In recent years, London has become one of the world’s biggest culinary capitals, boasting an impressive collection of neighbourhood bistros, modern food halls, and Michelin-star restaurants. The sheer variety of different cuisines on offer reflects the melting pot city’s diverse populace, so for the tourists who are lucky enough to visit, they won’t just be limited to a good old fashioned sunday roast (not that that’s a bad thing), instead they’ll have the chance to taste delicacies from around the world, from curry houses to dim sum parlours in Chinatown.
If you’re a foodie, then worry not; you’re in the right place. In this guide, we’re going to do our very best to shine a spotlight on London’s most delicious destinations. Inevitably, not every single spot can make the list, but competition is extremely fierce. So, without any further ado, let’s jump into a foodie’s guide to London.
Delfino
Let’s kick things off by getting this one out of the way. Delfino has been a London institution ever since it first opened its doors over 70 years ago. The family-run Mayfair restaurant has earned a cult following over the decades thanks to its consistency. Delfino is particularly well known for its wood fired pizzas, which always arrive thin and charred at the edges and never fail to delight the old taste buds.
In this sort of restaurant, the simplicity of the whole affair is the point. It’s charming and unpretentious. There’s no need for the chefs to pull on their lab coats and experiment with new-age flavour combinations; just give the people what they want: a damn good pizza.
Borough Market
Here you have it, the obligatory Borough Market section. What’s left to say? For anyone who loves food, Borough Market is London’s Mecca. It’s been open for business by London Bridge for centuries and offers an eclectic mix of delicious delights to visitors all over the world.
I easily spent a couple of hours just sampling foods from different stalls there, tasting everything I could possibly get my hands on: a shmorgesboard of cheeses, homemade pies, chocolate truffles, international street foods, not to mention freshly baked bread.
But the divine aromas of all of these handmade delights aren’t the only the only things in the air. There’s a buzz of immense excitement that emanates from everyone there – from the customers and stall owners, as sounds of laughter and sizzling frying pans fill the airwaves.
Dishoom
Dishoom has less of that ‘independent’ feel, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t deliver every single time. The restaurant group is one of the most celebrated in the UK, largely because of its successful sites in the nation’s capital. Originally inspired by traditional cafes in Mumbai, Dishoom offers customers a luxurious experience, with warm yet glamorous interiors and upmarket indian dishes. This isn’t your regular old British Indian curryhouse. The menu is packed full of classic dishes, with some experimental ones mixed in too.
The food might not reinvent the wheel, but it isn’t trying to. These are some of the best tikka masalas, kormas, and baltis you’ll eat in the UK, so if you’re in the mood for an Indian, it’s hard to go wrong here. Breakfast also deserves a shoutout, as the dishes served in the morning push the boat out a bit more when it comes to creativity. The bacon naan roll is an excellent example of Anglo-Indian fusion at its best, evidenced by its rabid fanbase that it quickly cultivated soon after launching.
You can find several Dishoom restaurants in London, so you’re probably always close to one. Give it a try! There’s a reason these restaurants are favourites for both locals and visitors.
Chinatown
If you ever find yourself wandering through London’s West End, then you’ll probably happen across Chinatown. It’s hard to miss, after all – especially at night. Brightly coloured lanterns line the streets and dazzling restaurants and storefronts attract visitors through their doors every single day, all year round.
The area is known for its authentic Chinese cuisine. The real stuff. None of that corporate Wagamamas nonsense. If you’ve never had proper roasted duck or dumplings, prepared with the sort of master craftsmanship that only generations of passed-down skills and recipes can achieve, then this is the place to get it.
The majority of these restaurants focus on traditional cooking methodologies, so the dishes naturally reflect that, invoking the very best traditional flavours and aromas that harken back to original recipes, brought over to the UK by Chinese families.
Having said that, if you just want a quick bite, then there are still plenty of options for you in Chinatown. If you’re just ambling around and don’t want to eat in, then you won’t struggle to find bakeries where you can buy delicious custard tarts and homemade buns, as well as a sweet pastry or two.
Travelling Around London as a Foodie
London gets a bit of a bad rap for being an enormous, sprawling city with complicated transport systems, but that can’t be further from the truth. The underground (aka the Tube) is probably the easiest way to get around, and the city’s famous red double-decker buses frequently arrive at stops every 5-10 minutes.
If you love driving, then you’ll still have to contend with the city’s congestion charge, but if you’re anxious about where to leave your car, don’t be! Finding a car park in London is actually a lot easier than most would assume, though some can be pricey.
London attracts millions of visitors every single year, and there’s a reason that so many of them are foodies. There really is something for everyone here, and the variety is truly jaw-dropping.