How To Be a Foodie in London

Since opening two years ago, The Barbary has remained one of the best, and most popular, restaurants in London. Hungry diners patiently wait each night for one of the 24 bar seats to sample the delicious Barbary Coast-inspired small plates. The seasonal menu is always full of unique and memorable flavour combinations and you’ll want to try everything. If you can’t face the wait at dinner (although, trust us, it’s worth it), The Barbary now takes bookings for lunch.

If you’re looking to experience a genuine London institution, this is it. This family-run cafe has been serving up fry-ups and cups of strong ‘builder’s’ tea to its loyal East London clientele since 1900. Step behind the steamy windows and you’ll be transported back in time: the wood panelling and Art Deco interior is so spectacular that it has been awarded Grade II-listed status. The food is cheap, cheerful and comforting, the staff are welcoming and whenever you go it’s always busy, so expect to share a table and have a natter with your neighbours.

If you’re looking for a truly picturesque dining spot, you won’t find anywhere prettier than Petersham Nurseries in genteel Richmond upon Thames. The tea room, perfect for a spot of afternoon tea and cake, and the café are nestled within the verdant splendour of the nursery and glasshouse, so you can eat surrounded by sweet-smelling jasmine, luscious foliage and antique furniture. If you feel inspired to bring some greenery home, pay a visit to the shop to pick up tasteful homeware, gardening tools, plants and flowers.

After being derelict for 15 years, the Edwardian ticket hall at Fulham Broadway station has been transformed into a foodie must-see. The details of the original 1880 station have been preserved and now it’s home to nine food traders, a deli and a coffee shop. There is also a bar that serves British craft beers and spirits from the station’s old ticket booths. The food on offer is from some of London’s finest independent eateries including Butchies fried chicken, Yard Sale stone-baked pizza, Hot Box barbecue and Fanny’s kebabs. This is the excuse to try all of them in one evening.

This legendary Soho delicatessen has been selling authentic Italian delights on the same corner of Berwick Street since 1944. The area might have changed, and the deli itself had a makeover, but it still sells some of the finest freshly-made pasta in town. The pastel-green and white walls are piled high with panettones, biscuits and dried pasta, and the deli counter is stuffed full of imported charcuterie, cheeses and antipasti. Stock up on tasty bites and sandwiches for a picnic – or if you want something warm, they’ve recently opened a pasta restaurant nearby on Greek Street.

Forget fighting through the weekend crowds at Borough Market. Instead, stroll over to Maltby Street arches in Bermondsey, where you’ll find some of the tastiest street food in town, all packed into a buzzy little passage under the railway line. Whatever you fancy to eat, you’ll find it here. Once you’re done munching your way through the street food stalls, head over to the Little Bird Gin arch and settle in for an afternoon of cocktails, people-watching and digesting.

Treat yourself to a stay at a foodie hotel like the Waldorf Hilton. Its restaurant, Homage, is perfect for elegant, grand-salon dining and is famous for the British institution of afternoon tea, served Tuesday to Friday at 1.30pm and Saturday to Monday at 1pm. Alongside its food and drink credentials, the renowned Waldorf Hilton offers good-value grandeur in an enviable location. Set on The Strand, the hotel has Theatreland and Covent Garden (home of The Barbary) just up the road, and the rest of London’s biggest sights are within a one-mile radius. Considering this location, the Waldorf Hilton is great value, but if you’re looking for another well-located mid-range hotel, try The Tower, a Guoman Hotel, or, for central London on a budget, the Royal National.