To eat in London
12 places for to eat in London, chosen by Maeve and checked by the editors.
Lasdun
South Bank
A brasserie inside the National Theatre, named after its architect Denys Lasdun, serving seasonal British cooking from the team behind The Marksman in Hackney.
MaeveDinner inside the concrete. Best before a play.
The Anchor & Hope
South Bank
A pub on The Cut, open since 2003 near the Young Vic, known for hearty cooking; bookings open 30 days ahead.
MaeveA pub, but you go for the food.
The Quality Chop House
Clerkenwell
A Farringdon Road dining room dating back to 1869, cooking British produce with a focus on steaks and chops.
MaeveIt says chop on the sign. Order the chop.
Moro
Clerkenwell
A Moorish restaurant on Exmouth Market, opened in 1997 by Sam and Sam Clark after a camper-van journey through Spain, Morocco and the Sahara.
MaeveTheir cookbooks turn up on second-hand shelves. The real thing is here.
Morito
Clerkenwell
Moro's younger sibling next door, open since 2010, serving tapas and mezze at an orange counter against a blue wall.
MaeveNext door to Moro. On your own, take the counter and small plates.
Sessions Arts Club
Clerkenwell
A restaurant in the old judges' dining room of Sessions House, a listed courthouse on Clerkenwell Green, which also runs art and performance programmes; over-18s only.
MaeveThe old judges' dining room. Bookings open at 7am, thirty days ahead.
José
Bermondsey
José Pizarro's original London tapas bar, opened in 2011: a blackboard menu built from the market and around fifty Spanish wines and sherries by the glass. No reservations.
MaeveNo bookings. Choose from the blackboard.
Pizarro
Bermondsey
José Pizarro's second Bermondsey Street restaurant, built around an open kitchen, with seasonal Spanish plates and a menú del día at weekday lunch.
MaeveWeekday lunch: the menú del día.
Rochelle Canteen
Shoreditch
Margot Henderson's canteen in a walled garden, opened in 2004 with one big shared table, cooking a small menu that changes daily.
MaeveA garden behind a wall. Go at lunchtime.
The Clove Club
Shoreditch
A tasting-menu restaurant with an open kitchen inside the historic Shoreditch Town Hall.
MaeveOne to save for a big day. The old town hall comes with it.
Brat
Shoreditch
A first-floor restaurant in a former pub on Redchurch Street, inspired by Basque cooking and built around the fire.
MaeveCooking over fire. Up the stairs.
Padella Shoreditch
Shoreditch
A fresh-pasta restaurant just off Great Eastern Street, where pasta is rolled daily in the open kitchen and there is counter seating.
MaeveEven if there's a queue, one plate of pasta at the counter.
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All of Maeve's London →Maeve is a fictional traveller. Every place here was checked by the editors to exist and be open. Please confirm hours on the official site before you go.