The SL Directory: London Delis

Since 1944, this iconic Jewish deli has been serving ‘everything’ bagels, salt beef sandwiches, and hearty chicken soup with matzo balls. At the counter you’ll find a range of herby cream cheeses, dressed salads, crispy chicken and charcuterie meats. Over in the main food hall, there’s an aisle of American snacks, as well as continental cheeses, premium smoked salmon and even a sushi bar. If you’re not local to St John’s Wood, order one of its picnic hampers filled with sausage rolls, salads, pastries and wines. 

13-19 Circus Road, St John’s Wood, NW8 6PB

Visit Panzers.co.uk

If you want to put on a spread to impress, Monte’s is a good place to start. It specialises in premium Italian food and drink, imported from some of the country’s best suppliers. Shoppers can choose from artisanal produce, as well as harder-to-find regional specialities, including Sardinian ricotta and truffled pecorino. There’s also an excellent selection of charcuterie meats, gelato and wine. The glass counter is equally tempting, filled with handmade pasta and homemade rocket pesto.

23 Canonbury Lane, Islington, N1 2AS

Visit MontesDeli.com

This is the foremost cheese seller in Marylebone – and perhaps all of London. Since opening in 2002, a decade after the original Highbury branch, the shop’s popularity has soared and seeing as its in-house cafe doesn’t take reservations, you have to be prepared to wait. To ensure you don’t go home disappointed, there are frequent ticketed wine and cheese pairings and Monday suppers as well as fondue nights in the Marylebone café and the Bloomsbury branch has a bookable restaurant. In the walk-in cheese room – at both the Highbury and Marylebone branch – you’ll find everything from cheddars to blue, artisanal to farmhouse. Each cheese is carefully sourced and themed by nation, with wine pairings to match. 

2-6 Moxon Street, Marylebone, W1U 4EW

Visit LaFromagerie.co.uk

With locations across London, Bayley & Sage feels more like an upscale food hall offering a wide range of salads, sandwiches, soups, chilled and prepared foods, jams, cheeses, hams, homemade cakes, chocolates, and more. And yet, the brand still holds onto that village grocery store vibe, blending the charm of fresh, locally sourced produce with contemporary style. Overall, the deli chain is known for its organic and gourmet foods – and extensive wine selection. 

Various locations 

Visit Bayley-Sage.co.uk

Mayfair's Farm Shop is steeped in history; it was once home to Constance Spry's flower shop – the florist to HM Queen Elizabeth II and co-inventor of Coronation chicken – so you know it has kudos. It operates on a farm-to-table basis, with the same award-winning products as its Somerset location at Durslade Farm, with many ingredients sourced from the 1,000-acre estate. You’ll find estate-grown wine, orchard cider and spirits crafted from waste products of Roth Bar and the Walled Garden. Its fresh food range is hyper-seasonal and honed by in-house forager Kenny Jelfs. Also available is a variety of cheeses, wines, condiments, and freshly baked goods. Plus, the shop makes every effort to champion local artisans from the southwest, partnering with We are Kombucha, The Chocolate Society, and Psychopomp Microdistillery. Next door, there is a separate butchery selling high-welfare meat, including the farm’s own lamb and beef. 

64 S Audley Street, Mayfair, W1K 2QT

Visit DursladeFarmShop.co.uk

Tucked away off Peckham High Street, General Store is a neighbourhood grocery shop, with vegetables and fruits stacked high. Owners Merlin and Genevieve import a range of fresh fruit and veg at peak ripeness, like heirloom tomatoes from Italy and mangoes from India. Meanwhile, the cheese section includes moreish cheddars from English cheesemakers, plus harder-to-find varieties from France. The store hosts regular wine tastings, too.

174 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15 4BW

Visit GeneralSto.re

Founded in Palermo, Sicily, Prezzemole e Vitielo is a third-generation family-owned premium deli specialising in high-quality, artisan Italian produce. With ten stores in Palermo, it then expanded into the UK market to showcase Italian and Sicilian culture through food and wine. In 2017, it launched its first UK store on London’s King’s Road, and has since opened three more delicatessens in Notting Hill, Wimbledon and Borough Market. P&V imports the finest seasonal produce from Italy weekly, including fruit, vegetables, charcuterie, cheeses, pasta, and wine. It also offers dining experiences at its in-store cafés or, if you want it sent straight to your door, the food hampers are perfect for a luxe picnic date.

Various Locations 

Visit PrezzemoloeVitale.co.uk

For authentic Italian food, make Luigi’s your first port of call. It’s been importing Italian produce for more than 40 years, and its famous red front has barely changed since it opened. They’ve held onto that Italian charm, too – every customer is part of la famiglia. Inside, you can expect nonna-level pastas, huge cans of olive oil, and a deli counter filled with cured meats, antipasti and cheeses. If you only buy one thing, make it the Sardinian salsiccia – the perfect ingredient for hearty stews and tomato sauces. 

349 Fulham Road, Fulham Broadway, SW10 9TW

Visit LuigisDelicatessen.com

Charlie and Frank Boxer opened this Italian deli on Vauxhall’s pretty Bonnington Square back in 2008. Today, Italo is also a buzzy café where locals sit outside with small plates and coffee. Sometimes by night, it becomes a pop-up for fashion launch parties, though it retains the values of the local area. It remains a corner shop for anyone in the neighbourhood wanting parmesan cut from a wheel, thin-sliced Italian meats or maybe some handmade gorgonzola.

13 Bonnington Square, Vauxhall, SW8 1TE

Visit ItaloDeli.co.uk

Melrose & Morgan is a grocer and kitchen with shops in Primrose Hill and Hampstead Village. Founded 20 years ago by two friends, it works with small suppliers around Europe to stock its shelves with quality produce and ingredients you won’t find elsewhere. It also has its own range of condiments, preserves, snacks and chocolate. Come Christmas, the delis smell like mulled wine and mince pies as friendly staff hand out samples of homemade Christmas cake and cheese. 

2 Gloucester Avenue, Primrose Hill, NW1 8JD; New Oriel Hall, Oriel Place, Hampstead, NW3 1QN

Visit MelroseAndMorgan.com

Lulu’s is the Herne Hill wine bar and shop from the team behind neighbourhood restaurant Llewelyn’s. During the day, there’s coffees and pastries, while locals leave with paper bags stacked with freshly baked bread and baguettes. Come the evening, the baked goods make way for wine and small plates. There’s a selection of French and Italian cupboard staples, as well as salads, sandwiches and sweet treats for lunch – think berry crumble bars, madeleines and butter popcorn cookies. 

291 Railton Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0JP

Visit Lulus.London

Partridges was founded in 1972 by Sir Richard Shepherd. Located on Sloane Street, it’s quickly become known for high-quality British and international foods. Now managed by Sir Richard’s brother, John Shepherd, it remains a family-run business and was awarded the Royal Warrant in 1994. It is a treasure trove of international culinary delights, from root-beer drops and Marc de Champagne truffles to Scotch eggs and fresh sandwiches. It also features an on-site café serving cheese and charcuterie plates, quiches and picnic essentials, cold homemade soups, organic pies, and rice and pasta dishes. 

2-5 Duke of York Square, Chelsea, SW3 4LY

Visit Partridges.co.uk

A wander around Dalston’s Debeauvoir Deli is a morning well spent. Owner Harry Davies has built up a loyal following who visit for excellent coffee, warm pastries and luxe cupboard staples like Portuguese sardines and Greek olive oil. It also stocks produce from numerous British suppliers, including plenty of seasonal fruit and veg. Visitors can dine in to enjoy breakfast bagels, sandwiches, salads and sausage rolls, followed by ice-cream sandwiches or a slice of signature lemon and ricotta cake. The team offer catering services to London postcodes, as well as baked-to-order cakes.

98 Southgate Road, Dalston, N1 3JD

Visit TheDebeauvoirDeli.co.uk

After narrowly avoiding closure in 2022, I Camisa & Son continues to serve its iconic sandwiches. A Soho institution since 1929, its famous Italian sandwiches are still just £5 – which explains why it’s loved by nearby office workers, and Stanley Tucci. In addition to its lunchtime offering, it stocks all the Italian provisions you could need, including plenty of baked goodies, and a curated selection of cheeses, pasta, dried goods, and great things in jars.

61 Old Compton Street, Soho, W1D 6HS

Visit  ICamisa.co.uk

Another favourite among the SL team, Trude’s was founded by Brixton local and greengrocer Alex Trude. As soon as you walk in, you’ll notice the abundance of organic fruit and veg on the shelves, including varieties you won’t find at your local supermarket – like purple courgettes, swiss chard and chanterelle mushrooms. Behind the deli counter, there are freshly baked loaves and pastries, as well as organic cheeses and meats. Best of all, the store has its own range of Middle Eastern dishes, as well as Lina Store’s pasta and sauces.

10 The Pavement, Clapham, SW4 0HY

Visit Trudes.co.uk

Loved by Marylebone native and friend of SL, Jo Good, Paul Rothe & Son is a must-visit. Established in 1900, this family-run deli and sandwich shop started by selling solely German produce but expanded to offer a range of European and British goods post-World War II. This café-cum-deli is now known for its hearty, plate-filling sandwiches, as well as its delicious soup of the day. Peruse the honeys, chutneys and pickled bits and bobs; its cured meats – particularly the pastrami – is a must-try.

35 Marylebone Lane, Marylebone, W1U 2NN

Follow @PaulRotheAndSon on Instagram.