Mentioned by Elite Traveler
The 11 Best Restaurants in London
"đłđ˛đżâď¸đđđąThe Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street is a unique public space that spans three storeys and offers 360 degree uninterrupted views across the City of London. Visitors can wander around the exquisitely landscaped gardens, observation decks and an open air terrace of what is London's highest public gardenđ˛đłđ´đąđâď¸đż #skygarden #london #beautiful #views #restaurant #stunning #londonbridge #bigben #toweroflondon #theshard #mustsee. A post shared by Life FR (@life_fr_) on Jan 2, 2018 at 10:22am PST"
"Sky Garden pairs epic views with tasty cocktails and an indoors garden, how can you not love that?. Sky Garden has a 360° view all around London and a number of different bars and restaurants inside it. Access to Sky Garden is free but you have to book in advance if you want to skip the queues, donât worry if you forget about booking, you can still access Sky Garden but you will have to wait a little longer before taking your perfect Instagram shots."
"Offering perhaps the best free vantage point in Central London, the indoor viewing decks and restaurants occupying the top three floors of 20 Fenchurch Street (known to locals as the "walkie-talkie") are a great place to hang out without spending a penny. It is open daily, just book your free visit in advance."
"The original Camden parlour is now back open for fans of Chin Chinâs famous ice creams (churned with the aid of liquid nitrogen for a rich, dense, almost chewy texture.) They are available by the scoop with toppings, but there are also a dozen or so full-on dishes making use of them, from a tiramisu sundae to nachos with chargrilled pineapple, salted-caramel sauce, dark-chocolate ice cream and blue-corn waffle tacos. Open Friday â Sunday, 12 p.m."
"Restaurants Ice-cream parlours Soho. Those nitro-fuelled experimentalists at Chin Chin are the Willy Wonkas of the ice-cream world, and this Soho shop is an ostentatious showcase for their wares. Not only their signature ices (anyone for halva black tahini?), but also full-on desserts â thereâs some seriously elaborate stuff going on here amid all the bells and whistles."
"Donât go to Chin Chin Labs for your average cake and cookie because âsimpleâ really isnât in their vocabulary. They are most famous for their ice-cream made with liquid nitrogen but what a lot of people donât know is they make and bake a whole load of cakes, cookies and pies downstairs in their in-house bakery. Find things like their naughty titty cakes, party cakes and hot cherry pies."
"Nestled in the heart of Soho lives Cutter & Squidge, artisan cake makers who specialise in extravagance and wonder. Serving up slices of uniquely flavoured and decorated cakes along with their signature Biskie - a mix of cake, biscuit and cookie topped with marshmallow, buttercream and other goodies - itâs a one-of-a-kind shop in London. And itâs not just for the dairy eaters and gluten-friendly."
"A post shared by Cutter & Squidge (@cutterandsquidge) on May 28, 2018 at 5:50am PDT. Just yards away from its previously successful pop-up space, Cutter & Squidge's Soho home is full of sweet delights. Choose from a wide selection of its speciality biskies, or opt for vegetarian marshmallows, dream cakes, honeycomb or its award-winning salted caramel."
"Join dynamic duo, Cutter and Squidge, for a delicious afternoon treat. The sisters are passionate about creating healthier treats, so all fillings use real fruit and minimal sugar. Their speciality is the biskie, a decadent dessert sandwich featuring a variety of handmade buttercreams, jams and sauces."
"Greg Boyce and Dom Sheringtonâs cafe on Hackney Road is named for Scottish author Alasdair Grayâs labyrinthine depiction of Glasgowâs streets; the cafe itself is about 20 feet wide with floor-to-ceiling windows. Thereâs at least one layer of irony to everything else in the place, too. It began as a guest roaster affair, with beans according to vibes and a heavy lean on south west London roaster Alchemy, but itâs now strictly a Dark Arts joint, whose roastery is also based in Hackney."
"Coffee and sandwiches are the bread and butter of Lanark Coffee, and while the lure of a kimcheese grilled sandwich makes a visit to this tidy espresso bar essential, itâs earned its place on this list of the best coffee shops in London based purely on its java offering. Lanark only hosts coffee from locally based micro-roasters in small batches to ensure that everyone gets their moment in the sun. And a moment in your flat white."
"American , Sandwiches , Brunch"
"Rich Mix allows creativity in all its magnificent forms â live music, theatre, poetry, film, art, design and drawing, so itâs a little distinct from the other places on the list, but the charity behind the cross-media arts centre, The Rich Mix Cultural Foundation, has a pretty inspiring goal. And thatâs to offer the public space to discover more about the creative offerings of people from various migrant populations. Since taking over the former clothing factory on Bethnal Green Road, Rich Mix has put on many free exhibitions, screenings and concerts."
"This fantastic creative space in the East End, on the site of what used to be in a leather factory, has regular exhibitions featuring emerging and established artists. 39-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA Free entryrichmix.org.uk"
"Unique in being one of the remaining independent and privately funded institutions of the arts in London, The Royal Academy of Arts has garnered a reputation as the venue for some of the most interesting art exhibitions that the country has ever seen. âThe breadth of their show programme is so impressive, you can almost guarantee that at all times there will be a show on you have to see,â says Matthew. âWe framed the Hockney exhibition there a few years ago,â recalls Matthew, who had a great deal of input into the frames used for some of Hockneyâs vibrant and dreamlike landscapes inspired by the Yorkshire countryside."
"An even more ancient ancestor in Londonâs collection of galleries, the Royal Gallery has been run by artists since 1768. Since celebrating 250 years of championing art and its artists, the Royal Academy has opened up a newly expanded campus with free displays, new spots to eat, drink, shop, and much more. Their exhibitions often present the work of some of the worldâs most renowned artists."
"Art fans were a very happy bunch when the Hayward Gallery reopened its doors in early 2018 after two years off, and were even happier when things kicked off with an exhibition by large scale photographer Andreas Gursky. The Brutalist building focuses largely on contemporary art with the occasional nod to its modernist roots, and its exhibition programme is diverse as group shows on gender identity and retrospectives on major artists like Bridget Riley. Southbank Centre, 337-338 Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, southbankcentre.co.uk"
"Housed within the brutalist Southbank Centre, the Hayward Gallery is one of London's leading contemporary art galleries. Be captivated by boundary-pushing and thought-provoking shows from some of the world's most adventurous artists, as part of the year-long programme of exhibitions."
"Hayward Gallery is a world-renowned contemporary art gallery and a landmark of Brutalist architecture. Since its inaugural exhibition in 1968, the gallery has presented the work of many of the worldâs most influential and inventive artists."
"Overlooking the hubbub of Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery houses an impressive art collection spanning from the mid-13th century to the 20th, with more than 2,300 works range from the early Renaissance through to Old Masters and important examples of Impressionism. Highlights include Jan van Eyckâs The Arnolfini Portrait, Vincent van Goghâs Sunflowers, Diego VelĂĄquezâs The Rokeby Venus, and JMW Turnerâs The Fighting Temeraire. There are more than 2,300 works of art in The National Gallery|Courtesy of the National Gallery, London"
"Located in a beautiful Grade I listed Neoclassical building on the edge of Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery is one of Londonâs most important art galleries and is completely free to visit. The museum contains over 2,300 works from between the mid-13th century to 1900, with famous pieces by artists including Michelangelo, VelĂĄzquez, Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Monet and Van Gogh."
"Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Turner, Renoir and Van Goghâa roll call of Western European masters await you at Londonâs National Gallery. Boasting more than 2,000 paintings from the 13th to the 19th century, the overwhelming collection is yours to discover free of charge. And if youâre hungry for more art, stop by the National Portrait Gallery next door."
"Murger Han is a Xâian Chinese restaurant with branches in Euston, Mayfair and the City that seriously delivers the goods, and is super cheap too. The speciality here is Biang Biang noodles. They are made fresh in house every day and hand pulled by the chef into one giant 12 foot sheet and then cut into wide, thick strands before cooking."
"This is the third Murger Han and as in its other incarnations, they'll have a menu of Xiâan dishes made to family recipes with the Biang Biang noodles and the murgers themselves (slow-cooked meat in flatbread) being the biggest draw."
"What: Founded by highly regarded Greek chef Costas Spiliadis, Estiatorio Milos is an internationally recognised chain known for its exquisite Mediterranean seafood. Its only UK outpost is found in a stunning Grade II-listed building in St Jamesâ and attracts a well-heeled crowd. Thereâs a âmarketâ of fresh fish here which you can choose from and the raw bar is a solid option too."
"Go hungry - and thirsty - for breakfast at the Hawksmoor, Guildhall (serving breakfast Monday-Friday 7-10am). The menu features 'Anti-fogmatics' which were coined by the Head Bartender at The Savoy in the 1920s as an 'anti-fogmatic, eye opener, bracer, corpse reviver or morning glory' to be drunk 'before 11am, or whenever steam and energy are needed'. Choose a Marmalade Cocktail or a Green Maria (not your average green juice, this has Mezcal and Green Tabasco in) to give your morning a kick."
"What: You know those chocolates that everyone enjoys at Christmas, which come in gold wrapping and have the fancy name?. Yeah, well this Hawksmoor dessert is definitely not inspired by those (especially if any lawyers are reading this). The âAmbassadorâs Receptionâ does feature similar ingredients though, pairing chocolate and hazelnut in a giant choc-tastic serving.Where: 10 Basinghall Street, EC2V 5BQ"
"You know what youâre getting with a Hawksmoor â top quality steak, expertly cooked over the grill. The result is rich, perfectly seasoned meat accompanied by tempting sides like creamed spinach or crisp, beef fat chips."