Restaurants in East London

Promising “an idyllic urban landscape, whatever the weather”, The Barge House is a beauty of a cafe, restaurant and bar on the edge of Regent's Canal. Head here and unwind in style, with those super-relaxed views of the water matched by a menu of soul-satisfying, seasonally changing food. You'll like it so much you'll be back for brunch come the weekends, where their signature Breakfast in Bread is served from 10am.

Where do you get the best Italian food in East London? The definitive answer is up for debate, but you can't go far wrong with Gotta Trattoria. Sitting on the banks of the River Lee, they offer up a daily changing menu of delicious European and Italian treats served with a British twist. They're also known for their negronis – which they bottle for your convenience.

Serving up traditional pub grub with a contemporary twist as well as an array of great craft beers and wines, The Cow has got it all going on pub-wise. The atmosphere is casual and friendly, and gets very buzzy upon a Saturday evening when a DJ arrives to spin some tunes. Placed right next to The Olympic Park, this is a fun little place in an unbeatable location. 

This canal side beau is an East London favourite for casual dining and soaking up some picturesque views all at the same time. A bit of a jack of all trades, The Proud Archivist is an event space, gallery, popular brunching spot, restaurant and bar without breaking a sweat. You'll find walls adorned with latest exhibitions and a chilled buzz at this East London restaurant. 

Bringing melt-in-the-mouth Texan BBQ, punchy bourbons and live blues tunes to the heart of Shoreditch, this is the place to kick back and embrace the meat sweats. Tuck into piles of pulled pork and teetering burgers, leave room for some of those signature buffalo wings then head to the dance floor, where live bands and DJs round things off with vintage funk and soul tracks into the night.

Fancy dabbling in a little 1950s Americana at one of the most fun restaurants in east London? You'll need All Star Lanes - the restaurant, cocktail bar and bowling alley in the heart of Stratford's Westfield. Come hungry - there's a selection of melted grilled cheese, Dedham Vale burgers and mac 'n' cheese on the menu - trounce your mates at bowling on one of their 14 lanes and celebrate your victory with a couple of hard shakes in the bar afterwards. Always great fun and the perfect way to take the weight off after traipsing around the shopping centre!

A wonderful fish restaurant conveniently located next to Liverpool Street station, Gow's offers up some very delicious fare in the form of some of the freshest seafood in the city. A large wine and champagne menu accompanies the food, where you can choose the perfect wine to match your meal. The oyster bar is also a fantastic place to people watch while drinking and enjoying some light snacks. Book your table here now. 

Cinnamon Kitchen provides east London's diners with fresh and fragrant Indian dishes, given a modern twist and produced with premium British ingredients. Relax into these sophisticated surroundings and feast on an innovative menu prepared by head chef Vivek Singh, with cocktails in the Anise bar to finish the evening.

This place is a city favourite for some stylish after hours drinking and dining where you'll find affordable prices and a fun atmosphere every day of the week. The Gable is kind of 2 venues in one with a classic and sophisticated East London restaurant on the ground floor and then a basement bar underneath it all. 

Sitting pretty in Canary Wharf, Brodie's Bar will give you fabulous views over West India quay so you can enjoy some alfresco drinking and dining at this East London restaurant. Fill your boots on classic British nosh and a spread of fine beers, wines and cocktails and you could even find yourself taking advantage of the late licence here. 

For delicious small plates, live music and great cocktails, this East London restaurant is a must visit. With gorgeous, industrial interiors and a cool and relaxed atmosphere, Iron Bloom will be your new favourite date night spot.

Renowned Disappearing Dining Club has found a permanent spot near the Barbican. Join them at an intimate underground wine bar as they bring you their fresh and seasonal produce such as roast lamb rump, warm prawn carpaccio and whole plaice meuniere.

Based in the ever-bustling Old Street, Ceviche is a fun South American restaurant that showcases the best flavours that Peru has to offer. From mouthwatering cuts of grilled meat to fresh ceviches dishes, the team of chefs use a range of fresh ingredients to recreate traditional recipes that all pack a punch. To complete the experience, guests can even enjoy hand-crafted cocktails made using a selection of fresh fruit and fiery spirits.

The Piano Works can be found in a Victorian listed warehouse at the heart of Farringdon. This place is part restaurant, part bar and part party, all with a great side of live music. Head this way if you're looking for something different from your night out; there's two pianists and accompanying musicians playing an exclusive playlist of songs requested by you, the audience. It makes for a jamming atmosphere that'll have you coming back time and again.

One of our favourite restaurants in Shoreditch, the Jones Family Project serves an assortment of grilled meats and seafood comprising of the best in local produce. The same is true for the drinks list, with beers and gin sourced within a few miles of the restaurant. Enjoy some josper-grilled steak goodness washed down with creative signature cocktails.

One of the best new restaurants in East London, this cool and quirky spot in Clapton offers big, tasty grub and quirky cocktails perfect for breakfasts, dinners, Sunday lunches and evening drinks.

Having newly opened on Kingsland Road, Rotorino is a hot little Italian spot in East London. Part of Stevie Parle's restaurant group, the venue is an authentic and intimate look at Italian food, with pasta homemade, wines from Italy and a selection of wood-grilled fish and meat.

From full-on sit down banquets to sharing platters for those after a drink and a chinwag, The Drift is an inviting restaurant in amongst the skyscrapers. This self-professed “sanctuary in the heart of the city” is a joint of quirky collectibles and hidden alcoves, and it's a frontrunner when it comes to relaxed dinner and drinks in east London.

Sister to Dalston's Little Duck | The Picklery, Rawduck in Hackney offers simple, delicious Mediterranean cuisine. Enjoy a seasonal menu that champions fresh produce, along with an extensive selection of wines. 

One of the coolest restaurants in East London, Jones & Sons offers a great selection of carefully-prepared quality dishes, alongside a fun and tasty bottomless brunch menu, and hearty Sunday roasts.

Just a short walk from Hoxton Square, this East London offering from the iconic Breakfast Club brand serves up the very best in all-day pancakes and tasty cocktails.

Go on a culinary journey around the world with Le Petit Chef, an immersive dining experience in East London. The night includes eight courses and matched cocktails, which follow the journey of your personal guide, an tiny animated chef.

For a slice of East London luxury, experience a Middle Eastern paradise of plush cushions, casual lounging and delectable Lebanese cuisine. Translating as the Arabic word for treasure, Kenza is quite literally a haven for trinkets, unique dining and touches that come straight from Morocco, you wouldn't know you're on Liverpool Street. 

Located in Old Truman Brewery, the minds behind Wahaca bring you DF/Mexico. With a menu that offers a diverse range of affordable dishes, there really is something for everyone, and why not try a refreshing Margarita to wash it all down?

One of the best little restaurants in East London, this relaxed eatery near Smithfield Market offers great cocktails, fine Italian wines and delicious small plates that make it a great spot all occasions, from after work drinks to date nights and more formal dinners.

Based in a former industrial laundrette just over from the London Fields brewery, Wringer & Mangle perfects the balance between healthy and hearty on its varied menu. Come for brunch or a Sunday roast, with plenty of boundary-pushing gin cocktails in support. Afternoon Tea serves a delicious range of sandwiches, pastries, cakes and teas from 2 to 4 pm, and there's an expansive all-weather terrace for alfresco drinking and dining.

London Steakhouse Co is both a stylish cocktail bar and a great restaurant near Liverpool Street. Serving up a mouth-watering range of British dishes, their steak cuts take pride of place on their menu, having been sourced from master butcher and Royal warrant holder Aubrey Allen.

Found by the charming canals of Hackney is a plot primed for meat and cocktails alike. Head on down to Shane's for a roster of meat-based, New Zealand plates and cocktails aplenty. 

Catering for your every need and with a distinct devil-may-care approach to things, the Breakfast Club in Canary Wharf is always abuzz with energy and life. Decorated as a retro working man's club, the bar is framed by quaint antiques, colourful furnishings and a huge disco ball that hovers delicately over the entire venue. Full of character and life, and with a diverse menu of traditional British dishes and flavoursome comfort foods, this is a great place to escape the bustle of the city. 

If you like chilled out vibes, relaxed reggae music, rum-laced cocktails, and food cooked using traditional Jamaican techniques to maximise that jerk-y flavour, you've found the right place in Rudie's.

Andina is Shoreditch's hottest opening and is serving up a delicious taste of South America in a low-key and fun setting. From the same team as renowned Ceviche, this new bar and restaurant has a delicious menu of grill and street food classics, as well as a games room which can be hired for cooking classes or private parties.

Stylish and relaxed, this restaurant in East London offers more than just a comfortable atmosphere. With delicious Italian food, a fantastic cocktail menu and even an on-sit gin distillery, it's an exciting addition to the Hackney dining scene.

Roma revives the 2000-year old passions of Ancient Rome to bring a completely novel dining concept to the heart of the city. Found just a few moments from Fenchurch Street, whisk yourself back in time to experience a rich menu inspired by the delicacies of Ancient Rome, with traditional cooking techniques used and the drinks cabinet stocked up with carefully sourced wines and bespoke cocktails.

Modern and chic, The Lampery is a swish British restaurant that serves up a delicious all-day menu, starting with hearty breakfasts before moving onto grill dishes.

When it comes to chicken in London, and East London at that, there's no better name than that of Absurd Bird. Heralded for their poultry bites, not only is the fried chicken on point here, their roster of cocktails is as impressive as their modern and fun interiors are. 

Bounce will take the headlines as one of the best ping pong bars in London, but there's also a cracking restaurant to this social hub below Old Street. The restaurant features an innovative bar food menu, premium canapes and some exciting a la carte options, with a stunning open-pizza counter restaurant that serves traditional Italian pizza and antipasti dishes.

Contemporary Smollensky's Bar boasts a bounty of bar bites to accompany its generous jumble of liquid mixes, so tuck into this tasty nosh next time you find yourself in East London. Eat alfresco on the summer terrace as you chow down on scrummy sandwiches, hammer a horde of hot dishes, share some party platters or sample the marathon of moreish bar snacks.

Camino are bringing their brand of delicious tapas and cava to East London. Join the Spanish spot for their Shoreditch opening which will feature plenty of Spanish goodies including seafood, jamon and cheese.

Located in the heart of the City, this restaurant bar draws inspiration from Spain. Think tapas plates and mouth-watering wines a swanky setting only minutes from St Paul's.

Smollensky's is something of an all-in-one where you can tuck into lovely nosh in their restaurant and then head downstairs to their dedicated bar area for some drinks. Located right next to Canary Wharf station, this East London restaurant is a favourite for alfresco drinking and dining where their menu of Modern American cuisine will do you right. 

Refuel and take stock after a trip to Westfields at classy and chic Balans Soho Society. The renowned restaurant brings equal parts of Parisian vibes and British dining to their intimate venue.

Aviary is located on the top of the new Montcalm hotel in Finsbury Square and as such has some incredible views of the city. Sit back and relax on their modern, spacious and stylish rooftop terrace or head to the restaurant which serves delicious British seasonal food; try the burger and thank us later.

One of the best restaurants in East London, this cool and comfortable pizza restaurant in Shoreditch brings you locally sourced ingredients, refreshing cocktails and aperitivos, and warm and welcoming atmosphere.

You don't need a plane ticket for a lip-smacking taste of Rome. Renowned chef Stevie Parle has brought a taste of the Italian capital to Clerkenwell with smart Palatino; expect slick interiors, punchy cocktails, and comforting plates that range from pasta to freshly baked fish.

At the bottom of the iconic Gherkin building, The Sterling is a sophisticated bar and restaurant where you can expect only the freshest, highest quality ingredients paired with seasonal cocktails and fantastic wines. With a focus on simple, quality food with big flavour. Start with some light nibbles, and move onto the more robust main meals with some classically British choices appearing on the menu like fish and chips, and sausage and mash with red wine and caramelised onion gravy. Book a spot at this venue and start enjoying the food on offer. 

Tank and Paddle is a City spot that is great for delicious pizza and a huge range of beers and ales. A few minutes away from Monument, the restaurant has a huge selection of stone-baked pizza including New-York inspired The Yankee, topped with pepperoni. Beer includes pints from local brewery Meantime and there's also a cracking cocktail menu. With a sister venue based in Bishopsgate, there's no excuse to miss out on the great home brewed drinks on offer. 

One of East London's most famous restaurants, Viet Hoa is renowned for its great range of traditional and utterly delicious Vietnamese dishes. Whether you're on a date or looking to celebrate, the restaurant is flexible and affordable.

Based on the ground floor of a towering Canary Wharf skyscraper, this is one of the places for dinner and drinks in the city of London. One Canada Water's restaurant is a sleek and sophisticated location with friendly service and creative cooking to match. Enjoy some classic British cuisines on the a la carte menu and finish upstairs with a cocktail on the plush mezzanine floor.