10 of the best London restaurants and bars I've visited this year
Bookmark these must-try spots for your next meal out
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: London really is the foodie capital of the world. London’s restaurant scene is an ever-changing tapestry: a delightful cocktail of hype-worthy openings and tried-and-tested classics. When planning my next meal out, I’m constantly torn between booking one of the shiny new spots on my (inexhaustible) list of places to try or returning to one of my all-time favourites.
In this post I’m sharing 10 of the best places I’ve eaten at over the last few months: the must-try restaurants and bars that you should bookmark immediately.
This Mexican eatery by Santiago Lastra (the acclaimed chef behind Michelin-starred KOL), is a fun-loving, colourful homage to traditional Mexican cuisine, with chic banquettes and booths for curling up on. Dishes offer a contemporary take on Mexican classics: tuck into wild garlic Oaxacan cheese quesadillas and octopus tacos, all of which are loaded up with the restaurant’s selection of homemade, help-yourself salsas.
There’s no website or booking system for this modern, open-kitchen Italian restaurant perched at the top of Portobello Road, which simply adds to its allure. Make sure you turn up before opening time in order to bag one of their hotly-in-demand tables. The daily-changing menu always includes a mix of handmade pastas, pizzas, and grilled meats that are deliciously tasty, and ideal for sharing.
NIJŪ is a slick Mayfair spot helmed by third-generation sushi master Endo Kazutoshi (of Michelin-starred Endo at The Rotunda). With a chef like Kazutoshi leading the kitchen, you can expect excellence across the board. Delicious sushi, sashimi, and chirashi bowls are all served within a very chic setting (think velvety banquettes and glossy wooden surfaces). As you’d expect, the quality of fish is superb - and the set menus are particularly good value for money.
This sexy little wine bar is tucked within a converted warehouse just off Brick Lane: inside, guests huddle around candlelit tables, slinging back cocktails and natural wines. Walk-ins are possible, but if you’re visiting on a Thursday-Saturday, I’d definitely recommend booking a table, as it’s a popular spot among the east London crowd. Expect a rotating calendar of guest chef residencies that keeps the food menu interesting too.
This swish new Indian restaurant from the same minds behind 2 Michelin-starred Gymkhana serves up delicious Punjabi feasts that are ideal for sharing: think tingly curries and perfectly cooked tikka, all washed down with a sweet mango lassi. Come with a big group (so you can try a bit of everything), and book one of the booth tables on the ground floor. The interiors are pretty show-stopping too, and service is reliably slick.
