Leonie Cooper

If you're looking to grab a drink in central London, you've come to the right place. Soho boasts some of the best boozers in the city, but not all pubs here are alike. Avoid the tourist traps and instead use our insiders guide to getting the perfect pint – as well as some excellent people watching. If you think we've missed somewhere, that might be because we've been pretty damn empahtic when it comes to respecting and honouring the traditional boundaries of Soho. Here you'll find boozers within the area marked by Oxford Street to the north, Charing Cross Road to the east, Regent Street to the west and Shaftesbury Avenue to the south. Nothing more, but certainly nothing less. See you at the bar.  RECOMMENDED: These are the best restaurants in Soho. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Fish and chips is London’s quintessential street food. It originated with the fried fish sold by Sephardic Jews in the seventeenth century, before being refined over the centuries into the golden, battered, crispy delight we know and love today. Traditionally, it involved cod, which used to be as cheap as, well, chips. But these days, dwindling stocks of the fish mean that London's fryers are getting creative: you’ll find halibut, hake, calamari and more on many chip shop menus. When done well, fish and chips is a stodgy godsend, ready to be drenched in salt and vinegar, and dipped into a delicious pot of mushy peas. When it’s bad, it’s just a load of beige. So let’s take the element of risk out of it. Here are the best places to get your fry on in London.  RECOMMENDED: London’s best seafood restaurants. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Enjoy a drink with your dinner but find restaurant mark-ups hard to swallow? If you’re on the hunt for some seriously cheap eats, your best bet is to find a place to eat that lets you bring your own booze (wine, beer or spirits) to the table. We’re here to help you do just that, with our selection of London’s best BYOB restaurants. From Pakistani curry houses to Turkish kebab joints, these eateries will all let you turn up with a bottle of something delicious in tow. Some charge corkage fees, while others keep things cheap and cheerful and let you pop your cork for free. Read on for full details and find more free things to do in London here while you’re at it.  RECOMMENDED: Here are London’s best cheap eats.

Sunday lunch. There’s nothing quite like it. An elemental meal, one that Londoners take incredibly seriously. Debates about what constitutes the ‘perfect’ Sunday roast have been known to last for hours. There is no shortage of top roasts in London. We’ve rounded up the city’s best Sunday meals from a host of homely pubs and restaurants all around town. What makes a good roast? For us, it’s simple; a cosy room is a good start, maybe in a pub with an open fire. Then it comes to the plate – we need perfect roast potatoes, well-cooked lamb, beef or pork and a decent plant-based option too. A Sunday roast is more than just lunch - it’s self-care. From snug neighbourhood staples to more bijou gastropubs, and even a heavy metal bar in Camden, we’ve got something for every taste (if that taste is for comforting mounds of roast meat, lashings of gravy and carbs for days).  A lot of these places get quite busy, so you’re always advised to book ahead to avoid disappointment.  May 2025: Sure, the summer isn't quite peak roast season in London, but we still need a decent hangover cure come Sunday, and a big old lunch (with a pint) always does the job. To make this ranking more seasonally appropriate, we've bumped up some of the best al fresco offerings, with From The Ashes's brilliant barbecue lunch taking the top spot. Here, you can sit in the sunshine at Five Points Brewery in Hackney while munching your meat. Another good option for this time of year is The Dragon Flame at the Star of

Peckham locals have always been proud of the area’s brand: a melting pot of cultural vibrancy, eccentric individuals, and an artsy, young DIY crowd thanks to nearby Goldsmiths University and Camberwell College of Arts. It rivals Dalston and all those other East End upstarts as the place to hang out, and it’s the perfect spot for new restaurants to find their feet. Here are some of the best in the area, as well as a host of notable places to eat just down the road in Camberwell, too.  RECOMMENDED: The best 50 restaurants in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Shoreditch is a dining destination for hipsters, tourists and ravenous city workers alike, so it’s no wonder that there are restaurants of all cuisines and price ranges in the always-buzzy area. But which of the many options deserve your time and money? Let us tell you, with our list of the best restaurants in Shoreditch and Spitalfields, which only features places that we know will hit the spot. From Michelin-starred favourites (including the UK’s only Michelin starred vegan restaurant) for big spenders to stellar street-food joints. Go east and feast. RECOMMENDED: The best bars, pubs and rooftops 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.)

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 in the past year and been visited by our hungry critics. So go forth and take inspo from this list, which features everything from fun bistro action at Hello JoJo in Camberwell, bawdy British fare at Rake in Highbury, Brit/Thai mashups at AngloThai in Marylebone, vegan Michelin star goodness at Shoreditch’s Plates, hip fish bar Tollington’s in Finsbury Park, Iberian inventiveness at Tasca in Bethnal Green and The Most Controversial Restaurant in London™, The Yellow Bittern in King’s Cross. This list is updated regularly, so check in often to find out what we really rate on the London restaurant scene.  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 tastiest tips, the spiciest reviews: we’re serving it all on our London restaurants WhatsApp channel. Follow us now to tuck in.

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘TV’s golden age’ enough times over the past couple of decades to get wary of the hyperbole, but this year does seem to be shaping up to be a kind of mini golden age for the TV follow-up. Severance, Andor and The Last of Us all look like building on incredibly satisfying first runs with equally masterful second runs (even more masterful, in Severance’s case). The third season of The White Lotus has proved that, whether you love it or find it a touch too languorous, there’s no escaping Mike White’s transgressive privilege-in-paradise satire. Likewise for season 7 of Charlie Brooker’s dystopian-flavoured sci-fi Black Mirror. Watercooler viewing is everywhere at the moment,  and that’s not going to change anytime soon. Netflix has announced the finale of Squid Game this summer, along with the end of Stranger Things, a second run of Tim Burton’s Wednesday, and about a zillion other things. Here’s everything you need to see... so far.  RECOMMENDED: 🎥 The best movies of 2025 (so far)🔥 The 100 best movies ever made📺 The 100 greatest ever TV shows you need to binge

The smog and stress of London can really take its toll on your skin. That’s why there’s nothing better than a regular facial (or a one-off treat) to give you that much-needed top-up, leaving you feeling glowing, fresh-faced and dewy.  Just thinking about what we put our skin through is enough to give you frown lines. That’s thanks to the combined efforts of pollution and air-conditioned offices, as well as the added bonuses of harsh weather, booze, sun exposure, dehydration and – our least favourite – the inevitable passing of time. Happily, there are loads of great spas, treatment rooms and estheticians in London who can give your face a break and a much-needed zhuzh. Whether you’re after a relaxing, soothing facial massage, some instant radiance, a total skincare overhaul or something a little more intense such as microneedling or laser treatment, read our pick of facials in London.  RECOMMENDED: The best spas in London. 

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 London as well. June 2025: We've just added a few new spots to this list now that summer is in full swing; the terrace at London Fields favourite (and one of the best restaurants in London) Sesta, for example. Of course, London weather is temperamental at best, so quite a few of these restaurants (such as Acme Fire Cult and Ombra) offer covered terraces, just in case the heavens open. Hopefully things will stay dry though, and you can enjoy sitting outside while wearing sunglasses, looking important and snacking on a little salt cod fritter. RECOMMENDED: These are the best rooftop bars in London.  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.

In Nashville, the food scene reflects the vibrant and thriving communities that have made Music City home. Once known for hot chicken and BBQ, Nashville is now home to fantastic Middle Eastern, Mexican and Portuguese cuisine, and so much more (don’t worry, the hot chicken is still great).  It’s no wonder, then, that new restaurants and eateries are opening almost daily, drawing New York City pop-ups and Texas taco outposts. Here you’ll find everything, from breakfast tacos to pizza and yakitori skewers that demand to be tasted, The best part? Many of these restaurants feature fresh ingredients picked from nearby farms, grown only miles away in Tennessee’s lush and verdant agriculture. It’s safe to assume that Nashville is brimming with culinary gems. You’ll just have to check out the best restaurants in Nashville for yourself. RECOMMENDED: 🍗 The best hot chicken in Nashville🍸 The best bars in Nashville📍 The best things to do in Nashville🏘️ The best Airbnbs in Nashville At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

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.

The Camberwell Riviera has surely reached its final form.  The gastronomical possibilities on the lively Church Street strip are now nigh-on endless; there’s the holy meat juice bread at FM Mangal, posh pub fare at the Camberwell Arms, burly bargain wraps at Falafel & Shawarma, lamb skewers at Silk Road, panuozzo and pizza at Theo’s, Kurdish soul food at Nandine, superlative sarnies at Cafe Mondo, and cult croissants at Toad, as well as Vietnamese, Nigerian and Greek spots. Is there even room for another restaurant? Hello JoJo seems to think so.  There’s something faintly medieval about the menu Though the concept doesn’t bark originality (Hello JoJo is planning to open as a bakery by day, while in the evening it serves seasonal plates both small and large), when we visit on a Friday, the place is rammed. The people of Camberwell truly love to eat! Their name might sound like a brand that makes hemp dungarees for toddlers (and the red and blue colour scheme does give off some serious preschool energy) but the Hello JoJo crowd are pleasantly pitched in the mate date and actual date hinterlands. Everyone blethers raucously and the front door is propped open so you can enjoy the tender chugging sound of the 171 bus. Such heady conviviality is helped no-end by £6 glasses of house wine. A warm, mini loaf of brown bread comes to the table alongside a requisite pickle plate, and a serving of cool, deftly whipped goat’s curd topped with a pool of luminous celery splodge and crunchy

It’s wild that nobody before has ever thought to name a restaurant ‘Town’. Think of the endless possibilities of ‘Town’! It’s the place everybody wants to go; the place where so many thrilling things happen; the place where, if you can make it there, you are highly likely to make it anywhere.   Town isn’t about the chaos of the city, but super seasonality, regenerative farming, and letting the produce speak for itself This new, shimmering incarnation of ‘Town’ can be found on the fringes of Covent Garden, far enough away from the frantic piazza so as not to be heaving with tourists and/or street performers. It’s a truly grand room, a Ballardian boudoir in shiny, wipe-clean burgundy, with an open kitchen framed by a massive, oval-shaped and lime green opening. The retro-futurism thing is further dished up via the soundtrack; Dorothy Ashby’s ‘Afro-Harping’ slinks groovily in the background, and there’re a vinyl copy of Lou Donaldson’s 1968 sax odyssey ‘Alligator Boogaloo’ perched on a record player (which nevertheless remains switched off for the duration of our visit).  Such a space-age aesthetic is perhaps at odds with Town’s menu, which has more in common with the rustic likes of surrealist late-1990s cookery show River Cottage than it does Barbarella. You see, Town isn’t about the chaos of the city, but super seasonality, regenerative farming, and letting the produce speak for itself. It is, essentially, a plotline from The Archers. In practice, this means that the food is

If you’re seeking a historical feast, you’ve come to the right place. One of London’s most elderly restaurants, Wiltons has been in the game since 1742. Beginning life as simple shellfish mongers, Wiltons became a proper restaurant in 1841, and, after numerous address changes, moved into their current premises in 1984. Still, 40+ years in the same room is pretty good going for a city that turns restaurants over like pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. You’ll find a carving trolley here that’s almost as famous as their regal regulars Foodie lore runs deep at this London institution; they supplied oysters to Queen Victoria (there’s a signed picture of Her Maj in the ladies loo), and you’ll find a carving trolley here that’s almost as famous as their regal regulars. The dining room itself is pitched somewhere between Victorian grandeur and Jilly Cooper camp, with giant oil paintings of be-suited board members hanging next to jolly wooden booths, perfect for politicians who might need to plot the downfall of a colleague over an ice-cold Chablis. Red velvet swags hang heavy with portent over indoor windows which seem to lead nowhere, and the female waiting staff wear matronly tea dresses. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the food at Wiltons was as old school as the decor, but there’s some seriously impressive cooking happening here. An implacably good, twice baked stilton soufflé is wildly cheesy, served in a sterling silver dish, perfectly crisp on the outside and cashmere-soft on the insid

Remember The Nest, or, if you’re even older, Barden’s Boudoir? The excellent basement club below what is now the Red Hand has finally got the relaunch it deserves. A roomy 150 capacity cocktail bar from Andy Kerr (founder of Discount Suit Company and The Sun Tavern) and Tom Gibson (Ruby’s, Corrochio’s, The Bluecoats), they’re calling it a ‘1980s NYC style mutant disco’ with classy cocktails and regular DJs. Much cosier than any of its former incarnations, Parasol features little booths spread around a main dancefloor. Drinks are not just delicious, but pretty reasonably priced - there's a £7 martini (the Umbrella Vesper), and all the rest are a tenner. We like the smooth and chocolately Kinder Bueno, made with whiskey, Irish cream liqueur, hazelnut, cacao and clarified milk, and the punchy Korean Jesus, with tequila, mezcal, plum soju, gochujang, sesame, coriander, ginger and honey. Time Out tip Run by some of the same team as Parasol, line your stomach with extremely good tostadas and tacos at nearby Corrochio’s (one of Time Out’s favourite Mexican restaurants in London) before getting on the cocktails here. What’s nearby? Dalston is simply riddled with bars. Go on a proper crawl with help from our list of the best bars in Dalston. Not after any more drinks? Here are the best 20 things to do in Dalston, from Turkish grill houses to independent cinemas, live jazz, and drag shows.

Japanese and Italian may seem unlikely bedfellows, but this mash-up – also known as itameshi – dates back to the 1920s in Japan. And though Angelina opened up on Dalston Lane Terrace’s restaurant strip in 2019, it's still a pretty unique concept in London. Inside, it’s a restaurant of two halves: the front is all monochromatic fancy dining with ashen marble tables, bold foliage and lantern lighting, while the back is home to a bustling L-shaped bar overlooking the kitchen. On offer is a 13 dish kaiseki tasting menu for what feels like a rather reasonable £68 a head. Though it changes every five weeks, our most recent visit saw the production line of laser-focused chefs rattling out creamy and crispy (and pleasantly sizable) starters, such as cod cheek karaage and tempura courgette flower stuffed with miso ricotta. Fun to eat and even more enjoyable to say is the wagyu ragu, which comes layered on a pleasantly goopy dashi and egg custard. A nori-dusted focaccia is a revelation, served with a marmalade and uni butter that tastes like breakfast in the best possible way. There’s more wagyu to come, slivers of A5 dolloped with citrus ponzu, before a ravioli souped in a tonkotsu-style broth. Previous visits have seen velvety soy butter on a John Dory fillet, sea bream sashimi delicately infused with bergamot, and bonito-dusted doughnuts with anchovy aioli.  Time Out tip If you fancy an a la carte taste of itameshi, Angelina have a second space in Spitalfields. Osteria Angelina spec

Since opening in late 2024, myriad rants have been inspired by The Yellow Bittern. Largely, these haven’t been about the food, but rather the pretentious-leaning lore around it. To wit; you can only book this lunchtime-only bistro by phone (or a giddily anachronistic postcard), it’s expensive but cash-only, and proudly displays two portraits of Lenin. The food itself has been painted as a sort of spartan, St John-ish take on meat pies, luxe gruel and many, many stews.  I have never felt more like George Orwell seeking sustenance after a morning’s grind at the typewriter Now that the dust has settled on The Most Controversial New Restaurant in London™, it seemed time to finally check out this contentious font of day drinking, stodge and socialism. A 2pm booking on a Friday is secured (it is only open on weekdays and seatings are at 12pm or 2pm) and we step off the chaotic King’s Cross end of the Cally Road into a room that’s somewhere between a French village luncheonette and an interwar Lyons teashop. There are brown tiled floors, chunky wooden dressers, vases of floppy astrantias, and the interior are walls painted primrose yellow, which gives the impression that the decorator was simply decades-worth of cigarette huffing. Oh, and don’t forget the communist bookshop in the basement. I have never felt more like George Orwell seeking sustenance after a morning’s grind at the typewriter.  We start as we mean to go on (in 1934, essentially), with Belfastian chef Hugh Corcoran t

Soho used to be full of places like this. Casually chaotic boltholes where you’d be plied with massive portions of perfectly serviceable food, before being booted back onto the street, very full, quite happy and a little bit pissed. From Lorelai to The Stockpot (ask your mum), this was what powered the neighbourhood until the fateful dawn of a sanitised Soho, which saw branches of Supreme and End Clothing replace the peep shows and smut shops. In many ways, 27 Old Compton Street is a passport back to 1987. It’s walk-ins only (but in a how-convenient way rather than an that’s-annoying way) and their thing is mega dishes of pasta that are never more than £14, with most hovering around the £11 mark. A couple of hastily erected vintage Vermouth prints and brown leather banquette seating gives the place a tidy feel and service is jolly but a tad rushed. And frankly, that’s fine with us. 27 Old Compton Street’s thing isn’t Sophia Loren-style glamour, but about priding ludicrous value over interior design swag and a server incessantly folding your napkin every time you go to the loo.  In many ways, 27 Old Compton Street is a passport back to 1987 For just £3.50 there’s an overflowing bowl of crispy courgette fries that’s somewhere in between quintessential fritti and batter-heavy chip shop scraps, while two burly cacio e pepe arancini in a pool of parmesan soup feels a steal at £6.50. A massive mortadella flatbread doesn’t scrimp on pistachio, mozzarella or honey, and is, essential

Sometimes a menu item leaps up at you in the same way that a slobbering puppy might lick your mouth seconds after you’ve been introduced. At Tasca, that item is the jambon beurre gilda. The mere suggestion of the queen of pintxos in a daring tryst with the prince of sandwiches had me in raptures. Be still my beating epiglottis.  Was the dish as good as it was in my head? Better. A silver toothpick of nubbly, caperberry-brined pickle nestling against a sharp guindilla pepper and a dollop of espelette butter wrapped in ham, it was melty and meaty, and tangy all at once. Like a vintage John Waters movie, it’s a bit much, but that’s the whole point.   Who would be so bold as to conjure up this outrageous offering? That would be head chef Josh Dallaway, once of Sager + Wilde, working alongside former Bistro Freddie manager and sommelier, Sinead Murdoch. After munching their way around Portugal and Spain, the couple came back to east London with bellies full of tapas and heads full of ideas. In a year-long residency at Cav – a newly-opened wine bar in the railway arches of Paradise Row – Tasca hits all the 2025 buzz points; there’s bold Basque cookery, an embarrassment of ferments, and a cocktail menu that features a couture martini fit for the racks at Dover Street Market (theirs comes with dill and anchovy oil).  Like a vintage John Waters movie, it’s a bit much, but that’s the whole point Yet there’s something about the playful Tasca that makes it more appealing than other Iber

Think of the balmy Costa Del Sol, and you think of Marbella. Since the 1950s it’s been a tourist hotspot thanks to the promise of (almost) guaranteed sunshine and a sweet subtropical climate. Because of this, there are plenty of places to stay in this buzzy beach town – so many that you might end up paralysed by choice. If you’ve got the cash, then El Fuerte Marbella makes that decision a whole lot easier. This grande dame of the Costa Del Sol has been there since the start of this particular boom in Spanish tourism, opening in 1957 – back before the skyline was dominated by highrise blocks – and securing itself an enviable beachfront spot. Over the years the family-run hotel has just got bigger, with a complete refurb in 2023. It’s right in the middle of town, with the charming old town just a five minute walk away.  Why stay at El Fuerte Marbella? If you like things fancy, you’ll like El Fuerte. It’s a large, luxury hotel and their recent refurb still feels spanking brand new, with lots of putty pink Mediterranean tiling. Of the 266 rooms and suites, 78 come under the ‘Selected’ banner, which is basically a high-end hotel within the hotel. It’s all-inclusive but not as you know it; book a ‘Selected’ room (of course, they are more expensive) and you’ll have exclusive access to an all-day space with free snacks and booze, as well as a separate breakfast room to keep you away from the riff-raff. There’s also a lovely rooftop for all-day sunbathing and dips in the pool, which t

Think of the balmy Costa Del Sol, and you think of Marbella. Since the 1950s it’s been a tourist hotspot thanks to the promise of (almost) guaranteed sunshine and a sweet subtropical climate. Because of this, there are plenty of places to stay in this buzzy beach town – so many that you might end up paralysed by choice. If you’ve got the cash, then El Fuerte Marbella makes that decision a whole lot easier. This grande dame of the Costa Del Sol has been there since the start of this particular boom in Spanish tourism, opening in 1957 – back before the skyline was dominated by highrise blocks – and securing itself an enviable beachfront spot. Over the years the family-run hotel has just got bigger, with a complete refurb in 2023. It’s right in the middle of town, with the charming old town just a five minute walk away.  Why stay at El Fuerte Marbella? If you like things fancy, you’ll like El Fuerte. It’s a large, luxury hotel and their recent refurb still feels spanking brand new, with lots of putty pink Mediterranean tiling. Of the 266 rooms and suites, 78 come under the ‘Selected’ banner, which is basically a high-end hotel within the hotel. It’s all-inclusive but not as you know it; book a ‘Selected’ room (of course, they are more expensive) and you’ll have exclusive access to an all-day space with free snacks and booze, as well as a separate breakfast room to keep you away from the riff-raff. There’s also a lovely rooftop for all-day sunbathing and dips in the pool, which t

This glam hotel hideaway has the enviable claim of being the ‘longest-surviving cocktail bar in London’. A veritable Joan Collins of sophisticated bars, the American Bar opened in 1893, and has taken up its current location just off the Savoy’s grand lobby since 1904. The room itself feels like stepping into the pages of the Great Gatsby (but minus the existential dread); all grey and silver, with a grand piano plonked in the middle of the room, and Frank Sinatra’s cigar lighter casually displayed next to Noel Coward’s powder compact. Classic cocktails are available (including the Fernet-Branca-addled Hanky Panky, which was actually created at The Savoy back in 1903), but it would be foolish not to dip into bar manager Andrea Di Chiara and head bartender Angelo Sparvoli’s list of curated drinks inspired by the hotel’s history. The delicate Touch of Pink is inspired by Marlene Dietrich, who would request 12 pink roses in her Savoy suite, and mixes gin, the perfume-like Muyu Jasmine Verte and lemon, scattered with perfectly pink rose petals. If you’re after something a little punchier, the magnificent Moon Landing combines mezcal, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, Cocchi Americano and Muyu Vetiver Gris into something deeply herbal and smokey, while Five O’Clock Somewhere is a heady, tomato-based take on a martini.   Time Out tip The bar’s high-end offering of vintage and rare spirits, means that, if you want, there is a £5000 sazerac on offer. In more practical advice, it’s walk-ins only,

When it comes to iconic London venues, the Hippodrome is hard to beat. Built in 1900 by Frank Matcham (your go-to Victorian-era architect for big, ballsy music halls), it started life as London’s campest venue, with a 100,000-gallon water tank through which boats could enter the stage as well as a gallery for flying acrobats. Over 100 years later and not much has changed – things here are still furiously flamboyant. The closest thing London has to Las Vegas, it’s open 24/7, and spread like glittery eyeshadow over seven floors; with three casinos, a poker floor, Magic Mike Live, nine bars, and the Heliot Steak House – named after lion tamer Claire Heliot, who performed at the Hippodrome and wowed the crowds by feeding her beasts hunks of raw meat. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a Temu George Clooney in Ocean’s 11, Heliot Steak House is where to come. Sit yourself down on a balcony table overlooking the rattling roulette wheels and blackjack tables, as distractions don’t get much better than a hedge fund manager losing his first born child’s private school tuition fees as you chomp on prime cuts. The space itself is all sleazy-chic, with 1990s chrome and leather chairs, while the menu is packed with classic steakhouse offerings.  As a starter you can’t go wrong with the shrimp cocktail, with juicy, fat prawns and a potent, US-style horseradish sauce. USDA steaks start at £39 and go up to £99 for Japanese wagyu sirloin. When it comes to toppings, the spicy chimichurri packs

A homegrown, London-based pizzeria has just come first at the 50 Top Pizza Europa Awards and we couldn’t be prouder. For the second year in a row, west London’s Napoli on the Road has decimated the doughy competition to be named Europe’s finest pizza slingers. Bravo! The ceremony was held in Madrid on June 4, and as well as receiving first place in the contest, Napoli On The Road - which has outlets in Chiswick and Richmond – won the title of Pizza of the Year 2025 for their signature pizza Ricordi d’Infanzia, which is topped with slow-cooked ragu with beef, Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, fondue and basil. Napoli on the Road was set up by pizzaiolo Michele Pascarella, who hails from Maddaloni, near Naples. Pascarella was previously named World Pizza Maker of the Year 2023 by 50 Top Pizza and Best International Pizza Maker 2024 by the Accademia Nazionale Pizza DOC. He certainly knows his dough.  ‘Winning for a second year means more than I can say,’ commented Pascarella. ‘This award belongs to the entire team, who share my commitment and passion every day. Taking first place at the 50 Top Pizza Europa in 2024 changed my life and it’s an honour to receive this recognition once again.’ This is Time Out’s list of the best pizza in London.  And our roundup of the best Italian restaurants in London.  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

Another month comes with another bunch of plucky cooks risking it all to launch themselves upon London’s hungry masses. When it comes to new chain-y stuff, Lina Stores continues its eau de nil-shaded takeover via the medium of al-dente pasta with a Canary Wharf branch, while Harry’s opens its fourth Italian restaurant in King’s Cross. Meanwhile, Fortnum & Mason Royal Exchange will be home to a summer residency by seafood zaddy Rick Stein. Here’s the best of the rest.  The 10 best new London restaurants opening in June 2025 Lupa 1. The one with a famous person Lupa, Highbury Depending on your level of addiction to Deux Moi, the most compelling thing about this north London-based Roman-style trattoria isn’t the supplì al telefono croquettes, but the fact that White Lotus alumni Theo James is part of the team. The dishy actor has joined forces with restauranter and Carousel co-founder Ed Templeton to open Lupa, and ex-Pidgin head chef Naz Hassan will be in charge of the kitchen. Expect carbonara, puntarelle, and a steady influx of flustered local mums. Lupa opens late June.  3 Highbury Park, N5 1UA Felix Dol Maillot 2. The Euro burger place Dumbo, Shoreditch French smashburger titans Dumbo are opening their first London location in mid-June. Their first joint outside of Paris, the powerfully brief menu sees them serving up cheeseburgers, veggie burgers, fries (French, of course) and chicken nuggets. And that’s basically it. 119 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG 3. A telly chef bran

All’s been a bit quiet on the Big Mamma Group front in London for a while.  The European restaurant group known for its lavish mega-trattorias have been busy opening up its first UK spots outside the capital, with spots in Birmingham and Manchester. But now Big Mamma is returning to London for the company’s first new restaurant launch in the city since Carlotta opened two years ago.  Barbarella will open this June in Canary Wharf. In-keeping with the group’s ultra camp styling, the waterside spot will be inspired by 1970s Italian cinema and be just as outrageous as the other Big Mamma restaurants in London; Gloria, Carlotta, Circolo Popolare, Ave Mario and Jacuzzi. Expect a mirrored glass bar, a chrome lounge, and a jungle theme. When it comes to food, the kitchen is headed up by Roma-born chef Marco Rastelli. There’ll be thin and crispy Ruota di Carretto pizzas, as well as stunty fresh pasta, such as a one-metre long spaghettone. You’ll be able to order from a dedicated gelati menu on the terrace and there will also be the biggest-ever cocktail menu from any Big Mamma restaurant yet. The pistachio espresso martini has our attention.  Barbarella will open its doors on Friday, June 20 at YY Building, 30 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, E14 5HX. The best Italian restaurants in London. Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.  Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events

Maps make everything easier. Imagine trying to check out a restaurant you’d never been to before, in a part of town you’d never been to before, without a map. Impossible! That’s why we’re grateful for the good people at the National Fish and Chip Awards. They might smell faintly of batter and vinegar, but they’ve got together an extremely helpful map, which shows you all the best chippys in and around London.  There are only two spots within the M25 on the map, Stones Fish and Chips in Acton and Brockley’s Rock in Brockley (the latter was named London’s best chippy last year). But if you’re happy to venture further afield for the sake of heroic haddock, then it’ll also show you how to get to Seafare Guildford, Harrisons Fish & Chip Co. in Oxford, Newington Fish Bar in Ramsgate, The Hook of Halstead in Clacton on Sea and Mike’s Traditional Fish & Chips in Eastleigh.  Sure, some of them might take a while to get to, but what’s more British than going on a proper day trip in search of the perfect portion of fish and chips? See the full list of winners from the 2025 National Fish and Chip Awards here and you can check out the national chippy map in full here. London’s best fish and chips, according to Time Out. 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 to our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. 

If there’s anything Londoners love more than pubs, it’s beer gardens.  Now that the sun has started rearing its lovely golden head, it’s time for us to deliver the very best pub terraces and beer gardens that this fine city has to offer. Step forwards, Time Out’s definitive list of the very best beer gardens in London, 2025. We’ve ranked our favourite 21 al fresco drinking spots across the capital, from Lewisham to Highbury, and top of the list this year is Finsbury Park’s majestic, occasionally confusing Faltering Fullback. One of the weirdest, but most enjoyable beer gardens in London, this beer garden contains multitudes. A kind of treehouse/Ewok village hybrid, what the Faltering Fullback’s beer garden lacks in width it makes up for in height. There are stairs. There are nooks. There are even crannies. And on a hot summer’s day, it’s pretty much the best place to be in London. Other notable entries include the beer garden at Brixton’s Duke of Edinburgh, notable for being extremely vast and Newington Green’s Army and Navy, notable for being extremely busy when Arsenal are playing. We’ve also featured some all time beer garden classics; Highgate’s The Flask, Wandsworth’s The Ship, Camden’s Edinboro Castle and Twickenham’s ever-charning White Swan, which is basically on the banks of the Thames. Here is Time Out’s full list of the best beer gardens in London right now. Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow ou

For some reason, restauranteurs across the capital have been saving up all their new openings for May. We have no idea why, but we’re here for it. As well as stand-alone spots and independent outings, there are also a handful of non-rubbish chains launching new sites this month, with a new Bancone promised for Kensington, the biggest ever Black Bear Burger opening up in Westfield White City and a new outing for e5 Bakehouse at the V&A East Storehouse in Hackney Wick. Frankly, there aren’t enough days in May for us to visit all of them, so you might have to be picky. Here are some of the best – choose your foodie fighter.  The best new London restaurant openings in May 2025 Sally Gurteen 1. The super-sustainable spot Town, Covent Garden There’s nowt so buzzy as regenerative farming right now. Town, a new central London spot from Pastaio’s Stevie Parle, is all about sustainable British produce, from potato bread with beef dripping and tempura sage leaves drizzled in chilli and honey from Stevie’s own bees, to Seasalter clams with sherry and grass-fed butter, and wood-grilled Romney Marsh hogget with Chianti and anchovy butter. ‘Town is the biggest, most ambitious project I’ve ever done. We are helping to pioneer a genuinely new approach to restaurant supply chains, built on knowing every farmer who grows what we cook,’ says Stevie. Town opens May 12.  26-29 Drury Lane, WC2B 5RL Setlist 2. The one with the views Setlist, Strand Somerset House’s riverside space is getting

It is officially beer garden season! The weather is now clement enough for you to sit outside the best of London’s pubs and sip a shandy in the sun. It’s also time for a lucky boozer to be named the best in London. Congrats to the Punch Bowl in Mayfair, which lifestyle guide Muddy Stilettos has named the city’s ‘best destination pub’ in the 2025 Muddy Stilettos Awards. Now in its 12th year, each year the awards recognise a host of shops, pubs, hotels and venues according to public votes.  The Punch Bowl is a Georgian pub on a central London backstreet (Farm Street, to be exact). It used to belong to Guy Ritchie and Madonna, who bought it from Greg Foreman, son of gangster and Kray twins associate Freddie Foreman, in 2008.  Ritchie sold the pub in 2013 and it was refurbished in 20914. It’s now run by Butcombe Brewery and, impressively, is open from 8am for breakfast, serving a £50 sharing brekkie grill platter. The Grade II-listed boozer dates back to 1750.  Speaking about the pub’s win, The Punch Bowl’s general manager Kyra Roberts said: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to have won Best Destination Pub in London! The team works tirelessly to give our guests the very best experience – from our exceptional food and drink to the live music, supper clubs and quiz nights we organise each month. ‘We love the community we serve and to know our reputation for quality is spreading, leading to us winning an award as prestigious as this, is incredible!’ Photograph: The Punch Bowl The Punch

London is a town stacked with very decent delis. You’re never more than a few steps away from a neatly curated shop in which to buy your Torres crisps and Perello olives. Ever wondered which is the best, though? Well, lifestyle site Muddy Stilettos thinks it knows, and has crowned London’s greatest deli in the Muddy Stilettos Awards 2025. The awards are based on reader votes, and they’re now in their 12th year. And the winner is… The Larder Deli in Lewisham, south London. Friends Katherine & Cynthia opened the shop in 2014, which can be found at 71 Ladywell Road. They stock your classic deli shop fare; cheese, charcuterie, craft beers, jam and chutney, as well as lots of booze. All your picnic needs, catered for.  The finalists in the deli category were Giacobazzi's Delicatessen in Hampstead, Oren Delicatessen in London Fields, Stokey's Delicatessen in Stoke Newington and Valentina Delicatessen in East Sheen. Photograph: The Larder About the win, The Larder’s Cynthia Lamptey said: ‘We’re delighted to have won the Muddy Stilettos Best Farm Shop/Deli in London category and proud to have stood alongside an amazing group of finalists. Thank you to everyone who supported us and voted for us. We are truly grateful.’ Other winners in the London segment of the national awards were Brixton’s Maremma, which won ‘best restaurant’, while Mayfair’s Punch Bowl was named ‘best destination pub’ and ‘best café’ went to Swiss Bread Bakery & Café in Richmond.  The 21 best bakeries in London,

Well, what do you know, it’s that time of year again. No, not get-overly-excited-about-the-promise-of-a-mini-heatwave time, but the time when a shadowy meat body announces the 101 Best Steak Restaurants in the World for 2025. The list of the finest steakhouses known to humanity includes seven joints in London, with the top rated London location named as Ibai in Farringdon. Ibai just missed out on the top 10 (it came 11th), with the ranking praising the restaurant as a ‘celebration of exceptional beef, open-fire cooking and bold, rustic elegance’. Of the steak menu, which is centred around Galician blond beef, the ranking said: ‘These cuts, including T-bone, sirloin and rib, are known for their deep, mature flavours and are grilled to perfection over a custom-built charcoal grill.’ Ibai places third in Time Out’s list of the best steak restaurants in London. The other London restaurants to make the cut are Hawskmoor Air Street (at number 23), Brat (24), Lutyens Grill (at 39, a whole 35 places up on its placement last year), Aragawa in Mayfair (at 41, down from 28th in 2024), Soho gastropub The Devonshire (70) and Guinea Grill in Mayfair (89). And what about number one? That would be Parrilla Don Julio in Buenos Aires, which kept its crown from 2024. The 7 London restaurants that feature in the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants 2025 Ibai (11) Hawskmoor Air Street (23) Brat (24) Lutyens Grill (39) Aragawa (41) The Devonshire (70) Guinea Grill (89) You can find out more about

Lyle’s – the much-loved Shoreditch fine dining restaurant – will be closing later this month.  After a decade in business, it’ll be shutting up shop on May 18, with founder James Lowe breaking the news on Instagram. ‘I couldn’t be prouder of everything that we’ve accomplished at Lyle’s over the last eleven years,’ he wrote.  Lowe continued: ‘I love what we’ve done, how we’ve grown, adapted and learned. I want to say an enormous thank you to all members of the team past and present, it’s been a privilege to have worked with so many brilliant people.’ Lyle’s was known for its commitment to sustainability and seasonality. ‘Lyle’s has also given me the opportunity to work with some of the best fishermen, artisanal producers and farmers in the UK,’ added Lowe. ‘To evolve our food alongside them has been a journey that’s kept me inspired year after year. I’m looking forward to what comes next’. We went back to Lyle’s last summer and found the restaurant as fabulous as ever, giving it a five star review and heralding it as ‘an icon of the new wave of British dining greats’. We will miss it.  Before opening Lyle’s in 2014, Lowe was head chef at St John Bread & Wine. Lyle’s won its Michelin star in 2015 and retained it for the following decade. Lyle’s last service will be lunch on May 18. 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 Lond

Another month, another food hall. This May will see the opening of a brand new temple to snacking right by St Paul’s Cathedral. Market Place already has sites in Vauxhall, Harrow and Peckham, and this will be the brand’s first central-ish London location, opening at the end of the month.  At 6,834 square foot, it’ll be home to two bars and nine different traders, with Free Wheelin Pizza, Greek street food from OPA, South American dishes from Streat Latin, curries and noodles from Thai House, pancakes and burgers from Duck Shed, Caribbean patties, fritters and jerk chicken at Hot Scotch, Indian cuisine from Tikka Nation, steak at Argentinian Grill and Australian-style sushi from Rolled.  RECOMMENDED: The 12 best new London restaurant openings in May 2025. Image: Market Place Market Place St Paul’s will open up across two floors at 150 Cheapside, EC2V 6ET. Speaking about the opening, managing director of Market Place Food Halls Blake Henderson said: ‘The City has been crying out for a dining concept that matches its energy… We’re thrilled to be welcoming a mix of traders to our venue, some old friends of the brand, and some exciting new additions.’ Photograph: Market Place Here’s Time Out’s very own list of the best food halls and street food markets in London. Something to chew on before Market Place St Paul’s opens.  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

The sun is out. Kind of. Almost. It’s peeking through the clouds at any rate, which means there’s no better time for you to ditch pubs with ceilings and opt for a bar that’s open to the elements. We recently revealed our list of the best, non-naff rooftop bars in London. To make it easier for you to work your way through them, we’ve now popped them all onto a map. Use it to traverse your way through the Peckham rooftop spots, from Frank’s and Forza Wine (the National Theatre edition of which came top of the list) to Bussey Rooftop Bar, or let it guide you through Hackney’s high-up establishments, including Netil360 and Dalston Roofpark.  Image: Google Maps There’s a newbie on the map too – Setlist, which is the rebranded terrace space at Somerset House. It launches for the summer season on May 8, and James Dye of Bambi, and Frank’s as well as Clement Ogbonnaya of the Prince of Peckham are behind the custom soundsystem as well as a full-throttle events programme. Food also promises to be a strong point, with chefs Opeoluwa Odutayo, Sophie Wyburd, and Terri Mercieca of Happy Endings holding court in the kitchen.  You can find the map in full here. And you can read more about Time Out’s top 15 London rooftop bars here. ICYMI: a game-changing new London pub map shows which boozers are currently in the sunshine. 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: sig