There’s nothing more satisfying than a sexy cross-section when it comes to this handheld food, and if there’s one place that knows how to serve a scorcher, it’s our capital. From sell-out subs to top-secret joints to queue-worthy eats, here’s our guide to the best sandwiches London has on offer.
Mondo Sando
Grove House Tavern in Camberwell loved Mondo Sando so much that they gave them a full-time residency to serve up their ever-changing menu of sexy sandwiches to revellers. If you’re a fan of bold fillings, then you’ll want to get a load of their Mondo Frango with peri-peri chicken thighs, pea salsa verde, matchstick fries and peri mayo. For the veggies, there’s Everything Beets, containing your fave purple veg smoked and paired with pickles.
The type of sandwich that would make Ross from Friends mad if you stole it.
The Breakfast Club Hoxton
Start your day (or end it) with a sarnie from The Breakfast Club Hoxton, which also has locations in Canary Wharf and Croydon. Browse their droolworthy menu against the backdrop of a retro restaurant, equipped with a custom-built disco ball and gorgeous, plush coral pink booths. Served in a warm brioche bun, fillings include sausage and crispy bacon, or an avo and egg veggie option, oozing caramelised onions and chipotle harissa mayo.
The most important meal of the day.
Sons + Daughters
Lock up your Sons + Daughters, because these guys know how to put together a really good bite to eat. If you haven't heard of these sandwich giants, then you're going to wanna make a memo to pop down to Coal Drops Yard. There, you can inhale roasted Swaleadale chicken, soy-cured parmesan and miso mayo squished between two slices of fresh loaf. Plant-based? Try the vegan-friendly broccoli, crispy shallots and smoked almond relish-filled invention. FYI: The Kings Cross joint is currently closed for a refurb 'til March 2024.
Patiently counting down 'til lunchtime.
Quo Vadis
This entry is more of a posh affair for those who fancy themselves a sophisticated bite to eat. Quo Vadis is a historical Soho restaurant, nestled on Dean Street, sharing the ground floor space with its tapas-serving sister, Barrafina. What was once a brothel and home to Karl Marx is now a buzzing dining destination where you can get your chops around its popular smoked eel sandwich, which was first whipped up in owner Jeremy Lee's Blueprint Cafe 30 years ago. It's constructed with toasted Parisian sourdough from Poilâne, a hint of mustard cream and horseradish, then topped by ribbons of half-pickled red onion.
One of the best sandwiches in Soho and it's eely good.
The Dusty Knuckle
A strong contender for the top sandwich spot is The Dusty Knuckle, an unsuspecting bakery with an HQ in Dalston, tucked away behind the high street. This old 40ft shipping container has now become a hanger-curing cafe and dough supplier to some of London's swankiest restaurants. Pop in or pre-order your new favourite; previous menus have seen pork meatballs with raclette and mustard creme fraiche, as well as charred hispi cabbage, cime di rapa slathered in romesco sauce and vegan aioli.
Bubbly bread and loaded layers: kneed we say more?
Comptoir Café And Wine
If you find yourself in search of the best sandwiches in Mayfair, then consider having a spot of lunch at Comptoir Café And Wine. Not only does it boast an extensive wine collection curated by owner and master sommelier Xavier Rousset, but it also has a selection of seriously cheesy, decadent toasties on its menu that could woo even those on a dairy hiatus. The New Yorker is one to look out for, with Dedham Vale pastrami, mature cheddar, Dijon mustard and a generous helping of pickles.
These toasties are bound to make you smile.
Dom's Subs
Looking for a feast in the East? Then you'll want to hit up Dom's Subs. While these bun barons are creating coma-inducing grub like The Spicy D (chiacciata piccante, salame Napoli and burnt chilli mayo) and The Vegan Dom (Thai-style spicy aubergines marinated in ginger), they're also doing fashion drops with Carhartt. For those who aren't local to Hackney, they've opened a kiosk in Ludgate Circus to rival the best sandwiches in Central London.
Absolutely sub-lime: this joint is taking over.
Chatsworth Bakehouse
Boasting queues around the block, Chatsworth Bakehouse started as founders Tom and Sian's lockdown project and has now expanded into one of the most talked about small-batch bakeries, dishing up the best sandwiches in South London. Grab a camping chair and line up for the likes of previous stars of the menu: The Kimchi Faceplant or The Paulie, a truffle ricotta and pickled mushrooms-filled feast.
These Instagrammable sandwiches are worth the wait.
Max's Sandwich Shop
Changing the game with gravy mayonnaise, it’s no wonder Max’s Sandwich Shop is the breadwinner of our guide. Owner Max’s creations have graced the covers of multiple magazines and seen brand collaborations with the likes of Branston Pickle. Make your way to Crouch Hill to get your mitts on a ham, egg ‘n’ chips sarnie, or the Korean gangster, featuring braised goat, kimchi, and two types of deep-fried noodles.
Max's Sandwiches doesn't hold back on its inventive fillings.
Dal Fiorentino
Using a traditional recipe born in Tuscany, Dal Fiorentino's schiacciate fiorentine is an Italian flatbread that's worth every bite. Slap bang in the middle of Hoxton or on Brick Lane, you'll find the most authentic sarnie outside of Florence. Devour fresh, pink folds of parma ham, lashings of buffalo mozzarella and beef tomatoes in their Dante, or for the sweet-toothed, a thick layer of pistachio cream squished between two slices of sugar-dusted bread.
The best Italian sandwich in London? We think so.
Secret Sandwich Shop
Secret Sandwich Shop isn’t doing a good job of staying hidden in Notting Hill, as its Japanese wanpaku (meaning cheeky or naughty) based sandwiches are in popular demand. Colourful layers of meat and eggs are pressed together between soft pieces of shokupan bread and are available for you to order in advance so you don't miss out. Their signature sando is a must-try, filled with five seasonal vegetables, avocado, tomato and Kewpie mayo.
Shhhh, don't tell anyone but you might find the best of sarnies in London here.
Rogue Sarnies
The origin story of Rogue Sarnies is not a simple one. Founders Zac Whittle and Freddie Sheen battled the challenges lockdown brought to hospitality with a string of short but sweet pop-up concepts, however, this woodfired sandwich haven caught on and they now have a permanent takeaway shop. Head to Hackney Road to find rotating epic eats such as the OG Cheesy Marmite or the Shloppy Giuseppe, finished with homemade roast garlic and burnt lemon aioli.
A sandwich that's sure to get you all fired up.
Café Kitsuné
A classic Japanese bakery named after the fox (a legendary creature in the country), Café Kitsuné is a popular eatery at Pantechnicon, a collection of restaurants, on Motcomb Street near Hyde Park. Visit for the Insta-famous double-baked matcha croissant and stay for the fluffiest sandos you've ever set your eyes on. The egg with truffle, mayo and mizuna is the perfect pick-me-up sandwich, with a yolk so yellow and runny you won’t be able to resist taking a snap.
Yolk-gotta be kidding me: Sandos this good should be illegal.
Bánh Mì Kêu Deli
Our guide wouldn’t be complete without the mouthwatering Bánh Mì Kêu Deli, with locations in Soho, Shoreditch and the City. The French introduced the baguette to Vietnam in the mid-19th century, and Saigon developed the popular street food sandwich that Keu Deli prides itself on dishing up. Our picks? The crispy pork belly with hoisin, house daikon and spring onions, or the kimchi roast chicken marinated in five spices.
A feast for the eyes and mouth.
The Black Pig
Few have managed to wander around Borough Market and resist the temptation of The Black Pig's sandwiches. From the moment the rich aroma of slow-cooked meat fills your nostrils, you're locked in for one of the most iconic dishes in the city: their signature honey truffle and parmesan pork ciabatta, finished over coals in a Big Green Egg ceramic grill. Bread Ahead provide the fluffy dough and The Black Pig team up with local suppliers to top it with smoked scamorza, fennel and apple slaw, plus 30-month-old parmesan to name a few.
The real babe of Borough Market.
The Cheese Bar
If you find yourself in Central, scouring the cobbled piazza for the best sandwiches in Covent Garden, then make a pit stop at The Cheese Bar, located in Seven Dials Market. Not only is this conveyor belt-style eatery the ultimate destination for unlimited dairy delights, but it also serves up a killer toastie. Opt to go 'off belt' with a golden, grilled sandwich filled with Rosary goats' cheese, honey and walnut, plus rosemary butter, or add glazed ham to a cheddar and onion feast.
Cheese on rotation? Yes please.
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