London Restaurants - North London

115 Hemingford Rd, London, N1 1BZ

The Tamil Prince is a pub in Islington's Barnsbury area that has a big focus on South Asian cuisine. It's named after the chef, Prince Durairaj and the cooking has specific references to the cuisine of his home state of Tamil Nadu

84-86 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4Q

Morchella comes from the same team behind Perilla in Stoke Newington, but this is quite a different beast. Taking Mediterranean influences as its starting point, it's a laid-back affair in a bright dining room just off Exmouth Market. Expect small to medium sharing plates, a strong European wine list and there's also a separate bar too.

119 Essex Rd, London N1 2SN

After success in Crouch End, Sourdough Sophia's second bakery is in Islington and it's a much bigger affair than before. As well as various loaves of sourdough, you can buy pastries, cakes, amazing cereal milk cookies, sandwiches and more. There's a big space for eating-in here, as well as a large outdoor terrace for when the sun is shining.

406 St John Street, London EC1V 4ND

This Islington shop, deli and bar comes from Gregg Boyd, the man behind Scottish food stall Auld Hag. At his permanent home in Angel, he's serving up filled Glasgow morning rolls baked in-house as well as things like macaroni pies, tattie scones, cakes and more. Get in early if you want to make the most of the baked goods, and it's also a very handy spot for an early-evening drink in Angel too.

163 Upper St, London N1 1US

Named after the Vietnamese word for ‘Cheers!’ this casual spot features a menu that takes in most of the classic dishes you’d expect to find in any good Vietnamese restaurant from summer rolls to noodle rolls. They also make a big deal of their regularly changing seasonal specials.

106 Islington High St, London N1 8EG

Run by the same family since the Sixties, this longstanding Islington institution is a tardis-like space that stretches from its Camden Passage facade back to a bright conservatory restaurant and gorgeous gardens. Food is modern European that’ll please most people, making this a great family restaurant.

176 Upper St, London N1 1RG

Sharing plates are the heart of this independent Peruvian restaurant on Upper Street. Expect to find everything from ceviche and anticuchos to tiradito on the menu, along with some punchy cocktails.

189 Upper St, London N1 1RQ

London’s pizza obsessives know that a pizzeria run by Neapolitans is a good sign that the pizza is going to be great. And so it proves at this restaurant, a follow-up to the group’s central and west locations. A traditional pizzeria with an oven imported from Italy to make sure the pizza is as authentic as possible.

16 Elia St, London N1 8DE

This is the second Islington Indian pub from the team that scored such a huge hit with The Tamil Prince. As with its sibling pub, you’ll find Indian and Tamil bar snacks and sharing plates. The Sunday roast with an Indian twist is a particular draw.

108 Essex Rd, London N1 8LX

If you’re pining for a chicken fillet roll, or want to try the viral Irish takeaway spice bag then Homeboy’s Islington bar is the place to come. Match the home cooked food with an Irish-inspired cocktails at this lively speakeasy.

88 Upper Street, London N1 0NP

Hainan House, previously known for pop-ups and supperclubs, has now settled in Islington. Founded by Sunny Wu, the restaurant showcases Southern Chinese cuisine with influences from Qiong, Canton, Hakka, and Min regions. The menu, crafted with head chef Irene Hua, offers dishes like steamed aubergine and tiger skin quail's eggs, making it a unique addition to Upper Street.

Arch S12 Water Lane, Hawley Wharf, London NW1 8JY

Chef Paul Foster, of Michelin-starred Salt in Stratford-Upon-Avon, is behind Grassfed in Camden's Hawley Wharf, focusing on grass-fed beef cooked over coals. Menu highlights include a beef hotdog with truffle mayo, a shareable beef rib, and BBQ dayboat fish. Foster aims to promote quality British-sourced meat and raise awareness about regenerative farming.

11 Highbury Park, London N5 1QJ

Saltine is a neighbourhood restaurant in Highbury that comes from Fink's founders Mat Appleton and Jess Blackstone. Inside a somewhat tardis-like space that opens up at the back to a glass-roofed dining room it has coffee, pastries, and grab-and-go dishes during the day, while the evening menu is "led by provenance, joyful cooking and sustainability".

Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, King’s Cross, London N1C 4AB

Barrafina are considered as being some of the best Spanish restaurants in London and this Kings Cross outpost is no exception, with a particular focus on Catalan cooking. It's primarily counter dining, but they also have a stunning alfresco-only grill restaurant, Parrillan.

Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, London N1C 4AB

Casa Pastor serves up Mexican classics like slow-cooked pork tacos and tuna tostadas with the outside heated area Plaza Pastor sharing a similar menu, potent cocktails and featuring live music and DJs at the weekend. It’s an excellent party spot in the centre of Coal Drops Yard.

208 Stoke Newington High St, London N16 7HU

After originally starting life as a taco shack in Netil Market, Sonora Taqueria have a permanent home in Stoke Newington. Here, you can find some of London's very best tacos, with things kicking off at breakfast (and with breakfast burritos too, of course). A must-visit if you consider yourself a connoisseur of tacos.

176 Blackstock Rd, London N5 1HA

Giacco's comes from a team with a strong background in hospitality and wine and this is their Italian-accented wine bar in Highbury. Expect Italian charcuterie, fresh pasta, their own small-batch gelato and a focus on Italian wines.

Unit 4, Sonny Heights, Swains Lane, London N6 6AG

Previously best known for their canal-based restaurants, this sees London Shell Co open their first land-based restaurant and fishmonger. So either pick up some seafood for your own kitchen or simply grab a table and order some of the specials, along with a well-chosen wine list.

256 Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2EN

The Parakeet is a pub run by the people behind Camden's Blues Kitchen, having taken over what was The Oxford pub. It remains part pub, part restaurant with the latter run by chef Ben Allen. The menu changes regularly and there's an emphasis on cooking over fire.

Unit 114 Lower, Stable St, London N1C 4DR

If you value a menu that cuts straight to the chase, this no-nonsense Japanese canteen is the place serving up three varieties of curry and rice and nothing else.

120 Cromer St, London WC1H 8BS

Located inside the YMCA yoga centre, Thenga Café is quirky and inviting, offering a purely vegan menu with European and Indian influences due to the chef's travels and Bengali heritage. The daily set meals are one of London's most affordable eats.

1 York Way, London N1C 4AS

Very much doing exactly what it promises, Beer & Burger Store combines a huge range of craft beers with smashed-patty burgers that are among the best in London. Be sure to get some dipping gravy for your burgers too.

279 Grays Inn Rd, London WC1X 8QF

They describe themselves as a "rustic French bakery" selling some of the very best French loaves in the King's Cross area. Also, it’s ideal if you need an impressive cake to mark a special occasion and we are addicted to their Croque Monsieur.

Unit 3, 10 Jamestown Rd, London NW1 7BY

Kosovan-born Nazmi Dervishaj is behind this popular Mediterranean bar and cafe which serves up a winning menu of Mediterranean-led dishes. Their weekend brunch is a big hit and cocktails are also worth a try - the list has both vegan and non-alcoholic options available, which is a nice inclusive touch.

12 Fortess Rd, London NW5 2EU

This cosy little restaurant with pared-back interiors serves traditional Ethiopian food. The Queen of Sheba's speciality is stewed meat dishes and injera, spongy Ethiopian flatbread, as well as the traditional coffee ritual, where it's served slowly and heartily strong.

85 Willes Rd, London NW5 3DN

Dishing up traditional Vietnamese food in an intimate and simple restaurant, Pho Ta's menu includes the likes of bun cha, pork belly in a meaty broth, along with summer rolls and meat grilled over charcoal. It doesn't serve alcohol but runs a bring-your-own option.

135 Fortess Rd, London NW5 2HR

As the name suggests, the restaurant is a meeting of east and west, in a relaxed neighbourhood restaurant near Tufnell Park. But more specifically, the menu focuses on bringing together the owner's two favourite cuisines: Indian and Italian. Think masala margarita pizza, butter chicken arancini and saag paneer truffle tagliatelle.

52a Prince of Wales Rd, London NW5 3LN

The Fields Beneath cafe is about three things, coffee, wine and food and it focuses on doing them all really well. The food offering has been vegan since 2018, and it's as local and seasonal as possible, the wine is natural and there's always a single-origin coffee on filter.

343 Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2TJ

Two brothers run Babuji, which is named after their father who loved Bengali, Mumbai and Pakistan street food. The menu is a homage to the street food of countries across South Asia, from the likes of aloo tikki chaat to Bengali prawn curry.

91 Kentish Town Rd, London NW1 8NY

A Filipino concept from the Maginhawa group, this one is based on street ice cream sellers who help people keep cool in the humidity of the Philippines. They're always brightly coloured and popular flavours include ube, a purple yam. Think pandesal ice cream sandwiches and shaved ice drinks with layers of sweet toppings.