Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Descend a staircase on Delancey Street to enter one of London’s only proper izakayas, an atmospheric basement bar with perfunctory wooden booths, plenty of bar stools and a largely Japanese staff and clientele. As with any izakaya worth its salt, the focus is on booze, with the holy trinity of shochu, sake, and beer flowing freely (with a decent selection of Japanese single malts for good measure). The simple but delicious food is a perfect accompaniment: start with small plates like silky mackerel and seabass sashimi — otoro is also available — before moving to more robust dishes like husky nuggets of chicken karaage, à la mode katsu sandos, or grilled onglet with sweet yakiniku sauce.
YoKOYA-Yakitori and Sushi and Suntory Japanese Whisky
9A Delancey StreetDescend a staircase on Delancey Street to enter one of London’s only proper izakayas, an atmospheric basement bar with perfunctory wooden booths, plenty of bar stools and a largely Japanese staff and clientele. As with any izakaya worth its salt, the focus is on booze, with the holy trinity of shochu, sake, and beer flowing freely (with a decent selection of Japanese single malts for good measure). The simple but delicious food is a perfect accompaniment: start with small plates like silky mackerel and seabass sashimi — otoro is also available — before moving to more robust dishes like husky nuggets of chicken karaage, à la mode katsu sandos, or grilled onglet with sweet yakiniku sauce.
Sit near the entrance of O Tino, and you’ll hear the audible sighs of relieved local Portuguese as they step through the door. Here, home cooking and hospitality are the name of the game, and the welcome that both regulars and newcomers receive is a credit to owners and Lisboetas Florentino and Elisabete. Crisp rissois de camarao (prawn pancakes with a creamy seafood filling), soothing sopa de mariscos, and excellent clams and prawns with a rich, vibrant garlic sauce point to Elisabete’s pride in her seafood cookery. Group dinners are a pleasure, and lunchtimes are good value — eight quid will bag you a huge plate of grilled chicken or pork fillet with a slick of piri-piri.
O Tino
1 Plender StreetSit near the entrance of O Tino, and you’ll hear the audible sighs of relieved local Portuguese as they step through the door. Here, home cooking and hospitality are the name of the game, and the welcome that both regulars and newcomers receive is a credit to owners and Lisboetas Florentino and Elisabete. Crisp rissois de camarao (prawn pancakes with a creamy seafood filling), soothing sopa de mariscos, and excellent clams and prawns with a rich, vibrant garlic sauce point to Elisabete’s pride in her seafood cookery. Group dinners are a pleasure, and lunchtimes are good value — eight quid will bag you a huge plate of grilled chicken or pork fillet with a slick of piri-piri.
Edging towards Mornington Crescent, this friendly neighbourhood Japanese spot gets packed with office workers who come for fantastic, inexpensive set lunches. For a first visit, gravitate towards expertly made gyoza and ramen; the former arrive stuffed with pork or salmon, with slippery, soft skins and crisped undersides. Steaming bowls of ramen demonstrate the kitchen’s soft-spoken aptitude for coaxing maximum flavour from ingredients — the miso ramen, in particular, is a quiet riot of simmered chicken and pork bones, umami-packed miso, flavoursome chashu and tender bamboo shoots.
6 locals recommend
Seto
5-6 Plender StEdging towards Mornington Crescent, this friendly neighbourhood Japanese spot gets packed with office workers who come for fantastic, inexpensive set lunches. For a first visit, gravitate towards expertly made gyoza and ramen; the former arrive stuffed with pork or salmon, with slippery, soft skins and crisped undersides. Steaming bowls of ramen demonstrate the kitchen’s soft-spoken aptitude for coaxing maximum flavour from ingredients — the miso ramen, in particular, is a quiet riot of simmered chicken and pork bones, umami-packed miso, flavoursome chashu and tender bamboo shoots.
Look past Hook’s “new-school fish and chips” tagline and you’ll find a capable kitchen specialising in high quality seafood, simply prepared. Crunchy calamari is tossed with a moreish combo of squid ink and hot sauce; fish tacos are loaded with panko-battered white fish and crisp red cabbage slaw. Fish — bought daily from small fisheries and dayboats — is virtually greaseless and entirely superb. The practice of replacing proper chips with wedges is a harder sell, but makes for an acceptable compromise.
13 locals recommend
Hook
63-65 ParkwayLook past Hook’s “new-school fish and chips” tagline and you’ll find a capable kitchen specialising in high quality seafood, simply prepared. Crunchy calamari is tossed with a moreish combo of squid ink and hot sauce; fish tacos are loaded with panko-battered white fish and crisp red cabbage slaw. Fish — bought daily from small fisheries and dayboats — is virtually greaseless and entirely superb. The practice of replacing proper chips with wedges is a harder sell, but makes for an acceptable compromise.
Equidistant between Camden Town tube and Regents Park, Shimogamo is as much a handy spot for post-park eats as it is a low-key refuge from the neighbourhood’s seething crowds. The most upmarket of Camden’s Japanese eateries, the kitchen is crushingly competent at anything it attempts — tempura shatters satisfyingly under pressure, while sashimi is superior in both sourcing and knifework. With a slinky, sunken dining room at the back and a sushi bar to boot, the bill for dinner can rapidly escalate; better to visit past noon, where set lunches are a steal.
11 locals recommend
Shimogamo
108 ParkwayEquidistant between Camden Town tube and Regents Park, Shimogamo is as much a handy spot for post-park eats as it is a low-key refuge from the neighbourhood’s seething crowds. The most upmarket of Camden’s Japanese eateries, the kitchen is crushingly competent at anything it attempts — tempura shatters satisfyingly under pressure, while sashimi is superior in both sourcing and knifework. With a slinky, sunken dining room at the back and a sushi bar to boot, the bill for dinner can rapidly escalate; better to visit past noon, where set lunches are a steal.
Drinks & Nightlife
Simmons Camden is ready to impress just as much as its sister bar. Easily one of the best cocktail bars in Camden, this is your one-stop-shop for great drinks deals, a stylish crowd and fun time party vibes - just be sure to get there in time for their happy hour to get your hands on two cocktails for £10 and a spirit and a mixer for only £2.50.
27 locals recommend
Simmons Bar | Mornington Crescent
7 Camden High StSimmons Camden is ready to impress just as much as its sister bar. Easily one of the best cocktail bars in Camden, this is your one-stop-shop for great drinks deals, a stylish crowd and fun time party vibes - just be sure to get there in time for their happy hour to get your hands on two cocktails for £10 and a spirit and a mixer for only £2.50.
Camden's hottest new all-day eatery is open and ready for business. Lockside is full of industrial chic, with exposed brick walls, interesting art work and a sun-trap terrace. Work your way through their Tex Mex dishes or come later for a DJ night.
12 locals recommend
Lockside Camden
75-89 Camden Lock PlaceCamden's hottest new all-day eatery is open and ready for business. Lockside is full of industrial chic, with exposed brick walls, interesting art work and a sun-trap terrace. Work your way through their Tex Mex dishes or come later for a DJ night.
Boasting over 150 years to its name, it's not just history that The Princess of Wales has to boast. A cool and casual Camden pub with British grub on its side, enjoy three stunning and authentic floors of laid-back drinking and dining in the heart of North London.
104 locals recommend
The Princess Of Wales
27 Villiers StBoasting over 150 years to its name, it's not just history that The Princess of Wales has to boast. A cool and casual Camden pub with British grub on its side, enjoy three stunning and authentic floors of laid-back drinking and dining in the heart of North London.
Shaka Zulu is a bar in Camden with fabulous cocktails, a generous happy hour and unique and fascinating decor thanks to its African inspired roots. Known as one of Camden's best clubs, Shaka Zulu hosts great Friday and Saturday nights and opens early - allowing you to head down and enjoy drinks or nibbles before the clubbing starts.
33 locals recommend
Shaka Zulu
Chalk Farm RoadShaka Zulu is a bar in Camden with fabulous cocktails, a generous happy hour and unique and fascinating decor thanks to its African inspired roots. Known as one of Camden's best clubs, Shaka Zulu hosts great Friday and Saturday nights and opens early - allowing you to head down and enjoy drinks or nibbles before the clubbing starts.
A list of the best Camden bars isn't fit for purpose without a nod to the Jazz Cafe. An iconic joint renowned for live music, club nights, dinner and drinks, the venue has welcomed the likes of Amy Winehouse, D'Angelo and Bobby Womack on stage down the years. It's recently been taken over by the Columbo Group and is once again an unmissable hangout whether you're looking for live music or a bite to eat on the mezzanine.
137 locals recommend
Jazz Cafe
5 ParkwayA list of the best Camden bars isn't fit for purpose without a nod to the Jazz Cafe. An iconic joint renowned for live music, club nights, dinner and drinks, the venue has welcomed the likes of Amy Winehouse, D'Angelo and Bobby Womack on stage down the years. It's recently been taken over by the Columbo Group and is once again an unmissable hangout whether you're looking for live music or a bite to eat on the mezzanine.