Mentioned by Female Foodie
18 Best London Restaurants: A First Timer's Guide
"Restaurants Italian Highbury. Canonbury’s star Italian has made the restaurant biz look like child’s play since day one by combining irresistible food with spot-on service and affordable prices. It’s home to some of London’s best pasta (its pappardelle with slow-cooked beef-shin ragù is a silky delight) and there’s brilliant stuff from the charcoal grill too, while a comprehensive all-Italian wine list emphasises Trullo’s calibre."
"Read the full review: Trullo300-302 St Paul's Road, London, London, N1 2LHThis Islington mainstay (which is also responsible for much-feted Padella) has hordes of fans and it’s easy to see why. A lively atmosphere, relaxed interiors and an excellent regional wine list all contribute to Trullo’s success, as does the hyper-seasonal menu."
"Restaurants Italian Seven Dials. Loud, informal, bustling and tailor-made for kids in town for a treat, Homeslice serves up ginormous 20-inch pizzas for sharing at the table – although they provide individual slices too (ideal for picky youngsters who don’t want to play ball) – and they’ll even let you have more than one choice from the toppings selection if you ask nicely. Branches in Fitzrovia, Shoreditch, City and White City."
"London may not seem like one of those cities that are synonymous with great pizza, but Homeslice seeks to change that. Serving up a selection of hearty pies (or slices!), Homeslice also offers vegan opions. The Covent Garden (Neal's Yard) location in particular is close to great shopping, so after a day of retail therapy, stop in for a delicious slice."
"Proving pizza can be just as delicious without the cheese is Homeslice, one of London’s best pizza joints. Plant-based options include a mushroom number with chilli flakes and a soy truffle glaze, plus the ‘Ndontja, topped with tenderstem broccoli, vegan mozzarella and vegan ‘Nduja. Various locations.homeslicepizza.co.uk"
"Zizzi serves up fantastic pizza and pasta dishes, with sophisticated options for the mature palate right alongside kids’ favourites. That’s why it’s one of the most beloved family restaurants in Wembley Park – you’ll love their huge array of delicious choices. Zizzi offers a ton of different options for kids, including a ‘build your own’ pizza that they’ll love designing, and enjoy eating even more."
"Franco Manca, the sourdough pizza place, opened in Brixton Market way before it was cool to do so; and it now has more than 25 branches across London. It's still one of the best pizzas in town, with an enviable chewy base and toppings that benefit from high-quality ingredients. The main attraction is backed up by selections of Italian cheeses, cured meats and gutsy salads."
"Perfect for those on budget, Franco Manca offers some of London’s finest pizzas at discount prices at some of the most vibrant venues across London. With a selection of just six stonebaked pizzas, the chefs at Franco Manca know exactly what they like, and more importantly, they know what their customers like."
"Wood-fired sourdough pizzas with serious artisan credentials guarantee queues at this cult-status mini chain. Prices are rock bottom, the pizzas are served up super-quickly, and kids can watch the pizzaiolo doing ‘messy play’ in the open kitchen. Arguably the best of its kind in town."
"Also owned by the Villa Bianca Group is Piccola Ristorante Pizzeria Napoletana in Hampstead. This Hampstead Italian restaurant still offers a nice dining experience but it is slightly more casual compared to the actual Villa Bianca restaurant as it has more of a traditional Italian Pizzeria feel to it. Well located on Heath Street just 1 minute from Hampstead Tube Station Piccola Ristorante Hampstead offers a large selection of Pizzas as you would expect, as well as Pasta dishes and many other delicious and fresh dishes so add this on your list of Italian Restaurants in Hampstead to visit!"
"London is one of the finest cities in the world for restaurants, with diversity, quality and value all on the menu. Le Cordon Bleu are proud to be associated with many of these restaurants, whether the graduates are establishing the restaurants or working in them. Whether you want to open your own restaurant, cook alongside Michelin-starred chefs, or work in another area of hospitality, Le Cordon Bleu has been at the forefront of culinary education for generations."
"Hours:Mon to Fri 1200 – 1500, 1730 – 2300; Sat 1230 – 1530, 1730 – 2300; Sun 1230 – 1530, 1730 – 2230"
"When it comes to authentic Italian gelato, Prime Gelato is the real deal. Smooth, flavourful and with just the right amount of sweetness, this is gourmet gelato at its best. Exceptional quality and velvety textures come together to produce real gelato that keeps Italians and Londoners alike coming back."
"They say: 'Kipferl is based on the Viennese coffeehouse, where the kitchen is open all day and you can sit on your own with a 'kleiner Brauner' and a piece of cake... Through our online shop we are offering the finest Austrian cakes, wines & more for delivery in London and all over the UK.'. The sweet stuff: We love this Angel cafe, and are delighted they're now offering their cakes to all of London via delivery."
"Austria’s Emperor Franz Joseph was partial to pancakes, which he liked chopped up, sprinkled with icing sugar and served with fruity bits. It’s tricky to find his Kaiserschmarrencreation outside his homeland, but it’s on the menu at cosy Kipferl alongside raisins and apple compote. The menu and décor are Austrian themed, but stylishly so: less Sound of Music, more mid-century ski lodge."
"When the bustling streets get a little too much, nip into Kipferl to pick up your Austrian classics en route to work. The pastries and tarts are rich but not too sweet. Practice saying ‘sachertorte’ and ‘apfelstrudel’ before you go in!"
"The National Gallery is the first place to go if you want to see work by some of the most famous artists from history. Nearly seven hundred years of work from the world’s greatest artists can be found here, including Leonardo, Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Vermeer, Rubens – seriously we could go on for a while. A wander from the The Wilton Diptych in the 14th century galleries to Pablo Picasso’s early works is both an intensely pleasant afternoon and a pretty consummate art history lesson."
"Trafalgar Square is home to the National Gallery, an art museum that opened in 1824 and currently has over 2,000 paintings hanging on the walls. The National Gallery was visited by 5.2 million people in 2017, taking in paintings from well-known artists including Cezanne, Michelangelo and Van Gogh. Housing priceless works such as these, it is one of the busiest museums in the world, alongside the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art."
"PRACTICAL INFORMATION: The National Gallery is open every day from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. It closes at 9:00 pm on Fridays. It’s closed on 1 January and from 24 to 26 December."
"If you’re a keen shopper, you will want to hit the shopping mecca that is Oxford Street. But also make sure you experience luxurious afternoon tea in London , take an offbeat food tour, sample street art, and hit a few alternative bars in town. Check out our Guide To London for loads of offbeat and fun ideas of things to do in London."
"Can you truly understand a culture without knowing what makes its people laugh?. The Museum of Comedy is on a mission to acquaint us all with the ingredients that, when combined, make up the British sense of humour, one Ronnie at a time. More reference library then proper museum, it's a repository of seemingly every book, DVD, VHS and LP that could possibly make you laugh - literally hours and hours of non-stop silliness."
"The Museum of Comedy in London is housed in the crypt of St George's Church. The space was initially converted to be an art gallery before the Museum of Comedy moved in. The museum's collection highlights British comedic history with posters, props, outfits, costumes, films, scripts, and photographs."