italian Ombra. They’re open until the end of this week. Happily, their bakery Forno – which has sites in Leytonstone and Hackney – will remain open. ‘In our 15 years at Hackney’s canalside we’ve never traded through an environment quite like the one we’re experiencing now,’ said the owners on Instagram. ‘In the last couple of years we’ve been consumed by a rising tide of labour costs, utilities, rent hikes, business rate increases and the most stubborn VAT policy in Europe.’ Photograph: Alex Lambert

When is a pub not a pub? When it’s a gastropub. To be fair, some of our favourite gastropubs are ones that feel as much like a proper boozer as they do a real restaurant. Our brand new list of the very best gastropubs in the UK reflects this approach and we’re lucky enough to have two of Time Out’s top 21 UK gastropubs in London. One of them is south of the river, and one is north, which makes it nice and even. RECOMMENDED: The best gastropubs in London. Time Out’s best UK gastropubs 2026: The Camberwell Arms The south London champ is The Camberwell Arms, a legend of the game and a place that’s been pumping out spectacular food since it launched as a gastropub back in 2014. Expect the likes of crispy barbecued mackerel on sweet and sour peppers, pork loin chop with red cabbage, and crispy fried pig’s head with piccalilli. Find it on the gourmand’s paradise that is Camberwell Church Street, where you can also feast yourself stupid at one of our favourite London Cheap Eats, Falafel and Shawarma. It’s just down the way from sandwich diner Cafe Mondo, too.   JW HowardCamberwell Arms Time Out’s best UK gastropubs 2026: Red Lion & Sun Red Lion & SunRed Lion & Sun Our north London entry is Highgate’s deeply charming Red Lion & Sun. This longstanding and historic 1920s-built spot is cosy in the winter and blissful in the summer, with an intimate garden at the back and a larger outdoor area facing the road at the front.  It might also be the only gastropub known as much for its po

Camille - which we recently crowned the best restaurant in London for 2026 - is branching out into burgers.  Head chef of the Borough-based French restaurant, Elliot Hashtroudi, will be teaming up with Zula Burger in Marylebone next month for a limited edition offering inspired by his favourite burger to make at home. Called ‘The Eric Cantona Burger’, it compromises one Aubrey Allen beef patty, with British blue cheese, homemade caramelised onion chutney, mayonnaise and pickles. It’ll be served in Zula Burger’s homemade brioche buns.    ALBERTO ZAMANIEGOZula x Camille   ‘Bold, brazen and blue!’, says Hashtroudi of the burger. ‘A classic combo of cheese and onion in the French way.’ The burger will be available for two weeks only, from July 6-20. There will only be 20 available per day, so get a wiggle on if you want to sample its pungent loveliness.  Find Zula Burger at 5 Old Quebec Street, W1H 7AF. It’s open daily from midday until 10pm and is walk-ins only. It opened in 2024 and was founded in Istanbul in 2017. Zula’s series of special chef takeovers has already seen one-off burgers from the likes of Ana Ortiz and Rahel Stephanie.  These are Time Out’s favourite burgers in London.  Plus: a London burger was named best in the world. Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight

We’ve been waiting for this news for a while and frankly, we’re thrilled to announce that former Mangal II chef Sertaç Dirik is opening a brand new restaurant in Soho. Dirik is joining forces with restaurateur David Carter of Oma, Agora and Smokestak to launch Kid in Soho this September. Kid will take inspiration from Dirik’s Turkish heritage and be the chef’s first standalone restaurant, following his years at his family ocakbaşı, Mangal II, which he left in 2023.  Kid will open at 55 Frith Street. The menu will based around the central Anatolian food Dirik was raised on, with pide bread, meze and salatas and çökelek cheese made in-house as well as içli köfte with aged ex-dairy beef, as well as Cornish lamb saddle with roast garlic and sivri pepper ezme, and braised goat kid. There will also be traditional Turkish coffee and teas, as well as Turkish delight and cherry and pecan baklava to finish.  Speaking about the opening, Sertaç Dirik said: ‘At its core, KID is a restaurant that aims to show the vastness of Turkish cooking, expressed with the warmth you’d come to expect from someone’s home. Utilising the techniques I grew up learning from my parents, I feel it is an absolute privilege to serve you this summer in London’s most distinctive neighbourhood.’ Photograph: KidKid, new restaurant in Soho David Carter added: ‘I have been a long-term supporter of Mangal II, both in its OG days and then in its reincarnation in 2020 when Sertaç boldly reinvented what Turkish cooking

There’s an awful lot happening in West Kensington right now. Earlier this week, the historic Olympia exhibition centre began its lavish £1.3 billion relaunch, complete with a 3,800 capacity live music venue, and reimagined rooftop space full of drinking and dining options.  As well as Mexican-styled Bar Arriba, Japanese cocktail bar Wolves of Tokyo and English small plates at Lillie’s, the rooftop will host a brand new (and massive) food hall called Arbour under its vast retractable glass roof. Despite its size, the sprawling 9,000 square foot Arbour will contain only four dining and drinking destinations, including Fry Baby, which will serve gourmet fried chicken, a ‘farm-to-fork’ diner called The Rambler, Whammy Burger for smash burgers and coffee and pastry spot Café Modo.   Image: IncipioWhammy, Arbour   These new dining spots join the all-day restaurant, Idalia, which opened in Olympia’s Grade-II*-listed Victorian Pillar Hall earlier this year. Inspired by an English country house, Idalia is draped with greenery and flanked by Corinthian columns. It’s next to the speakeasy-style Pepperbird cocktail bar.  The new music venue opens this week, with two gigs from Self Esteem. It will be known as the British Airways ARC (British Airways is the venue’s naming rights partner), and will be located above the 140 year old building’s existing west exhibition hall.  More openings are set for the space over the next year, including two hotels; the Hyatt Regency London Olympia and c

Now that we’re fully in al fresco drinking season, we’re more than happy to welcome a brand-new terrace boozing venue to London. Coppa Club will be launching a two-floor new site just across the way from its original Tower Bridge location later this summer. Coppa Club London Bridge will open on July 23 at 2 More London Place, SE1 2JP, looking directly out onto HMS Belfast on the south side of the Thames. The ground floor will have an outdoor terrace, and the top floor will have a wrap-around mezzanine restaurant with epic London views.  There are 14 Coppa Club locations across the south of the UK, including in Bristol, Bath and Guildford. The two-floor London Bridge opening will join other London outlets in Marylebone and Putney, and will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as drinks and remote working, if you’d like to be a freelance creative with a view. You can probably wave to punters at the Tower Bridge Coppa Club from your table, as it’s situated just opposite on the north bank of the Thames at 3 Lower Thames Street. Speaking about the new Coppa Club, Mark Loughborough, Chief Executive Officer of Coppa Collective, said: ‘Few locations in London combine the energy, footfall and iconic surroundings of London Bridge. Having built one of our most successful venues opposite Tower Bridge, we know the area incredibly well and have long believed there was an opportunity to create something special on the south bank.  ‘With unrivalled views of Tower Bridge, a stunni