Suffice it to say that prior to visiting London last month, I did a lot of research into where I wanted to eat each of our meals. Case and point: our daily itineraries were mapped out based on the location of must-have dining experiences rather than our desired activities themselves. I take my food while traveling very seriously.
While I adore the Instagram-worthy London eateries we are all familiar with, I want to share some options with you that are a bit more under the radar in this guide to the best food deals in London. This roundup includes picks from all different price points located in various corners of the city. Their one commonality? They all serve absolutely mouthwateringly incredible food. And, yes, they’re all ridiculously photogenic and Instagram-worthy as well.
Café Phillies
2A Phillimore Gardens, Kensington
My favorite corner of London is, without a doubt, Kensington. It’s conveniently located, absolutely beautiful and filled to the brim with amazing eateries and shops. I could spend days on end exploring just Kensington alone! One of my beloved neighborhood finds from this last trip to London is Café Phillies, a cozy little breakfast and lunch spot in, you guessed it, Kensington.
The picture perfect exterior at Café Phillies.
Café Phillies uses only the freshest of ingredients to create their hearty, seasonal plates. Their menu contains a delicious array of classic breakfast dishes, salads, fresh squeezed juices, and their renowned special-blend coffee, making it the perfect spot to pop in for a bite to eat in between adventures in Kensington.
Scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and avocado over sour dough toast.
The neighborhood restaurant’s welcoming interior and fabulous staff deserve a mention as well. Immediately upon entering Café Phillies you will by greeted by several friendly staff members ready and willing to answer any questions you might have. Their service is fabulous, their portions are large, their prices are moderate, and their coffee is strong. What more could you possibly want in a breakfast spot?
Recommended: Scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and avocado over sour dough toast and the restaurant’s special blend of cold pressed juice called the S.O.S. (beets, apple, lemon, ginger, carrots, and celery).
Bibendum
Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, Chelsea
My husband is an oyster fanatic. I’m more the type that barely tolerates them. Regardless of my lack of enthusiasm for the slimy mollusks, I try to track down one highly recommended oyster joint per trip. On this last trip to London, Bibendum fit the bill.
The Michelin House, once owned by the Michelin Tire Company, is now home to Bibendum.
No conversation about Chelsea eatery Bibendum would be complete without a mention of the building’s history. The restaurant is located in the former Michelin House, a building commissioned by the Michelin Tire Company in 1909. Owned by Michelin until 1985, the building has been described as the “most completely French of any Edwardian building in London”. It features original tiled floors, impressive works of stained glass and over the top art-nouveau touches.
Bibendum’s oysters are the freshest of the fresh.
The building houses both a ground floor oyster bar and an upper level restaurant with a much more extensive, and decidedly French-influenced, menu. The real star of the show however is the building itself. I can all but guarantee you’ve never seen anything like it!
Recommended: Pop into the moderately priced oyster bar for an assortment of mid-afternoon snacks and a bottle of champagne.
Dirty Bones
Top Floor, Carnaby Street, Soho
(Additional locations in Kensington and Shoreditch)
Dirty Bones is my new go-to spot for any and every meal when I’m in London. I was first introduced to the Soho location of the American-influenced eatery before discovering that the Kensington location is right down the street from all of my favorite neighborhood attractions. After sufficiently sampling their menu, I should be sick of the restaurant, yet I still find myself dreaming of their reasonably priced and deliciously seasoned comfort dishes months after last tasting them. I just can’t get enough.
Mouthwatering flat iron steak.
Without exception, every single menu item (food and cocktails alike) that I have tried at Dirty Bones is out of this world fabulous. In fact, I had one of the best steaks of my life at the Soho location on our first night in London this last trip. One word of warning – don’t make the same mistake I did by visiting Dirty Bones near the beginning of your stay in London. You’ll find yourself not wanting to eat anywhere else!
The unique and welcoming interior at Dirty Bones.
Each of the three Dirty Bones locations offers an eclectic and inviting interior featuring a mishmash of furniture and accessory-adorned walls. Aesthetics and palate aside, my favorite part of a Dirty Bones dining experience is the fact that they have old school hip-hop, soul and funk perpetually playing. It has a way of making you feel good as soon as you enter the premise.
Recommended: Cheesy truffle fries to start, chicken and waffles for brunch, flat iron steak for dinner, and any of their cocktails to accompany.
Caravan King’s Cross
1 Granary Square, King’s Cross
(Additional locations at Exmouth Market and Bankside)
Eating at Caravan was perhaps the most surprising dining experience I had on this last trip to Europe. Though it had come highly recommended by a formerly London-based friend, I admit that I approached dinner there with moderate expectations. As it turned out, my friend was in no way unjustly singing Caravan’s praises.
The restaurant’s industrial chic interior.
To start with, the interior of Caravan King’s Cross is nothing short of spectacular. Located in an old renovated granary, the cavernous space features original brick walls and exposed beams and ductwork, giving it a positively New York vibe. Due to its unique feel and central location, the restaurant is bustling at all hours of the day, so if you are hoping to dine at Caravan a reservation is highly recommended.
Caravan’s delectable jalapeno corn bread.
Their deliciously diverse global menu truly features something for everyone. I enjoyed their perfectly cooked sea bass while my husband dined on an array of small plates. The restaurant’s most unique feature is, without a doubt, their extensive coffee selection and take-out brew bar, all fueled by their impressive in-house roastery. Each menu item we sampled at Caravan was better than the last, in fact just thinking about their delicious food and beverage selection now still makes my mouth water!
Recommended: Jalapeno corn bread, ham and smoked San Simon cheese croquettes, crispy artichoke hearts and Borlotti bean hummus, grilled sea bass with red coconut curry sauce, any of their cocktails, and any of their fresh brewed coffees.
Dishoom
7 Boundary Street, Shoreditch
(Additional locations in King’s Cross, Carnaby and Covent Garden)
Let’s be honest, dining on Indian food anywhere can be a bit of a gamble. While I personally love it, in my experience suggesting a restaurant that serves strictly that type of cuisine generally elicits a raised eyebrow or two. Can you blame people for reacting that way? So many of us have had experiences with absolutely dreadful Indian food, it’s no wonder there is apprehension surrounding it. That is why I am so thrilled to share Dishoom, a multi-location London-based Indian restaurant, with all of you.
Delicious lamb boti kabab.
Unlike the questionable plates you’ve perhaps dined on in the past, Dishoom serves a wide array of perfectly presented options ranging from traditional Indian dishes to modern adaptations of classics. Each of Dishoom’s four London outposts features a friendly, helpful staff eager to guide you through their extensive menu options.
Dishoom’s Bombay-influenced interior.
The restaurants themselves are absolutely stunning, featuring vintage furniture and décor as well as upscale embellishments, all of which lend themselves to a very Bombay-glam feel. The aesthetic is quite purposeful, as each of the locations was designed with the post-colonial Iranian cafes that at one time filled Bombay in mind.
Recommended: Chicken tikka, lamb boti kabab, masala prawns and their bottomless house chai tea.
There is no shortage of fabulous places to eat in London, a fact that continues to baffle my husband who remembers the days when the city wasn’t the foodie destination it is today. Thankfully times have changed and the city is positively bursting with diverse dining options waiting to be discovered.