Lamb tongues at St John Bread & Wine.
London’s dining and drinking culture just gets better and better. Whether you are in the market for artisanal breads, masterfully prepared offal or sensational wine, this cultural capital is sure to satisfy if you know where to go. Wading through all the hype and new openings and restaurant PR nonsense is a hassle, so I’ve done it for you. What follows is a round-up of some of my favorite places to eat, drink, and shop for booze in London. For a full account of places I love, stay tuned for “Katie Parla’s London”, available in the App Store this winter.
Sushi Tetsu for amazing sushi.
St John Bread & Wine for British cuisine, natural wines, and bread.
Leila’s Shop for breakfast, lunch, and groceries.
Rochelle Canteen for satisfying, down-home weekday lunches.
Anchor & Hope for hearty gastropub fare.
Zedel’s Bar Americain, Dabbous (food here is overhyped) and Quo Vadis (food here is underhyped) for cocktails.
Noble Find Liquor sells spectacular natural and tradition wines.
Quo Vadis for anything really, especially cocktails, eel sandwiches at lunch, and desserts.
Hedone for stellar contemporary cuisine made from meticulously sourced British and French ingredients.
Rita’s for all sorts of American-inspired comfort food.
After a period of decline, Borough Market is once again promoting quality vendors. Check out Bread Ahead for artisanal breads, Kappacasein for raclette and toasted cheese sandwiches, Mons for French and Swiss cheeses, The Ham & Cheese Co. for charcuterie and of course legendary Monmouth Coffee and Neal’s Yard Dairy.
Green Man & French Horn, Brawn and Soif for small French-inspired plates and natural wines.
Southamton Arms and Jolly Butcher for cask ales and ciders; The Duke of Wellington for craft beers from London-based brewers.
Spa Terminus on Saturday mornings for pastries at the Little Bread Pedlar, ice cream at La Grotta Ices, craft beer from The Kernel, and so much more.
40 Maltby Street for small plates and natural wines.
Heron for super authentic Thai cuisine in a bizarre basement karaoke venue.
Silk Road in Camberwell for Uyghur cuisine from China’s Xinjiang region.
The Rake for foreign and domestic craft beers.
Mangal I and Mangal II for mezes, salads, and grilled meat.
Racine is a satisfying French bistro.
Barrafina for top-notch Spanish tapas.
Bar Shu for Sichuan specialties.
Antepliler (the Green Lanes location is the more delicious of the two) for Turkish mezes, lahmacun, and kebabs. Their small corner restaurant next door specializes in grilled offal and künefe.
Mien Tay serves pretty great southwestern Vietnamese food in Battersea (there is another location in Shoreditch but it’s not as good). Don’t miss the stir-fried goat with galangal and chargrilled quail.
Lahore Kebab House is a no-nonsense Pakistani kebab house in East London known for its juicy seekh kebab, spiced lamb chops and fiery curries.
