Must-see restaurants in Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

  • Clove Club

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    From humble origins as a supper club in a London flat, the Clove Club has transformed into this impressive Michelin-starred restaurant, named one of the…

  • The discreet entrance to Hawksmoor, famed for its high quality steaks

    Hawksmoor Spitalfields

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    You could easily miss Hawksmoor, discreetly signed and clad in black brick, but dedicated carnivores will find it worth seeking out. The dark wood and…

  • Smoking Goat

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Trotting in on one of London's fleeting flavours of the week, Smoking Goat's modern Thai menu is top notch. The industrial-chic look of exposed brick,…

  • Cub

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    It's no surprise that the brains behind Cub's ‘cocktail-led tasting menu' is Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, who's won more bartending awards than we…

  • Breddos Tacos

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Started in an East London car park in 2011, Breddos found its first permanent home in Clerkenwell, dishing out some of London's best Mexican grub. Grab…

  • Yuu Kitchen

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Manga images pout on the walls and birdcages dangle from the ceiling at this fun, relaxed place. Dishes are either bite-sized or designed to be shared,…

  • St John

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Around the corner from London's last remaining meat market, St John is the standard-bearer for nose-to-tail cuisine. With whitewashed brick walls, high…

  • The exterior of the Gate in Clerkenwell, one of the best vegetarian restaurants in London

    The Gate

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    The Gate can probably take a lot of credit for elevating vegetarian cuisine from uninspiring side dishes to starring in its own culinary right. Blending…

  • Dans Le Noir

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    The dining room is set up as normal at Dans Le Noir, but there’s one huge difference: you can’t see it. Pick your menu in the still-lit lobby (red for…

  • Som Saa

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    So beloved is Som Saa that it successfully crowdfunded £700,000 to open its first permanent restaurant in this old fabric warehouse. The menu has expanded…

  • Outside Polpo, a rustic Italian restaurant on Cowcross Street

    Polpo

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    London's take on a Venetian bacàri (small bar), Polpo dishes out sharing plates of pasta, meat and pizzette (petite pizzas), with excellent options for…

  • The outside of Look Mum No Hands!

    Look Mum No Hands!

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Cyclists and noncyclists alike adore this cafe-workshop, set in a light-filled space looking out onto Old St. Toasties and burgers are the savoury staples…

  • The exterior of By the Bridge

    By the Bridge

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    This artsy cafe with windows overlooking Regent’s Canal is a great spot for a coffee (the chai lattes are excellent) and a quick bite to eat. It’s easy to…

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    Cereal Killer Cafe

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    The first cereal-themed cafe in the country perfectly symbolises the hipster spirit – and gentrification, some might say – of its Shoreditch location…

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    Aladin

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Brick Lane in East London is world-famous for its abundance of curry houses, and Aladin is arguably the best of the lot. It serves dishes from India,…

  • Dinerama

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Featuring a buffet of street food stalls, graffiti-covered Dinerama is one of the best places in Shoreditch to find outdoor eats. Seating is communal and…

  • Galvin La Chapelle

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    For lashings of la-di-da with an extra serve of ooh la la, you can't beat the incredibly grand surrounds of this soaring Victorian hall, inhabited by bow…

  • Poppie's

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    This glorious recreation of a 1950s East End chippy comes complete with wait-staff in pinnies and hairnets, and Blitz memorabilia. As well as the usual…

  • Gunpowder

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    As you walk into this tiny Indian place, it's the smell that hits you: the delicious tang of spices and incense. The punchy food is inspired by family…

  • Ozone Coffee Roasters

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    During the day this Kiwi-run cafe is full of artsy types hunched over their computers and new-media mavens appropriating booth seats for impromptu…

  • Galvin HOP

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    It may be the little sister of glamorous Galvin La Chapelle next door, but this 'pub deluxe', as it styles itself, is all about giving traditional pub…

  • Modern Pantry

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    This three-floor Georgian town house in the heart of Clerkenwell has a cracking all-day menu that is almost as pleasurable to read as it is to eat from…

  • Morito

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    This diminutive eatery is a wonderfully authentic take on a Spanish tapas bar and has excellent eats. Seats are at the bar, along the window, or on one of…

  • Green Papaya

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Green Papaya has stiff competition along Hoxton's 'Pho Mile', but if you can't decide where to stop, this spot offers the best of two worlds: both belly…

  • Eagle

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    London’s first gastropub may have seen its original owners move on, but it’s still a great place for a bite and a pint, especially at lunchtimes when it’s…

  • MEATmission

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Worship at this temple to the burger gods, somewhat sacrilegiously set in the former Hoxton Market Christian Mission and complete with stained-glass…

  • Andina

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Cheerful Andina sits on the corner of trendy Redchurch St and serves high-quality Peruvian street food. The lively restaurant, set over two floors, is a…

  • Princess of Shoreditch

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    The handsome pub downstairs is a buzzy place for a drink, but swirl up the tight spiral staircase and an entirely different Princess presents itself…

  • Beigel Bake

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    This relic of the Jewish East End still does a brisk trade serving dirt-cheap home-made bagels (stuffed with smoked salmon and cream cheese, salt beef and…

  • Panzo

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Never has pizza looked more mouth-watering than at Panzo's: oblong-shaped, loaded with toppings and enjoyed in a dining room bathed in the pink hues of…

  • Prufrock Coffee

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Not content with being one of the kings of London's coffee-bean scene (it offers barista training and workshops in 'latte art'), Prufrock also dishes up…

  • Caravan

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Perfect for a sunny day when its sides are opened onto bustling Exmouth Market, this place is a relaxed affair, offering all-day dining and drinking. The…

  • Moro

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    The Moorish cuisine on offer at this Exmouth Market institution straddles the Strait of Gibraltar, with influences from Spain, Portugal and North Africa –…

  • Boiler House Food Hall

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    More than 50 plant-based food stalls and ethical retail brands pitch up in the Old Truman Brewery's high-ceilinged boiler room at the weekend. Munch on…

  • Albion

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Those pining for dear Old Blighty's cuisine, sans grease and stodge, should earmark a visit to this self-consciously retro 'caff' for top-quality bangers…

  • Rosa’s

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Simply kitted out with low benches and stools, red-fronted Rosa's serves tasty Thai food and surprisingly good coffee (courtesy of Monmouth roasters). Go…

  • St John Bread & Wine

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    Offers nose-to-tail traditional British fare (potted pork, devilled kidneys, meaty pies) in a simple, clean and bright space. It also has an excellent…

  • Sông Quê

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    A pillar of Kingsland Rd's 'Pho Mile', this no-frills, hospital-green Vietnamese joint has been feeding hungry local Vietnamese families and visitors from…

  • Viet Grill

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    One of the more upmarket options along Kingsland Road, Viet Grill is a low-lit, modern restaurant set over two floors with a buzzy atmosphere and colonial…

  • Wright Brothers

    Clerkenwell, Shoreditch & Spitalfields

    For the Wright Brothers, the oyster is their world: they operate the Duchy of Cornwall oyster farm on Prince Charles' estate. This chic dining bar serves…