As a Londoner of 3 years, I've been to a few cool places where you can get some food. The UK is not known for its food, but London does have some great options from around the world and fun concepts. Here are 7 of them...
1. Pick and Cheese
This one was recommended by a friend, and I'm so glad I tried it. I went to Pick & Cheese in Covent Garden, during their bottomless plates special! They have a turning belt bar and you can just pick the plates you want, just like with sushi. They have different types of events and specials, so check out their website to make sure you book on the right day. The one I went to allowed us to pick as many plates for 1 hour and 15 minutes, which was more than enough. Oh and if I didn't mention it, this is only cheese plates, so make sure you're not lactose free.
2. Gloria
Two words, Big Mama! If you don't know then, they are a family-owned group of Italian restaurants. Gloria is one of their 4 restaurants in London. You do have to book a month in advance. They open their slots early morning so if you want to go make sure you wake up early! To sum up, they have great very kitsch decor, amazing truffle pasta, and drinks in special glasses.
3. Padella
Padella is another great Italian restaurant, with a bit of a different concept. They offer small plates for very affordable prices. I went with two friends and we took at least 3 plates each. The pastas are homemade, and you can taste the difference. They have 2 locations, one in Shoreditch, and the other in Borough Market. They can get pretty busy, as most good restaurants in London. They have a virtual queue that you can join by scanning the QR code once at the restaurant. So come early, scan the code, and take a walk around the neighborhood while you wait.
4. Hijingo Bingo
Hijingo Bingo is a Korean animated restaurant. They have a club neon decorated style and run a Bingo game with lots of fun prizes to win. Go if you are ready to go on stage, as they offer a hands-on Bingo game.
5. Old Spitalfields Market
There are a lot of food markets in London, and Spitalfields is probably one of the best ones (in my opinion). It does get crowded, so if you are an agoraphobe, avoid going on the weekends. They have a great variety of gourmet street food to choose from. The dumplings and shrimps are quite good, but I haven't tried all of the foods yet.
6. Camden Market
You might have heard of this one, the Camden Market is well known for its food stands and small shops. They have good options if you choose well, and you can find a spot along the canals to eat with a view. I recommend the food stands that are on the side of the canal (like on the below picture).
7. Mercato Mayfair
This one was a first for me, Mercato Mayfair is a food hall in an old church. You can find pasta, pizza, cocktails, and wine.
8. Cahoots London
Cahoots is a 1940s-themed bar located in the heart of Soho. Set in a train station, this speakeasy serves great cocktails and snacks, you'll feel like you are going back in time. It's a small space and gets booked very quickly so make sure you make a reservation.
Hope you enjoy this selections!
Stay tuned for more :)