Casual Restaurants In London

In need of a breather from the 100 miles per hour nature of the capital? Find the best restaurants for casual dining in London with our hand-picked guide! Featuring laidback eateries with a touch of urban NYC, easygoing restaurants playing sweet soul music and stripped back cafes with spectacular views of the Shard, recharge those batteries at our recommended picks for casual restaurants in London.

Looking for further inspiration? Check out our complete guide to the best restaurants in London!

Last edited by Marcus Sanigar

Last updated on 11th November 2025




The Loose Box

Based in the heart of Britain's political world, The Loose Box was created with the busy working populace in mind. Open early in the morning to cater for Westminster's many early risers, the restaurant-cum-cafe serves a number of delicious dishes throughout the day. Using only the freshest ingredients available and working had to ensure they cast the smallest possible carbon footprint, each meal and sharing platter is stunningly refreshing and will leave guests smiling from ear to ear. 

Exhibit

Happy Hour and 3 other offers

Looking for a chilled out restaurant in London with something a little extra for afterwards? It's time you met The Exhibit, a hub for eating, drinking and socialising in Balham. Check out their Dinner and a movie nights, where you can get a large plate from the main menu and a ticket to their snug independent cinema for less than £20. A great choice for a casual date night in London.

Noci Islington

Casual, approachable, and packed with flavour, Noci Islington is the kind of Italian restaurant that makes dining effortless. From simple favourites for kids like ziti with tomato or pesto to indulgent bites like 'nduja arancini and fritto misto, there's something for everyone.

The bright, welcoming space encourages relaxed catch-ups, long lunches, or laid-back dinners with cocktails like the strawberry, blood orange and ginger spritz. And for Londoners across the city, Noci's RichmondShoreditch, and Battersea locations bring the same friendly, pasta-filled vibes to multiple neighbourhoods.

Pasta Remoli - Restaurants

In need of a casual dining spot in London? Carb lovers will go absolutely nuts for Pasta Remoli. They're serving up some of the best Italian eats, from creamy spaghetti to decadent ravioli and plenty of parmesan cheese to top it off.

Albert's Schloss - Soho

For a laid-back time with a great entertainment lineup throughout the week (think cabaret, live music and more), head to Albert's Schloss Soho, a buzzing venue inspired by Queen Victoria's husband's heritage and love of the arts.

The Bavarian bier hall is decked out with long benches, a sparkling disco ball and stacked logs to give that Alpine feel. On the menu, you can look forward to sharing gooey pots of fondue with your friends, schnitzel and curried wurst, washed down with a cool stein of beer. 

Spagnoletti

With a menu dreamt up by pasta master Girolamo de Gennaro and executive chef Manuele Bazzoni, Spagnoletti is an all-day Italian restaurant located in King's Cross. Their open kitchen cooks up everything from lobster tagliolini and cacio e pepe to yellowtail tuna steaks or charcoal arancini, paired with a refreshing Aperol spritz.

Crudough

Made fresh every day and baked to perfection, Crudough's sourdough pizza makes any casual lunch memorable. Its super stylish bar and restaurant is the perfect place to wash down your meal with a fine wine or pair the crunch of your crust with a craft beer.

From your seat in its super stylish bar, you can ponder the meaning of the modern art on its walls over every bite. When the sun's shining, al fresco is the order of the day on the suntrap terrace.

Haymarket Kitchen

The restaurant found in the heart of one of London's most notorious clubbing destinations is one of your more unlikely places to eat but ahead of the wave when it comes to casual dining in London. Haymarket Kitchen in Tiger Tiger boasts vibrant interiors and a relaxed aesthetic where you can enjoy a curated international menu with influence from Mexico to Europe. 

Pizza Pilgrims Canary Wharf

Pizzaiolo in training £59 per person and 10 other offers

The Pizza Pilgrims team are opening yet another site in London, this time setting up shop in Canary Wharf. Known for creating authentic, Neapolitan pizzas that are topped with the most flavoursome ingredients, this new East London venue also offers 16-player foosball tables, plasma screen TVs and vintage video games.

Humble Grape Bars

Beautifully crafted with sleek furniture, exposed brick walls and simple decor, the bar offers over 30 different varieties of wine for the venue's guests. If that wasn't enough, guests can accompany their drinks with a selection of delicious, casual dishes.

Coin Laundry

Looking for a laid-back neighbourhood restaurant and bar in Exmouth Market? Coin Laundry has your name all over it; serving up proper comfort food, rejuvenated 70s cocktails and a big fat slice of nostalgia in a cosy and comfortable setting. Come for a couple of drinks or play some kerplunk in the basement; there's an 'anything goes' spirit that makes Coin Laundry an excellent option for a casual London meal.

Balans Soho Society

Sophistication and relaxation meet at Balans Society Soho, with a quirky interior, amazing cocktails and a mean British menu, this all-day den is the perfect way to hide away from the bustling streets outside.

The Thieves

Located between Battersea and Clapham, The Thieves is a huge, multi-level venue that has got everything you could ask for under one roof. They've got Balans in the kitchen, cooking up a range of hearty, high-quality dishes, from brunch classics to juicy cheeseburgers and sumptuous Sunday roasts.

After your meal, there's plenty to keep you entertained in this adult playground. The gaming section features everything from RC racing to darts and arcade games, and you'll also find cool events such as live music, themed brunches and cabaret taking place on a regular basis.

Pho London

With locations including the picturesque setting of Battersea Rise and a charming hideaway in Oxford Circus, Pho is a firm favourite on London's casual dining scene. Expect tasty Vietnamese food with authenticity and relaxed service at the core.

Koka

Bottomless Brunch

Located in the heart of Fulham, Koka is a great shout for laid-back dining, whether you're after a relaxed date night or a group lunch. This is a family-run joint that specialises in Mediterranean fare, also promising warm hospitality in a rustic, charming space filled with natural light.

Kick back with a beer or cocktail, and tuck into their delicious menu. We're talking tomato burrata salads, seafood risotto and tasty sourdough pizzas, and you can even nab two courses for £12.90 on weekday afternoons.

Slug And Lettuce - Bars

Slug & Lettuce is the perfect spot to hang out with your crew, with loads of tasty drinks and grub to dig into. These bars are scattered all over London, from Croydon to Richmond and Tower Bridge, so you can dive into cocktail trees and snag some fabulous bottomless brunch bargains.

Market Halls - Top London Sites

Bringing offbeat charm and some of the capital's finest eats, to it, these great market hall venues are truly offering something for every appetite. With a plethora of eateries and delicious cocktails, it really is perfect for just chilling with mates for lunch, or grabbing a quick bite. 

The Birds

The Birds in Leytonstone has been given a make over, keeping its traditional boozer charm and adding a heap of kitsch interiors inspired by Alfred Hitchcock. As well as a delicious pub menu, great craft beer selection and quaint beer garden, the venue also hosts regular events from brunch through to bingo.

VQ - Various Sites

Head to Euston, Bloomsbury, Notting Hill or Aldgate where the stylish and relaxed VQ has got you covered for quick bites and long lunches from breakfast through dinner. Boasting everything from soup and sandwiches to steak and spaghetti, it's one of London's best casual restaurants.

YO! Sushi - Restaurants

YO! Sushi's London venues are offering a great place to have Japanese fare across casual spaces. Nab items from their famous conveyor belt or go for a cheap set menu offer from Monday to Thursday.

TGI Fridays Wembley

Our 2 Course Christmas Menu! and 6 other offers

Whether you're in Wembley, Stratford or Greenwich, you can count on TGI Fridays to provide a relaxed meal in a casual setting. Known for their fun atmosphere and extensive American menu, these guys can cater to all occasions.

Not only have they got a two-for-one cocktail offer running every day, but you can also tuck into the likes of loaded nachos, Cajun chicken pasta and glazed beef burgers.

Smiths of Smithfield

Chef's Choice Menu and 2 other offers

Delivering delicious comfort food at all time of the day and accompanying each dish with an ice-cold drink, Smith of Smithfield is a vibrant, four storey restaurant in Central London. Decorated with distinctly rustic decor, the restaurant's talented team of chefs work with the best cuts of meat that Britain's farmers have to offer, butchering, seasoning and grilling each cut on site before serving it to the many guests that walk through the door. To help wash the copious amounts of comfort food down, the bar offers 60 different types of craft beer and an array of handcrafted cocktails. 

Busaba - Restaurants

Looking for a casual date spot that'll impress? Or a place to catch up with friends or family over delicious food in a relaxed environment? Then Busaba should be your go-to. The first Busaba restaurant opened up in Soho 1999, but since then, they've gained mass popularity, now boasting numerous locations across the city, including Covent Garden, Kingston and Stratford. 

You'll find these lovely, laid-back spots slinging out a fantastic menu of authentic Thai food. So, whether you fancy chicken satay, black pepper beef from the wok, green curry or a fragrant pad Thai, head here to fill your boots with delicious eats - complete with wine or refreshing Singha beer.

Mamma Dough - Restaurants

From the tasty sourdough slices covered in toppings to the stripped-back spaces that create a relaxed vibe, Mamma Dough's casual restaurants in South London aren't to be missed. Plus, you can even nab your choice of booze to wash it all down.

The Gourmet Bar

The Gourmet Bar is a modern, sophisticated restaurant located within Novotel, Greenwich. It invites you to unwind after a long day in its quirky surroundings, decked out with velvet sofas and contemporary art. Whether you're looking for a spot of brunch or a delicious dinner, it has something for everyone, including pizzas, burgers and tempting starters like salt and pepper squid.

Shrub and Shutter

Having already pulled off several sell-out residencies across London, pop-up restaurant Fodder is now teaming up with cos cocktail bar Shrub and Shutter to create a menu full of innovative small plates that pair perfectly with their crowd-pleasing concoctions. Available between Wednesdays and Saturdays, the menu is divided into small plates and 'sticks' all made with seasonal ingredients and minimal waste products. 

Haché Camden

Having previously won the 'Best burger in London' award, Haché has got all your burger needs sorted with an eclectic range of chicken, steak, lamb and plant-based goodies. Dishes include chicken katsu sando, steak Mexican, rosemary sea salt lamb and chicken shwarma as well as tasty sharing plates, salads and brunch goodies