London Dining Guide 2026

East London & Spitalfields

3 restaurants

Middle Eastern, Persian, and plant-forward spots clustered around Spitalfields and Commercial Street, steps from the market and Brick Lane.

Holy Carrot

V

Vegetarian Bistro · Spitalfields

Refined vegetarian cooking in a handsome room inside Spitalfields Market. Creative, ingredient-led dishes well beyond standard vegetarian fare. One of the strongest plant-based restaurants in London.

61–63 Brushfield St, Spitalfields, E1 6AA

Bubala

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Tel Aviv–Inspired Small Plates · Spitalfields

Vibrant Middle Eastern-inflected small plates with a set menu around £40/head. Grilled halloumi, burnt butter hummus, flatbreads. Very popular — book ahead.

65 Commercial St, Spitalfields, E1 6BD

Berenjak

Persian · Multiple Locations

Exceptional Persian cooking — smoky grilled meats, kebabs, stews and rice dishes with real depth. Several London locations. Book ahead for evenings.

Multiple locations — check berenjaklondon.com

North London

4 restaurants

Palestinian pita sandwiches in Walthamstow, Szechuan cooking in Islington, and Kurdish meze in Camberwell — the best of North London’s global neighbourhood cooking.

Hiba Taboun

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Palestinian Café · Walthamstow

Palestinian café serving wood-fired pita sandwiches. The bread is exceptional — baked in a traditional taboun oven. A neighbourhood gem worth the trip east.

6 Wood Street, Walthamstow, E17 3HX

Tofu Vegan

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Szechuan Vegan · Islington

Szechuan cooking done entirely without meat — and genuinely convincing. Highlights: Dongbei sweet potato noodles, cumin “lamb,” and king oyster mushroom dishes.

105 Upper Street, Islington, N1 1QN

Nandine

Kurdish · Camberwell SE5

Kurdish café by day, abundant platters at night. Brunch and meze are approachable and generous — grilled meats, stuffed breads, dips, with real warmth.

45 Camberwell Church St, SE5 8TR

Loving Hut Archway

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International Vegan · Archway

International vegan chain — consistently good, inexpensive, and satisfying. A reliable option for a casual vegetarian meal.

669 Holloway Road, Archway, N19 5SE

South London & Brixton

2 restaurants

Brixton Village is the cultural and culinary heart of South London’s Caribbean community. Understated, deeply local, and worth a full afternoon.

Fish, Wings & Tings

Caribbean · Brixton Village

The real thing — jerk chicken with rice and peas, coleslaw, fried plantains around £14. Inside Brixton Village market. Go for lunch when it’s buzzing; no booking needed.

Brixton Village Market, Atlantic Rd, SW9 8PS

Negril

Caribbean · Brixton Hill

Understated Jamaican restaurant on Brixton Hill. The saltfish fritters with lime mayo are essential — order them regardless of what else you’re having.

Brixton Hill, SW2 (near Brixton tube)

Central & Soho

3 restaurants

London’s densest restaurant neighbourhood. Soho has the highest concentration of quality tables in the city — book ahead for anything worth eating.

Rake

Modern European · Soho

Worth a Sunday reservation — a focused menu that changes regularly. Credit card required to book. Every dish feels considered; nothing is wasted.

Soho, London W1 — confirm location on booking

Cafe Mondo

Sandwiches & Cocktails · Central

Popular sandwich shop by day that transforms into a cocktail bar at night. Good for a casual lunch or early evening drink without committing to a full restaurant.

Central London — check current location

Palmyra’s Kitchen

Lebanese · Central

Lebanese kitchen with proper knafeh — the baked cheese pastry dessert that’s rare and worth seeking out. Strong mezze and the warm hospitality Lebanese restaurants do best.

Central London — check current location