London is famed for its wealth of food options – no matter what you want, you can find it right here in the city. Here are my top picks for London dining.
Being a big fan of burgers and partial to a bit of lobster, I knew this place would be right up my street. First on the agenda, was getting a obligatory picture in the iconic apron. With that ticked off the list, my bestie and I could tuck in. The food really was worth the hype (and the 30 minute wait for a table) and I loved every single morsel.
This five-star hotel is a hub for A-listers and socialites, if they’re not drinking cocktails at the bar, they’ll be posing in the very Instagrammable toilets (all i’ll say is… millennial pink). But as well as being the perfect hangout for a few drinks (see London cocktail hangouts), there are also eight public restaurants and I dined at the Italian, Cecconi’s. From pasta to pizza, they do it all so well – the meatballs are highly recommended!
A London institution, this iconic restaurant has panoramic views across the city thanks to its 40th floor location. I took my friend for a special birthday brunch, but the sweet and savoury combo, Duck & Waffle is a meal that can be enjoyed any time of day – so it’s a good job the place is open 24/7. Yes, 24 hours of the day! A 3am visit could be the perfect end to a BNO (big night out).
With 11 locations all over London, you can guarantee that you’re never too far from The Ivy. I’ve dined in a few different branches for breakfast and lunch (but not yet dinner) and the glamorous décor and impeccable service can be found wherever you are. For how decadent the place is, I find the prices really reasonable. You can snap up eggs on toast for £6.95!
Their legendary breakfast naans are what pulled me into this restaurant and boy, they didn’t disappoint! It’s a combo I’ve been tempted to re-create at home a few times since, but I think I’ll just leave it to the professionals and pop back to one of their five chains for another visit.
Along Shaftesbury Avenue, this Indian gem is definitely one to try. It was a Tuesday night when my friend and I popped in for a bite to eat and the place was bustling – such a good sign. The food was the right level of spicy (tasty without blowing your face off) and the highlight of our night was the sea bass curry and the butter chicken small plate.
It was my colleague Rima’s birthday and we descended upon the Kensington restaurant, Dirty Bones for some cheeky cocktails and some good, hearty American grub. I went for a burger (I did tell you I was a fan) and their garlic fries (delish!), but the ribs and chicken also received raving reviews from the girls. Oh, and did I mention it’s £5 cocktails from 5–7, Tues-Fri? Living the London dream!
Although you might be thinking, jeeeze this girl is obsessed with burgers, pizzas are actually my one true love. Franco Manca was top of my list when I moved to London and so my boyfriend and I went as soon as we got chance. The sourdough base is utterly heavenly and the prices are so affordable – a winning combination in my book.
As a couple, we’re both big into steak so finding a good steakhouse was a real triumph. I’d heard a lot about Hawsmoor and Flat Iron, but we opted for Roxie Steak for proximity one night. On a quaint little high street in Fulham, this was the perfect spot for a date night. As well as the juicy steak and morish chips, the wines were on point.
STOP THE PRESS! There may well be a pizza chain to knock Franco Manca off the top spot! I was on an evening out with the boyf at Swingers (no, not that kind of swingers, it’s actually mini golf) and within the complex there is a range of fast food outlets including Pizza Pilgrims. The stone-baked pizzas are served in boxes, but what they lack in finery they make up for in taste. Cheesy, tomatoey goodness. Yum.
Farina & More
When I worked on Brook Green, I often used to pop in to Farina & More for lunch time blogging sessions. Then, one time when my mum was in London visiting, we decided to pop here for dinner. Their Italian dishes and impressive wine list was enough to win me over – and I also really liked the relaxed atmosphere – we stayed long into the evening chatting and laughing away and we didn’t feel hurried at all.
STK
If you’re looking for a dinner with a difference STK will be right up your street. The perfect place for an extra-special meal that will easily turn into BNO (big night out). As the name suggests, steak is their speciality, but the mini burger starters are almost as good as the main event. As the evening progresses, the music cranks up and the lights dim – and don’t be surprised if there’s even dancing on the tables.
A London chain that can be found in Soho, The City and Covent Garden and it was the latter that I booked into with my pals one weekday evening. Working in the hospitality sector, I’m eligible for an app called Code which offers amazing discounts on restaurants, bars & hotels and so with 40% off food on offer, we opted for Temper. The USP is steaks and smokehouse food and I would highly recommend the beef sausage and flatbread that I devoured. My friend Mel had already been to Temper before and totally raved about the ‘cookie dessert’ so of course, we had to oblige. I’m happy to report that the Nutella cookie and ice cream dessert lives up to the hype – DEFINITELY leave room!
Well, writing this has made me terribly hungry, so I’m off to find some food. If you have any suggestions of where else I should dine in London, please comment below.
R x
Rachel Recommends 
Burger and lobster is one of my faves and I’ve recently been to The Ivy as they’ve opened one up in Bath where I live, definitely going to try a few of your other picks! X
LikeLiked by 1 person