The Best Small Plates In London

Small plates are quickly becoming a favourite way to dine in London. Whether you're looking to share with friends, bond on a date night or you're just too darn indecisive, they're perfect for spreading across a table and diving in. While tapas will always have a place in our hearts, there’s plenty of dishes from around the world to sample, from Italian cicchetti to Middle Eatsern mezze, graze your way across continents with our guide to small plates in London. 

Last edited by Kiera Chapman

Last updated on 3rd April 2024




Gallio

Gallio is a gorgeous Mediterranean restaurant in Canary Wharf that dishes out delicious mezze plates all day long. You can expect everything from patatas bravas and fried halloumi to lamb kofte and traditional Greek salad, alongside plenty of tasty seafood options too.

Shrub and Shutter

Taste The Menu and 1 other offer

Fodder will be taking up residence at Brixton's cosy cocktail bar Shrub and Shutter from Wednesday right through to Saturday. Their small plate menu has sustainability at its heart, using lesser-known ingredients to create delicious zero-waste plates such as pigeon offal yakitori and salt-baked baby celeriac with walnut, chanterelle, wild rocket and three-corner leek. 

Best Iberica Restaurants in London

If you're looking to keep your small plates a strictly Spanish affair, look no further than the gorgeous Iberica venues dotted all across London. Think jamon Iberico, croquetas and seafood, all washed down with vino or sangria.

Prelude By Oriole

With quirky cocktails and Nikkei-style small plates galore, pop-up bar prelude By Oriole is bringing us speakeasy vibes in anticipation of their permanent reopening later this year. Dig into a range of delicious bites including oysters with Amarillo chilli, beef tartare and chickpea chips dipped in aioli, while enjoying their live piano music and stunning sips like the chocolate miso whisky concoction Mizuwari.

Paradise

Paradise is a Soho restaurant serving up gorgeous Sri Lankan small plates such as fried aubergine in coconut vinegar, turmeric and saffron dahl or spiced chicken skewers. The menu changes seasonally, but their refreshing cocktails are always on the cards.

Chuku's

If you're in North London, you don't have to look too far for some of the best small plates around thanks to Chuku's, the world's first Nigerian tapas restaurant. Nestled on the High Road, this contemporary eatery is known best for whipping up innovative dishes, presenting the flavours of Lagos and beyond in a new light. Menu standouts include the plantain waffles, topped with blueberries, maple syrup and dairy-free ice cream, and the tender, suya meatballs. You won't be left thirsty either, as it offers an array of signature tipples, from Nigerian Guinness to coconut rum-based The Obi. 

The Turks Head

The Turks Head is serving up stylish interiors - or should we say exteriors - and tasty small plates at its Wapping pub. The East London watering hole has a beautiful covered outdoor terrace, for those of you looking to go alfresco, and dishes such as Thai fishcakes, warm duck breast salad, chicken liver pate and more.