The best things we ate and drank in June 2026

Hawksmoor (Spitalfields) - Sticky toffee pudding

It's hard to believe that Hawksmoor are celebrating their 20th birthday this year, as they're still at the top of their game two decades on. A lunch to celebrate the anniversary was full of the classics, but our greatest love is reserved for this dessert, particularly the large sharing version above. We're not ashamed to say that we would have eaten this whole thing if someone hadn't taken it away from us. It really is one of London's best desserts. 

Zylia (Covent Garden) - Sheftalia

This is the second time that this Cypriot dish has impressed us in recent months (it was great at Impala too). The pork parcels wrapped in caul fat are quickly becoming a signature dish on quite a few London restaurant menus, and this is a great example from this vibey new Covent Garden opening. 

RH London (Mayfair) - The martinis

Opening somewhat unexpectedly last week was the huge RH London, which fits in two restaurants and two bars into a huge Grade II listed building. We've only tried the martinis (Dirty and Vesper) so far but they are VERY good, very generous and at £16 are very good value for Mayfair. If, like many people, you're popping in to check out the space, we can highly recommend these. 

Vermell at Vestige Son Vell (Menorca) - Carabinero prawn cocktail

This incredibly aesthetic Menorcan estate features an award-winning restaurant by chef Joan Bagur. We were here for dinner one night to try Joan's new summer menu, and this starter of red shrimp tartar with salad foam, pineapple and pink coral sauce was an absolute standout.

Paralia (Menorca) - Fillet steak paella

When we were in Menorca, London was pre-heatwave and a bit rainy and crap, so you can imagine how happy we were to be away from all that, sitting in this laid-back seaside spot in Cala Blanca, having what proved to be a top-tier paella. If you're coming in the height of the summer, you'll definitely need to book ahead.

Dante (Mayfair) - The Dante smash burger

Now that we've had this burger served to us on a silver platter, we're not sure we can go back to paper boxes instead. This was one of those great burgers that was properly seasoned, smashed (but not so much that it didn't lose all the juices) and the cheese and caramelised onions were the perfect finish. 

Taste of London (Regent's Park) - Alex Webb's black cod, onion puree, pickled shallots, crispy potato, chicken butter sauce

We judged over 20 dishes at this year's Taste of London (and managed to pace ourselves better than usual too!). This was the winner and our personal favourite, leaving us very impressed at the complexity of a dish being served up in Regent's Park. If you happen to be in Wimbledon for a certain fortnight of activities, you can find a similar dish on the menu there. The chicken butter sauce is as good as it sounds. 

Chez Rose (Mayfair) - Poulet roti, vin jaune, morels, frites

Taking the old Little Social site and turning into a classic French bistro has proved to be a winning idea by Row on 5 chef Spencer Metzger, who's teamed up with Jason Atherton to launch this space. The menu is excellent, but we're still dreaming about this excellent chicken dish with the most amazing sauce. 

Elsewhen (Islington) - The "Skin Glaze" smoothie and ube matcha latte

We popped along to this new cafe just off Essex Road in Islington, which sets great store by its functional Erewhon-inspired smoothies. The people here are lovely, but it's quite a tricky spot to find. That said, it's well worth a go on a hot day. 

64 Old Compton Street (Soho) - Wild mushroom arancini

We were back at 64 Old Compton Street, from the wonderful Nima Safei, to try out their theatre menu last week. All the portions are huge, so it's a real steal for £29. These gooey arancini were a real standout. 

Old Street Tavern (Old Street) - Trio roast

If you like a good Sunday lunch but have a hard time choosing which one to have, this Old Street pub gives you pork belly, chicken and roast beef all in one. They get top marks for their excellent roast potatoes.

Profile Coffee (Highbury) - Tarn's roasted aubergine marinara scroll with poppy seeds, alpine meadow cheese, crispy chilli

The final weekend of this Highbury Barn coffee shop's month of weekend residencies from London bakeries ended with two days of baked goodies from Tarn in Highgate. We eschewed the sweet stuff for this incredibly good savoury pastry instead and felt we'd made the correct choice. 

Lady of the Grapes (London Bridge) - Époisses béchamel gougères

These might not look all that exciting but trust us, you're definitely going to want to try them. From the snacks menu at the new London Bridge wine bar Lady of the Grapes, they're filled with molten Époisses and might be the best bar snack of the year so far.

The Dorchester (Mayfair) -  crisp chicken, burrata & oscietra caviar focaccia

For the summer, The Dorchester has launched its La DoubleJ summer terrace out at the front of the hotel on Park Lane. It's a gorgeous space, particularly when you consider it's right beside a busy road - they've done a good job of the landscaping. Chef Martyn Nail and his team have come up with a Milanese-inspired menu, and this was a very tasty sandwich, even if the 'caviar' in it only amounted to a few eggs.