Travel

London travel guide: Eat, drink and go out

On your next trip to London, check out the best places to eat pastries, drink cocktails and enjoy the city's night life.

by : Elle Canada- Apr 2nd, 2013

london-travel-guide-eat-drink-and-go-out-3

ELLE UK editors have kept track of their favourite places to eat, drink and visit while traveling in London. This list of prestigious destinations is compiled by:

• Lorraine Candy – Editor in Chief of ELLE UK

• Anne-Marie Curtis – Fashion Director of ELLE UK

• Marissa Bourke – Creative Director of ELLE UK – and the ELLE UK Art Team

• Susan Ward Davies – Travel Editor of ELLE UK

• Emma Strenner – Beauty Director of ELLE UK

• Suzanne Scott – Beauty Writer of ELLE UK

• Georgia Collins – Deputy Beauty Editor of ELLE UK

MORE LONDON: The best fashion addresses

RESTAURANTS

BOB BOB RICARD
1 Upper James Street, London W1F 9DF
44 020 3145 1000
bobbobricard.com
€€
This place is simply crazy: each table is equipped with a "Champagne button". Just press it and a waiter appears asking you what kind of champagne you would like to drink. Do we really need to say more?

CHATKHARA
15 Upper Tooting Road, London SW17 7TS
44 (0)20 8682 2519
chatkhara.co.uk
€
England is the country for fine Indian food outside of India, and Chatkhara makes you feel as though you’re actually there…
MB: “Brick lane isn’t the place for the best Indian food- Tooting High street houses some of the best curry restaurants in London.”

CUT
45 Park Lane, London, W1K 1PN
44 (0)20 7493 4545
45parklane.com/
€€€€
A luxurious restaurant where Chef Wolgang Puck has brought his fine cuisine from the US, as well as his expertise on steaks. Opened late last year, the restaurant is already a huge hit. Book a table (2 or 3 weeks in advance) if you want to eat here!
BT: “Situated in the new 45 Park Lane hotel, the restaurant oozes old Hollywood glamour and serves the tenderest of steaks.”

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DABBOUS
39 Whitfield Street London W1T 2SF
44 020 7323 1544
dabbous.co.uk
€-€€
For a super healthy meal prepared essentially with fresh fruits and vegetables. In a refined decor, go for a light but tasty lunch or dinner.
SWD: “The food is a work of art – sheer brilliance.”

DEAN STREET TOWNHOUSE
69 – 71 Dean Street Greater London W1D 3SE
44 (0)20 7434 1775
deanstreettownhouse.com
€-€€
This place is perfect for lunch, dinner or tea time. Eat inside, in a very British decor, or take a seat outside and enjoy the breeze.

HIX
66 Brewer Street, London W1F 9UP
44 (0)20 7292 3518
hixsoho.co.uk
€€
Go to Hix for lunch, dinner or the bar. Downstairs, the space is inviting and trendy: perfect to have a drink on a night out.
BT: “It’s worth visiting for the pork crackling alone.”

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MILDRED’S
45 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AN
44 (0)20 7494 1634
mildreds.co.uk
€€
In Soho, Mildred’s is the canteen of the ELLE team, situated just near the offices. A deliciously vegetarian restaurant with a very at-home ambiance, it’s the place where vegetarians bring their “meat-eating” friends for lunch or dinner.

NOPI
21-22 Warwick Street, London W1B 5NE
44 (0)20 7494 9584
nopi-restaurant.com
€-€€
Nopi is an original restaurant specialized in Mediterranean food. The owners of this place also run a catering business called Ottolenghi, located in Portobello.
MB: “It’s hard not to love the basement communal tables next to the open kitchen.”

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POLPO
41 Beak Street London W1F 9SB
44 (0)20 7734 4479
polpo.co.uk
€
A lovely Italian restaurant featuring Venetian food, made of little dishes and “pizette.” Don’t forget to book a table as it’s first come, first served.
MB: “Great atmosphere and food, worth treating yourself.”

REDHOOK
89 Turnmill St, London EC1M 5QU
44 020 7065 6800
redhooklondon.com
€-€€
This restaurant specializes in seafood and steak. On Saturdays, you can play Redhook Roulette to win a free drink and dinner. Will you be the lucky winner?
SWD: “Expert cocktails, fun vibe and delicious seafood.”

SAKURA
23 Conduit Street, London W1S 2XS
44(0)20 7629 2961
sakuramayfair.com
€€
In the heart of the posh Mayfair area, Sakura is a traditional Japanese restaurant. In a refined atmosphere, you’ll savour wonderful fine Asian specialties.
BT: “Delicious and authentic Japanese food.”

SCOTT’S
20 Mount Street, London W1K 2HE
44 020 7495 7309
scotts-restaurant.com
€€
Scott’s is an incredible restaurant located in the middle of Mayfair. The house mainly serves seafood and fish, but there is meat for steak lovers just in case. The huge bathtub filled with ice and seafood in the middle of the room is enough to make your mouth water.

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SHEEKEY
28-34 St. Martin’s Court, London WC2N 4AL
44 (0)20 7240 2565
j-sheekey.co.uk
€-€€
A few steps away from the busy West End, Sheekey is the best place to end the night or have dinner after a show. In a luxurious setting, the food is tasty and the atmosphere relaxed.

ULI ORIENTAL
16 All Saints Road, London W11 1HH
44 020 7727 7511
uli-oriental.co.uk
€
Uli Oriental is a great Asian restaurant serving Thai and Chinese food. The place is intimate with a lovely garden where you can eat during the summer (don’t forget to book a table if you want to eat outside).

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FOR ENGLISH BREAKFAST

DEAN STREET TOWNHOUSE
69 – 71 Dean Street, London W1D 3SE
44 (0)20 7434 1775
deanstreettownhouse.com
€-€€
This place is perfect for lunch, dinner or tea time. Eat inside, in a very British decor, or take a seat outside and enjoy the breeze.
SWD: “Buzzy vibe, lovely decor and a delicious breakfast menu.”

OTTOLENGHI
63 Ledbury Road, London, W11 2AD
44 (0)20 7727 1121
ottolenghi.co.uk
€
The food served here is Mediterranean. But if you want to have breakfast, you can chose between lots of fresh home-made pastries. Yummy!
MB: “Fantastic fresh food.”

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THE DELAUNEY
55 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BB
44 (0)20 7499 8558
thedelaunay.com
€€
Located in Aldwych, The Delaunay is a fantastic restaurant. The delicate atmosphere will remind you of old men’s clubs. Go there if you want to eat fine food in a beautiful setting.

THE RIDING HOUSE CAFÉ
43-51 Great Titchfield St, London W1W 7PQ
44 (0)20 7927 0840
ridinghousecafe.co.uk
€-€€
Be careful with this cosy restaurant. Once you step in The Riding House Café the atmosphere wraps you and you won’t want to leave! Sit at a small table for an intimate breakfast or take a seat at the communal table where you can even end up chatting with your neighbours.
BT: “The atmosphere is amazing and they serve milk in mini milk bottles. Enough said.”

TRUC VERT
42 North Audley Street, London W1K 6ZR
44020 74 91 99 88
trucvert.co.uk
€
Located on a corner in the heart of Mayfair, Truc Vert is the perfect spot to meet your friends. Eat inside or enjoy the sun on the outside terrace. The house is known for its ossobucco but feel free to fall for one of the hand-made fresh pastries and the wide tea selection.

FOR LUNCH

BOCCA DI LUPO
12 Archer Street, London W1D 7BB
boccadilupo.com
€€
This Italian restaurant is proud to import what it needs from Italy, or otherwise they’ll produce it themselves. Ice cream, salami, bread, pasta, everything is home-made.
SWD: “Fun, friendly and delicious sharing plates.”

DUCK SOUP
41 Dean Street, London W1D 4PY
44 (0)20 7287 4599
ducksoupsoho.co.uk
€
A lovely and intimate restaurant where the menu changes daily. Duck Soup only uses fresh products and has an interesting selection of organic wines.
MB: “Really nice atmosphere for catching up.”

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MEAT LIQUOR
74 Welbeck Street, London W1G 0BA
44 (0)20 7224 4239
meatliquor.com
€€
This is not a bar but a great (and popular) restaurant for burgers, so be sure to get there early as it fills up quickly!
BT: “They do THE best tasting burgers in London and onion rings the size of your fist. The prices are very good too. Just be prepared to wait!”

THE ROYAL OAK COLUMBIA ROAD
73 Columbia Road, London E2 7RG
44 (0)20 7729 2220
royaloaklondon.com
€
This is definitely the place to go if you want to savour nice old English pub food. I think we’ve said enough.

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FOR BREAD & PASTRIES

BEA’S BLOOMSBURY
44 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8NW
44 (0)20 7242 8330
beasofbloomsbury.com
€
A wonderful bakery that will make you want to ditch your diet! The cupcakes are perfect, the layer cakes delectable and the brownies to die for.
MB: “The most delicious fluffy buttercream iced cupcakes – try the Raspberry Vanilla one.”

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GAIL’S
128 Wardour Street, London W1F 8ZL
44 (0)20 7287 1324
gailsbread.co.uk
€
There are several Gail’s bakeries in London so you’re sure to come across one at some point during your trip. Go there if you want an incredibly rich and delicious cake or pastry.
BT: “The bakery only opened in December 2011. It’s two minutes away from the office so it’s great to be able to pop in in the morning on the way to work. They make a mean loaf too.”

HUMMINGBIRD BAKERY
133 Portobello Road, London W11 2DY
44 (0)20 7851 1795
hummingbirdbakery.com
€
This bakery is heaven on earth for cupcake addicts! The shop makes a lot of different varieties: velvet, vanilla, chocolate… Everything looks mouth-watering and the house can make you a giant cake for any special occasion.

PAUL
Numerous locations in London
paul-uk.com
€
A French bakery which counts numerous locations in London. Great for any homesick French pastry lover or for anyone willing to taste a real French croissant.
SWD: “Beautifully made pastries, coffee and sandwiches.”

FOR TEA TIME

CLARIDGES
49 Brook Street, Mayfair, London W1K 4HR
44 (0)20 7107 8872
claridges.co.uk
€€
Afternoon tea is served daily at 3.00, 3.30, 5.00 or 5.30pm.
Claridges is very well-known for its tea time. Kate Moss partied her 40th birthday away here and the place is always packed with celebrities. For good high tea, prepared just how you like it: veggie, no gluten or however you prefer it.
BT: “Still, after all this time, the best place for afternoon tea.”

LAVISH HABIT
7 Bedford Hill, London SW12 9HA
facebook.com/LavishHabit
€
This place is really unique: you can savour a cup of tea or coffee while looking at clothes and decoration for the house.
MB: “Lovely tea and cakes in a café-boutique, great place to meet friends for a quick catch up.”

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THE BERKELEY HOTEL
Wilton Place, London SW1X 7RL
the-berkeley.co.uk
44 020 7235 6000
A few minutes away from the Knightsbridge shops, The Berkeley Hotel greets you for an intimate escape, whether it’s just for high tea or a night in refuge.
SWD: “Their prêt-a-porter is a work of art: cakes and pastries intricately fashioned after each season’s collections.”

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LONDON COCKTAIL CLUB
61 Goodge Street, London W1T 1TL
44 (0)20 7580 1960
londoncocktailclub.co.uk
€€
A very cool place where you can taste a wide variety of cocktails. Perfect for an after work drink.
BT: “Eclectic atmosphere, fabulous staff and delicious Strawberry Daiquiris.”

THE GEORGE AND DRAGON
2-4 Hackney Road, London E2 7NS
44 (0)20 7012 1100
€
The George and Dragon is incredible, with its walls covered with masks, photos and trinkets. And the drinks are famous for being excellent. Give it a try!
MB: “A mish mash interior with an eclectic crowd but it seems to work.”

CLUBS

MOMO’S
25-27 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BH
44 020 7434 4040
momoresto.com
There is a bar downstairs in this Moroccan restaurant, where you can have a beer from Casablanca or some Moroccan tapas, in case you can’t resist the urge.
SWD: “Wednesday nights for live bands from all over the world, from Tasmania to Timbuktu.”

THE BOX
11-12 Walker’s Ct, London W1F OED
44 (0)20 7434 4374
theboxsoho.com
The Box is a famous cabaret in London, located in the “red light district” of Soho. Go for an incredible show (but be on time: even if the show starts at midnight, doors open at 10pm).
MB: “Great music.”

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THE SOCIAL
5 Little Portland Street, London, W1W 7JD
44 (0)20 7636 4992
thesocial.com
The Social is a great bar, hidden on a little street. In one word, a spot for regulars! The first thing you’ll notice upon entering is the disposition of the bar, which might make you feel as if you already had a few drinks!
BT: “Attracts an unpretentious crowd, and lots of good music.”

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THE TRENDIEST PLACES NOT TO MISS

MEAT LIQUOR
74 Welbeck Street, London, W1G 0BA
44 (0)20 7224 4239
meatliquor.com
€€
This is not a bar but a great (and now popular) restaurant for burgers, so be sure to get there early as it fills up quickly!
BT: “It opened only recently but it’s the talk of the town. There is always a massive queue outside. It’s best to get there early-ish on a Tuesday evening – it’s when you are most likely to avoid a long wait to get in.”

BRIXTON VILLAGE MARKET
Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PS
brixtonmarket.net
Monday – Wednesday: 8am – 6pm, Thursday – Saturday: 8am – 12am, and Sundays: 8am – 5pm
MB: “Affordable and friendly vibe.”

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DISHES/DRINKS NOT TO MISS

BURRATA ET TOMATES at LA PETITE MAISON
53-54 Brook’s Mews, London W1K 4E
44 (0)20 7495 4774
lpmlondon.co.uk
La Petite Maison is a restaurant offering Southern French cuisine. Go for a delicious meal in a beautiful decor.
BT: “It’s central, 2 minutes from Oxford St and just off Bond Street in trendy Mayfair. Love the location (and the food!).”

A CURRY in BRICK LANE
Brick Lane, London E1 6PU
visitbricklane.org
There’s no place like Brick Lane to savour a curry in London. The street is packed with little restaurants, all very tasty. Pick yours!

HIX FIX at HIX
66-70 Brewer Street, London W1F 9TR
44 (0)20 7292 3518
hixsoho.co.uk
Go to Hix for lunch, dinner or the bar. Downstairs, the space is inviting and trendy: perfect for a drink on a night out and taste the famous Hix Fix, a cocktail made of champagne and cherries.
MB: “The bar is dimly lit, lively, worth experiencing.”

PANCAKES at CECCONIS
5A Burlington Gardens, London W1S 3EP
44 020 7434 1500
cecconis.co.uk/
Near Old Bond Street and a few steps away from Piccadilly Circus, Cecconis greets you for breakfast, lunch or dinner in a very upscale and elegant setting.

BLACK COD at NOBU BERKELEY
15 Berkeley Street, London W1J8DY
44020 72 90 92 22
noburestaurants.com/berkeley-st/
In a sumptuous restaurant, go for an outstanding Nobu meal. Intimate and cosy, the place greets you for sushi, the specialty of the house, or for any other Japanese dish.

EVENTS NOT TO MISS THIS FALL/WINTER

THE TIFFANY ICE-SKATING RINK at SOMERSET HOUSE
Somerset House, London WC2R 1LA
BT: “It’s the highlight of the festive season – ice-skating at one of London’s most beautiful properties next to the Thames and overlooked by the Tiffany Christmas Tree. We always round the night off with a steaming glass of mulled wine.”

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FRIEZE ART FAIR
Regents Park, London NW1 4NU
royalparks.org.uk/parks/the-regents-park
44 (0)300 061 2300
MB: “Best place to buy art as well as experience the exhibition.”

HOLLYWOOD COSTUMES AT THE VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM
Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
vam.ac.uk
44 (0)20 79 42 20 00
SWD: “An exciting exhibition exploring cinema and costume design.”