17 Best London Restaurants: A First Timer’s Guide

There are plenty of London restaurants and bakeries known for their pastries and baked goods, but our favorite bakery in London is Pophams Bakery. Very much a local spot and always steadily filled with carb-loving customers, Pophams Bakery is always a home run when it comes to anything and everything they choose to put on their shelves. Our favorite pastry here is the bacon and maple croissant- it’s the perfect mashup of sweet and savory combined with their butter and utterly flaky pastry. Looking for something savory? You’ll never regret ordering the salted rosemary croissant twist. But don’t you stop at the classics, Pophams Bakery also serves seasonal seasonally rotating baked items, which means even more excuses to go back on the regular.

Londoners love their breakfast and the sky is truly the limit when you’re searching for a great breakfast spot in town. If we can only recommend one place for insanely great sweet and savory breakfast offerings, Granger and Co. is at the top of our list. Undoubtedly one of the best London restaurants, Granger and Co. serves hearty, flavorful Australian cuisine. With several locations throughout town, come here to enjoy their insanely delicious ricotta pancakes with banana and honeycomb butter (yes, get the full order). Our favorite savory menu item is the “Fresh Aussie”: hot smoked salmon with poached eggs, greens, furikake, avocado, and cherry tomatoes.

All great food cities seemingly have their own farmers market or food hall, and if you’re looking for that type of situation in London, then Borough Market is the place to be. Unquestionably a quintessential visit during any trip to London, Borough Market is our favorite foodie playground in town. It’s flooded with food vendors, restaurants, and you could spend the better part of an afternoon here alone, perusing all of the offerings. You’ll find delicious food around every corner, but whatever you do don’t leave without getting a donut or focaccia at our favorite bakery in the market – Bread Ahead.

Bao is the place to be in London for insanely good Taiwanese food. All locations are quaint and small, perfect for date night or girls’ night out. The menu is flooded with several tempting items, and while none will disappoint, we certainly have our favorites. Start with the trotter nuggets and order as many buns as you have an appetite for. The fried chicken boa, classic bao, and the lamb shoulder bao are all so different and unforgettable. Everything here is made with incredible flavor and eyebrow-raising innovation.

Next time you ask your friends which London restaurants are worth visiting, they’ll no doubt bring up Padella. And they are right- this Italian restaurant situated inside Borough Market is home to some of the best Italian cuisine you’ll ever enjoy. The menu boasts a variety of authentic Italian dishes, but pasta is definitely your move here. Start with the burrata with olive oil. Eat it plain or enjoy it with bread, but slowly and sinfully enjoy every bite of that perfect appetizer. For pasta there is no wrong option, but we highly endorse the pici cacio e pepe and the pappardelle with ragu. We’re basically convinced that nothing bad can come out of this kitchen.

Gunpowder is exquisite, bold, and without a doubt one of the very best London restaurants. You’re coming here for elevated and innovative Indian cuisine, so picture some of those nostalgic great Indian flavors that you love with a creative and unique twist. It’s a great place for date night or for lunch while you’re in the city, but make sure the no matter when you visit Gunpowder, you’re open to trying unique Indian dishes that you’ve never experienced. Start with the egg curry masala- basically deviled eggs Indian style. The kashmiri lamb chops are essential, and if you’re into paneer the saag with tandoori paneer is a cannot miss! Make reservations now, thank us later.

Ottolenghi is one of the very best London restaurants. Hailing from Jerusalem, Israeli-English chef Yotam Ottolenghi has created an empire in London, serving up bright, flavorful Mediterranean dishes for breakfast lunch and dinner in several locations. Ottolenghi is our favorite restaurant for brunch in town (but let’s be real, any meal here is a home run!). If you’re going the breakfast route, we recommend the shakshuka, scrambled eggs with secret smokehouse salmon, or the french toast. Looking for something on the lunch side? Choose a cold or hot main as your base and enjoy a few different salads from their gorgeous salad buffet. Ordering copious amounts of pastries is an absolute must, and if you’re feeling super daring get some of their homemade granola to go.

You think you’ve had great Chinese food, but then you eat Xi’an impression in London and you suddenly see the light. It’s an easy-to-miss restaurant, situated across the street from the Arsenal F.C. stadium. Prepare for your mind  (and pallet) to be blown away. Xi’an Impression is not only one of the very best London restaurants, but it’s some of the best Chinese cuisine you ever devour. Forget orange chicken, spring rolls, or ham fried rice, you’re here for some real deal flavorful Chinese food. Start with the boneless chicken in ginger sauce for an appetizer- so tender, so flavorful, and unlike any other chicken dish you’ve consumed before. The hand-pulled noodles are not to be missed, and the Xi’an biangbiang noodles with chunky beef will bring you to tears. Into dumplings? Get the pork and veggie dumplings for something familiar and delectable. Affordable, exception, and so worth one of your precious meals in London. We couldn’t love this place more.

In a world where restaurants seem to throw around the word “tapas” so casually, Barrafina is a diamond in the rough, a true-to-form authentic Spanish restaurant where you can get tapas that will transport you to Madrid in an instant. Barrafina is at the very top of our list for London restaurants because of the impeccable quality of food and the insanely nostalgic flavors laced throughout every dish on the menu. Start with the pan con tomate, a simple but quintessential Spanish tapa with flavors so pure and undeniably delicious. Other favorite menu items include the iberica jamon, Spanish tortilla, and braised ox tongue with crushed potatoes. Craving paella? Try the fideua dish with shrimp (offered only at some locations) for something new and totally nostalgic all at the same time.

Dishroom serves not only amazing Indian food, but some of the best Indian food you’ll ever have in your entire life. It’s the perfect combination of cozy, homey Indian dishes combined with new and exciting dishes you’ve likely never heard of. With several locations across town (all steadily full throughout the day), it’s no wonder that everyone wants a piece of the Dishoom pie. The brunch here is fantastic, but your first priority should be lunch or dinner to enjoy their “all day” menu. Menu items and specials will vary by location but some of our favorites are the Lamb Samosas, Chicken Ruby, or the Nalli Nihari if you’re at the King’s Cross location (pictured). Don’t forget a couple of orders of garlic naan and roti! Avoid long lines- arrive just as they open or opt for the King’s Cross or Kensington locations.

There are enough spectacular London restaurants to last a lifetime, but if we can only send you to one of the best restaurants in London, it would be St. John. With a few locations throughout town, you have no excuse to not enjoy our favorite London restaurant. You’re coming for here for British food, but not the British food you’ve been enduring throughout the rest of your United Kingdom trip. Instead, imagine beautifully prepared British dishes with more flavor and gastronomic intention than you’ve yet to experience. The menu here changes seasonally, but keep your eye out for the bone marrow appetizer. And if you traditionally squirm at the thought of bone marrow, then it’s time to grow up and put your big girl pants on because this dish is simply TDF. Get a few small plates and an entree or two, and no matter what you do always end with one of their out-of-this-world cream-filled St. John doughnuts. Anthony Bourdain loved this place, and so will you.