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Monday is one of the most underrated days to explore London’s culinary scene; you can grab seats at the hottest places, avoid the crowds and enjoy a completely different vibe to busier parts of the week. If you've been working over the weekend, fancy taking advantage of hard-to-get restaurant availability or simply want to start the week strong, here's our pick of where to go.
Where the food is the focus
Some of London's best-rated restaurants are open on a Monday - if you've had trouble getting in on a busier night, this might be your chance.
Sael
St James - 1 St James's Market, St. James's, London SW1Y 4QQ
Jason Atherton's St James restaurant has been an instant winner with the critics, partly because of the beautiful space, and partly because of excellent snacks like the mini marmite custard tart. Unlike some restaurants on the list, this is open from the very beginning of the week, when you can have a full English inside a brioche bun. Note that the bar upstairs is also open on a Monday, which is very handy for St James.
Open: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Café Francois
Borough Yards - 14-16 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD
This is an offshoot of the original Maison Francois but retooled to be a little more affordable and aimed at a wider crowd. Here you'll find dishes like a croque monsieur flatbread, steak frites as well as a few very-French dishes like frog's legs and escargots. It's notably great value and has already picked up a devoted following.
Open: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Ibai
Smithfield - 92 Bartholomew Cl, London EC1A 7BN
This Basque-inspired steakhouse on the edge of the City quickly found a big following, not only for its great quality meat but also for some inventive dishes. The Croque Ibai is a must (mini toasties of carabinero, boudin noir and Tomme de Brebis cheese) and make sure to take a good look at their fantastic Spanish wine list.
Open: Lunch and dinner
FKA Black Axe Mangal
Islington - 156 Canonbury Road, London N1 2UP
Lee Tiernan's restaurant is one of the very best restaurants in Islington (and all of London) and is must visit for any self-respecting London food lover. They now have an a la carte menu which changes every few weeks (although featuring some of their classics), so multiple Monday visits should always bring something different. Originally described as 'an unauthentic, bastardised take of Turkish Mangal and Ocakbasi, with global influences.' these days it takes its influence from everywhere.
Open: Dinner only
More about FKA Black Axe Mangal
The Clove Club
Shoreditch - 156 Canonbury Road, London N1 2UP
Two-Michelin-starred and also on the 51-100 part of the World's 50 Best lists, Isaac McHale's Clove Club is one of the very best restaurants in the Shoreditch area. Expect a modern tasting menu that changes regularly and it's definitely one of many people's bucket list restaurants in London.
Open: Dinner only
Mountain
Soho - 16-18 Beak St, London W1F 9RD
Tomos Parry's restaurant in Soho is one of the most popular in London, so Monday might just be an easier day to grab yourself a table. Expect a menu that takes inspiration from Spain and produce from Wales with cheese and bread made in-house. If they're on, make sure to order the excellent red prawns on fresh cheese.
Open: Dinner
Cloth
City of London - 44 Cloth Fair, London EC1A 7JQ
This City restaurant is in a historic part of town beside one of the very oldest buildings in the area. Inside, you'll find a classic bistro in a warren of rooms, serving up a regularly changing menu with their excellent croquettes, handmade pasta and sharing steak all being highlights.
Open: Dinner only
Manteca
Shoreditch - 49-51 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3PT
Fully settled down in its permanent Shoreditch home after a few years of site hopping, this British/Italian restaurant focuses on whole-animal butchery along with hand-rolled pasta. They even make their own cured meats and salamis in-house.
Open: Lunch and dinner
The Hero
Maida Vale - 55 Shirland Rd, London W9 2JD
This is the Maida Vale pub that's been taken over by the same team as The Pelican. On Mondays, they're serving up a menu in the pub only. Expect their own approach to classic pub grub, including scotch eggs or ham egg and chips alongside more elevated takes like a whole quail.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Lita
Marylebone - 7 Paddington St, London W1U 5QE
An immediate surprise hit, chef Luke Ahearne's cooking made Lita a very big deal, very quickly. Billed as a neighbourhood bistro, there's a focus on live-fire cooking and there are some truly exceptional small plates here. A busy place at the best of times, so if you have trouble getting a booking, Monday's a good bet.
Open: Dinner only
Roe
Canary Wharf - Five Park Drive, Wood Wharf, London E14 9GG
From the team behind Fallow, this sees them bringing their sustainably-focused cooking to Canary Wharf for a much bigger restaurant and with a completely new menu. The banana parfait is a must-have and when they start breakfasts soon, this will be the place for a decent start to the week in Canary Wharf.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Chishuru
Fitzrovia - 3 Great Titchfield St., London W1W 8AX
One of London's hottest new Michelin-starred restaurants, Adejoké Bakare's Chishuru has a modern West African menu that's absolutely worth seeking out and great for a Monday visit. It's a set menu affair, and a pretty affordable one for lunchtime too.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Josephine
Chelsea - 15 Fulham Road, London SW10 9QH
Claude Bosi's latest opening is a neighbourhood affair, so caters to locals by opening every day of the week. Expect an elevated take on a classic French bistro with a few Lyonnaise touches. And look out for their daily changing specials too.
Open: Lunch and dinner
The Devonshire
Soho - 17 Denman Street, London W1D 7HW
Both pub and restaurant are open at this hotter-than-hot pub and while bookings are notoriously hard to get, Monday might be a little easier. Ashley Palmer Watt's menu is focused around their huge wood-ember grill, and make sure to order the lamb chops.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Mangal II
Dalston - 4 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7XN
This Dalston restaurant has swiftly become a chef's favourite, so it's little surprise that it's open on a Monday, when more hospitality folk are off work and can actually visit. They bring the humble ocakbasi to new heights with an ever-changing menu and a great wine list.
Open: Dinner only
Ikoyi
Strand - 180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA
Now in its new home on The Strand, Ikoyi is a much larger affair and one of the few multi-Michelin-starred restaurants that's open on a Monday. So if you're a fan of Jeremy Chan's food and want to check out their new digs, Monday may be the day.
Open: Dinner only
Brat
Shoreditch - 4 Redchurch St, London E1 6JL
Chef Tomas Parry’s Shoreditch restaurant combines great food cooked over an open fire with a strong wine list from the Noble Rot team. Go big with a whole turbot or Galician steak or work your way through the superlative small plates.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Honey & Co
Bloomsbury - 54 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LW
"Come for the mezze, stay for the meatballs," they say. Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich's belovod Middle Eastern restaurant has firmly settled into its new home in Bloomsbury. It's the perfect spot to head to on a Monday night for their sharing menu so you don't have to fight over which of the mezze dishes to order, you get a bit of all of them.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Kiln
Soho - 58 Brewer St, London W1F 9TL
Sit up at the counter at this Soho spot for some of the best Thai food to be had in London. Using open-fire cooking, Kiln takes inspiration from the countries bordering Thailand so expect Burmese, Yunnanese and Laos spicing and flavours here too.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Koya
City, Soho, Hackney
Renowned for its homemade noodles, this udon bar now has three branches across the city all of which are excellent places to perch and polish off a bowl of udon using dashi made freshly on site. It’s also got quite the reputation for its breakfast bowls which are a great way to start the day.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Rochelle Canteen
Shoreditch - 16 Playground Gardens, London E2 7FA
Once you’ve actually found this hidden-away restaurant (hint, look for the buzzer by the door in the wall) you’ve found lunch nirvana on a Monday. Melanie Arnold and Margot Henderson’s ‘canteen’ is more of a gastronomy Mecca for foodies looking for superb seasonal produce cooked sympathetically.
Open: Lunch only
Also open
Cadet (Newington Green) - Top wine bar Cadet has started opening on Mondays, with a baked St Cera cheese on the menu alongside, of course, an excellent wine list.
St John (Smithfield) - Fergus Henderson’s world-renowned restaurant is a perfect place to hit up on a Monday whether you’re popping in for Eccles cake in the morning or going the whole nose-to-tail hog for dinner.
Sessions Arts Club (Clerkenwell) - If you're looking for a spectacular dining room to kick off the week, you won't do much better than the stripped-back beauty of Sessions Arts Club.
Fallow (St James) - Fallow runs big on sustainability, so everything is super seasonal and focuses mainly on British and Irish produce. They also do an extremely good breakfast.
The Tamil Prince (Islington) - Top South Asian cuisine in an Islington pub
Bubala (Soho and Spitalfields) - The Soho outpost of the Middle-Eastern-inspired vegetarian restaurant
Elliot's (Borough) - Neighbourhood restaurant with a focus on natural wine
Leroy (Shoreditch) - Michelin-starred wine bar and restaurant
Morito Hackney and Morito Exmouth Market) - Whether it's for a small or big occasion, both Moritos are offering up tapas and mezze all day long
Ombra (Hackney) - Top Italian food
Pizarro (Bermondsey) - Jose Pizarro's main Spanish restaurant
Smokestak (Shoreditch) - for BBQ and smoked meats action
Smoking Goat (Shoreditch) - Top Thai small plates
Trullo (Islington) - Sister restaurant to Padella and serving up some amazing Italian food
Sam's Riverside (Hammersmith) - For a meal that overlooks the Thames
For a special occasion
Whether it's for a birthday or another special occasion, these restaurants should fit the bill.
Murano
Mayfair - 20 Queen Street, London, W1J 5PR
This is the flagship Angela Hartnett restaurant (more upmarket than the Cafe Muranos which are also open on Monday), this Italian restaurant has recently had a big refurb. A perfect place to go for some of the most accomplished Italian food in the capital.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill
Mayfair - 11-15 Swallow St, London W1B 4DG
Chef Richard Corrigan’s piscine palace just off Piccadilly is renowned for its oyster platters and superb seafood. If you’re looking for a pint of Guinness (or glass of Champagne) and half a dozen native oysters, there’s no better place to go.
Open: Lunch and dinner
More about Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill
Cedric Grolet at The Berkeley
Knightsbridge - Wilton Pl, London SW1X 7RL
For sweet-toothed patisserie lovers, the perfect place to treat yourself on a Monday is this shiny new bakery and cafe from Parisian chef Cedric Grolet at The Berkeley in Knightsbridge. Pop in for a not-so-simple pain au chocolat or book for the full dessert tasting menu experience.
Open: Morning through to early supper
More about Cedric Grolet at The Berkeley
The Delaunay
Covent Garden - 55 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BB
This popular all-day spot on the Aldwych has just unveiled its new look Delaunay Counter serving up an Alpine menu of traditional treats like fondue and tarte flambées. It’s an easy place to pop in and graze if you’re out running errands or to stay longer and catch up with friends.
Open: All-day
The Guinea Grill
Mayfair - 30 Bruton Pl, London W1J 6NL
While you can always opt for a scotch egg and perfectly poured pint in the pub here, the real fun at this Mayfair spot comes with a full-blown lunch or dinner in the restaurant, where you can peruse the steaks before they head to the grill or opt for one of their superb traditional pies.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Gymkhana
Mayfair - 42 Albemarle St, London W1S 4JH
Even celebrities need somewhere to go on a Monday and if you’re an A-lister out on the town at the beginning of the week this Indian restaurant in Mayfair is the perfect celeb spot. Here, you can order the signature dish of kid goat methi keema and a pink gin while dodging the paparazzi.
Open: Lunch and diner
The River Cafe
Hammersmith - Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, London W6 9HA
This self-styled canteen down by the Thames under the auspices of Ruth Rogers sends out exquisite platefuls of amazing Italian food - at prices to match. A Monday meal here would be a strong start to any week.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Also open
Mount St Restaurant (Mayfair) - Dine on modern British cooking surrounded by real modern art
Bellamy's (Mayfair) - A favourite restaurant of the Royal family
Hunan (Pimlico) - For high-end Chinese cuisine
J Sheekey (Soho) - Perfect for seafood and for pre/post any Monday theatre visit
The Wolseley - The grand cafe on Piccadilly is open from very special Monday breakfasts through to dinner
For a big night out
Just because it's a Monday, you may still be up for a proper night out and any of the following will fit that bill nicely.
Arlington
Mayfair - 20 Arlington St, St. James's, London SW1A 1RJ
Given just how popular Jeremy King's Arlington (aka Le Caprice 2.0) is, a Monday biking may be the best way to get a table at this restaurant. Last-minute bar counter bookings are your best bet. Perch up there with an ice-cold martini and you can be sure of an old-school Mayfair scene at this hotspot.
Open: All-day
Balans
Soho - 34 Old Compton St, London W1D 4TS
There are two Balans on Old Compton Street, and while the one at No 60 is bigger and buzzier, it’s the original site on the corner of Old Compton and Frith Street that you want on a Monday, when it’s open until the early hours of the next morning. Join the Soho regulars and hospitality workers who pile in here to enjoy the all-day brunch option.
Open: All-day
Chotto Matte
Soho - 11, 13 Frith St, London W1D 4RB
This vibey Soho restaurant serves up a fun mix of strong cocktails alongside its Nikkei cuisine - a mixture of Peruvian and Japanese influences. Enjoy sushi alongside ceviche before working your way through the robata grill options.
Open: Lunch & dinner
Paradise
Soho - 61 Rupert St, London W1D 7PW
Enjoy the favours of Sri Lanka at this minimalist London restaurant, inspired by owner Dom Fernando’s family roots in Colombo. There’s a particularly interesting wine list along with cocktails like jackfruit bellinis and the whey-brined Leicestershire paneer is unmissable.
Open: Dinner only
Noble Rot
Soho/Bloomsbury/Mayfair
Whether you’re visiting the Soho, Bloomsbury or the new Mayfair location, Mondays at Noble Rot are always going to be a good idea. Peruse one of the best wine lists in London while enjoying the slip soles or perfectly wobbly panna cotta. The set lunch is a great deal too.
Open: Both open lunch and dinner
The Plimsoll
Finsbury Park - 52 St Thomas’s Road, London N4 2QW
Securing a table at this white-hot popular North London pub is always hard, but Monday might just be the best option. Hit up their Instagram account to find out what’s on the regularly changing menu, but the cheeseburger is always a win.
Open: Dinner only
Porte Noire
King's Cross - Gasholder 10, unit A, London N1C 4BY
Co-owned by Idris Elba, this King’s Cross wine bar has been a hit from day one. Better book ahead, as it’s super popular with locals wanting to pop in for a glass of the bar’s own-label Champagne and amazing charcuterie platters.
Open: Afternoon and dinner only
107 Wine Shop and Bar
Clapton - 107 Lower Clapton Rd, Lower Clapton, London E5 0NP
Formerly P Franco, the space was rescued by GM William Gee and relaunched as 107, but it essentially remains P Franco in a slightly different guise. Monday is one of the quieter times to see what wonders their resident chef is cooking up on the hobs at the back while working through the wine recommendations of Gee.
Open: Lunch and Dinner
Looking for something wallet-friendly
For great food and great value all at once, you can't beat these restaurants.
Padella
Borough, Shoreditch
Factor in virtual queueing time to this perennially popular Borough Market pasta spot. You can hardly blame everyone for wanting to eat here when the prices for top-quality Italian food are this good.
Open: Lunch & dinner
Dumplings Legend
Chinatown - 15-16 Gerrard Street, London W1D 6JE
A Chinatown standout, as the name suggests the dumplings are the things to come for, we suggest their xiao long bao and crispy belly pork. Service is brisk, the prices keen and the food is always excellent.
Open: Lunch & dinner
Joe Allen
Covent Garden - 15-16 Gerrard Street, London W1D 6JE
This long-running Covent Garden restaurant (now in its second location) has a brasserie menu that's surprisingly good value for the area - and there's a chance you'll see the odd celeb here too. Make sure you order their excellent burger (it's not listed on the menu - you have to be in the know).
Open: Dinner only
Market Halls
Oxford Street/ Victoria/ Canary Wharf
Market Halls have two central London food hall locations, by Victoria Station and just off Oxford Street. Both are fun, buzzy places where you can try dishes from a range of interesting vendors and they have outside space too if you’re craving alfresco time. The dosas and dhal from Gopals and rainbow dumplings by Baozilnn are both must-haves.
Open: Lunch & dinner
Roti King
Euston / Battersea
One of London’s great cheap eats, this classic Euston spot serves up the best Malaysian food bar none at great prices. The roti canai are to die for and, coincidentally, a great reviver if you had a full-on Sunday. The newer restaurant in Battersea is also open on Mondays.
Open: Lunch & dinner
Seven Dials Market
Covent Garden - 35 Earlham St, London WC2H 9LD
Run by the KERB market team, this indoor food hall has a rotating offering of food and drink vendors, perfect for an indecisive group Current highlights include BBQ treats by From The Ashes, Filipino food from Bong Bong’s and the freshest doughnuts by Longboys.
Open: Lunch & dinner
Tried and trusted
These are small restaurant groups where you always know you'll get a good meal whatever branch you head to.
BAO
Soho - 53 Lexington St, Carnaby, London W1F 9AS
The OG Bao is a good one to hit up on Monday for a Taiwanese steamed bun or three, not least because, along with their Shoreditch noodle outpost, it’s actually open. They’re particularly welcoming of solo diners so take the time to enjoy your meal here and end with a fried Horlicks bao for dessert.
Open: Lunch and dinner
Dishoom
Kensington, Covent Garden, Shoreditch, King’s Cross, Carnaby
This Indian street food spot is a massive hit most of the time, so try Mondays for the best day to grab a table. All the London restaurants are open for their legendary bacon naan, small plates and house black daal.
Open: Lunch & Dinner
Flat Iron
Covent Garden, Tottenham Crt Road, Marylebone, Spitalfields, King’s Cross, Soho, Shoreditch, London Bridge, Borough
All the Flat Irons are open on a Monday, so if you’re after a steak restaurant but are minding your budget, then head here. As well as the titular flat iron steaks, you’ll find more cuts, their special burger and more. Many have a site-specific special, so watch out for those too.
Open: All Lunch & Dinner
Hawksmoor
Air Street, Borough, Guildhall, Knightsbridge, Spitalfields, Canary Wharf, Seven Dials
If you’re looking for a Monday steak dinner that’s a little more of a treat, then a trip to Hawksmoor is definitely something to consider. Start with an excellent cocktail in their bars before going all-in on steak (but note that their seafood options are on-point as well).
Open: All open for dinner, Seven Dials open for lunch too
Tonkotsu
Various locations across London
If you’re looking for proper ramen on a Monday, then Tonkotsu is the place for you. All the London locations are open all day and they also serve some of the best chicken kara-age in town (not to mention amazing dumplings.
Open: All Lunch & Dinner
Also open
Gunpowder (Soho, Spitalfields, Tower Bridge) - The excellent Indian small plates restaurants
Sam's Riverside (Hammersmith) - Sam Harrison's Thames-side cafe
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