Mentioned by Hot Dinners
The best restaurants in London - the ultimate guide
"Trullo’s elegant dining room and simple, seasonal food, marks it out both as one London’s best Italian restaurants and one of the city’s finest neighbourhood restaurants. Dark wood, low lighting, white table cloths, and just-put-it-on-the-plate plating characterise it as decidedly anti-Instagram. Trullo’s spiritual parents are the two most important restaurants of a generation: the River Cafe and St. John, so dishes marry Italian traditions with British (and Italian) ingredients — fashioned into delicious antipasti, fresh pastas and secondi, dishes which often do a little time on the charcoal grill."
"A sleek, chic dining room in Islington sets the scene for Trullo’s unfussy Italian food. Dishes take the best of seasonal British produce and spin it into great antipasti, fantastic pastas, and secondi fresh from the charcoal grill. Skip the queues at Padella, the fresh pasta spot in Borough Market, and enjoy the signature beef shin pappardelle or pici cacio e pepe at a slower pace."
"If you’re big on pizza, pizza doesn’t come much bigger than at Homeslice. This street-market-to-restaurant convert produces 20” pizzas (£20) as standard - designed to share, but that’s to your discretion (do not fear, snackers can order by the slice in Homeslice’s favourite flavours). What to expect: The Margherita is heaven to tomato lovers, thick with fresh, zingy passata, but the more adventurous types are treated to Homeslice’s inventive topping menu, which features the likes of aubergine, cauliflower cheese, spinach and harissa or oxtail and watercress with horseradish and sorrel cream."
"Homeslice’s City, White City, Shoreditch, Neal’s Yard, and Marylebone restaurants are currently offering delivery via a selection of third party apps. Moreover, the group has also launched ‘Take & Bake’ pizzas, available for delivery nationwide. Featuring 12-inch pizzas ready to bake at home, each is made using high-quality ingredients, available alongside Homeslice’s range of sauces."
"Neal’s Yard is a colorful alley in Covent Garden. It’s worth the quick visit just to take a photo. Just around the corner is Neal’s Yard Dairy, one of the best spots in the city to sample artisanal cheese."
"Pizzas, pasta, starters and more, you can get your vegan Italian food fix from Zizzi. Indulge on delicious pasta, including Lentil Ragu or Spaghetti Pomodoro. If you fancy some pizza, we recommend their Rustica Jackfruit Italian hot, with jackfruit pepperoni and stacks of chillies and spicy harissa."
"Authentic, no-fuss, great-tasting Italian under the arches with an urban-chic style. Choose either the fairy-lit and ivy-coated cosy outdoor seating or the candle-lit cosy interior with its rustic wooden tables, and you won't be disappointed. Keep an eye on their event schedule for charming wine-tastings complete with food pairings.Why is it the perfect romantic restaurant?"
"5 out of 5 stars Restaurants Contemporary European Bethnal Green"
"If you’re looking for a modern spin on Italian cooking, then get yourself down to Canonbury Kitchen. The exposed brickwork and pale wood tables provide a modern setting for you to enjoy; making it one of the best Italian restaurants in Islington. It’s located just off Upper Street and serves up a range of dishes, including portions of pasta and mains like fresh tuna steak grilled with fennel & thyme oil and classic baked aubergine parmigiana."
"Passo is a lively and effortlessly cool restaurant, with authentic hand-made pasta and Neapolitan-style pizzas bringing a taste of Italy to the bustling streets of London. Led by Head Chef Joe Howley, the menu returns with a new revamp, framing the traditional and familiar Italian flavours and styles with a modern setting. The tempting selection of small plates include a creamy burrata with artichoke salad and basil pesto, mozzarella, lardo and garlic bread pizetta and rustic short rib arancini with puttanesca sauce – ideal for sharing with friends among free-flowing glasses of wine."
"When it comes to Italian food in Shoreditch, you just can't go wrong with hearty dishes, freshly made pasta and perfectly cooked pizza. Offering all that and more, Passo brings a rustic charm to the table, with the dishes and drinks and a cool concrete interior to match."
"Valentines Mansion & Gardens is a Grade II on the National Heritage List for both building and garden. Built in 1696, the mansion was for the widow of Archbishop of Canterbury John Tillotson's widow, Lady Tillotson. It later was the home of Sir Charles Raymond."
"Built on an old railway line, this garden is yet another community endeavour—filled with trees, shrubs, butterfly bushes and raised beds for growing food!. COVID-19 UPDATE: Dalston Eastern Curve Garden is currently closed to the public. For the latest information, head to their website."
"You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Jinkichi_Restaurant (@jinkichi.restaurant)"
"Located on the Clerkenwell side of Old Street, Monohon serves just six types of ramen, including three soup-less ones, one of which is served chilled. The Spicy Tonkotsu – creamy pork bone broth with thin noodles, bean sprouts, spring onions, slow cooked pork belly and spicy miso pork mince – is a winner and you can customise it to your liking, choosing level of spice, how hard you want your noodles and how big you want the bowl to be. Slurping = essential."
"This restaurant has established itself as a pioneer in sustainable cuisine, with its avant-garde efforts signalling the way forward for other restaurants to follow. Itadaki Zen was the first vegan and organic Japanese restaurant in Europe, importing the healthy culinary traditions of East Asia, such as the focus on a balanced diet and preventative medicinal habits key to a healthy lifestyle. The restaurant opts for a zen-like ambience that places food at the centre of the experience."
"Itadaki Zen is a 100% vegan Japanese tapas restaurant, serving up all your favourite dishes all the way from Tokyo right here in London. Choose from delicious small plates for sharing such as Tofu Steak marinated in teriyaki sauce, Miso-glazed Aubergine, Vegan Gyoza and even Vegan Calamari served with tartar sauce. Alternatively, if you don’t like sharing, opt for a bigger dish such as Homemade Japanese Vegan Curry with rice and pickles, Miso Ramen or Bibimbap."
"Try vegan Japanese food at Itadaki-Zen in King’s Cross, which makes its dishes as healthy as possible by using only organic ingredients. The result is a tempura that is light and perfectly golden, while grilled spring rolls are crisp rather than greasy. Go for a set menu to sample all there is on offer, from vegetable sushi to udon noodles."
"If you’re a big fan of croissants, then the Pasty Parlour is a must for your Little Black Book. One of London’s best bakeries, everything is baked fresh on-site daily and their pastries are said to rival the originals from across the channel. 8 Piazza Walk, London E1 8FU; thepastryparlour.co.uk"
"Fashion fans should bookmark this undeniably chic patisserie pronto. Pasticceria Marchesi is one of Milan’s most established bakeries and is now owned by one of the world’s biggest fashion powerhouses, Prada. They opened a London outpost earlier this year and it’s become one of Mount Street’s most Instagrammable spots – for both it’s sweet treats and sugar almond coloured interiors."