Whether you’re a longtime Londoner or a first-time visitor, London’s urban sprawl can be quite intimidating. There is a lot to see and do, but with attractions and museums around every corner, it can be challenging to make a choice. Luckily, we’ve gathered the hidden gem restaurants to try in London to make things easier for you.
As you may know, one of the most diverse and multicultural food scenes in the world is found in London, where you’ll find restaurants for literally every taste. These eateries are the best-kept secrets in London’s food scene amid the city’s busy streets that will offer a unique lunch or dining experience. So, let’s see where you can find delectable food, first-rate service, and a cozy, welcoming environment without being surrounded by large crowds.
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Bustronome, Embankment
Bustronome, a one-of-a-kind dining experience that will take you all over London and give you the opportunity to see some of the finest panoramic views, is a restaurant on board a glass-roofed double-decker bus. The boating experience begins and ends on the Victoria Embankment. You’ll enjoy a six-course dinner while taking in sights like the V&A Museum, Tower Bridge, and Westminster Abbey.
Dans le Noir, Clerkenwell
The renowned Dans le Noir restaurant is where you’ll enjoy your meal in a completely dark room while being guided by visually impaired waiters. A weird thing is that you won’t know what you’re eating until it’s in your mouth because menus don’t go into specific dishes but they depend on different themes, e.g. the red menu has meat dishes, while the blue menu has fish. A quirky London restaurant for those who can dare to try!
Gremio de Brixton
Gremio isn’t exactly what you’d expect to find as it is hidden away in a church vault. It has all the airs and graces of a hidden eatery with the charm of Europe, making it a haven for tapas dishes and sangria. After your dinner, continue to sip on their house cocktails and observe as the location changes into a lively and buzzing party hotspot.
Locanda Locatelli
One of Giorgio Locatelli’s best Michelin-starred Italian restaurants in London, Locanda Locatelli is renowned for both its atmosphere and the quality of its cuisine. Its appealing menu offers plenty of wine and appetizer options and features dishes from many different Italian regions, including some fantastic pasta dishes. This is a restaurant for those seeking to try the ultimate Italian dining experience!
Quilon Restaurant
Even though its appearance might give you another impression, Quilon is among the city’s finest high-end Southern Indian cuisine that you should definitely try if you’re into Indian quality food. While dinner prices can be a bit high, it is definitely one of the finest haute deals in town; the set lunch menu being on top of the list. And, seafood is always a good option here because head chef Sriram Aylur and his skilled staff concentrate focus on the cuisine of southwest India and the Malabar Coast.
JIJI Restaurant
When you enter JIJI, which is located on a quiet street just off Upper Street in Islington, you will experience an abundance of color, sounds, and scents. It’s a funky restaurant that combines Middle Eastern and Japanese cuisine, and the walls are covered in some quirky 3D murals. There is a mouthwatering choice of appetizers, salads, sushi, meats, bento boxes, and desserts on the menu combining Middle Eastern ingenuity with Japanese elegance, and there are also plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices.
Hunan London
Although Hunan is a top-notch Chinese restaurant, you don’t get to choose what you’ll eat here! You tell them what kind of food and spices you eat and they will choose what you will eat. Fortunately, they do a perfect job of picking for you. The illustrious Mr. Peng and his talented chefs create the daily changing, top-secret menu, serving fifteen to eighteen plates until you can no longer button your pants!
Black Salt Sheen
The Upper Richmond Road in North Sheen, an undiscovered area sandwiched between its more well-known relatives Richmond and Putney, is home to this Michelin-starred Indian restaurant. This quaint neighborhood restaurant provides elevated Indian cuisine including dishes like lamb rogan josh, saffron prawn curry, black lentil dhal, and duck and guinea fowl kebabs. These and much more are guaranteed to offer you a high-class dining experience.
The Clink Restaurant Brixton
The Clink is a charity endeavor that aims to reduce recidivism by aiding inmates in obtaining qualifications in the culinary industry, so it is far from being an exploitative new dining concept. Since this restaurant is located inside HMP Brixton, all of the staff members are real residents of the prison. You will enjoy delicious meals in a unique environment as well as friendly and warm service.
It’s always best to explore the hidden gem restaurants without carrying your luggage around. Make sure to find luggage storage in London, drop off your belongings, and enjoy your day worry-free!
The Ledbury
Located in the fashionable Notting Hill neighborhood, Ledbury is an award-winning restaurant that serves modern British cuisine. The menu features seasonal dishes like a roasted loin of venison with wild mushroom and truffle jus, and roasted Cornish cod with creamed leeks, bacon, and oyster mushrooms. The atmosphere is intimate and inviting, and the service is attentive and friendly.
The Clove Club
Located in the heart of Shoreditch, The Clove Club is a modern British restaurant that serves exquisite dishes like saddle of rabbit with caramelized radicchio, and roasted halibut with cauliflower puree and pickled chanterelles. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the service is exemplary.
The Duck and Waffle
Located at the top of the Heron Tower in the City of London, the Duck and Waffle offers one of the best views in the city. The menu features unique dishes like the duck and waffle, a combination of crispy leg confit and fried duck egg served on a waffle. Other dishes include the wild mushroom and truffle pizza, and the burrata with grilled vegetables and basil pesto. The atmosphere is lively and inviting, and the service is attentive and friendly.
