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London’s culinary reputation has taken a turn for the better in recent years. Long thought of as a place that served bland and stodgy fare, the capital is now home to some of the most diverse and high-quality eateries in Europe. According to the Zagat Survey 2005, London is one of the top four cities in the world in which to eat out.

There are plenty of Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurants to choose from, but the city caters for all price brackets and palates. From African to Afghan and Polish to Peruvian, every type of cuisine is represented. New restaurants and bars spring up constantly as the capital picks up then drops the latest trends. In recent years canteen-style noodle bars, Thai cafes, Turkish grills and Spanish tapas bars cropped up, only to be replaced by authentic burger joints, hummus and even risotto restaurants.

There has also been a much-heralded revival in British food and local produce. The Good Food Guide 2006 identified this growth in modern British cooking and a trend for restaurants to credit their producers, suppliers and breeds of animal – so you’ll often see labels such as ’local’, ’seasonal’, ’well-sourced’ and ’organic’. Perhaps the most commmon British cooking practice, both in the home and at restaurants, remains the traditional Sunday roast. A joint of beef, lamb, pork or chicken is roasted, accompanied by potatoes (also roasted), assorted vegetables, gravy and a yorkshire pudding, and is a firm Sunday fixture on most pub menus, where it’s often washed down with a pint of beer. The other traditional British staple, fish & chips, is still sold, wrapped in newspaper, from ’chippies’ across town. At the other end of the scale, the more delicate afternoon tea remains a popular, if quintessentially English, tradition at upmarket hotels such as The Ritz.

Chinese food in London has been a constant over the years. Although the quality of restaurant and ingredients can vary greatly, Chinatown remains one of the most popular places to head for a late-night bite in central London. And no Londoner should have difficulty finding an English curry house; Brick Lane in the East End and Southall to the west have some of the best in the UK.



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The city’s independent stores and markets are a food lovers’ haven. Borough Market (p.368) attracts hordes of foodies for seeking its range of fresh meats, fish, bread and cheeses. There are also plenty of specialist stores, including Chinese supermarkets, Italian delicatessens, and French patisseries, not forgetting the upmarket Fortnum & Mason department store (p.356) and the foodhalls at...