Ducksoup soho
Hands down one of our favourite spots in the city to eat, and a place we always return to. A tiny space on Dean street in Soho with fabulous natural wines and sharing plates, it’s one of those restaurants where you could easily eat one dish 10 times over. Homemade sourdough with labneh and dukkah, seasonally based vegetable dishes like charred radichhio with hazelnuts and pecorino and a few meaty mains make this the perfect casual dining experience. Don’t forget the pudding, most often a homemade frangipane tart that sits temptingly on the counter as you dine. If you’re in the East end, head to Rawduck for the best brunch in the city (baked eggs are our personal fav!)
41 Dean Street W1D 4PY
Reservations taken for 3+ people
OTTOLENGHI
We can’t say enough good things about this place. Their spinoffs Rovi and Nopi are equally delicious for dinner, but we love the casual atmosphere of the cafes for breakfast or lunch. The Notting Hill location is foodie mecca, where the vegetable-based salads are overflowing with colour, intense flavor and freshness. Not to mention the enormous display of fresh cakes and individual tarts perfect for that mid-day pick me up. Favourites include the charred spicy broccoli, the infamous charred aubergines with black garlic yoghurt or the shakshukah if you can snag a seat at the tiny table in the rear of the restaurant. The Persian love cake, hazelnut and gianduja brownies, and fruit- based financiers are personal favourites, but frankly you can’t go wrong.
Multiple locations- 63 Ledbury Road W11 2AD is our favourite!
No resos
padella
If there was only one thing we could eat for the rest of our lives, pasta would be it. In comes Padella, a tiny nook off of Borough Market serving up the freshest pasta dishes in the city, all for under 10. Famous for the 24-hour Dexter beef shin ragu, or pici cacio e pepe, this Italian joint covers all the classics. Burrata straight from Puglia, or a selection of cured meats to wet the palate before the main course. Inexpensive wines and negronis keep us lingering a little bit longer (since one often has to wait up to an hour in the queue). Make sure to order multiple plates to share, we once ordered the entire menu- it is possible!
6 Southwark Street SE1
No resos, get ready to queue!
as one of the world’s top food cities, these are our other must-eats…
Best Brunch: Granger & Co .
Best Sweets: Violet Bakery
Best Bakery: E5 Bakehouse or Fabrique
Best Pizza: Homeslice
Best Wine Bar: Sagre and Wilde or Noble Rot
Best Night Cap: Nightjar
Best Gastropub: The Marksman
Best Date spot: Honey & Co
Best Splurge: The River Café
Best Indian: Gymkhana
Best Butcher Shop/Restaurant: Quality Chop House
Best Food Market: Maltby Street
Best Pre-Theatre Eats: The Palomar
Best Cheap Eats: Koya Bar
Best Wine Bar/ Restaurant: Jolene
Best Chinese/Cantonese: Duddells