A Westminster institution since 1946, the Regency Cafe is the definitive London caff: original art deco tiles, Formica tables and a full English breakfast that draws everyone from builders to politicians. Its distinctive black tiled exterior and no nonsense charm have made it one of the most filmed cafes in Britain, but the real draw is still a proper fry up at a very honest price.
Dishoom's more relaxed, bar-forward sibling, Permit Room opened its first London outpost on Portobello Road in 2025, housed in the former Portobello Road Distillery. Named after the drinking dens that sprang up in Bombay after prohibition was lifted in the 1970s, it serves all-day Bombay-inspired small plates, smoky grills and Dishoom classics alongside inventive cocktails and resident DJs, with the walls covered in art and two boutique hotel rooms upstairs for those who want to make a proper night of it.
