London’s Best of 2019, Now on the Resy Hit List

Because in a year of outstanding openings, this sleek bar-cum-kitchen counter in Shoreditch still shines the brightest. From an internet-breaking Iberico katsu sandwich that lives up to the hype, award-winning cocktails and one of the most mind-blowingly delicious tasting menus in town, Tayēr + Elementary has it all — and somehow continues to get better. 

Because this cosy sibling to the legendary Quality Chop House still delivers one of the best hangs around. A restaurant industry favourite, this wine bar is the best double act in town: somm Gus Gluck pours the vino, while chef Nick Bramham conjures magic from a tiny kitchen. Order whatever the duo advise (food is wine-adjacent — fresh pastas and a plate of Iberico ham essential,  and a pig fat cannolo is one of the best desserts in London), sit back, and watch the time melt away. 

Walk-ins only.

Because 10 Heddon Street was the year’s sleeper hit, and its new space in Soho is even better. Having moved location and renamed itself, Chris Leach and David Carter’s restaurant is proof that doing a few things very, very well can keep a dining room full. The silky mortadella and ‘nduja mussels are a must, and Leach’s signature hand-rolled pasta dishes are up there with the best in the city. 

Because in a dining scene strewn with concepts and ideas, this unabashedly kitsch Italian promised just one thing: a shedload of fun. Gloriously OTT, nothing about Gloria — from gleefully tongue-in-cheek cocktails and lavish decor to an irrepressible party vibe — was subtle, but it was this year’s go-to spot for a big night on the town. Cacio e pepe and a slice of lemon pie are guaranteed to put a smile on your face, every time. 

Walk-ins only. 

Because this temple to sustainable dining turned out to be just as good as everyone had hoped. Aside from providing a zero-waste blueprint for others to follow, the food at Doug McMaster’s Hackney Wick restaurant is stellar, the cocktails are innovative (via Copenhagen’s ultra-trendy Empirical), and the room is chic. Plump for the tasting menu to sample a little of everything (like the charred red artichokes with Stichelton), with a drinks pairing — naturally. 

Because 2019 was the year Shaanxi-style Chinese cooking broke into the mainstream, and much of it was down to chef Wei Guirong’s mastery. Wei is a rarity in the Chinese restaurant world — a female head chef — whose dazzling Xi’an-style hand-pulled noodles, punchy chilli and cumin-laced dishes, and delicate smacked cucumbers rocked Londoners’ worlds, and quickly became a go-to for those in the know.

For reservations, contact the restaurant at 020 7209 6888. 

Because it was the place to be seen propping up the bar with a glass of skin-contact wine this year. The long-awaited second site from the team behind Lyles, this wine bar-slash-bakery has fresh, peerless pastries and coffee in the morning, small plates for grazing during the day, and a thrilling atmosphere in the evenings. The clam flatbread and scarlet prawns are excellent, but the cod brandade is the one to get. 

For reservations, contact the restaurant at 020 3319 8144. 

Because the justified hype around this modern Middle Eastern restaurant was that it was plain excellent, and just happened to be vegetarian. This coolly casual Shoreditch spot is packed throughout the week with locals who arrive for humble ingredients transformed by chef Helen Graham’s deft touch; confit potato latkes are a must-order, while the labour-intensive chickpea ful with lovage pesto is a revelation. 

Because it’s the best seafood you can get in London right now. This Chelsea fish shop transforms into a grower champagne and seafood bar evening, with acclaimed chef Leo Carreira creating truly stunning dishes from outstanding produce. The dressed crab with savoury waffle is a fast classic, and desserts are also sublime. 

Because it turns out that natural wines and skewers are a winning combo, and one mastered at Peg in Hackney. Opened by the same team behind critical darling P. Franco, Peg’s stripped-down menu of yakitori, Japanese-inspired small plates and quaffable wines make it a quintessential East London hang, while regular collaborations with up-and-coming chefs keep things interesting. 

For reservations, contact the restaurant at 020 3441 8765.