Guidebook for Greater London
Food Scene
Most Italians say this is a proper traditional "Mammas-home-cooking" restaurant, but with a quite stylish and contemporary setting. Reservations strongly recommended. (££)
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bocca di Lupo
12 Archer StMost Italians say this is a proper traditional "Mammas-home-cooking" restaurant, but with a quite stylish and contemporary setting. Reservations strongly recommended. (££)
Great Belgian "mules-frites" place, but with a big selection of options on the menu. Kids under 12 eat free, and there is a "beat the clock" reduced pricing option before 19:30. (£-££)
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Belgo Centraal
50 Earlham StGreat Belgian "mules-frites" place, but with a big selection of options on the menu. Kids under 12 eat free, and there is a "beat the clock" reduced pricing option before 19:30. (£-££)
Fast, fresh, wok cooking. Designed as very casual eat in or take away. A bit of a New York style take away concept. Great value and quick. (£)
Wok To Walk
4 Brewer StreetFast, fresh, wok cooking. Designed as very casual eat in or take away. A bit of a New York style take away concept. Great value and quick. (£)
Great, super-friendly Italian coffee shop/snack/restaurant. Great selection of fresh pasta and authentic sauces. Also possible to take away (£)
And Pasta Soho
60 Dean StGreat, super-friendly Italian coffee shop/snack/restaurant. Great selection of fresh pasta and authentic sauces. Also possible to take away (£)
Some of the best fresh pasta in London, prepared in front of you "while-you-wait" at chef counters. Also does pizza and salads.Plenty of seating, but waiting for your food can take ages if busy (£-££)
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Vapiano
Some of the best fresh pasta in London, prepared in front of you "while-you-wait" at chef counters. Also does pizza and salads.Plenty of seating, but waiting for your food can take ages if busy (£-££)
Great "Grand European Cafe" style restaurant. Quite busy atmosphere but elegant surroundings. Nice for people watching. Reservations recommended, but walk ins probably possible (££-£££)
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Delaunay
55 AldwychGreat "Grand European Cafe" style restaurant. Quite busy atmosphere but elegant surroundings. Nice for people watching. Reservations recommended, but walk ins probably possible (££-£££)
Just lost its Michelin star, but still excellent. Very formal French food in a nicely renovated Georgian townhouse. (££-££££)
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Gauthier Soho
21 Romilly StJust lost its Michelin star, but still excellent. Very formal French food in a nicely renovated Georgian townhouse. (££-££££)
Has 1 Michelin star. Does a very reasonably priced lunch and pre-theatre menu. Reservations recommended, but probably not essential (££-£££)
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Arbutus
63-64 Frith StHas 1 Michelin star. Does a very reasonably priced lunch and pre-theatre menu. Reservations recommended, but probably not essential (££-£££)
It has 2 Michelin stars. Great for a special occasion. Also does a very reasonably priced lunch and pre-theatre menu. Reservations essential (£££-££££)
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
L'Atelier De Joel Robuchon
13-15 West StIt has 2 Michelin stars. Great for a special occasion. Also does a very reasonably priced lunch and pre-theatre menu. Reservations essential (£££-££££)
Great place for celebrity spotting. Not cheap and reservations essential (£££-££££)
42 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Ivy
1-5 West StGreat place for celebrity spotting. Not cheap and reservations essential (£££-££££)
Cute, traditional French bistro. Does a good priced pre- and post-theatre set menu. Extensive A La Carte menu as well
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mon Plaisir - French Restaurant Covent Garden
19-21 Monmouth StreetCute, traditional French bistro. Does a good priced pre- and post-theatre set menu. Extensive A La Carte menu as well
Bubbleology Soho
49 Rupert StSpecializes in Bubble Tea - quite a quirky place
This is one of the most popular udon noodle restaurants in London. Constantly a (quick-moving) queue of Japanese ex-pats looking for a real taste of home, which is a pretty good recommendation! (£-££)
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Koya Soho
50 Frith StThis is one of the most popular udon noodle restaurants in London. Constantly a (quick-moving) queue of Japanese ex-pats looking for a real taste of home, which is a pretty good recommendation! (£-££)
Lovely place for a coffee/drink/snack/brunch/main meal. (££)
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Dean Street Townhouse
69-71 Dean StLovely place for a coffee/drink/snack/brunch/main meal. (££)
A great alternative to the usual hustle and bustle of Soho and Covent Garden. Tucked away in Fitzrovia. Great food and setting. Reservations and walk ins welcome (££)
67 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Riding House Café
43-51 Great Titchfield St.A great alternative to the usual hustle and bustle of Soho and Covent Garden. Tucked away in Fitzrovia. Great food and setting. Reservations and walk ins welcome (££)
Very elegant option for brunch. Not cheap, but nice atmosphere. Bookings recommended. (££-£££)
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cecconi's Mayfair
5A Burlington GardensVery elegant option for brunch. Not cheap, but nice atmosphere. Bookings recommended. (££-£££)
Very good selection of seafood. Popular, with a bustling atmosphere (££-£££)
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Randall & Aubin, Soho
16 Brewer StVery good selection of seafood. Popular, with a bustling atmosphere (££-£££)
Famously good cakes. Red velvet cupcake is a classic (£)
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Hummingbird Bakery
155a Wardour StFamously good cakes. Red velvet cupcake is a classic (£)
Canela Café
33 Earlham StDoes a great selection of authentic Brazilian and Portuguese snacks (£)
Traditional Naples pizzas and calzone pizzas. Good atmosphere, decent prices. Usually not much of a wait time (££)
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rossopomodoro Covent Garden
50-52 Monmouth StTraditional Naples pizzas and calzone pizzas. Good atmosphere, decent prices. Usually not much of a wait time (££)
Very causal version of MEATLiquor. Great burgers/sides at reasonable prices. Great reviews and quite popular, but not as busy as MEATLiquor. (£-££)
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
MEATmarket
Tavistock StreetVery causal version of MEATLiquor. Great burgers/sides at reasonable prices. Great reviews and quite popular, but not as busy as MEATLiquor. (£-££)
Wood-fired pizzas with very creative topping combinations. Cheap and cheerful, but very popular. Can put your name down and have a drink elsewhere until table is ready (££)
48 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Homeslice Neal's Yard
13 Neal's YardWood-fired pizzas with very creative topping combinations. Cheap and cheerful, but very popular. Can put your name down and have a drink elsewhere until table is ready (££)
Nice burritos at good prices. Good for a quick refuel between shopping or sightseeing. Quick and easy. (£)
20 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Chipotle Mexican Grill
334 Upper StNice burritos at good prices. Good for a quick refuel between shopping or sightseeing. Quick and easy. (£)
VERY popular and VERY small seating space = long waiting times. Can put your name down and go for a drink until table is ready. Probably best burgers in central London (£-££)
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Honest Burgers Meard St - Soho
4a Meard StreetVERY popular and VERY small seating space = long waiting times. Can put your name down and go for a drink until table is ready. Probably best burgers in central London (£-££)
Modern take on traditional Vietnamese food. Popular, but reasonably priced and usually possible to get a table (££)
17 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cay Tre Soho
42-43 Dean StModern take on traditional Vietnamese food. Popular, but reasonably priced and usually possible to get a table (££)
Does a very good all-you-can eat sushi deal mid-week. Unlimited re-orders of cold sushi and one-time orders of hot dishes. Usually possible to get a walk in table (£-££)
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sushi Eatery
40 Frith StDoes a very good all-you-can eat sushi deal mid-week. Unlimited re-orders of cold sushi and one-time orders of hot dishes. Usually possible to get a walk in table (£-££)
Inventive tapas style food in a very elegant setting. Has a nice bar too. Reservations recommended. (££-£££)
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Opera Tavern
23 Catherine StInventive tapas style food in a very elegant setting. Has a nice bar too. Reservations recommended. (££-£££)
Ridiculously popular Indian "Calcutta Grand Cafe". Good food but very long queues (££-£££)
93 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Dishoom
12 Upper St Martin's LnRidiculously popular Indian "Calcutta Grand Cafe". Good food but very long queues (££-£££)
Looks like a chain, but is quite authentic, with Indian waiters and chefs and serving traditional Tali street food. Usually possible to get a table (££)
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Masala Zone Soho
9 Marshall StLooks like a chain, but is quite authentic, with Indian waiters and chefs and serving traditional Tali street food. Usually possible to get a table (££)
Looks like a chain, but is quite authentic, with Indian waiters and chefs and serving traditional Tali street food. Usually possible to get a table (££)
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Masala Zone Covent Garden
48 Floral StLooks like a chain, but is quite authentic, with Indian waiters and chefs and serving traditional Tali street food. Usually possible to get a table (££)
Very tasty rotisserie chicken. Very reasonable prices and usually possible to get a walk in table. Does good morning coffee deals too (£-££)
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cookhouse Joe
55 Berwick StVery tasty rotisserie chicken. Very reasonable prices and usually possible to get a walk in table. Does good morning coffee deals too (£-££)
Decent Chinese food in heart of Chinatown. Plenty of options on same street if busy (£-££)
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Golden Dragon Chinatown
28-29 Gerrard StDecent Chinese food in heart of Chinatown. Plenty of options on same street if busy (£-££)
Excellent value for money, traditional French Brasserie. Usually possible to get a walk in table. Dish of the day and menu of the day are popular and great value
49 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Brasserie Zédel
20 Sherwood StExcellent value for money, traditional French Brasserie. Usually possible to get a walk in table. Dish of the day and menu of the day are popular and great value
Very traditional British Fish & Chips! Big portions, friendly service and lots of deep-fried food (£)
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Golden Union. Fish and chips.
38 Poland StreetVery traditional British Fish & Chips! Big portions, friendly service and lots of deep-fried food (£)
Great burgers/sides/onion rings etc. Lively atmosphere and usually possible to get a walk-in table (especially if Flat Iron is full!) (£-££)
264 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Byron
341 Upper StGreat burgers/sides/onion rings etc. Lively atmosphere and usually possible to get a walk-in table (especially if Flat Iron is full!) (£-££)
Great burgers/sides/onion rings etc. Lively atmosphere and usually possible to get a walk-in table (especially if Flat Iron is full!) (£-££)
264 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Byron
341 Upper StGreat burgers/sides/onion rings etc. Lively atmosphere and usually possible to get a walk-in table (especially if Flat Iron is full!) (£-££)
Newest venture by Bone Daddies. Extensive menu based on selecting meat dishes and creating your own "sandwich" with sticky Horato Dim Sum buns. Usually possible to get a walk in table (££)
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Flesh & Buns Covent Garden
41 Earlham StNewest venture by Bone Daddies. Extensive menu based on selecting meat dishes and creating your own "sandwich" with sticky Horato Dim Sum buns. Usually possible to get a walk in table (££)
Best Ramen noodles in London. Rave reviews and an interesting Rock-n-Roll Japanese concept. Usually a queue, but moves quite quickly (£-££)
33 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bone Daddies
31 Peter StBest Ramen noodles in London. Rave reviews and an interesting Rock-n-Roll Japanese concept. Usually a queue, but moves quite quickly (£-££)
Usually possible to get a few stools at the sushi rail at all times. Traditional roller-belt sushi rail with decent selection of dishes, although can be a bit repetitive (£-££)
12 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Yo Sushi
3A/B Belvedere RdUsually possible to get a few stools at the sushi rail at all times. Traditional roller-belt sushi rail with decent selection of dishes, although can be a bit repetitive (£-££)
Apparently on of the best vegetarian restaurants in London (££)
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mildreds Restaurant
45 Lexington StApparently on of the best vegetarian restaurants in London (££)
New branch of Soho flagship. Again expect long waiting times
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Polpo Soho
41 Beak StNew branch of Soho flagship. Again expect long waiting times
Great atmosphere, excellent food, reservations recommended (££-£££)
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Dehesa
25 Ganton StGreat atmosphere, excellent food, reservations recommended (££-£££)
Clos Maggiore
33 King StRomantic, French restaurant (££-£££)
Brazilian barbeque/rodezio -- all you can eat fresh cooked meats and large salad bar. Walk-ins possible (££)
Preto West End
73 Shaftesbury AveBrazilian barbeque/rodezio -- all you can eat fresh cooked meats and large salad bar. Walk-ins possible (££)
Excellent taste of American diner at good prices. Large portions. Only place to get Corn Dogs in London! Walk-ins possible. Takes reservations. (£-££)
Diner
23A Shaftesbury AvenueExcellent taste of American diner at good prices. Large portions. Only place to get Corn Dogs in London! Walk-ins possible. Takes reservations. (£-££)
Expensive; but excellent steaks. Reservations recommended. Large portions and extensive steak and wine menus (£££-££££)
56 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hawksmoor Seven Dials
11 Langley StreetExpensive; but excellent steaks. Reservations recommended. Large portions and extensive steak and wine menus (£££-££££)
10 Greek St
10 Greek StreetNew British food/restaurant (££)
Authentic Mexican food; great atmosphere and cocktails. Can wait at the bar for a table to become available (££)
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe Pacifico
5 Langley StAuthentic Mexican food; great atmosphere and cocktails. Can wait at the bar for a table to become available (££)
Romantic; British-French food. Very charming setting and good menu. Reservations recommended, but walk-ins possible (for small groups) (££-£££)
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Andrew Edmunds Restaurant
46 Lexington StRomantic; British-French food. Very charming setting and good menu. Reservations recommended, but walk-ins possible (for small groups) (££-£££)
Great steaks/meat; but there will be very long waiting times in the evenings. Has a bar downstairs you can wait at, but eating at off-peak times would be better (££)
69 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Flat Iron
17 Beak StGreat steaks/meat; but there will be very long waiting times in the evenings. Has a bar downstairs you can wait at, but eating at off-peak times would be better (££)
Essentials
A large Tesco with a selection of food and grocery items, wine, etc. Very cheap prices
405 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tesco Metro
224-226 Portobello RdA large Tesco with a selection of food and grocery items, wine, etc. Very cheap prices
Large selection of healthy food and groceries. Does great take away food too. Not cheap, but health food shops rarely are!
782 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Whole Foods Market
63-97 Kensington High StLarge selection of healthy food and groceries. Does great take away food too. Not cheap, but health food shops rarely are!
Medium size food/grocery supermarket. Open 7am to 11pm every day
The Co-operative Food - Soho - Berwick Street
104-105 Berwick StreetMedium size food/grocery supermarket. Open 7am to 11pm every day
Drinks & Nightlife
Great roof top bar with amazing views over London. Good on a sunny day. Does food too (££-£££)
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
ME London
StrandGreat roof top bar with amazing views over London. Good on a sunny day. Does food too (££-£££)
Nice (and large) cocktail bar upstairs and then a hard-core samba dancing club downstairs. Not for beginners!
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
100 Wardour Street
100 Wardour StreetNice (and large) cocktail bar upstairs and then a hard-core samba dancing club downstairs. Not for beginners!
Lively samba-style bar. Does food in the early evening and then dancing (often started off by some professional samba dancers). Gets very lively
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Guanabara
Lively samba-style bar. Does food in the early evening and then dancing (often started off by some professional samba dancers). Gets very lively
The Sun & 13 Cantons
21 Great Pulteney StTraditional British Pub
Great cockail bar right on the Covent Garden Piazza (££-£££)
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Dirty Martini Covent Garden
11-12 Russell StGreat cockail bar right on the Covent Garden Piazza (££-£££)
Intimate and trendy wine bar with a great selection of charcuterie and cheese tapas plates (£-££)
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fernandez & Wells
Intimate and trendy wine bar with a great selection of charcuterie and cheese tapas plates (£-££)
Interesting selection of inventive/creative cocktails. Can get quite crowded as is quite small, but great drinks and good atmosphere
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lab Bar
12 Old Compton StreetInteresting selection of inventive/creative cocktails. Can get quite crowded as is quite small, but great drinks and good atmosphere
Romantic French restaurant. Often possible to get a walk-in table (££)
6 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Café des Amis
11-14 Hanover PlRomantic French restaurant. Often possible to get a walk-in table (££)
Excellent taste of American diner at good prices. Large portions. Only place to get Corn Dogs in London! Walk-ins possible. Takes reservations. (£-££)
53 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Diner Soho
18 Ganton StExcellent taste of American diner at good prices. Large portions. Only place to get Corn Dogs in London! Walk-ins possible. Takes reservations. (£-££)
Excellent Spanish food and Sangria; but they don't take reservations and are very popular. (££)
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Salvador & Amanda Covent Garden
8 Great Newport StExcellent Spanish food and Sangria; but they don't take reservations and are very popular. (££)
Entertainment & Activities
Hamleys
188-196 Regent St.Largest toy shop in England!
Scoop Soho
53 Brewer StGreat ice-cream place. Perfect for a treat (£)
Traditional Italian Gelateria for ice-cream (run by same people as ever popular Boca di Lupo restaurant across the road) (£)
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Gelupo
7 Archer StTraditional Italian Gelateria for ice-cream (run by same people as ever popular Boca di Lupo restaurant across the road) (£)