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.
Founded by New Yorker chef Gabe "Papo" Gomez and his wife Georgia, Papo's Bagels is now settled into a railway arch on Amhurst Road and is widely regarded as the best bagel in London. Every bagel is hand rolled each morning, with a properly crisp crust and dense, chewy interior that is the real thing. The classic combination of oak smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, onion and tomato is the one to order. Get there early as they sell out.
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.
Smokestak is a Michelin Bib Gourmand barbecue restaurant from David Carter, who grew up in Barbados and spent time travelling America's Deep South before bringing his obsession with smoke and slow-cooked meat to East London. The industrial space of blackened walls and rough wood sets the mood perfectly, and the beef brisket, slow smoked overnight over English oak and served in a brioche bun with pickled red chillies, is one of the finest things you can eat in London.
Freshly fried Sicilian arancini made to order, with generously packed fillings ranging from classic beef ragù and ham and béchamel to aubergine and nduja. The golden, crispy exterior and molten fillings have made it a favourite with the lunchtime crowd, and at under £7 a ball it is one of the best value bites in central London.
A family run Bristol institution that won Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year in 2023, Sandwich Sandwich has made a confident debut in London with sites in the City and Tottenham Court Road. The formula is simple: generously stacked sandwiches built on thick doorstep bread with quality ingredients, from overnight roasted sirloin with horseradish mayo to southern fried chicken with spicy Creole sauce. Try the Scotch eggs, they are simply fantastic.
