London is undeniably posh, with its proper afternoon tea, schmancy hotels, and classic restaurants where it’s fun to dress up. But thanks to the rise of East London and a humming market scene, it’s also become the place for internationally inflected street food that’s storming bars, pop-ups, and casual restaurants. It’s that high-low mix that makes this town spot-on for a long weekend spent snacking abroad. And yes—you should have a pint at the pub.
London
Photo by Peden + Munk
The Hit List
Restaurants, Bars, and More
Dishoom
The all-day restaurant that pays homage to former Irani cafes popular in 1960s Bombay
40 Maltby St.
Natural wine and good share plates (naturally) to go with it
Claridge’s Afternoon Tea
A proper (and delicious) tea
Brown’s Hotel
The grown-up option
Borough Market
The food market that makes your farmers’ market look dinky
Workshop Coffee
Get your coffee geekery here
Scott’s
For all your posh seafood (and celeb-spotting) cravings
P. Franco
A pubby wine bar with a great list of bottles—and guest chefs
Gymkhana
Deluxe, delectable Indian feasting
Labour and Wait
Elevating humble housewares
Koya Bar
Mellow Japanese, starring English breakfast udon
Margaret Howell
British minimalism, from closet to table
Harvey Nichols Food Hall
Fancy food shopping that’s undeniable fun
Violet
The American-run bakery that’s worth Tube-ing for
Black Axe Mangal
Rocking food—and some KISS, too
The River Café
The restaurant that brought the world real-deal Italian food
The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell
Pyrotechnics in the glass
Noble Rot
Wine nerds sure know how to run a great wine bar
Momosan Shop
Adopt the Japanese hipster home look
Chiltern Firehouse
Because all great hotels live or die by their bars
St. John Maltby
Want a messy doughnut? Thought so.
Ottolenghi
Make a pilgrimage to the Ottolenghi mothership!
The Quality Chop House
Old-school British meat for a whole new era
Brawn
A wine-bar-turned-restaurant with meaty pedigree
Ham Yard
The crown jewel of London’s greatest hotel group
Still Hungry for London?
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