The Resy Guide to The Best Restaurants in Kings Cross

Peerless Spanish tapas has been Barrafina’s M.O since the original opened in Soho, and their Kings Cross bar and restaurant in Coal Drops Yard offers the casual glamour, exceptional produce, and convivial dining experience one expects. Peep the restaurant’s daily-changing specials board to see what’s on offer, and perch at the bar with a glass of cava and what’s still one of the most spellbinding restaurant experiences you can have in town. See also: a beautifully lit private dining room, perfect for celebrations.

Set inside the futuristic Coal Drops Yard, this sleek wine bar and restaurant makes for a superb spot to post up for a few rounds of drinks and some sharing plates, or a full-blown tasting of chef Pip Lacey’s well-travelled cooking; brunch and natural wines are strengths, and a huge outdoor deck makes it perfect for lazing around on a sunny day.

Aussie chef Bill Granger’s most famous dishes — smashed avo, ricotta hotcakes, corn fritters — changed brunch forever, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find much better anywhere in town. His London cafes are as good as their counterparts in Sydney, with buzzing, bright dining rooms, fresh brunch dishes, salads, bowls and Asian-inflected dishes. Cocktails are excellent, and you’ll want to split an order of the hotcakes. The Kings Cross restaurant can be found a (very) short stroll from the main station, with a pretty patio for al fresco diningand drinks.

Perfectly situated to catch the afternoon and evening light, this Spanish grill (from the Quo Vadis team) is an al fresco dream. Graze on exquisite vegetables, meat, and seafood, cooked on bespoke DIY barbecue kits, plus tapas and larger plates if you’re still peckish. Afterwards, sit back and enjoy one of the most serene terraces in town, with a G&T or glass of cava in hand.

This relaxed wine bar and restaurant in Coal Drops Yard is an excellent spot for gathering around vintage sherry casks to dive into a thoughtfully chosen wine list favouring young producers from traditional regions, and esoteric bottles from every corner of the globe. Food-wise, there’s excellent cheese, charcuterie, and freshly shucked oysters to snack on, while its location in a cobbled arch provides ample atmosphere and plenty of cover from the elements.

Perfect for groups and impromptu hangs over crisp croquetas, silken plates of jamon and Spanish-style G&Ts, Camino’s original site in Kings Cross covers almost every conceivable base. You wouldn’t guess it from the outside, but this classic Spanish restaurant is huge; there’s a spacious booth-lined dining room for groups, an outdoor terrace for warm days, and a couple of intimate bars for cold cervezas and relaxed dates — perfect for pretending you’re lounging around in L’Eixample.

Along with its sibling El Pastor in Borough Market, this upbeat, casual Mexican eatery has upped London’s taco game. Its signature hand-pressed corn tortillas are paired with classic toppings like battered fish and pork al pastor, zingy salsas, ceviches, and larger sharing plates. Its cocktail game is strong, with an excellent mezcal lineup, and a huge heated outdoor space for get-togethers with friends.

The original Sushi on Jones in NYC drew lines for high quality omakase tastings at a reasonable price, and their Kings Cross restaurant offers the same excellence and value for money. A focus on nigiri and maki allows for quality seasonal additions like Hokkaido and Santa Barbara uni, as well as A5 wagyu; a tucked-away spot by the canal and an tiny eight-seat counter makes it ideal for a pleasurable (if speedy) lunch or dinner before seeing a show.

Fried chicken, strong drinks and a blistering soundtrack form the holy trinity of a great night. Few understand this better than Coqfighter, who, have made a name for themselves with superior twice-fried chicken sandwiches and ethereally crisp Korean-style wings infused with vodka. Try their take on a Nashville hot chicken sandwich, loaded with jalapenos, pickles, and chipotle slaw. Make a night of it, or drop in for a delicious meal before continuing on your way.