What and where to eat in London

The very fresh and made-to-order plates of pasta here are simply excellent. The signature eight-hour pappardelle beef shin ragu is a must-try and the reason locals keep coming back.

Address: 300-302 St Paul’s Rd, London N1 2LH, UK

Kudu has been a firm favorite in southeast London for years. Order loads of sharing plates – the bread and seaweed butter is to die for – and if you find yourself here at the weekend, don’t miss the brunch, a hit with locals since the pink-loving space opened back in 2011.

Address: 119 Queen’s Rd, London SE15 2EZ, UK

Housed inside the Ritz hotel, black tie is mandatory for the “Best of British” menu rustled up by chef John Williams. With all the China plate domes, live performances, grand piano, and crêpes Suzette with a show, it’s easily one of London’s most theatrical restaurants.

Address: 150 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9BR, UK

This is the home of London’s finest haute French cuisine, courtesy of celebrity chef to the stars, monsieur Alain Ducasse. Set deep inside the iconic Dorchester Hotel, the three-Michelin-starred menu featuring homemade pasta, tender veal, and bejeweling caviar is served with a dose of culinary theatrics.

Address: 53 Park Lane, London W1K 1QA

Clare Smyth was the first chef in UK history to win three Michelin stars when she was at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. Her Notting Hill eatery is fun, and the food is immensely technical but also playful. A perfect combo for the Instagram feed.

Address: 92 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2PN

Farringdon’s St John is all about bare-bones cooking. Think roast bone marrow, ox tongue, and all the fruits of the sea. The wines and desserts are just as good, and don’t leave without savoring the Madeleines.

Address: 26 St John St, Barbican, London EC1M 4AY

It’s all about the biryani at this Mayfair-based, Michelin-starred institution. Small plates burst with flavor, and the goat kebabs and excellent tandoori have kept the restaurant at the top of its game since it opened in 2016.

Address: 8 Mount St, London W1K 3NF

Aside from the uber-pretty interiors, the star of the show is the menu. There are a plethora of options to choose from, but the black dhal, chicken ruby and bacon naan (brekkie only) are the household names you must try.

Address: 5 Stable St, London N1C 4AB

Though it’s surrounded by butchers and burger shacks, Mallow trumps all the meaty competition as Borough Market’s first plant-based destination. Because it’s so low-impact focused, the menu changes constantly, so you’ll savor something new with every visit.

Address: Mallow, 1 Cathedral Street, London SE1 9DE

Inspired by her visits to vegan restaurants in LA and New York, Camilla Fayed’s Farmacy ticks all the boxes when it comes to trendy and delicious green eats. The Got No Beef burger, artichoke pizzetta, and mushroom tacos are menu stalwarts, and it’s well worth checking out the afternoon tea.

Address: 74 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5SH

To the point and super minimalist, this charming independent little spot is well and truly about the pancakes. Gluten, dairy-free, and vegan options are available topped with fresh fruits, bacon, and perhaps the best maple syrup in London.

Address: Arch 35a, 85a Southwark Bridge Rd, London SE1 0NQ, UK

If you want to try one of the poshest brunches in London, be sure to check this spot. The brunch menu is pricey, but the black truffle scrambled eggs with a dash of grated parmesan are worth it. Arrive early to ensure you get the best spot in the umbrella-flecked garden.

Address: 1 Chiltern St, London W1U 7PA, UK

Be warned, this is Instagram heaven. Its laidback menu features very, very good huevos benedictos, fluffy pancakes, and a house Bellini that rivals anything you’ll get in Italy. Make sure your phone is fully charged because you’ll literally photograph everything.

Address: Northampton Rd, London EC1R 0HU, UK

The 150-year-old plus Victorian dining room has a magnificent meaty two- or three-course dining menu that features all the classics. Must-try sides include the restaurant’s legendary confit potatoes; the cheese selection and mighty desserts are well worth the extra calories, too.

Address: 92-94 Farringdon Rd, London EC1R 3EA

When it comes to trendy roasts, nothing quite beats this Shoreditch superstar. The vibe is nostalgic with slow-roasting whole joints of meat – beef, pork, or lamb – or a lush veggie version headlining the menu. The gravy is often lauded as the tastiest in London, as are the family-sized portions that might just make you go up a jean size or two.

Address: 28-30 Rivington St, London EC2A 3DZ

Don’t be fooled by the Orange’s posh Pimlico location because, at heart, it’s a deeply down-to-earth gastro pub. Plump plates are the real deal, with half chicken roasts featuring all the traditional sides, from Yorkshire puddings to spuds (potatoes) and greens wowing the palate.

Address: 37 Pimlico Rd, London SW1W 8NE

This restaurant legend often gets voted one of the best Chinese restaurants in London. The pork dumplings are legendary, and you can get a whole set for as little as £7.50 ($9). Trust us, that’s a cheap lunch in London Town.

Address: 15-16 Gerrard St, London W1D 6JE

Fancy a trendy Italian for dinner? All sorts of small-plate, handmade pastas, filled or lathered in tasty ragu, can be shared at this Instagram-famous pasta joint. The antipasti is decent, and the cannoli is worth the extra cash for dessert.

Address: 13-15 Marylebone Ln, London W1U 2NE

London has some of the tastiest Vietnamese food outside of Asia. In Bao, devour two steamed buns filled with braised pork belly, greens, and peanuts for as little as a tenner –- £10 ($12.50). There are several outposts across the city, from Borough to King’s Cross, so you’re well covered.

Address: 53 Lexington St, Carnaby, London W1F 9AS

Meet Bacchanalia. Aside from all the Greek salads and pasta, it’s well worth visiting just to get a peek at the place. Overseen by artist Damien Hirst, expect 400 square meters of marble and more than 300 books of 24-carat gold leaf paint.

Address: 1-3 Mount St, London W1K 3NA

It was in the year 1840 that the concept of afternoon tea was born when the Duchess of Bedford confessed her love for sweet treats and snacks before dinner. Flutes of champagne, finger sandwiches, macarons, and scones can be enjoyed in the city’s plethora of hotels, from the iconic Savoy to Claridge’s and sketch, one of the capital’s most trend-setting restaurants.

Britain’s most famous culinary relic can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxons. Terry’s café in Smithfield’s Market offers the full London English experience – sausage, bacon, fried egg, tomatoes, baked beans, and of course, a slice of black pudding – mugs of tea and walls plastered with Union Jacks included.

First things first, “bangers” are sausages, and “mash” is mashed potatoes. The parcels of meat used to explode out of their skins while they were being fried and scorched, and thus “bangers and mash” was born.

This is perhaps the most iconic of English grab-and-devour snacks. The bread-covered, pork meat-filled, and eggy staple is found everywhere, from street food stalls to supermarkets. You’ll find some of the best on the stalls of Borough Market, and of course, at Fortnums on Piccadilly.

Ask anyone around the globe and they’ll tell you there’s nothing more British than fish and chips. The quintessentially London street food began life as fried fish sold by Sephardic Jews in the 17th century before it became the battered delight we all love and know today. The Golden Hind in Marylebone is one of the best.