Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Paddington Basin

"Located on the 43rd floor of the Walkie Talkie building in the City of London, the Sky Garden is the capital’s highest public garden and one of the coolest places to visit in London for free. The garden’s large plant-filled atrium has floor-to-ceiling windows with amazing panoramic views out over the city below and is open throughout the day and into the evenings on weekends – making it one the best free things to do in London at night too!. There’s also an open-air covered terrace on one side."

"Located on floor 36 of the iconic Walkie Talkie, the views from the Darwin Brasserie are pretty striking. Although Fenchurch Restaurant – one of Sky Garden’s other offerings – is higher, the Darwin Brasserie has better views thanks to its position further back from the Sky Garden’s atrium roof. A good option if you want to enjoy the sights without the flocks of camera totting tourists."

"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."

"Peruvian and Japanese cuisine have a well-known partnership, but at Sushisamba, the Brazilians are joining in the party too. You’ll find an El Topo salmon nigiri served with jalapeno and melted mozzarella, and a kobe steak with churrasco among the larger dishes. The sushi here, of course, comes with a view at the city location, where diners can enjoy the fruits of the 38th and 39th floor spot in 110 Bishopsgate."

"Sushi Samba is housed on the 38th floor of Heron Tower, offering Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian sushi in a design-savvy setting. With locations in Las Vegas, Miami Beach and NYC, London’s offering is in good company, boasting the highest outdoor dining terrace in Europe. The result is unparalleled, 360 degree views of the City.sushisamba.comDon’t miss our guide to London’s most Instagrammable restaurants"

"While SUSHISAMBA in the City is notorious enough, it's the Covent Garden site that has caught our eye. Not only the place to catch sky high views and serious amounts of sushi, this pretty London restaurant is a sight to behold from the bold prints on the walls and the hanging plants overhead to the fusion cuisine, worthy of any Instagram post."

"There’s one very obvious reason why Duck & Waffle features in this list — the views. The restaurant is one of the highest in London and it has the impressive outlook to match (just be sure to specify a table by the window, otherwise the effect isn't quite the same). That said, there are plenty of other reasons to come."

"Prior to London being plunged into lockdown, Duck & Waffle was serving its popular brunch menu seven days a week. The menu’s back, but is currently only available between 7am and 5pm on Saturday and Sundays. Which gives you plenty of time to sample some of the destination restaurant’s signature dishes."

"Cracking vistas of the capital's skyline from this 40th-floor restaurant makes it a great place to grab breakfast while you watch the sun come up. Open through ‘till midnight, late night dining is also available."

"It's dramatically different before you even cross the threshold – its unmissable dark-grey exterior has the force of a thunderclap. Inside, the plot thickens amid decadent bohemian clutter – objets and curios from all over the world compete for attention with antique pieces and richly textured fabrics. Rooms are wildly dissimilar, though all are elegant and slightly louche, with come-hither four-posters, low lights, smoke and mirrors (you're actually allowed to smoke in your room)."

"This magnificent 5 star Kensington boutique can lay claim to being perhaps London's most stylish hotel for numerous reasons - from the Victorian town house exterior to the gorgeous bar area - but it is the rooms that really stand out. Originally established by the celebrated designer Anouska Hempel, each one is the essence of unfussy sophistication full of delightful details. Not for nothing is Blakes a cult choice among many of the capital's visiting artists and designers."

"Converted from a set of Victorian town houses in a secluded street in South Kensington, Blakes sets the bar for luxury boutique hotels. Each exotically-inspired room is finished with opulent attention to detail; as a whole, the place exudes indulgent excess carried off with style and a touch of drama. Rooms from £240, blakeshotels.com"

"If you're craving some seriously good BBQ food, you don't need to book a flight to Memphis. Hop on the train to Camden, where Porky's offers deliciously deep-fried, juicy southern-fried chicken, whisky by the glass and a rock 'n' roll playlist to boot."

"You can get that exact dish in Porky’s, another mini-chain of American diners in London. But, as the name suggests, pigs are what you want. Porky’s pulled pork, a dish very much a la mode, is hard to beat."

"Restaurants Contemporary European Angel. There’s no denying that Frederick’s lush garden and expertly tended plants are a thing of beauty for those who sit outside at alfresco tables. However, the owners of this Islington classic have also struck gold with a spacious conservatory-style Garden Room that offers the same gorgeous outlook, but with the bonus of a roof that keeps unwelcome rain, excessive sunshine and wind at bay."

"The narrow frontage of this Camden Passage restaurant gives no hint of what's to be found at the back. One of London's great garden restaurant spaces, part of it's laid out in patio but there are also mature gardens too. It's popular as a wedding space though, so check ahead to see if it's booked out."

"Restaurants British Herne Hill. This Herne Hill hotspot is perfect for getting your weekend off to a good start – take a dip in the open-air pool (if you dare), then get some revitalising sustenance via the all-day brunch menu. Expect a lively veggie line-up taking in everything from coconut porridge and ‘green goddess’ superfood bowls to polenta scramble, celeriac and cavolo nero rösti, and a fake full English with seitan and tofu."

"In a nutshell: South London pizzeria takes over swimming pool restaurant Where is it?. Brockwell Lido, Brockwell Park, Dulwich Rd, London SE24 0PA Why should you care?. Popular South London pizzeria 400 Hundred Rabbits has taken on the art deco cafe at Brockwell Lido and they're starting with a strong brunch menu."

"First, stop in at the Lido Café for a fresh pastry and barista-crafted latte. This will give you the energy needed to explore more of the incredible manicured grounds."

"At just over 1000 metres long, Walthamstow Market is the longest in Europe and, because it’s not really part of the London tourist track, it’s one of the best London markets for real budget bargains. It’s open every day (except for Sundays and Mondays) from dawn until dusk, and is used by locals on a daily basis to buy food, clothes, gifts, electrical equipment, music, body care products and household goods. Whatever you need, Walthamstow Market has it, and if you can’t see what you want, someone will get it for you by the following week."

"This two-time CAMRA award-winner just outside Old Street Tube features a list of 20-odd keg and cask beers from some of the best brewers in the country. Dark Star, Tiny Rebel, Siren, Kernel and Redemption are often well-represented on the bar top."

"24 taps mean a lot of diversity for this tap room-cum-blendery. With worldwide beers all lovingly crafted within the oak barrels behind the bar, the Barrel Project is one for those who want an almost overwhelming amount of choice when it comes to picking their drink of the evening. Guests at Hotels in Paddington Hyde Park won’t want to miss the amazing array of internationally brewed beers, giving everything from Big Milk Stouts to the Sour Solistice IPA."

"Situated along the popular Bermondsey Beer Mile, The Barrel Project is a cool taproom housed underneath an archway. Not only does it contain around 200 oak casks, but it's also got 24 taps of house-aged and international brews."

"HammersmithOK, so Brewdog SheBu isn’t technically a brewery. Its house beers are made off-site – in Ellon in Aberdeenshire and Tower Bridge – but have always been top-notch and trailblazing, so we’re sneaking it in anyway. Taste your way around 40 taps (though maybe not all in one night), plus guest beers: just ask for a flight."