Guidebook for Greater London

Ben
Guidebook for Greater London

Food Scene

Most Italians say this is a proper traditional "Mammas-home-cooking" restaurant, but with a quite stylish and contemporary setting. Reservations strongly recommended. (££)
27 locals recommend
Bocca di Lupo
12 Archer St
27 locals recommend
Most Italians say this is a proper traditional "Mammas-home-cooking" restaurant, but with a quite stylish and contemporary setting. Reservations strongly recommended. (££)
Great Belgian "mules-frites" place, but with a big selection of options on the menu. Kids under 12 eat free, and there is a "beat the clock" reduced pricing option before 19:30. (£-££)
16 locals recommend
Belgo Centraal
50 Earlham St
16 locals recommend
Great Belgian "mules-frites" place, but with a big selection of options on the menu. Kids under 12 eat free, and there is a "beat the clock" reduced pricing option before 19:30. (£-££)
Fast, fresh, wok cooking. Designed as very casual eat in or take away. A bit of a New York style take away concept. Great value and quick. (£)
Wok To Walk
4 Brewer Street
Fast, fresh, wok cooking. Designed as very casual eat in or take away. A bit of a New York style take away concept. Great value and quick. (£)
Great, super-friendly Italian coffee shop/snack/restaurant. Great selection of fresh pasta and authentic sauces. Also possible to take away (£)
And Pasta Soho
60 Dean St
Great, super-friendly Italian coffee shop/snack/restaurant. Great selection of fresh pasta and authentic sauces. Also possible to take away (£)
Some of the best fresh pasta in London, prepared in front of you "while-you-wait" at chef counters. Also does pizza and salads.Plenty of seating, but waiting for your food can take ages if busy (£-££)
8 locals recommend
Vapiano
8 locals recommend
Some of the best fresh pasta in London, prepared in front of you "while-you-wait" at chef counters. Also does pizza and salads.Plenty of seating, but waiting for your food can take ages if busy (£-££)
Great "Grand European Cafe" style restaurant. Quite busy atmosphere but elegant surroundings. Nice for people watching. Reservations recommended, but walk ins probably possible (££-£££)
36 locals recommend
The Delaunay
55 Aldwych
36 locals recommend
Great "Grand European Cafe" style restaurant. Quite busy atmosphere but elegant surroundings. Nice for people watching. Reservations recommended, but walk ins probably possible (££-£££)
Just lost its Michelin star, but still excellent. Very formal French food in a nicely renovated Georgian townhouse. (££-££££)
7 locals recommend
Gauthier Soho
21 Romilly St
7 locals recommend
Just lost its Michelin star, but still excellent. Very formal French food in a nicely renovated Georgian townhouse. (££-££££)
Has 1 Michelin star. Does a very reasonably priced lunch and pre-theatre menu. Reservations recommended, but probably not essential (££-£££)
6 locals recommend
Arbutus
63-64 Frith St
6 locals recommend
Has 1 Michelin star. Does a very reasonably priced lunch and pre-theatre menu. Reservations recommended, but probably not essential (££-£££)
It has 2 Michelin stars. Great for a special occasion. Also does a very reasonably priced lunch and pre-theatre menu. Reservations essential (£££-££££)
10 locals recommend
L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon
13-15 West St
10 locals recommend
It has 2 Michelin stars. Great for a special occasion. Also does a very reasonably priced lunch and pre-theatre menu. Reservations essential (£££-££££)
Great place for celebrity spotting. Not cheap and reservations essential (£££-££££)
42 locals recommend
The Ivy
1-5 West St
42 locals recommend
Great place for celebrity spotting. Not cheap and reservations essential (£££-££££)
Cute, traditional French bistro. Does a good priced pre- and post-theatre set menu. Extensive A La Carte menu as well
8 locals recommend
Mon Plaisir - French Restaurant Covent Garden
19-21 Monmouth Street
8 locals recommend
Cute, traditional French bistro. Does a good priced pre- and post-theatre set menu. Extensive A La Carte menu as well
Specializes in Bubble Tea - quite a quirky place
Bubbleology Soho
49 Rupert St
Specializes in Bubble Tea - quite a quirky place
This is one of the most popular udon noodle restaurants in London. Constantly a (quick-moving) queue of Japanese ex-pats looking for a real taste of home, which is a pretty good recommendation! (£-££)
26 locals recommend
Koya Soho
50 Frith St
26 locals recommend
This is one of the most popular udon noodle restaurants in London. Constantly a (quick-moving) queue of Japanese ex-pats looking for a real taste of home, which is a pretty good recommendation! (£-££)
Lovely place for a coffee/drink/snack/brunch/main meal. (££)
37 locals recommend
Dean Street Townhouse
69-71 Dean St
37 locals recommend
Lovely place for a coffee/drink/snack/brunch/main meal. (££)
A great alternative to the usual hustle and bustle of Soho and Covent Garden. Tucked away in Fitzrovia. Great food and setting. Reservations and walk ins welcome (££)
67 locals recommend
Riding House Café
43-51 Great Titchfield St.
67 locals recommend
A great alternative to the usual hustle and bustle of Soho and Covent Garden. Tucked away in Fitzrovia. Great food and setting. Reservations and walk ins welcome (££)
Very elegant option for brunch. Not cheap, but nice atmosphere. Bookings recommended. (££-£££)
13 locals recommend
Cecconi's Mayfair
5A Burlington Gardens
13 locals recommend
Very elegant option for brunch. Not cheap, but nice atmosphere. Bookings recommended. (££-£££)
Very good selection of seafood. Popular, with a bustling atmosphere (££-£££)
24 locals recommend
Randall & Aubin, Soho
16 Brewer St
24 locals recommend
Very good selection of seafood. Popular, with a bustling atmosphere (££-£££)
Famously good cakes. Red velvet cupcake is a classic (£)
19 locals recommend
The Hummingbird Bakery
155a Wardour St
19 locals recommend
Famously good cakes. Red velvet cupcake is a classic (£)
Does a great selection of authentic Brazilian and Portuguese snacks (£)
Canela Café
33 Earlham St
Does a great selection of authentic Brazilian and Portuguese snacks (£)
Traditional Naples pizzas and calzone pizzas. Good atmosphere, decent prices. Usually not much of a wait time (££)
12 locals recommend
Rossopomodoro Covent Garden
50-52 Monmouth St
12 locals recommend
Traditional Naples pizzas and calzone pizzas. Good atmosphere, decent prices. Usually not much of a wait time (££)
Very causal version of MEATLiquor. Great burgers/sides at reasonable prices. Great reviews and quite popular, but not as busy as MEATLiquor. (£-££)
9 locals recommend
MEATmarket
Tavistock Street
9 locals recommend
Very causal version of MEATLiquor. Great burgers/sides at reasonable prices. Great reviews and quite popular, but not as busy as MEATLiquor. (£-££)
Wood-fired pizzas with very creative topping combinations. Cheap and cheerful, but very popular. Can put your name down and have a drink elsewhere until table is ready (££)
48 locals recommend
Homeslice Neal's Yard
13 Neal's Yard
48 locals recommend
Wood-fired pizzas with very creative topping combinations. Cheap and cheerful, but very popular. Can put your name down and have a drink elsewhere until table is ready (££)
Nice burritos at good prices. Good for a quick refuel between shopping or sightseeing. Quick and easy. (£)
20 locals recommend
Chipotle Mexican Grill
334 Upper St
20 locals recommend
Nice burritos at good prices. Good for a quick refuel between shopping or sightseeing. Quick and easy. (£)
VERY popular and VERY small seating space = long waiting times. Can put your name down and go for a drink until table is ready. Probably best burgers in central London (£-££)
35 locals recommend
Honest Burgers Meard St - Soho
4a Meard Street
35 locals recommend
VERY popular and VERY small seating space = long waiting times. Can put your name down and go for a drink until table is ready. Probably best burgers in central London (£-££)
Modern take on traditional Vietnamese food. Popular, but reasonably priced and usually possible to get a table (££)
17 locals recommend
Cay Tre Soho
42-43 Dean St
17 locals recommend
Modern take on traditional Vietnamese food. Popular, but reasonably priced and usually possible to get a table (££)
Does a very good all-you-can eat sushi deal mid-week. Unlimited re-orders of cold sushi and one-time orders of hot dishes. Usually possible to get a walk in table (£-££)
6 locals recommend
Sushi Eatery
40 Frith St
6 locals recommend
Does a very good all-you-can eat sushi deal mid-week. Unlimited re-orders of cold sushi and one-time orders of hot dishes. Usually possible to get a walk in table (£-££)
Inventive tapas style food in a very elegant setting. Has a nice bar too. Reservations recommended. (££-£££)
7 locals recommend
Opera Tavern
23 Catherine St
7 locals recommend
Inventive tapas style food in a very elegant setting. Has a nice bar too. Reservations recommended. (££-£££)
Ridiculously popular Indian "Calcutta Grand Cafe". Good food but very long queues (££-£££)
93 locals recommend
Dishoom
12 Upper St Martin's Ln
93 locals recommend
Ridiculously popular Indian "Calcutta Grand Cafe". Good food but very long queues (££-£££)
Looks like a chain, but is quite authentic, with Indian waiters and chefs and serving traditional Tali street food. Usually possible to get a table (££)
6 locals recommend
Masala Zone Soho
9 Marshall St
6 locals recommend
Looks like a chain, but is quite authentic, with Indian waiters and chefs and serving traditional Tali street food. Usually possible to get a table (££)
Looks like a chain, but is quite authentic, with Indian waiters and chefs and serving traditional Tali street food. Usually possible to get a table (££)
14 locals recommend
Masala Zone Covent Garden
48 Floral St
14 locals recommend
Looks like a chain, but is quite authentic, with Indian waiters and chefs and serving traditional Tali street food. Usually possible to get a table (££)
Very tasty rotisserie chicken. Very reasonable prices and usually possible to get a walk in table. Does good morning coffee deals too (£-££)
7 locals recommend
Cookhouse Joe
55 Berwick St
7 locals recommend
Very tasty rotisserie chicken. Very reasonable prices and usually possible to get a walk in table. Does good morning coffee deals too (£-££)
Decent Chinese food in heart of Chinatown. Plenty of options on same street if busy (£-££)
15 locals recommend
Golden Dragon Chinatown
28-29 Gerrard St
15 locals recommend
Decent Chinese food in heart of Chinatown. Plenty of options on same street if busy (£-££)
Excellent value for money, traditional French Brasserie. Usually possible to get a walk in table. Dish of the day and menu of the day are popular and great value
49 locals recommend
Brasserie Zédel
20 Sherwood St
49 locals recommend
Excellent value for money, traditional French Brasserie. Usually possible to get a walk in table. Dish of the day and menu of the day are popular and great value
Very traditional British Fish & Chips! Big portions, friendly service and lots of deep-fried food (£)
18 locals recommend
Golden Union. Fish and chips.
38 Poland Street
18 locals recommend
Very traditional British Fish & Chips! Big portions, friendly service and lots of deep-fried food (£)
Great burgers/sides/onion rings etc. Lively atmosphere and usually possible to get a walk-in table (especially if Flat Iron is full!) (£-££)
264 locals recommend
Byron
341 Upper St
264 locals recommend
Great burgers/sides/onion rings etc. Lively atmosphere and usually possible to get a walk-in table (especially if Flat Iron is full!) (£-££)
Great burgers/sides/onion rings etc. Lively atmosphere and usually possible to get a walk-in table (especially if Flat Iron is full!) (£-££)
264 locals recommend
Byron
341 Upper St
264 locals recommend
Great burgers/sides/onion rings etc. Lively atmosphere and usually possible to get a walk-in table (especially if Flat Iron is full!) (£-££)
Newest venture by Bone Daddies. Extensive menu based on selecting meat dishes and creating your own "sandwich" with sticky Horato Dim Sum buns. Usually possible to get a walk in table (££)
13 locals recommend
Flesh & Buns Covent Garden
41 Earlham St
13 locals recommend
Newest venture by Bone Daddies. Extensive menu based on selecting meat dishes and creating your own "sandwich" with sticky Horato Dim Sum buns. Usually possible to get a walk in table (££)
Best Ramen noodles in London. Rave reviews and an interesting Rock-n-Roll Japanese concept. Usually a queue, but moves quite quickly (£-££)
33 locals recommend
Bone Daddies
31 Peter St
33 locals recommend
Best Ramen noodles in London. Rave reviews and an interesting Rock-n-Roll Japanese concept. Usually a queue, but moves quite quickly (£-££)
Usually possible to get a few stools at the sushi rail at all times. Traditional roller-belt sushi rail with decent selection of dishes, although can be a bit repetitive (£-££)
12 locals recommend
Yo Sushi
3A/B Belvedere Rd
12 locals recommend
Usually possible to get a few stools at the sushi rail at all times. Traditional roller-belt sushi rail with decent selection of dishes, although can be a bit repetitive (£-££)
Apparently on of the best vegetarian restaurants in London (££)
45 locals recommend
Mildreds Restaurant
45 Lexington St
45 locals recommend
Apparently on of the best vegetarian restaurants in London (££)
New branch of Soho flagship. Again expect long waiting times
37 locals recommend
Polpo Soho
41 Beak St
37 locals recommend
New branch of Soho flagship. Again expect long waiting times
Great atmosphere, excellent food, reservations recommended (££-£££)
8 locals recommend
Dehesa
25 Ganton St
8 locals recommend
Great atmosphere, excellent food, reservations recommended (££-£££)
Romantic, French restaurant (££-£££)
21 locals recommend
Clos Maggiore
33 King St
21 locals recommend
Romantic, French restaurant (££-£££)
Brazilian barbeque/rodezio -- all you can eat fresh cooked meats and large salad bar. Walk-ins possible (££)
Preto West End
73 Shaftesbury Ave
Brazilian barbeque/rodezio -- all you can eat fresh cooked meats and large salad bar. Walk-ins possible (££)
Excellent taste of American diner at good prices. Large portions. Only place to get Corn Dogs in London! Walk-ins possible. Takes reservations. (£-££)
Diner
23A Shaftesbury Avenue
Excellent taste of American diner at good prices. Large portions. Only place to get Corn Dogs in London! Walk-ins possible. Takes reservations. (£-££)
Expensive; but excellent steaks. Reservations recommended. Large portions and extensive steak and wine menus (£££-££££)
56 locals recommend
Hawksmoor Seven Dials
11 Langley Street
56 locals recommend
Expensive; but excellent steaks. Reservations recommended. Large portions and extensive steak and wine menus (£££-££££)
New British food/restaurant (££)
10 Greek St
10 Greek Street
New British food/restaurant (££)
Authentic Mexican food; great atmosphere and cocktails. Can wait at the bar for a table to become available (££)
7 locals recommend
Cafe Pacifico
5 Langley St
7 locals recommend
Authentic Mexican food; great atmosphere and cocktails. Can wait at the bar for a table to become available (££)
Romantic; British-French food. Very charming setting and good menu. Reservations recommended, but walk-ins possible (for small groups) (££-£££)
16 locals recommend
Andrew Edmunds Restaurant
46 Lexington St
16 locals recommend
Romantic; British-French food. Very charming setting and good menu. Reservations recommended, but walk-ins possible (for small groups) (££-£££)
Great steaks/meat; but there will be very long waiting times in the evenings. Has a bar downstairs you can wait at, but eating at off-peak times would be better (££)
69 locals recommend
Flat Iron
17 Beak St
69 locals recommend
Great steaks/meat; but there will be very long waiting times in the evenings. Has a bar downstairs you can wait at, but eating at off-peak times would be better (££)

Essentials

A large Tesco with a selection of food and grocery items, wine, etc. Very cheap prices
405 locals recommend
Tesco Metro
224-226 Portobello Rd
405 locals recommend
A large Tesco with a selection of food and grocery items, wine, etc. Very cheap prices
Large selection of healthy food and groceries. Does great take away food too. Not cheap, but health food shops rarely are!
782 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
63-97 Kensington High St
782 locals recommend
Large selection of healthy food and groceries. Does great take away food too. Not cheap, but health food shops rarely are!
Medium size food/grocery supermarket. Open 7am to 11pm every day
The Co-operative Food - Soho - Berwick Street
104-105 Berwick Street
Medium size food/grocery supermarket. Open 7am to 11pm every day

Drinks & Nightlife

Great roof top bar with amazing views over London. Good on a sunny day. Does food too (££-£££)
10 locals recommend
ME London
Strand
10 locals recommend
Great roof top bar with amazing views over London. Good on a sunny day. Does food too (££-£££)
Nice (and large) cocktail bar upstairs and then a hard-core samba dancing club downstairs. Not for beginners!
11 locals recommend
100 Wardour Street
100 Wardour Street
11 locals recommend
Nice (and large) cocktail bar upstairs and then a hard-core samba dancing club downstairs. Not for beginners!
Lively samba-style bar. Does food in the early evening and then dancing (often started off by some professional samba dancers). Gets very lively
13 locals recommend
Guanabara
13 locals recommend
Lively samba-style bar. Does food in the early evening and then dancing (often started off by some professional samba dancers). Gets very lively
Traditional British Pub
8 locals recommend
The Sun & 13 Cantons
21 Great Pulteney St
8 locals recommend
Traditional British Pub
Great cockail bar right on the Covent Garden Piazza (££-£££)
14 locals recommend
Dirty Martini Covent Garden
11-12 Russell St
14 locals recommend
Great cockail bar right on the Covent Garden Piazza (££-£££)
Intimate and trendy wine bar with a great selection of charcuterie and cheese tapas plates (£-££)
7 locals recommend
Fernandez & Wells
7 locals recommend
Intimate and trendy wine bar with a great selection of charcuterie and cheese tapas plates (£-££)
Interesting selection of inventive/creative cocktails. Can get quite crowded as is quite small, but great drinks and good atmosphere
7 locals recommend
Lab Bar
12 Old Compton Street
7 locals recommend
Interesting selection of inventive/creative cocktails. Can get quite crowded as is quite small, but great drinks and good atmosphere
Romantic French restaurant. Often possible to get a walk-in table (££)
6 locals recommend
Café des Amis
11-14 Hanover Pl
6 locals recommend
Romantic French restaurant. Often possible to get a walk-in table (££)
Excellent taste of American diner at good prices. Large portions. Only place to get Corn Dogs in London! Walk-ins possible. Takes reservations. (£-££)
53 locals recommend
The Diner Soho
18 Ganton St
53 locals recommend
Excellent taste of American diner at good prices. Large portions. Only place to get Corn Dogs in London! Walk-ins possible. Takes reservations. (£-££)
Excellent Spanish food and Sangria; but they don't take reservations and are very popular. (££)
13 locals recommend
Salvador & Amanda Covent Garden
8 Great Newport St
13 locals recommend
Excellent Spanish food and Sangria; but they don't take reservations and are very popular. (££)

Entertainment & Activities

Largest toy shop in England!
76 locals recommend
Hamleys
188-196 Regent St.
76 locals recommend
Largest toy shop in England!
Great ice-cream place. Perfect for a treat (£)
Scoop Soho
53 Brewer St
Great ice-cream place. Perfect for a treat (£)
Traditional Italian Gelateria for ice-cream (run by same people as ever popular Boca di Lupo restaurant across the road) (£)
18 locals recommend
Gelupo
7 Archer St
18 locals recommend
Traditional Italian Gelateria for ice-cream (run by same people as ever popular Boca di Lupo restaurant across the road) (£)