Cool Places to Eat in London

LINO is bringing minimalist decor and low-waste grub to St Paul's. High ceilings and industrial details hark back to its days as a linoleum and carpet warehouse, as well as gaining it extra style points. Options such as sauerkraut and cheddar croquettes, beer-battered haddock and potato flatbreads give guests plenty to choose from.

Located in Elephant and Castle, Mercato Metropolitano is one of the original food halls in London. Enjoy a craft brew outside on their terrace, tuck into a freshly-made pizza on one of the communal tables in the main hall or sneak into the more secluded den and nibble on cured meat and melted raclette whilst sipping on wine.

An 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 whilst authentic flavours will keep you coming back for more. 

If you're looking for a cool place to eat in London, this hidden gem's the one for you. Tucked away from street level, temper Soho is an intimate restaurant that specialises in excellent steak and flame-grilled meats cooked over an in-house open fire pit.

From after-work drinks to mid-week dinner and boozy brunch at the weekend, Greyhound Cafe has it all. Expect moden twists on authentic Thai food, with a menu coming all the way from East Asia following successful venues in Hong Kong, Singapore, China and more.

Can't quite put your finger on what cuisine you're craving? Head to Vauxhall Food & Beer Garden and you can sample it all. Lined with tasty street food stalls, this stunning outdoor venue is the perfect lunchtime spot, with gorgeous twinkling lights when night falls.

These Clerkenwell-based pizza slingers know how to make sourdough pizzas extra-delicious. Head on over and check out their 72-hour-proved slices topped with a plethora of ingredients, as well as their menu of other equally-enticing Italian plates. 

Up there with some of the most ingenious and unusual food venues, Caboose is the cool kid of London's dining scene. Set in a custom-built American railway cabin, the private-hire BBQ restaurant offers groups of 8-13 a three-course feast and an out-of-this-world dining experience.

For the ultimate food hall, look no further than Tottenham Court Road's Arcade Food Theatre. Housing a number of the city's most talked-about venues, including Chotto, Flat Iron Workshop, Lina Stores and Tou, the all-day dining venue also hosts a roster of live DJ sets.

Inamo in Covent Garden is a must try for those that want a little something extra out of their meal. Coming at you with some of the finest Asian fare, the restaurant's tables are also wholly interactive, meaning you can order, play and even watch the kitchen on them.

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.

A bog-standard restaurant Chelsea Funhouse is not. Split over three floors, this wonderland of big kid fun includes a cocktail lounge and immersive code-cracking experience. And for when you get peckish? The ground-floor eatery boasts mouthwatering a la carte options alongside sumptuous menus inspired by the French salon.

As well as offering an extensive and varied selection of eats from across East Asia, Lan Kwai Fong is also fronting some unique activities to enjoy. Get stuck into digital beer pong (digital beer pong!) before taking to a karaoke room to end the evening in style.

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 place to dine in central London, with lots of space to enjoy the variety of small plates, sharing platters and comfort food classics, as well as a striking stainless steel bar for afters.

The self-professed 'House of Song'  has an incredible, electric atmosphere owed to by its live music request policy. Taking over an old warehouse space, the restaurant will take you back to the days of old jazz lounges with sumptuous social dining and tunes all night. 

Covered head to toe in lush foliage and vibrant furnishings, this Square Mile eatery fronts a gorgeous selection of plates for you to get stuck into. From decadent brunch offerings to seasonal mains of British cuisine, 14 Hills is easily one of the coolest restaurants in London.

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. They're also home to a vintage vinyl shop that's well worth a visit.

Switch things up with a trip to the world's first vampire-themed pizzeria. Perfectly perched in Camden, Lost Boys Pizza & Croque Monsieur are dishing out tasty slices on signature charcoal bases, all with off-the-wall toppings and a nostalgic 80s backdrop.

Not only does this Soho spot tout a regular lineup of events from quizzes to cabaret and concerts, but Boulevard Theatre also offers the food and drink to match. Tuck into brunch classics, soak up cocktails or lounge your way through dinner service.

Drink, dine and relax at this imposing former power station eatery. Founded by the team behind Tart London, the restaurant's stunning pared-back interiors are matched with innovative and sustainably-sourced dishes.

A cool, relaxed restaurant on the buzzing Paradise Row, Arepa & Co has an equally stylish menu of vibrant Venezuelan eats to match. Explore the flavours of South American as you graze on small pates of cachapas, rice bowls and arepas, surrounded by trendy decor.

Usain Bolt, as well as being the world's fastest runner, is one pretty cool guy. So, it comes as no surprise that his bar and restaurant in London is equally swish, with a menu of lip-smacking Jamaican eats alongside 150 hand-picked rums behind the bar.

One of the best restaurants in East London, Coin Laundry's coming at you with a hardy roster of 70s-inspired eats and damn cool interiors. Hunker down for some of their delicious grub before venturing down to the basement to check out their pinball machines, scrabble boards and other retro games.

Shrub and Shutter aren't just mixing up superb sips, they're also offering up a selection of delectable and eco-friendly bites. The uber-cool Brixton cocktail bar regularly hosts residencies from a changing roster of sustainable kitchens and chefs, teaming up to create an incredible menu of unusual dishes. 

Why stick to one cool restaurant when you can take your pick from some of London's finest bites? Located in the hub of Covent Garden, Seven Dials Market is a stylish one-stop-shop of countertop cafes, street food vendors and a basement bar. 

Co-created by popular US rapper Nas, Sweet Chick is a bona fide cool place to eat in London. Touting Brooklyn vibes, a banging soundtrack and a delicious menu of American bites - including their renowned chicken and waffle combos - this Fitzrovia eatery is guaranteed to have you smiling from ear to ear. 

One of Bethnal Green's favourite bars, this eatery offers some of the finest sourdough pizzas in London. With everything from classic margs and meaty mouthfuls to veggie delights and vegan upgrades, Fugitive Motel's got something for everyone.

Of all the quirky places to eat in London, Hand of Glory not only makes one hell of a Sunday roast, but it also has giant maypoles making up its interior. Rife with 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. 

With punchy margaritas, short rib mole and tuna tacos on the menu, Santo Remedio is one of the slickest spots in London. Inspired by the cantinas and mezcalerias of Mexico City, this authentic restaurant will keep you fed and watered all night long.

Putting all associations of darts being an 'old man's game' to absolute shame; welcome to Flight Club. Truly revolutionising the pastime 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 spot.

Looking for the coolest places to eat in London? You can always count on Shoreditch to bring the vibes. Check out this City Road restaurant, where chef Richard Corrigan is serving up an impressive menu of small plates, wood oven bites and oysters alongside cocktails, beers, music and live sports.

It's not hard to see why Circolo Popolare gained such a name for itself. Following in the footsteps of its stylish sister Gloria, the restaurant oozes cool with gorgeous interiors, picture-worthy dishes and an entire ceiling dedicated to a breathtaking floral installation. Basically, if you're looking to impress, you've found the place. 

One of London's coolest restaurants, Chotto Matte fuses Japanese and Peruvian cuisine through its innovative Nikkei menu. Pop over 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.