London is home to some of the best and most lavish restaurants in the world, let alone the country. From the Michelin starred chefs, to infamous celeb-clad eateries this here city is a palatable playground of exquisite foods. So, where to start? We've curated a list of our top cool places to eat in London so you can experience some atmospheric, fun and wholly original dining at its very best. Bon appetit.
Last updated on 14th November 2019
Roka is the ultimate restaurant for sushi lovers - you just can't beat the fresh fish and seafood here. Not only is the menu increedible, but the setting is also stunning; from unique fixtures to the open-plan kitchen.
The circus is in town... heading out to Acton may seem like a bit of a mish, but it's worth every step of the journey with some of the city's best entertainment as the light at the end of the tunnel. Gravity defying acts, epic hula hoop work and some top notch pub nosh is what goes down at this fun London restaurant with a bangin' atmosphere.
The self-professed 'House of Song' makes it into our top picks for unique places to eat London and it's all down to its incredible electric atmosphere owed to by it's live music request policy. Whatever you want to here, they will play and boy do they play well. Taking over an old warehouse space you'll be taken back to the days of old jazz lounges with sumptuous social dining and live music all night.
Inspired by the Golden Age of transatlantic travel, expect to find influences from both sides of the pond on the menu at Sea Containers. This is a beautiful and interesting place to dine in central London, with lots of space to enjoy the variety of small plates, sharing dishes and comfort food classics as well as a striking stainless steel bar to hang around for drinks afterwards.
Host your Christmas Party in January and we'll offer complimentary canapes for your event
If you're looking for a cool place to eat in London, head to this hidden gem in Soho. Tucked away from street level, temper Soho is an intimate restaurant that specialises in flame-grilled meats, cooked over an open fire pit.
With Prohibition vibes and seriously sexy decor, Lokhandwala is a hot new spot in Fitzrovia. Head to the Indian restaurant to work your way through sharing plates in the restaurant, or perch by the stripped back bar for fruity, summery cocktails.
A imperial wonderland of charming Chinese eccentricities and ancient interior design describes Brixton's The Courtesan. Palate-teasing dishes of plump dim sum and other traditional oriental delicacies will entice you in to this cool place to have dinner in London so you can experience the authentic taste and character of vintage China.
Blues Kitchen is undoubtedly the slow-cooked dreamland where meat goes to become tender, juicy and oh so tasty. Get ready to make a complete mess at this Shoreditch joint where the music comes loud, live and of the Blues nature. This places ticks every cool London restaurant box with a recipe for deep Southern style eats and thriving entertainment.
Whether you're on a date or just after a comforting brunch, Mare Street Market will hit the spot with dreamy interiors, delicious pizza and a serious selection of craft beer.
Harlem Soul is bringing the essence of NYC to the heart of East London. Enter the graffiti-adorned haunt and you'll find a popular party paradise with a hip-hop soundtrack, ample drinks selection and delicious menu of American soul food at reasonable prices.
A pure curation of some of the best street food in London, not only is Pop Brixton one of the most community forward places to eat the city, they're coming at you with pop-up stalls, trendy vendors and a continual roster of events that give you no excuse but to hunker down and stuff your face for the night.
Uber-cool Brixton-based cocktail bar, Shrub and Shutter have teamed up with the people behind Fodder to create a mouth-watering menu full of zero-waste small plates. Using the freshest seasonal foraged ingredients, the menu will be made up of 'bits', 'sticks' and 'plates' with dishes such as confit rabbit gyoza and glazed Yorkshire pigeon stealing the show.
This dedicated brew-pub in Angel dishes out laid-back drinking vibes alongside a menu of hearty British and Americana inspired dishes. With chicken on a can, BBQ meats, fish and chips and pies all up for grabs this Brewhouse & Kitchen has all the makings of one cool restaurant in London. Knock back pints of craft beer and fill your boots with their big feeds.
The Wall is a branch of the House of Vans family; a group intent on delivering when it comes to high quality food and drinks available at affordable rates. You can get everything from burgers to salads and wraps here, with delicious influences from the New Yorker cafe-cum-diner scene prominent and a drinks list featuring soft drinks, beers and wines.
Head to The Globe theatre where this unique pub and restaurant offers vintage interiors and a host of delicious drinks and eats inspired by the iconic venue. Chow down on seasonal British plates, or a Midsummer Night's Dream-themed afternoon, all washed down with a couple of their signature cocktails.
Putting all associations of darts being an 'old man's game' to absolute shame; welcome to Flight Club. The rules are: we can talk about everything. Truly revolutionising the game as we know it, it's all electronic gaming and scoring here (so you don't even have to be that good). With authentic thin crust pizzas on the go too, this is one trendy London restaurant bar, to the oche!
Of all quirky places to eat in London, Hand of Glory not only serves up a smashing Sunday roast, it also has giant maypoles making up its interior. Rife with some traditional folk style, this Hackney pub is a favourite for informal dining and relaxed pubbing ventures where you can fill up on lovely nosh, cider and beer.
For the ultimate food hall, look no further than Tottenham Court Road's Arcade Food Theatre. The sleek and stylish all-day dining venue will feature a number of the city's most talked-about venues, including Chotto, Flat Iron Workshop, Lina Stores and Tou, and will host live DJ sets - so move aside Seven Dials Market, there's a new food venue in town.
Unlimited Asian tapas & sushi with free-flowing wine or beer £42 per person
Adding a technological twist to all cool dinners in London, Inamo in Covent Garden is a must try for those that want a little something extra out of their meal. Coming at you not only with some of the finest Asian fare, their tables are wholly interactive, meaning you order straight from them, play on them and even watch the kitchen on them.
Ah, the humble kiev, it's never looked so damn cool. One of the best restaurants in East London and coming at you with a hardy roster of 70s inspired plates, not only should you hunker down for the fare, the delicious interiors are a hardy match for the food that Coin Laundry serve.
One of London's coolest restaurants, Chotto Matte fuses Japanese and Peruvian cuisine through its innovative Nikkei plates. Head down to the Soho spot for the chance to tuck into beef tataki and passion fruit salsa, sea bass ceviche and aubergine miso sushi, washed down with some of their sumptuous signature cocktails.
