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Looking for Shoreditch restaurants? Here are some of our favourite restaurants in east London’s buzzing borough around Old Street and Shoreditch High Street stations. Check out our ideas for eating and drinking in Shoreditch, from Brick Lane to Redchurch Street and beyond…

For more London recommendations, check our guides to the best restaurants in Soho, best restaurants in London Bridge, best restaurants in Paddington and best restaurants in Camden.

Best places to eat and drink in Shoreditch

Vincenzo’s Shoreditch– for NYC-style slices

Vincenzo’s in Shoreditch is the second location from Tom Vincent, who opened his first location in Bushey in 2022 and watched it become a cult favourite. You can now find his signature crispy, thin-crust whole pies and pizza by the slice in the capital, bringing New York’s late-night energy and providing Londoners with a new way to enjoy pizza: fresh, hot, generous slices to grab and go. It’s made such a mark that it’s already a buzzing London institution.

Order by the slice or indulge in a 16-inch pie if you’re hungry. NYC fold is served on grease-stained paper plates, with simple toppings alongside the likes of spicy vodka sauce, plus a fun take on a Greek-inspired spanakopita. NY slices are the emphasis, however our favourite has to be the focaccia, served by the square: it’s tangy, chewy and loaded with premium toppings like burrata and pepperoni (drizzled in hot honey, no less). Super heavenly, though be warned: you may never look at pizza the same way again.

It’s primarily a grab and go situation, with just a few stools to perch, so the only thing left to order are the quietly formidable dips: a hot and sweet roquito ranch (our favourite), truffle mayo, garlic and herb, and hot honey. There’s also a range of soft drinks. vincenzospizzas.com/vincenzos-shoreditch

som saa, Commercial Street – for Thai food

som saa has reopened with its same regional Thai authenticity and buzzy vibes but with a few new angles and a bit more bar-snack energy – recalibrations the team introduced after months to reflect and refresh.

We began where the menu now gently prompts you to start: the nibbly bits. Tua phrik krob — deep-fried cashews with makrut lime leaf and dried chilli — are toasty, fragrant and entice you to keep reaching back into the bowl. Nang gai thort, crisp chicken skin with sriracha, makes you yearn to recreate it at home from the family roast.

From there, the table builds itself. Gai yaang (BBQ chicken) comes off the grill juicy and lightly charred, with a tamarind jaew dip that keeps the sweet-sour heat tidy. Yum sanat, a warm northern salad of grilled pork, aubergine and herbs, has that lovely Thai balancing act: smoky meat, soft veg, bright herbs, a little roasted rice nuttiness. Dtom juet — clear soup of shiitake, samphire, kajon flowers and tofu skin — is the reset button in the middle of all that spice.

Curries and braises keep the meal anchored. Mu parlow (five-spice soy-braised pork with fermented chilli sauce and a soy-cured egg) is glossy, savoury comfort, while gaeng gari yort mapraow orn — tofu with heart of coconut palm — brings an aromatic, gently sweet warmth. A side of sticky rice feels less like an option and more like the point.

Olive tip: Start with four or five small dishes, then add a curry and rice. If the daily som dtam is on, order it — it sharpens everything around it. somsaa.com

Noisy Oyster, Nicholls Clarke Yard – for modern bistro dishes

Noisy Oyster is a sleek modern bistro with a focus on sustainable seafood and killer martinis. The room is an airy, industrial space with shiny, steel-topped tables and huge open windows leading onto a large buzzy terrace.

Kick things off with one of the cult icy-cold mini martinis – the Oyster, made with Sapling gin, Otto’s vermouth and an oyster leaf garnish is great paired with a smoked tomato water and oyster dressed with crème fraîche.

Small plate wins include a raw scallop crudo topped with zingy pickled raspberries and basil oil, and a dish of rich, creamy stracciatella topped with anchovies and almond pesto (don’t forget to order the light, puffy focaccia to spoon this onto). Standout larger plates include a crunchy breaded hake with a seasonal peach panzanella, and monkfish skewers with XO sauce, topped with a melting, paper-thin slice of lardo.

We tried a twist on rum baba for dessert soaked in fig leaf bourbon and served with crème anglaise and strawberries but the soft-serve Jersey ice cream topped with caviar is intriguing enough for a repeat visit. noisyoysterlondon.co.uk

Tatar Bunar, Curtain Road – for Ukrainian cuisine

Southern Ukrainian cuisine is in the spotlight at this likeable new restaurant from Ukrainian restaurateurs Alex Cooper and Anna Andriienko. Named after Alex’s hometown of Tatarbunary, the menu is inspired by old family traditions and his grandmother’s recipes, as well as the richness of Bessarabian produce. There’s also a wine list packed with Ukrainian producers.

Interiors are a soothing lush blend of creamy neutrals and natural textures with materials sourced from Eastern Europe such as reclaimed Carpathian wood and Bessarabian stone, with ceramics from Kyiv artist Svetlana Sholomitska.

We start with forshmak: chunky dollops of finely chopped herring pâté on onion bread, the oily richness balanced by a disc of pink pickled onion and smoked soured cream. Bryndza, a crumbly, tangy, feta-like sheep’s milk cheese is topped with luscious slices of sweet tomato and sprat fillets for a caprese-like dish with an Eastern Europe spin. On the heartier side, banush – cornmeal and cream porridge – is velvety, cheesy and comforting, topped with meaty wild mushrooms. Mains come from the grill: we tried charred, juicy lamb chop served with yogurt, flavoursome pickled tomatoes and a bright and spicy sauce made with red peppers, the latter of which also accompanies tender, delicate grilled rabbit.

Desserts are robust and rib-sticking. Crème brûlée comes with a secret surprise inside – a sturdy steamed varenyk dumpling filled with soft cheese – while crêpes come with three individual fillings: poppy seed sauce, blackcurrant jam and cottage cheese, all swimming in creamy custard.

Tatar Bunar is generous to a fault – portions are sizeable, the glasses of wine are large and the flavours are bold and unapologetic. A refreshing addition to London’s restaurant scene. @tatarbunar.london

Chiave, Redchurch Street – for bespoke cocktails

Chiave, meaning ‘key’ in Italian, cuts a subtle exterior on Redchurch Street bar the large, polished brass-effect key on the door. At sundown, the bar to transform into a cosy drinking den with dark mahogany tables and palo santo incense swirling up towards the alluring red ceiling. Street Spirit (named after Radiohead’s 1995 track) is a vibrant twist on a Moscow mule with aniseed notes from raki – Turkey’s national spirit – effortlessly blended with a subtle salted caramel vodka. Margarita fans will not be disappointed with a Tommy margarita mixing equal quantities of Ojo de Dios mezcal and Don Julio tequila, with chilli liqueur and a spicy sumac rim. For crisp and aromatic herbal refreshment don’t miss Sunbeams with Tanqueray No Ten gin, chinotto nero and a blend of clarified sea buckthorn and basil.

The team’s Turkish heritage is carried into the small but thoughtful snack selection. Nibble on dainty, rice-stuffed vine leaves with pomegranate molasses for dipping, or hummus-filled cucumber bites. If you want to carry on the night, pop downstairs to the small but compact dance floor with custom-made speakers and a stylish HiFi mixer. chiaveshoreditch.com

Osteria Angelina, Nicholas Clarke Yard – for Italian-Japanese small plates

Angelina in Dalston offers a unique fusion of Italian and Japanese cooking. This new offshoot caters to a more casual set-up, with tasting menus swapped out for a pick-and-mix of Italian-Japanese dishes and an open kitchen and pasta studio to be viewed from marble-topped tables.

Small plates are split into pane (hello nori-flecked focaccia), insalate including Usman’s magic mirin and star anise tricolore tomato salad, crudos, such as tuna belly with citrussy ponzu and wasabi, and fritti featuring courgette flowers stuffed with creamy miso and caramelised onion ricotta, topped with hazelnut furikake for extra crunch.

Pastas are a highlight – the menu advises to order a couple and we agree. Kombu and truffle laced tortellini contrasts slow-cooked duck ragu and crunchy lotus flower pieces on folds of fazzoletti. Larger grill dishes include umami-rich grilled chicken in taro sauce slathered in miso butter, best paired with okonomiyaki-style shoestring fries. Finish with bruléed black sesame cheesecake or cheese panna cotta topped with caviar for a savoury burst.

Playful combinations continue on the drinks list – Riso and Rosmarino pairs cynar and rosemary with sake and cucumber, while smoked pineapple and Sicilian smoked cactus distillate create a zippy Shinjuku Albatross. Lesser spotlighted regional Italian wines sit alongside sakes and a selection of digestifs including grappas and Japanese whiskies. angelina.london/osteria

Kricket, Charlotte Road – for modern Indian cooking

Housed in a former printing press, the fourth and largest Kricket is arguably its most ambitious. A natural evolution of the brand’s modern Indian ethos, the Shoreditch location is all brick, brass and soft pinks, inspired by Jaipur, delivering greatest hits alongside seasonal newcomers, all designed to share and all packing punch.

From the starters, go for recheado butter prawns, meaty and plump, slathered in spiced Goan butter. Or the Keralan fried chicken, a dish so popular it’s become a Kricket signature, its craggy, spice-flecked crust giving way to juicy thigh meat, with a slick of curry leaf mayo and crisp mooli for contrast.

Vegetables are treated with ingenuity. Grilled squash, dressed in makhani sauce with shards of paneer and puffed wild rice, is a creamy, crunchy triumph. And Tamil leek and potato hariyali – a vibrant green curry enriched with coconut – is a masterclass in coaxing richness and depth from humble ingredients. From the Grills & Curries section comes the Karnatakan pork neck, roasted with tamarind, dried chilli and ginger, while seafood fans should head straight for the claypot baked cod, nestling in a coconut cream sauce.

This isn’t just a lunch or dinner spot, either. Brunch service includes masala fried eggs, smoked haddock kedgeree and a bacon naan. Pair it with a mango lassi or a spiced chai. kricket.co.uk

Blacklock, Rivington Street – for great steaks

While Blacklock’s famous ‘All In’ – a pile-up of seared pork, lamb and beef chops served atop charcoal-grilled flatbread – remains a carnivore’s rite of passage, another must-order is the magnificent beef prime rib chop (choose the size to suit you). Charred and glossy, blushing pink within, it’s a true showstopper, elevated to even greater heights of umami meatiness with house gravy. It’s a dish that feels perfectly in keeping with the dark wood and exposed brick of Blacklock’s Shoreditch branch, tucked inside a Victorian warehouse, buzzing with office workers.

Start with bite-size canapés then choose succulent pig’s head on toast, lifted by sweet, pickled chilli slices. Sides compete for stardom: 10-hour ash-roasted sweet potato, smoky and creamy; sharp kale with parmesan; loudly crunchy beef dripping chips; and silky bone marrow. To finish, white chocolate cheesecake is like no other you’ve had before, served at your table in great scoops for everyone to grab a spoon and dive into. theblacklock.com

Mad Cats, Redchurch Street – listening bar and cocktails

Another listening bar has landed in Shoreditch – and this one is more than worth a visit. With a compact cocktail selection that chooses quality over quantity, Asian-inspired flavours sing with Muyu Jasmine Verte Liqueur, junmai sake and lemongrass, while there’s a dash of Lebanese inspiration with the Zaza cocktail, a spin on a classic tequila martini with infused za’atar oil. Red, white, rosé, orange and sparkling wines are available from traditional and new world regions, as well as five varieties of sake.

East Asian flavours are carried across to the menu. The yellowtail carpaccio with jalapeño sauce and ponzu dressing is beautifully presented and citrussy without being too sharp. Towering brioche toast with crab and gochujang aïoli was a highlight, although there truly were no misses: charred Hispi cabbage is accompanied by an umami-rich wafu sauce, and the miso hake with chilli oil and samphire is buttery and delicate.

Attention to detail goes beyond the menu, with chopsticks resting on hand-painted model cats, DJs spinning vinyl only and an abundance of high-fidelity speakers to keep audiophiles content. Don’t miss a trip to the bathroom through the blue velvet curtain where The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is played on a speaker directly in your cubicle. madcats.uk

The Knave of Clubs, Bethnal Green Road – modern pub with rotisserie kitchen

The Knave of Clubs is back on the East End pub scene with a proper old-school flourish. Originally serving the bird market traders on Club Row in the 1880s, this local continued life as an East End boozer until the 1990s when it underwent a full transformation into French restaurant Les Trois Garçons for a decade or so. The pub has been lovingly restored on the ground floor, huge wall mirrors have been unearthed and polished, the bar revamped and a toastie, oyster, snack and rotisserie chicken menu installed. The driving force behind this redo are Benjy Leibowitz (ex NYC’s NoMad), James Dye (The Camberwell Arms) and Patrick Powell (ex Allegra) all of whom are committed to the local feel of the pub – it’s one big room with the rotisserie kitchen at the end open. The upper floors will open from April with a clubby (members, not disco) NY dining feel and menu, keeping pub and restaurant vibes on different levels. You can book for lunch (advised, it’s popular) and evenings are walk-in, dogs are welcome and the vibe is buzzy. Try the prawn scotch eggs and venison sausage rolls to start. There’s only one dessert, a very good chocolate mousse. theknaveofclubs.co.uk

Kolamba East, Spitalfields – for modern Sri Lankan sharing dishes

There is one dish on Kolamba East’s menu that alone is worth a visit. Moor king prawn string hopper biryani is a version of the classic like no other: delicate threads of rice noodles cushioning plump prawns, over which you pour a fiery aromatic gravy. It’s made to share but you’ll be fighting over the last nugget. But it’s far from the only star. The menu is different to its Soho sister, showcasing a more refined, modern take on Sri Lankan cuisine, with an emphasis on small plates and sharing dishes. Set in a Grade II listed warehouse, the design is inspired by Colombo culture, integrating handmade dining chairs, lotus table lamps and prints of water buffalo on the exposed brick walls. Try a cocktail – the Pol Mezcalita is delicious coconut twist on the original – then start with black pork ‘mas paan’, a bun stuffed with slow-cooked black pork curry, served with pineapple chutney, and melt-in-the-mouth hot butter soft shell crab. From the mains, whole rib jaggery beef, sweet and spicy, flakes off the bone in juicy strands. And, as you’d expect, there is a variety of sides and sambols to accompany. Complete the feast with a Sri Lankan classic CBP – Colombo biscuit pudding. kolamba.co.uk/kolamba-east

Shoreditch &Soul, Cheshire Street – for a social wellness space

Hidden behind Brick Lane in a former Victorian textile warehouse, Shoreditch &Soul is a new third space and wellness hub for Londoners. Copper boiler canopies, handwoven wall art and a repurposed bowling alley flooring create a unique feel. During the day, the café is run by Palm Greens, serving hearty plant-based dishes including tostada bowls, savoury toast and changing specials such as spring broth with wild garlic plus smoothies and juices. Come evening, the venue hosts supper clubs and dinners with guest chefs and food artists. &Soul bar offers alcohol-free drinks by Karmaceuticals, designed by a medical herbalist to subtly boost mood and relaxation without the side effects alcohol brings.

Stick around to enjoy the Sanctuary, a multi-sensory space complete with 40-person circular sauna (complete with sound system to host raves), cold plunge and a roster of yoga, breathwork and meditation workshops. andsoul.com

Bistro Freddie, Luke Street – for a neighbourhood bistro feel

Tucked in the quiet back streets between Shoreditch High Street and Old Street stations, almost another world from the hustle of east London that surrounds it, Bistro Freddie has a distinct classic neighbourhood bistro feel, offering generous, down-to-earth hospitality and a menu featuring the best produce of the British Isles. There’s an intimate 45-cover open-plan dining room and plenty of top-quality tipples focussing on small and predominantly independent producers and growers. Highlights of head chef Alexandre Laforce Reynolds’ menu include caper-jewelled tartare with fried bread, shaved celeriac salad with pear, Roquefort and caramelised walnut salad and an epic pie, its golden shell cracked open to reveal a saucy steak, Guinness and roast shallot filling. Finish with caramelised sticky toffee pudding served with a generous gravy boat of cream. bistrofreddie.com

Shoreditch&Soul – for holistic wellness

Hidden behind Brick Lane in a former Victorian textile warehouse, Shoreditch &Soul is a new third space and wellness hub for Londoners. Copper boiler canopies, handwoven wall art and a repurposed bowling alley flooring create a unique feel. During the day, the café is run by Palm Greens, serving hearty plant-based dishes such as tostada bowls, savoury toast and changing specials such as their current spring broth with wild garlic plus smoothies and juices. Come evening, the venue hosts supper clubs and dinners with guest chefs and food artists. &Soul bar offers alcohol-free drinks by Karmaceuticals, designed by a medical herbalist to subtly boost mood and relaxation without the side effects alcohol brings.

Stick around to enjoy the Sanctuary, a multi-sensory space complete with 40-person circular sauna (complete with sound system to host raves), cold plunge and a roster of yoga, breathwork and meditation workshops. andsoul.com

Bar Valette – for buzzing neighbourhood vibes

There’s a warm neighbourhood feel at this opening from The Clove Club team – mustard banquettes, white tablecloths, bright modernist art that pops against white brickwork and stools at the semi-open kitchen/bar. Kick off with a sherry-laced martini and a pick and mix of the “fried, salty, crunchy” snack section including deep-fried ravioli-like barbajuan parcels, Scottish-style clapshot croquettes and buttermilk-fried pine chicken. Fish mains are strong – aged cold smoked trout with crackling-style skin is served on seasonal citrus hollandaise. Cuts of the day’s catch (turbot, skate, flounder) are dressed with the likes of zippy wild garlic sauce vierge. Finish with chicory root crème brûlée, the roots adding an earthy caramel flavour to the silky cream, or 70{5b2a6a22cd0374987e384412a772b4760a6ccedd3fa74ed0c8373b5fd99525f8} Peruvian chocolate vanilla cream mousse. There’s also the option to visit for Pintxos hour (actually two hours, 5-7pm, Tuesday to Friday) for tasty snacky bites of all shapes and sizes. barvalette.com

Fazenda – for limitless sharing steaks

This might just be the ultimate sharing extravaganza for steak lovers. Fazenda’s Churrasco Experience brings the theatre of the traditional gaucho grill to your table, offering a limitless selection (you can eat as much as you like) of 15 grilled meats, carved from giant skewers by expert passadores. Highlights include picanha (beef rump), sirloin, ribeye, pork belly and fillet, all cooked to medium-rare perfection.

This premium south Brazilian restaurant spans two floors in the sleek 100 Bishopsgate Tower and boasts three private dining rooms, an elegant mezzanine lounge and the standalone Fino bar. Start your experience with the Market Table’s fresh salads and sides or opt for Brazilian small plates, such as seafood moqueca (a tomato and coconut stew) or yellowfin tuna with beef cream emulsion. For something extra special, Fazenda’s ‘Share an indulgent cut’ menu features sharing dishes like roasted bone marrow with chimichurri, a one-kilo tomahawk steak dry-aged for 21 days, grilled giant king prawns and a 500g grade 9 wagyu sirloin. To drink, Fazenda specialises in Argentinian, Brazilian, Chilean and Uruguayan wines, as well as innovative cocktails from South America. If you still have room, try dulce de leche filled churros or crème caramel layered with chantilly cream and madeira cake. fazenda.co.uk/location/bishopsgate

Leydi, Holborn Viaduct – for Istanbul sharing plates

Leydi sees the return of the talented Selin Kiazim (previously Oklava) to London and brings with it the spirit of Istanbul, serving an all-day menu oozing with Turkish favourites but with Selin’s unique modern twist. Launched opposite the Old Bailey in an area in Farringdon with an abundance of history, the restaurant pays tribute to the vibrancy of Istanbul’s eating culture, featuring generous, celebratory Turkish food meant to be shared and savoured. The drinks menu boasts bespoke creations from Kevin Patnode, two-time winner of the best bartender in Turkey, in addition to a transcontinental wine list with a distinctive Turkish influence. With décor featuring plush banquettes, warm lighting and understated references to Istanbul’s architecture and interiors that can only be described as elegant, this intimate 90-cover dining room sets its sights on charming the capital. leydilondon.com

William IV, Old Street – for a cosy pub dining room

This 200-year-old pub has recently had a makeover with the addition of a first-floor dining room but thankfully the ‘pubby’ elements (open fire, solid wooden tables and decent beer selection) have been left intact. Downstairs is buzzy (and packed) with a focus more on bar snacks but the cosy, candlelit dining room is where you want to be on a chilly winters evening.

Start with the Guinness soda bread served with a dish of soft butter spiked with just the right amount of Marmite, or a dish of creamy burrata with sweet-sharp pickled figs and olive jam. Guinness appears again in a deep, umami glaze for a fall-apart beef rib, served with creamy mash and braised baby carrots. The cooking is assured and simple, letting ingredients like Scottish lemon sole with samphire, a buttery tarragon shallot sauce and new potatoes, shine. Puddings are generous and classic – the sticky toffee pudding is easily enough for two to share. For beer fans there’s plenty on draught from Verdant, Lost and Grounded, and Siren, or there’s a quirky cocktail list – try the 2:1 Coastal Martini with Boatyard gin and Vault Coastal vermouth. You can also order it as a mini shot accompanied by an oyster as a fun appetiser. william-iv.com

Zapote, Leonard Street – for contemporary Mexican

While you won’t find a burrito on the menu, you will find classic punchy Mexican flavours and plenty of spiked citrus, alongside handmade tortillas made from heritage corn. The house cocktail, Zapote 70, is a margarita twist combination of tequila, mescal and lemon juice. Choose from around 20 dishes, some serving one and others to share – a couple per person work well. Make sure someone orders the kaleidoscopic red prawn ceviche, pistachio, jícama and kumquat – a visually stunning plate. Servers will bring the dishes in the order that works best. For dessert, the raspberry doughnut is a lurid pink astonishment, an incredible amount of intense raspberry flavour and that signature zing packed into a beignet unlike any you’ve tried before. Imaginative use of ingredients, a focus on flavour and delicate presentation combine to create food that’s a cut above. zapote.co.uk

Bar Lina, Shoreditch High Street – for hidden cocktails

Bar Lina is the offshoot of Lina Stores, the Italian deli turned restaurant franchise that has been in Soho since 1944 and now has locations across the capital. Nestled beneath the branch of Lina Stores on Shoreditch High Street, Bar Lina offers a dark and cosy retreat to settle in for a cocktail or two. Everything from the ceilings to the sofas are colour drenched in burgundy, while single candles flickers on every table. Find a modern twist on the classics like the Pera, a combination of vodka, pear, extra dry vermouth and orange liqueur topped with prosecco. There’s also a range of negronis to choose from, including the classic Mamma Mia with gin, Campari and Antica Formula, and the unusual Bosco which features truffle vodka and porcini butter. Nibbles are Italian with green Cerignola olives on offer, or you can venture upstairs for a plate of handmade pasta. barlina.co.uk/shoreditch

BAO City, Bloomberg Arcade – for bao buns in slick surroundings

The newest offering from the BAO chain is a slick, smart affair. The interiors are sophisticated without being cold, matched with warm and friendly service from the staff.

The classic hallmarks of BAO are there, with the Taiwanese fried chicken, dan dan noodles and crispy daikon bao buns all being as excellent as in its other locations. What switches this one up is the specials on the chalkboard, from grilled Taiwanese pork neck with pickled garlic and daikon, to whole grilled fish with yu-shiang sauce.

The drinks menu is inventive and enticing – we loved the sweet potato sour. Save room for a sad face bao for dessert, it’ll have you feeling exactly the opposite by the end. baolondon.com/restaurant/bao-city/

The Brush Grand Café, Great Eastern Street – for all-day dining over European classics

Hoxton’s new art’otel’s hub is this bright, airy restaurant, knocking out the kind of uncomplicated food we fancy eating everyday: salads nicoise and caesar; crisp flatbreads topped with ’nduja, basil and mozzarella; schnitzels made with veal or aubergine; decent burgers, meatballs and moules frites. Lots of skill in the pastry section, too: Basque cheesecake and a strawberry éclair show a lightness of touch. Cocktails include 50 Shades of Champagne with an intriguing champagne ‘air’ garnish (a delicate foam). Graffiti-style murals by British artist D*Face are another compelling reason to visit. thebrushhoxton.co.uk

The Buxton, Brick Lane – for a slicked up boozer

This is a former Brick Lane boozer turned polished pub-with-rooms, reimagined by the team behind Commercial Street’s The Culpeper. The heart of the action occurs in the slickly refurbished Victorian pub on the ground floor (there are bedrooms and a roof terrace above), which is now a reimagined bistro and wine bar. Tall, graceful arched windows introduce plenty of light, while a sweeping rosso levanto marble counter is a stylish focal point. Food has an emphasis on prime produce (including from The Culpeper Family Group’s own urban farm in Deptford) and seasonality, and will change weekly to use the best of what’s available. Simple dishes combine British produce with French and Mediterranean influences, to build a carefully curated selection of small plates to share. Our spring visit included creamy shredded duck on toast, asparagus in a decadent brown butter sauce, and Denver steak with sticky, umami-rich glazed hen of the wood mushrooms. Don’t miss the cheese croquettes to start: crisp on the inside and melting within. Finish with the generously sized chocolate bavarois. The all-natural wine list is joined by a short cocktail list with seasonal serves, currently including a delicate rhubarb sour for spring and seasonal bellini. thebuxton.co.uk

With an impressively modest flat rate (including breakfast and a welcome drink) for every room, this a great option for solo travellers who have outgrown hostels, or those looking for a comfortable yet affordable base in this fashionable and often pricey part of London. Doubles from £135 – check availability at booking.com.

The trio behind Hackney’s much-loved neighbourhood spot pulls off the same levels of intimacy in its larger Shoreditch restaurant, with various nooks carved out in the horseshoe layout. Pop into the cosy wine bar area before picking between gnarled wooden booths, a fireside table for six or a counter seat with a view of chefs adding their finishing touches. The eight-course seasonal tasting menu, presented in a tiny wax-sealed envelope, focuses on one hero ingredient at a time, allowing for superb sourcing – think Yorkshire’s Otterburn Mangalitza pork or Welsh Wagyu beef. Seafood season kicks off with a snack plate of tiny trout tarts, cod’s roe with seaweed tapioca crackers and oysters in pickled jalapeño foam, followed by treacly soda bread that hasn’t left the menu since it first featured. Other highlights include crab salad with sea buckthorn emulsion, silky squid noodles in a spicy, XO-laced broth and BBQ monkfish with roast carrot and ginger purée. Each menu is accompanied by an optional ‘one-region’ wine pairing; on our visit a showcase of the diversity of Loire wines, from sparkling pet-nat to a citrusy natural Pouilly Fumé and sweet chenin blanc to complement a delightfully surprising Jerusalem artichoke and chestnut dessert and made-to-order seaweed doughnuts to finish. nestfood.co.uk

Sohaila, Shoreditch High Street – for Modern Middle Eastern cuisine

Sohaila is a restaurant and natural wine bar created by social enterprise Fat Macy’s (which supports people in temporary accommodation via culinary training), serving modern Middle Eastern food. It’s named after founder Nathalie Moukarzel’s grandmother and a lot of the recipes are inspired by her. Dishes use local and sustainable ingredients, and the menu changes often to minimise food waste. Plates often include labneh and chilli butter, deep-fried mussels, and halloumi and figs. Cocktails use similar flavours, such as the martini overleaf. sohailarestaurant.com

BAO Noodle shop, Redchurch Street — for Taiwanese noodle bowls

The Taiwanese trio behind this mini pillowy bun empire have applied their signature style to this Shoreditch outpost — ruby red leather stools around blonde wood tables, soft globe wall lights and a white tiled bar, where staff in bespoke lab coats mix clever cocktails. An unusual sweet potato sour is creamy and silky with a sweet, earthy depth, and the old fashioned is given extra body from milk-washed whisky and Taiwanese tea. Small plates include crunchy Taiwanese fried chicken pieces, boiled cull yaw dumplings and crispy spring rolls filled with stretchy cheese and soy-cured jalapeños. Pillowy steamed buns are filled with the likes of prawn croquette with black garlic glaze and slow-cooked pork with a peanut crumb. Three noodle dishes join the regulars — the richer Taipei-style broth is topped with slow-cooked beef cheek and short rib, plus a dollop of spiced beef butter to melt through the silky homemade noodles. A lighter Tainan broth features rare sliced beef with melting edges of frilly fat, while sesame fried aubergine sits atop an umami-rich vegan kelp soup. Downstairs, there’s a karaoke den adorned with bespoke wallpaper for those who want to book for a bao-fuelled sing-along. baolondon.com

Padella, Phipp Street – for homemade pasta

From the brains behind Borough Market’s buzzing, booking-free pasta spot comes Padella 2.0, an industrial-style space that makes up for its cool interiors with a showstopping selection of antipasti and, you guessed it, pasta. A spacious open kitchen accommodates bar stools, or there are red wooden tables further away from the action. Wherever you sit, the larger space feels like you can linger over your linguine for longer. Start with a bitter, dark-berry blackcurrant americano (Campari, Hereford blackcurrant liqueur, fig leaf and soda) or sip a punchy gorgonzola-stuffed olive martini.

Every plate impresses, from sourdough with a crunch to the crust and satisfying chew to wobbly burrata in a pool of fruity Fiorano olive oil. You’d be missing a trick if you didn’t order at least half the pasta menu (there’s eight that change on the regular). Dexter beef shin ragu cooks for eight hours, clinging to the slippery sheets of pappardelle before being covered in frilly parmesan, while a Westcombe ricotta ravioli zings with lemon, sage and butter. Come for the pasta, stay for the puds. A sliver of seasonal tart (be it lemon, rhubarb and almond or salted caramel) will end things nicely – a buttery, short crust, light filling and dollop of cooling crème fraiche. padella.co

Llama Inn, The Hoxton – for modern Peruvian cuisine

Huge potted ficus plants and a retractable ceiling create an outdoors vibe to this style-conscious rooftop restaurant on the top floor on The Hoxton hotel. But despite its lofty location there is substance over style: the food is high-end, modern Peruvian, echoing the ethos at its NYC sister restaurant.

Chef Marcin Maliczowski regularly updates the menu to ensure regulars find something exciting and new, and a helpful glossary on the back of the menu explains each ingredient. Ceviches include beetroot with pickled cucumber, dill and horseradish cream; and stone bass, lemongrass tiger’s milk, coconut and huacatay (black mint).

Smoked cauliflower, aji panca romesco and cauliflower vinaigrette works as a main or side, with a punchy sudado fish and seafood stew laced piled high with cod, cockles and prawns with sugar snap peas and rice.

Mandarin, chicha morada (a mildly sweet drink made from purple corn) and verbena is a refreshing dessert. Classic and flavoured pisco sours are the perfect livener pre- or post-dinner. thehoxton.com/llama-inn-restaurant

Daffodil Mulligan, Old Street – for Irish food

Chef Richard Corrigan’s partnership with fellow Irishmen John Nugent and Tony Gibney is an unapologetic tribute to Irish craic. The industrial Shoreditch space is modestly decorated with moody portraits of Irish legends – Sinéad O’Connor guides you down the stairs to the basement drinking den; while upstairs is where you’ll find the main restaurant, open kitchen, complete with a wood oven and grill, and oyster bar. Let chef be your guide with six sharing courses and a Gibney’s stout, or work your way around the snacks, small plates, oysters and grill. Dishes include fiery beef tartare served in an oyster shell with oyster cream and vongole, chicken and tarragon best mopped up with homemade soda bread, and cured collar of bacon with creamy mash and fresh pickled shallot rings. Many ingredients are sourced from Richard’s own estate in Ireland, Virginia Park Lodge – including smoky, wood-roasted carrots that punch way above their weight. Biscuity champagne and a light, very gluggable muscadet are winners on the wine list – but drinks nerds should explore the cocktails with infused spirits, from jalapeño-infused tequila in a blood orange margarita to chilli Aperol with mezcal, chocolate and orange bitters. daffodilmulligan.com

Manteca, Curtain Road – for nose-to-tail Italian cooking

Chefs Chris Leach and David Carter opened Manteca’s first permanent home on Curtain Road, Shoreditch, in November 2021 to rave reviews. Inspired by Chris’s travels through Italy, the focus is on nose-to-tail Italian cooking, with hand-rolled pasta, house-made salami, seasonal vegetables and wood-fired breads at the forefront. Expect hearty, knockout dishes including puffy clam flatbreads, a rich pig skin ragu, and rigatoni with a silky kale sauce served in a light, airy setting. There’s a carefully honed wine menu with classic bottles and bolder ‘down the rabbit hole’ wines, and an amari-focussed cocktail list making the most of the Italian herbal liqueur, featuring not-to-be-missed house-made amaro. mantecarestaurant.co.uk

Plates, Hoxton – for high-end vegan

Siblings Kirk and Keeley Haworth have created a one of a kind menu and vibe at this entirely plant-based Hoxton restaurant. Each dish combines highly seasonal, sustainable, occasionally unfamiliar ingredients which makes a fun journey of discovery. A tasting menu kicks off with – depending on the season – hibiscus and white tea granita with a beetroot and buckwheat truffle, savoury but surprisingly the exact texture of a rich chocolate treat. Laminated sourdough has both crunch and flakiness, served with a vibrant spirulina butter. You might recognise ‘lasagne’ from Kirk’s win on Great British Menu – his deconstructed version combines an umami-packed ragu with a miso and chive sauce. There’s no refined sugar but plenty of flavour in cacao gateaux with sour cherry, coconut blossom ice cream and caramel sauce. Low-intervention wines and cocktails are equally inspiring. Book a seat at the counter for a ringside view. plates-london.com

Gloria, Great Eastern Street – for a fun group dinner

A Paris export bringing top-quality Italian food to the streets of east London in its own quirky, seriously OTT and raucous way. Gloria might call itself a “pure and traditional Italian trattoria” but this is signature Shoreditch (by way of Paris) – expect long queues, one-way-glass in the loos and overflowing plants, everywhere. In a nod to 50s Capri, the dining room mixes Carrara marble with colourful antique Italian ceramics, mirrored ceilings and velour banquettes. All produce is sourced from Italy and it shows. Order smoked stracciatella (if you can resist burrata from Puglia), accurately described on the playful menu as “bloody godsent”. If Instagrammable dishes are your bag then look no further than the La Gran Carbonara, for two to share, served in a giant wheel of pecorino, and the “incomparable” lemon pie with a promised 5.9-inch meringue layer. Neapolitan-style pizza is as it should be; big, blistered crust; a sloppy, well-seasoned San Marzano tomato sauce heart – and the spicy “Robert de Nitro” toppings of mozzarella, ricotta, candied onions and salame piccante. There are plenty of classic cocktails to choose from but Gloria’s trophy negroni is unlike anything you’ll see elsewhere in London, with unusual additions of porcini mushroom wine and a truffle foam. Wines are all Italian, naturally. bigmammagroup.com

BRAT, Redchurch Street – for sharing plates

Brat, slang for turbot – the much ordered and much Instagrammed star dish on the menu at this former Shoreditch strip bar – is grilled over an open wood fire grill to much dramatic effect, along with more prime ingredients.Order the Cornish moorland beef chop – slices of ruby red meat with a darkly charred bark, come lined up like dominos, their border of gamey yellow fat almost better than the meat itself. Italian tomatoes, on the side, are simply quartered, seasoned and drenched in an olive oil so peppery it catches in your throat. The rest of the menu follows the trend for sharing plates – small snacks up to giant platters. Chopped egg salad with bottarga, and bouncy, blistered, pillow-soft grilled flatbread, topped with curls of salty anchovy fillets. Sweet langoustines with earthy spikes of roasted rosemary are barely licked by the flames – still daringly see through. Spider crab, cabbage and fennel salad is refreshingly different – a careful dance between the sweet shellfish, brassica pepperiness and aniseed hit, lemon zest and chervil. For dessert try a Tomos Parry classic, brown bread ice cream marbled with marmalade. The wine list lives up to its promise, too – curated with the help of the cool gang at Noble Rot – there’s plenty for the chipper team to recommend, from supremely sippable sherries, to the grown-up Koehler-Ruprecht riesling trocken. bratrestaurant.com

Seed Library, Shoreditch High Street – for sophisticated cocktails

Ryan Chetiyawardana’s latest venture is a slinky drinking den in the basement of the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel. Whereas his flagship bar – Lyaness at Sea Containers in Southbank – showcases a high-concept approach to mixology, Seed Library is deliberately more casual and low key. Walk-ins are encouraged and the space, with its sultry lighting, wood-panelled walls, red velvet chairs and warm palette, feels retro and slightly louche, yet very welcoming. Expect elevated riffs on cocktail classics. Sansho Leaf Martini with Belvedere vodka, Cocchi dry vermouth and green sansho oil is clean and delicate, and subtly savoury. A Coriander Seed Gimlet is gorgeously executed, clean and citrussy with a backbone of gentle, warming spice. Galangal Pencillin swaps the traditional peated whisky for tequila and mezcal, and adds aromatic galangal for a vibrant, smoky cocktail. Bar snacks are winningly hearty, and moreish – expect the likes of deep-fried chicken hearts, beef short rib croquettes and potato smileys. seedlibraryshoreditch.com

Voodoo Ray’s, Kingsland High Street – for pizza slices

For some of the best slice of pizza in London, head to Voodoo Ray’s for a New York style slice. With four locations across London, this joint bakes 22-inch pizzas topped with everything from wild mushroom, squash and red onion; salt beef, sauerkraut and emmental and a vegan option, piled high with artichoke hearts and green olives. If you fancy a pizza pie for brunch, Voodoo Ray’s serve 10” pizzas on the weekend topped with classic eggs and bacon or a veggie spinach and ricotta version. With a selection of craft beers (think Beavertown, Red Hook and Kona) and frozen margaritas on offer, Voodoo Ray’s is the place to go for a late-night munch. voodoorays.com

Crispin, Spitalfields – for brunch

This all-day and night café can be found on a quiet corner just off Spitalfields and Liverpool Street Station. In a quirky, purpose-built zinc and glass pavilion, designed to look like an origami-folded bird, light pours into the back onto the cool polished concrete bars, and terrazzo-topped ash bar. There’s Assembly coffee from Brixton during the day, and at night Fernando Berry of Otros Vinos has helped curate a rotating wine list focussing on natural and low-intervention wines. Breakfast starts at 7.30am and covers the classics, alongside trendy new contenders. There’s an organic bacon sandwich with house ketchup; bright-yolked, boiled Burford Brown eggs with Dusty Knuckle Bakery soldiers; and Secret Smokehouse (made in London Fields) on sourdough (check out our guide to sourdough here) with soft cheese, lemon and dill. There’s avo on toast, too, plus scrambled eggs with chives and parmesan, and overnight oats with kefir, toasted seeds and compote. Order the super-crunchy, smoked ham toastie – oozing with melted cheddar, topped with a crispy fried egg and showered in finely grated, nutty Berkswell cheese. crispinlondon.com

Click here to read about the best brunches in London

Old Spitalfields Market, Spitalfields – for street food

Spitalfields Market has a selection of street-food traders right at its heart. Choose from ultimate cheese toasties at Melt, hand-pulled noodles from the team behind Dumpling Shack at Fen Noodles, traditional wraps at Nilly’s Turkish Kitchen and much more. oldspitalfieldsmarket.com

Click here to read about the best street-food markets in London

Smokestak, Sclater Street – for barbecue

Founder David Carter launched his US-style smoked and barbecued meat stall onto the capital’s street food scene in 2013. Since then Bajan David has grown a reputation in London and beyond (praise the lord for the UK food festival circuit) for his USDA brisket, pork and beef ribs. Ribs – beef and pork – collapses from the bone with only the merest nudge. Pigtails, cut into bitesize chunks are fiddly with the bones still intact, but this isn’t a place for airs and graces, or cutlery. It’s a place to gnaw, and spit out bones. Pastrami with sour cabbage and pickles< is moreish – rudely blushing pink – amongst the dark, sticky plates that continue to stack up. smokestak.co.uk

Dishoom, Boundary Street – for Bombay brasserie-style outings

Inspired by the all-day Irani cafés that were an integral part of Bombay life, there are now five branches of Dishoom in London (and another in Edinburgh and Manchester), each serving Bombay breakfast, lunch, afternoon chai and dinner. Breakfasts at Dishoom have won a cult following. Not least for the bacon naan rolls – crisp bacon wrapped in tandoor-charred naan with a dollop of chilli tomato jam and cream cheese. Pair with a breakfast lassi or house chai. dishoom.com

These are our favourite Indian restaurants in London

Nightjar, City Road – for speakeasy vibes

The busy City Road in Shoreditch seems an unlikely setting for a stylish, subterranean speakeasy bar but that’s exactly where you’ll find Nightjar. On the outside, a tall wooden door sandwiched between two cafés is the only evidence of its existence, but go inside and discover a plush space replete with candlelit tables, leather banquette seating and flatteringly dim lighting. The bar’s characteristically detailed drinks menu riffs on old cocktail recipes (ranging from the pre-prohibition to post-war periods) but adds its own twist. Try the Honeymoon – a short, fresh yet punchy blend of Glenfiddich 21-year-old whisky, Nightjar’s ‘forbidden fruit liqueur’ (a mix of citrussy pomelo, sherry and dry vermouth), Cynar, mead, lemon and geranium leaf. It’s a complex drink, dry and delicately smoky, with subtle honey and aniseed notes. Drink nerds should investigate the bar’s vintage spirits menu, which is full of rare, aged spirits dating from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. barnightjar.com

Boundary Hotel, Boundary Street – for rooftop vibes

In fast-changing Shoreditch, Boundary is virtually prehistoric. Which is a compliment. Opened in 2009, the fact that this hotel – part of the Prescott & Conran empire – is still buzzing means it got its recipe for classy but unpretentious food, wine and bedrooms right from the off.

In the basement is a small bar serving classic cocktails, and the main Boundary Restaurant, an elegant, boudoir-ish, space that wallows in the gloom, with theatrical lighting bouncing off red velvet chairs, the glass walls of its kitchen and polished cutlery. The menu here also has a strong French influence, with dishes such as roast and confit duck with a cherry sauce and salardaise potatoes and herb-crusted rack of lamb, and a good-value menu du jour (there’s also a wine club, for tastings and events, should the all-French wine list not sate your thirst).

In summer the Boundary Rooftop is the ideal spot to rise above the streetside hustle and sip cocktails as the sun sets over a slightly hushed, 360-degree view of London. It’s by no means out of bounds in winter, though, with its heaters, blankets and covered pergola; shelter under a string of fairy lights with a seasonal cocktail and a sharing plate of octopus and chorizo skewers, or fish or meat dishes cooked on a Robata grill. Or just head up after dinner and sit by the outdoor fireplace nursing a digestive glass of vielle prune. boundary.london

Click here to read our full review of Boundary hotel

Passione Vino, Leonard Street – for wine

Wine importers Luca Dusi and Federico Bruschetta have run this Shoreditch< shop since 2013, supplying Italian wines from 75 different producers to top restaurants including Hélène Darroze at The Connaught and The River Café. Behind the shop itself is a ‘secret bar’ which also spills downstairs to the basement with small tables which can be booked. There’s no wine list or menu as customers are encouraged to discuss their tastes so the team can recommend something just a little out of their comfort zone. passionevino.co.uk

Click here for the best wine bars across the country

Check out more London restaurant guides here:

Best restaurants in Marylebone
Best restaurants in Mayfair
Best restaurants in Fitzrovia
Best restaurants near Oxford Street
Best restaurants in Brixton
Best restaurants in Notting Hill
Best restaurants in Battersea
Best restaurants in Kings Cross
Best restaurants in Camden
Best restaurants in Covent Garden
Best restaurants in Soho
Best restaurants in London Bridge
Best restaurants in Hackney
Best restaurants in Paddington

We know you’ll be piling ’em high on Shrove Tuesday, but on which side of the filling fence do you fall? Maybe you satisfy your sweet tooth with simple sugar and lemon, or perhaps you buck the trend and go for often overlooked savoury favourites like cheese and ham?

However you like to pack your pancakes, our serving suggestions will help you get creative this year and maybe even inspire you to shun the ever-popular sweet pancake recipes for supper-worthy savoury pancake recipes.

Embrace the diversity of dietary preferences without compromising on the joy of indulging in delicious pancakes! Whether you follow an alternative diet or not, our extensive selection ensures there’s a pancake recipe for everyone. Explore egg-free options, savour gluten-free delights, relish dairy-free alternatives, or dive into the goodness of completely vegan pancake recipes. Don’t let dietary choices limit your pancake experience – we’ve got you covered for all your Pancake Day needs.

Our top sweet and savoury pancakes

1. Scallion pancakes

Chewy, flaky and crispy, these traditional northern Chinese pancakes feature a savoury five-spice filling that’s made using simple storecupboard ingredients. They’re best served with a drizzle of crispy chilli oil, a sprinkling of sesame seeds and a dipping sauce alongside.

2. Rhubarb & custard crêpes

Experiment with the classic pairing of tangy rhubarb and velvety custard with these next-level crêpes. Opt for forced rhubarb to introduce a burst of vibrant pink.

3. Mississippi mud pie pancake cake

Layer crêpes with a chocolate custard filling then top with whipped cream and chocolate and caramel sauce to make a showstopping cake – it’s guaranteed to wow guests.

4. Jam doughnut pancakes

Kick off your pancake day with a delightful twist on traditional jam doughnuts! These fluffy pancakes hold a sweet surprise – a luscious oozing of strawberry jam awaits as you cut into them. With just eight simple ingredients, whipping up these treats is a piece of cake.

5. Brie-stuffed pancakes with crispy bacon

How do you make savoury pancakes even better? Stuff them with cheese, of course! This fluffy stack comes with an oozing, irresistible brie centre and is delicious with crisp streaky bacon.

6. Spicy kimchi pancake

Whip up a batch of Korean-style pancakes crafted with gut-friendly kimchi (fermented cabbage) and spicy gochujang (Korean red pepper paste). Not only do they burst with flavour, but these pancakes are also a nutritional powerhouse – high in fibre, low in sugar, and entirely vegan.

7. Pancake breakfast tacos

These brunch-worthy pancakes are filled with a tempting filling of melted cheddar, crisp bacon and scrambled eggs to get your weekend off to a stellar start.

8. Okonomiyaki

Try this Japanese savoury pancake, made with cabbage and chunks of pork belly. It’s a great way to use up leftovers and is a speedy dinner for two as it can be on your table in only 30 minutes.

9. Chocolate-filled pancakes with caramelised banana

This might just be our most indulgent stack of pancakes yet. Piled high and sandwiched together with sticky maple syrup, these fluffy pancakes have a hidden melted chocolate centre and golden caramelised banana coins on top.

10. Smash burger pancakes

If you love smash burgers and pancakes, you’re in for a treat with these 5-star beauties. Complete the Stateside-inspired meal with burger sauce and American cheese. Now try more pancake recipes from around the world.

Liked this? Now find more pancake ideas…

Our at-a-glance guide to the perfect pancake formula
Unusual pancake fillings and flavours
How to make pancake art
How to make stuffed pancakes
5 new ways with pancakes
Everything you need for the best Pancake Day ever

Do you have a flippin’ fantastic topping you’d like to shout about? Leave a comment below…

Picking blewits in the winter is lots of fun. There are not many other edible mushrooms to be picked in the cold months, but they take some time to find, being covered with leaf litter.

Usually we find them in our secret spots, have a blast picking them, cause they are usually in large numbers. Then we give them away.

Why do we give them away? Well let’s just say that we didn’t know how to cook them.

One time, I tried cooking them down, and I almost got sick. The smell was so overpowering, and looking at the slimy residue that the mushrooms were leaving behind, did not help at all.

Yesterday, we went to take Enoki for a nice run in the woods. It was such a beautiful day outside, we put on our sneakers, and out of the door we were. We went to one of our secret spots, and found nothing at first. By luck, we saw some bumps in the leaf litter, and sure enough, we went home with 2 dozen blewit mushrooms.

We got them home, and I made a very brave decision to cook them up in a soup.

I cut off the stem bases with the leaf litter and dirt for Blewit Burritos and Blewit Bombs.

Here goes the recipe:

Creamy Blewit Soup
From Joe’s Book of Mushroom Cookery

1 cup Blewits, sliced thin
1 T. fresh shallots, chopped – I subbed onions for shallots, since I didn’t have any
1 T. butter, melted
1 cup half cream, half milk
1 cup rich chicken stock – I only had vegetable stock cubes, so I dissolved one in a cup of water
1 t. anisette – I subbed with a few drops of anise extract
salt and pepper to taste
4 egg yolks, beaten and mixed with 1/4 cup cream

1. Wash the mushrooms, and sauté them with the shallots in the butter over a medium heat. You want to draw the liquid out of the mushrooms, but you do not want to let it evaporate. Sauté for about 2 minutes.
2. Add the half-and-half, stock, anisette, and salt and pepper to taste.
3. Bring the mixture back up to heat, but do not let it boil excessively.
4. Slowly thicken the soup by adding the egg yolk and cream mixture, while stirring the soup gently. Stop adding when the soup is just shy of the proper consistency, and stir. Then take off the heat immediately and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving. You may have to stir the soup again before serving.

The soup was absolutely delicious. You must try it.

This is Starter Kit, a series where our editors share the food, drink, and kitchen essentials they recommend when you’re setting up from scratch. Here, Erin Bunch asks three chic chefs and professional party throwers for the handful of items that can make your dining room (or kitchen nook) feel like a swanky, sexy bistro—no reservation needed.

Dinner out for two, somewhere a little fancy with cloth napkins and candlelight, is the classic choice for a romantic occasion. But there’s something about inviting a love interest into your home to share a meal—something more intimate—that makes it the swoon move of the moment.

You don’t have to be an accomplished chef or professional hostess to pull off a special night at home, either. Sure, good food matters, but when you want to get romantic, the most important ingredient is intention. Promise you this: Even if you share a home with your amore and the dining table is used for looking at the bills, eating delivery pizza, and fighting with your kid about—I mean, helping your kid with—their homework, it’s possible to achieve an ambience that puts you in the mood for love.

Here, chefs and entertaining experts share tips for creating a date night at home that feels effortless, seductive, and entirely your own.

Your Date-Night-In Starter Kit

To set make your night in feel like a night out, make sure you have the following items. You can find a curated selected of each below; pick yours to taste.

✓ Cloth napkins (this isn’t the time for paper towels)
✓ Grown-up glasses
✓ Candles
✓ Fresh flowers
✓ Choice luxury ingredients
✓ Something sweet
✓ A thoughtful beverage selection

Set the table

A few high-quality items elevate the ambiance from any-given-Tuesday to special-occasion.

Napkins

Food writer, photographer, and human embodiment of French-Girl-chic Chloe Crane-Leroux advises keeping decor simple but thoughtful in order to avoid feeling too try-hard or cheesy. “Think candles, warm textures, maybe a linen napkin or a small floral moment—nothing fussy, just inviting,” she says.

According to Stephanie Nass, caterer, designer, and founder of entertaining brand Chefanie, you don’t need a full spread—tablecloths, placemats, the whole nine yards. Simple linen napkins and a few candles (she’s partial to tapers for occasions like this) can shift the energy of the room.

Looking for Canary Wharf restaurants? These are the spots worth knowing, from irresistible Taiwanese dumpling at Din Tai Fung to modern Anglo-Indian delights at Kricket.

For more restaurant guides, check out our picks of the best restaurants in Soho, best restaurants near Oxford Street and best restaurants in Covent Garden.

Best places to eat and drink in Canary Wharf

Nora, West Lane

Opened by brothers Ozgur and Sidar Akyuz, Nora is bringing Turkish dining to Canary Wharf. Drawing inspiration from the streets and kitchens of Istanbul, the restaurant serves up a menu of small and large plates all designed for sharing in a communal dining experience.

If you’re new to Turkish cuisine and looking for a leisurely start to your weekend, I’d highly recommend booking a spot for the weekend Serpme feasting breakfast, served between 11am-3pm. Inspired by Turkish serpme kahvalti, a traditional breakfast spread, the set menu is a showcase of the region’s cultural diversity with a breadth of dishes to try. Our favourites included aubergine and pepper kizartma, fried cauliflower, hummus with pulled lamb, and the tahini with pekmez which I couldn’t get enough of dipped with the warm breads.

For an extra £10 each you can add on a choice of two skewers – coffee rub chicken shish, beef fillet lokum shish, adana (lamb), bream fillet and prawns.

To finish, kunefe is served to share – a traditional dessert made with kadayif layered with cheese and soaked in a sugar-based syrup. Don’t worry if you have leftovers, the team will happily box this up for you to finish later. The breakfast is also served with unlimited Turkish tea.

The cocktail menu offers Turkish twists on some classics, like a black tea martini and a baklava old fashioned. nora.london

CRATE Brewery, Wood Wharf

Known for its experimental and expansive array of craft beers, as well as thin and crispy stone-baked pizzas, Crate is bringing its signature cool to Canary Wharf with its second site opening.

Think industrial chic created with upcycled materials and handcrafted furniture situated by the water’s edge with laid-back vibes. Crate is perfect for anyone who wants the traditional pizza and beer experience but elevated: eclectic pizzas with a global influence ranging from Middle Eastern lamb to Malaysian chicken laksa. My personal recommendation? The sweet potato, stilton and walnut pizza – tangy, sweet, with a little bit of crunch, a perfect hearty, comfort food go-to. Furthermore, sustainability is always at the forefront with all dough bases being mixed using Wildfarmed renegerative flour.

However, Crate’s crowning glory has to be its extensive range of craft beers, perfect for both aficionados and laymen alike. Once again, sustainability is key, the brewery’s own core range is brewed in partnership with Purity Brewing on a farm with one of the world’s most sustainable brewing kits. Punters can also expect new world Hazy Pales, a rotating line of guest beers, a range of limited-edition seasonal sours (triple fruited mango sour was a firm favourite for me), as well as its new gin, lemon and koji, and vodka, raspberry and yuzu soda cocktails. cratebrewery.com

Mallow, Park Drive

From the same team behind Mildreds, Mallow Canary Wharf offers a fully plant-based menu. Seasonal and sustainable ingredients are the threads that brings the menu together, which draws from a diversity of influences across the globe. Think earthy mushroom ravioli topped with fried basil, a coconutty Kashmiri gobi and fluffy basmati rice or fattoush salad packed with juicy tomatoes paired with a creamy garlic labneh.

To finish, indulgent desserts include passion fruit tart topped with the bitter crunch of sesame tuile. The extensive drinks menu includes cocktails made with Mallow’s own gin, such as the dry apricot negroni, as well as beers made in collaboration with UnBarred Brewery and Harbour Brewing Co. You won’t miss the booze with a non-alcoholic and utterly delightful lychee jasmine martini. mallowlondon.com

Note that Mallow is currently operating as a takeover by Mildreds on the Wharf, including a bold pre-theatre menu for those visiting the Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre.

Roe, Park Drive

From the team behind Fallow comes another restaurant with sustainability at the core. Set on the Canary Wharf waterfront in the beating heart of the financial world, Roe is buzzing despite its large size spread over multiple levels.

Start proceedings with the mushroom parfait – a mixture of smoked shiitake and oyster mushrooms on lightly griddled toast. It’s well balanced with a creamy nuttiness and delicate sweetness. If you choose to continue with the fungi theme, the deep-fried hen of the woods burger in a Roe-branded brioche bun is a crowd-pleasing option, while juicy skewers include spiced lamb shoulder with a smoked onion yogurt and honey to enjoy with pillowy flatbreads.

Desserts are hard to resist for those with a sweet tooth. The zero-waste caramelised banana parfait uses the entirety of the fruit, while lemon meringue pie is transformed into a creamy soft serve with crunchy pieces of Wildfarmed shortbread. Pair your dessert with a glass from Renegade Urban Winery or pick from the extensive wine list which includes English sparkling wine. Cocktails are classic, creative and refreshing. roerestaurant.co.uk

Din Tai Fung, Crossrail Place

Taiwanese dumpling phenomenon Din Tai Fung has more than 170 restaurants in 14 different countries. Its fourth UK location has set up shop in Canary Wharf’s Crossrail Place – making it the perfect place for hungry commuters.

The 112-seater restaurant is attentively staffed, with servers briskly delivering bamboo baskets of handmade steamed dumplings to tables. Din Tai Fung’s calling card is xiao long bao, steamed soup dumplings where a delicate dough encases a meaty filling and a pocketful of hot, savoury broth. We ordered the classic made with minced pork – satisfyingly slurpy – alongside succulent, bouncy prawn and pork shao mai. The surprise hit of our visit, however, were the delicately made prawn and pork wontons bathed in a poky chilli sauce. dintaifung-uk.com

Brother Marcus, Reuters Plaza

In the heart of Canary Wharf, Brother Marcus has unveiled its biggest opening yet – a vibrant all-day restaurant with a sun-soaked south-facing terrace seating up to 80. Exclusive to this location is the souvla and skewers menu, where dishes are flame-grilled over an open fire. Highlights include Greek smoked feta sausage with Louvi beans, grated plum tomatoes and herb salad, or lamb saddle souvla served with skordalia, spinach, ouzo and anchovy jus.

Brunch is a must, with classics like eggs benedict alongside bolder plates such as kefir-fried chicken with crispy potato rösti and perfectly poached eggs. For a sweet-savoury hit the halloumi with watermelon and mint is a refreshing side worth ordering. Pair it all with the brunch cocktails deal – two for £20 – and sip on a balanced honey and grapefruit bellini while soaking up the Docklands buzz. brothermarcus.co.uk

Kricket, Frobisher Passage

The hot seats at Kricket are along the vivid red counter which stretches the length of the modern Anglo-Indian restaurant group newbie. Bhel puri, that colourful Mumbai street food, is sweet, tart and crunchy; Keralan fried chicken with pickled mooli is a Kricket classic; pickled cucumber is a good foil to a glossy poussin ghee roast; and grilled squash with paneer and puffed rice is served in a rich sauce to be scooped up with chilli cheese naan. Aromatic cocktails include no-booze versions like Kashmiri Adrift, a refreshing blend of lime and agave spiked with chilli salt and served over ice, while adjacent late-night Soma bar serves the harder stuff. kricket.co.uk

Marceline, Water Street

London’s love affair with France continues with chef Rob Aikens’ brasserie at the increasingly foodie destination of Wood Wharf. From breakfast to dinner, expect well-executed classics like warm cheese soufflé, French onion soup; rotisserie chicken with a rich, glossy jus and the standout, sweet-meets-savoury dish, sugar-pit bacon chop with charcuterie sauce. All desserts are Instagram-worthy, from a shiny crème caramel to cookie crust and banana profiteroles. Cocktails feature a classic French martini no 5 to a punchy absinthe sour. marceline.london

Hawksmoor, Wood Wharf

Hawksmoor Wood Wharf combines its signature British steakhouse flair with a unique waterside location. Situated on a floating pavilion, this restaurant offers stunning views of the City alongside its renowned menu of perfectly cooked steaks, fresh seafood, and hearty sides. The outdoor terrace is ideal for sipping on classic cocktails while enjoying the serene waterfront atmosphere. Hawksmoor’s dedication to quality and sustainability ensures a memorable dining experience. thehawksmoor.com/locations/wood-wharf/

Thecha, Lansbury Heritage Hotel

Tucked inside Poplar’s Lansbury Heritage Hotel, Thecha delivers a knockout tour of Maharashtra with some of the boldest Indian flavours in the capital.

The soft pink-grey interior whispers boutique hotel brunch but what lands on the table is straight from the streets of Mumbai. Thecha takes its name from a green chilli chutney – here paired with blisteringly grilled paneer. Sabudana vada (crisp sago and peanut fritters) and kothimbir vadi (crisp coriander and gram fritters) set the tone: regional snacks with punch.

Chilli-laden Chicken 65 – so called because of the year it was created – is a must. Try it in the biryani for a complete meal, while the dabi dal fry (slow-cooked creamy lentils) soothes with buttery warmth. From the mains, Kolhapuri mutton rasa (tender chunks in curry broth) and prawn gassi (coastal coconut prawn curry) are full-throttle flavour bombs. But the star? The butter chicken chops. Cooked in the tandoor and drenched in velvety makhani sauce, it’s worth a visit for this alone.

To drink, choose cooling solkadhi, made with kokum and coconut milk – refreshing with a hint of saltiness. Make sure you have room for mango shrikhand, a creamy sweet yogurt dessert that’s a perfect balance to the heat of this dining experience. instagram.com/its_thecha

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