Dinner
Hoppers
Sri Lankan food, trendy cocktails with Asian inspirations. It’s an intimate restaurant with special flavours. If you like Indian food. you’re gonna love this.
Perilla
An off-the-beaten-track English restaurant. They do tasting menus, wine pairings and the whole Shabang, but because they’re a little further out (of Central London) the prices are really affordable.
Temper
A cool restaurant in Central London, serving Mexican food, Great atmosphere and loud music
Coal Office
For all of you searching for upscale Israeli food, this is the place. Located in the super trendy Coal Yard. This is Assaf Granit’s restaurant in London. Music and food are loud. If you’re sitting by the bar, be prepared to get boozed-up.
Som Saa
This is my favourite Thai place in London. I only have good memories of the food there.
Harwood Arms
Michelin-starred pub, run by the same owner as The Ledbury (where i’ve worked). If you want to try out a pub meal and want to experience true English food, this is the place for you. Try going for a Sunday Roast if possible, but any other day is great too.
Fine Dining
I’ve either worked, done a stage or at least a trial in 99% of these restaurants. So it may seem like I’m biased but I know these restaurants inside and out. I would never work somewhere I don’t LOVE the food.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
(2*)
A Heston Blumenthal institution. They serve fine dining English food, Molecular and Modern. This is a well operated machine, serving perfection every time. over the years they created quite a few signature dishes so make sure you have : the meatfruit, triple cooked chips, Tipsy cake and the ice cream trolley.
Frog
(1*)
In this restaurant, I would recommend to go for a tasting menu. Sitting on the bar is also nice, because you can stare directly into the kitchen.
The Ledbury
(2*)
Ask most chefs what their favourite restaurant in London is and they would say “The Ledbury”. Very upscale, and sophisticated. It’s THE place to go for a special occasion. Brett is Australian and so is most of the kitchen team, the atmosphere downstairs is hectic and intense but the food that comes out of it is nowhere to be tasted.
Kitchen Table
(2*)
A 19-seater tall bar table surrounding a gorgeous kitchen, with all the chefs in the center so there isn’t a section that is out of your view. Its a very intimate and romantic setting, the food is absolutely incredible and you can ask and talk about everything with the chefs. James’s wife is the floor manager and a sommelier, but also an inspiration to me for being a BADASS woman and a mother of 2 small girls.
Ikoyi
(2* and very spicy)
Ikoyi is the only fine dining restaurant serving West African food and bringing it to the level of well known establishments. Ingredients here are special (I haven’t heard of 90% of them) and the dishes are really different (spicy though, and without the option of asking for less spicy so beware). Jeremy is this young chef, down to earth and lovely and humble.
Sabor
(1*)
Spanish food with a casual atmosphere. Serving tapas by Nieves Barragan who is a lovely lovely chef, super approachable and nice. She previously ran Barrafina which is also a great place for Spanish food.
Asian
Bao
For steamed buns and sharer snacks on a tall bar surrounding the open plan kitchen
Hoppers
Sri Lankan food with Sri Lankan inspired cocktails, great for vegetarian options too
Som Saa
Thai food, be prepared for a lot of spice! although you can easily ask for non-spicy dishes, just make sure you remember to do so.
Roka
Modern Asian – great vibe, loud music and incredible dishes. This is what I imagine Hong Kong restaurants to be like, super modern and cool
Inko Nito
Modern Asian – the slightly more affordable Roka.
Din Tai Fung
This place is a Dim Sum heaven. With a glass kitchen, you can see them folding the Dim Sum in front of your eyes.
Shoryu Ramen
The easily accessible chain with a delicious broth and a variety if noodles. It’s hard to go wrong with this one
Tonkotsu Ramen
Just proper, good ramen. Yes! they also have other things on the menu but I genuinely think that there’s no need, I’m satisfied with my bowl of heartwarming broth and noodles.
Cheap Eats
Homeslice
Pizza with funky toppings. Imagine sweetcorn cream and Chorizo, or slow cooked lamb, yogurt and sumac.
Franco Manca
For the more classic pizza with a thick aerated crust. Everything is delicious and done properly, and the best thing about it is that the pizzas are personal, no need for sharing.
Senor Ceviche
Peruvian cuisine. Ceviche, Sweetcorn crackers and that crispy pork belly please.
Pleasant Lady Jian Bing
There are 2 locations for these Chinese crepes. One in Soho and one in Spitalfields market. It’s unlike any other crepe. They’re served savoury, with a choice of meat, an egg, herbs and a piece of crispy pastry making the whole thing crunch.
Flat Iron
If you fancy a steak, Flat Iron has made it as simple as possible. They only do one cut of meat known as Flat Iron (duh!) and all you have to choose your cuisson (i.e. level of cooking- well done, rare or anything in between) and your sides, of which they have a generous selection. I always go for the creamed spinach and triple cooked fries.
British
St John’s
The famous nose-to-tale restaurant. They’ve got a bone marrow toast that is world famous and they’re known for their pork dishes
Western’s Laundry
Intimate dining experience, serving great food in a casual setting
Rock & Sole Plaice
Fish & chips
Breakfast
26 grains
Located in central London, serving a range of breakfast options that are nutritional as well as tasty
Duck and waffle
a 24 hour restaurant famous for their Confit duck and waffle dish
Granger and Co.
By an Australian chef. All the dishes are great but I always go for his scrambled eggs which are done Japanese style.
Farm girl
Instagrammable but actually delicious.
E5 Bakehouse
Based inside a hangar is a lovely bakery – serving freshly baked sourdoughs and great coffee
Popham’s
For the most gorgeous pastries I’ve ever seen and delicious toasts
Italian
Padella
A restaurant that you can’t reserve seats in, there’s a long queue for the right reasons. It’s located in the center of Borough market and the food there is superb.
Pastaio
Casual Italian in central London
Lina Stores
More of a deli with great Italian produce and fresh food to eat
Burro e Salvia
Just pasta! Made in front of your eyes in this charming shop.
Markets & Food Halls
Borough market
Whatever you’re looking for, they’ve got it. For the ultimate experience, I can show you around.
Broadway Market
Open every Saturday
Mare street market
Right next to Broadway Market open every day until noon.
Maltby street
Open only on Saturdays and Sundays
Mercato Metropolitano
The best foodhall in town
Pop Brixton
A bunch of transport containers turned into a food hall. Great vibes in the evenings.
Coffee & Snacks
Farmer J
Ready to eat food off the counter. Israeli inspiration, seasoned perfectly every time.
Cafe de Nata
Pastel de Nata #1
Santa Nata
Pastel de Nata #2
Arome
a fusion between Asian and French baking. The honey French toast is a must have.
L’Eto
colorful cakes and great coffees
Yeast Bakery
For the best Kouighn Amman in London
Fabrique Bakery
Scandinavian bakery for the best cardamom buns
Origin Coffee Roasters
just great coffe
Bageriet
Scandinavian
“Writing this page was kind of an intervention for myself.
It made it clear to me that I have a a weakness for Pastel de Nata, Kouign Amman and Cardamom buns. If you’ve never tasted one, you must! NOW!”
Wine & Cocktail Bars
Noble Rot
Wine bar
The Vault
Cocktail bar in a secret location
Opium
Cocktail bar in a secret location
Vagabond
Wine bar
Soif
Wine bar
Hapiness Forgets
Cocktail bar
10 cases
Wine bar
WC
Wine & Charcuterie in a former public toilet
Be At One
Although it breaks my heart to recommend a chain, but I really like these bars!
