18 Exceptional Restaurants in Shoreditch

With an idyllic terrace, elegant seasonal cooking, and a location hidden away in a Shoreditch square, it’s little wonder that this legendary restaurant is so popular. Margot Henderson’s food has always emphasised simplicity, and even a quiet lunch here can feel like an occasion. As experiences go, summer nights here are bettered by very little in London. Excellent for any occasion, but especially good for a laid-back lunch or celebratory catchup.

This intimate restaurant in Shoreditch comes from Mary Viviani and Alex Reynolds, a pair of restaurant veterans and both formerly of pasta specialist and bakery Pophams. Named for Alex’s grandmother, there’s a decidedly French leaning at this cosy bistro, with modern takes on classic dishes like venison tartare and heritage pork with artichokes barigoule cosying up to Viviani’s rotating list of natural wines, available by the bottle or glass. With a tiny team, service is about as personable as it gets, and the whole operational feels genuinely warming – the kind of establishment to return to again and again.

London has been blessed with a multitude of superb wine bars, but few charm like this intimate bottle shop, bar and restaurant tucked off a side street in Shoreditch. Much of this is down to its effervescent owner Luca Dusi, who guides guests through an idiosyncratic and often exclusive list of Italian wines – from celebrated skin-contact bottles to cult Barolos – to find a perfect pairing. The beautifully attired shop and dining area (resplendent in colourful wallpaper and brushed golds) sets the stage for robust northern Italian dishes that range from cicchetti to robust pastas and stews. Visit for a relaxed dinner with fellow oenophiles, or drop in for a nightcap.

A modern classic, this modish wine bar and bistro has been a favourite with locals since it opened. Found down a side road off Great Eastern Street, a slinky dining room with red leather-clad booths and a gleaming marble bar make quite the impression – and that’s before factoring in owner Ed Thaw’s superb wine list and vinyl collection. Food-wise, expect excellent bistro-plus dishes like French charcuterie and cheese, steak tartare, and a chicory and walnut salad reminiscent of New York’s Estela – but better. Pro tip: if you work nearby, the lunch prix fixe is a worthy reason to leave your office.

The top line for this perpetually packed Shoreditch hotspot – great pastas, nose-to-tail cooking, and a stellar wine list – is easy to love but undersells owners Chris Leach and David Carter’s vision somewhat. The restaurant specialises in whole animal butchery, receiving pigs from some of Cornwall’s finest farms, which are broken down for all of the restaurant’s incredible dishes (everything from croquettes and a ragu of pig tail, to pork chops and delicate meats from an in-house salumeria). Leach’s hand-rolled pastas are exemplary, while sharing plates like a must-order dish of steamed mussels in ‘nduja are also very strong orders.

One of the city’s finest gastropubs, this boozer occupies a pretty corner of Hackney Road.  The ground floor bar and terrace remain fine places to enjoy a drink and chat at any time, while an upstairs dining room is an appropriate place to gather with friends near Shoreditch to enjoy delicious pies, roasts, and puddings. Brunch and Sunday lunches (one of the city’s best) at the weekends are superb, while a worker’s lunch during the week makes it plausible to pop in any day; cooking displays plenty of sophistication, with a slice of brown butter tart an unparalleled way to conclude a meal.

Two of the world’s most distinguished bartenders, Monica Berg and Alex Kratena’s Shoreditch cocktail bar draws discerning drinkers and diners who flock to this Old Street standout for breathtaking drinks, whether at a casual bar or a sophisticated counter at the back: the rhubarb whey sour is seasonally appropriate, while their take on a blood Campari soda is about as good as a spritz can get. Pre-game here before an evening out, or make a night of it and go deep on the menu at what’s one of the city’s most exciting bars.

One of the best places to eat pasta in London, full stop. There’s a cool, lived-in feel at this fêted Old Street spot, with a short and frequently changing menu of drop-dead gorgeous pastas prepared before guests at an open kitchen. With pasta, everyone leans one way or another — but regular dishes like a slow-cooked beef shin pappardelle with burrata and meatballs, or a dish of corzetti draped in port sauce and embellished with wild mushrooms and house pork sausage outshine even the best of their peers. Cocktails are excellent, too.

Helmed by a team late of legendary restaurants Palomar and Berber & Q, Bubala downplays its pedigree behind an affectionate moniker and an electric, plant-wreathed dining room in Spitalfields. The restaurant champions exceptional produce cooked in a playful style, inspired by the flavours and dishes of Turkey, Lebanon and Morocco; dishes like crisp confit potato latkes with garlic-laced toum, or fried aubergine with zhoug and date syrup. Oh, and it’s pure vegetarian—not that you’ll miss meat when the food’s this good.

Looking for a touch of scene? This new bar and gallery space in Shoreditch has been billed as a ‘pub for wine drinkers’, and is located a converted warehouse behind Brick Lane, with a decidedly minimal, industrial feel. Natural wine drinkers will be right at home here – expect  zippy Catalonian whites, low ABV reds from Jura and orange wines from across the globe – but it’s the restaurant’s guest chef series that’s captured the imagination of London’s food scene, with residencies from the likes of Brooklyn’s Ha’s Dac Biet, Tom Zahir of Decatur, and modern pan-African concept AYO Collective pulling in the city’s clued-up diners on the weekly. Keep an eye on their Instagram for updates on who’s popping up next.

A favourite with locals, this pretty shopfront on Redchurch street selling fresh pasta conceals a peaceful trattoria at the back. Owner Gaia Enria and her team make pasta by hand each day, but for those too impatient to take them home, the cosy dining room presents a perfect place to enjoy a succinct menu of pastas like a signature agnolotti with beef, pork and spinach, or seasonal dishes like delicate cappelletti with ricotta and asparagus.

Counter dining, natural wines, fresh pasta and Mediterranean small plates—this tiny restaurant captures everything great about dining out in Shoreditch. Chef-owner Jon Lawson (ex-Theo Randall at the Intercontinental) has pedigree, and everything that comes out of the tiny kitchen is made with love, not least a lineup of killer pastas like a crab taglierini redolent of seaside sojourns, or incredible truffle pasta made with vivid yellow yolks. A small upstairs dining room is perfect for small groups, while the downstairs bar places diners in the thick of the action.

One of the most outstanding places for Texas-style BBQ in the city, David Carter’s temple to smoke and fire has a legion of fans, and with good reason. Pork belly and beef brisket — whether straight up or in a bun — melts in the mouth, sticky toffee pudding makes for a perfect finish, and small plates show plenty of finesse. The bar is also an excellent place for a catchup over a peach old-fashioned, and there’s plenty of outdoor seating on a terrace, too.

Having won critical acclaim with its faithful renditions of regional Indian dishes with a playful twist, Gunpowder continues to stake its claim as one of central London’s best South Asian restaurants. The rasam ‘shot’ is an essential way to kick off proceedings, while sizzling lamb chops, mustard malai broccoli, and a crispy venison doughnut make for a fun and delicious evening. Its Tower Bridge sibling is just as good.

One of the best burgers in London. The quality of meat at this outstanding burger restaurant is assured, with each patty fashioned using dry-aged beef from their own farm; a soft, seeded bun, smoky mayo, and melty American cheese round it off. Creations like a burger layered with crisp pancetta and burnt butter are tremendous (though don’t sleep on the standard cheeseburger), while sides like truffle tots and fries with bone marrow gravy are about as decadent as it gets. Boozy cocktails hit the spot – excellent for pre-gaming or midweek get togethers alike.

The use-case for Homeslice’s Shoreditch location is incredibly simple—casual, uncomplicated, and fun. Overwhelmed by small plates and natural wine? Or running with a mixed crowd and need a crowd pleaser?  Then head here — you’ll find huge, perfectly-baked thin-crust pizzas with premium ingredients (like Italian salumi, or cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy), a laid-back crowd, and a succinct drinks list with prosecco on tap.

One of the city’s best-kept secrets, Campania has long been a favourite of stylish East End locals and clued-up epicures passing through Columbia Road. A warren of charming dining rooms – all exposed brick, refurbished furniture, and modern touches – plays against a sophisticated menu of Southern Italian fare. The rustic Italian cooking here is transportive, comforting and precise – handmade pastas, slow-cooked ragus, and desserts are matched to one of the atmospheric dining rooms in all of London.