Cool Tastemakers Share Their Favourite Under-The-Radar Spots In London
Alex Dudley
SL Contributor & Content Creator
“It’s no longer quite as under the radar as I’d like, but I love Towpath Café – it serves some of the most delicious plates in London. It’s zero fuss and just very good food. Another favourite is the Garden Café at the Garden Museum. The menu is always beautifully in tune with the seasons, and every time I eat there, I feel like the lead character in a Richard Curtis film – quintessential, joyous and quietly cinematic.
“The rooftop bar at The Emory hotel has the best view in London. It’s wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows with a panorama that stretches across Hyde Park and all the way to Big Ben and the City. They also serve excellent martinis. I think people assume it’s only for hotel guests, but anyone can go – and should.
“Culture-wise, I’ve always felt that The Courtauld gallery deserves more attention. Tucked inside Somerset House, it hosts some of the best exhibitions in London. The setting itself delivers that same striking overwhelm you get outside The Louvre – it’s quietly breathtaking.
“And then there are the bridges. Crossing London’s bridges might sound silly, but I get such a sense of invigoration from it. Maybe it’s the water, or maybe it’s all the big romantic moments, on screen and in real life, that seem to happen there. The views are spectacular too. I also tried the Uber Boat recently and felt like I was on a ride at Disneyland. It’s such a fun way to travel through the city –scenic and surprisingly joyful.”
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Natalia Rudin
Food Writer & Content Creator
“Halepi is fabulous for Greek food – unfussy, generous and always delicious. Ida is my go-to for proper home-cooked Italian, and then there’s The Tiroler Hut in west London, which is hands-down the most hilarious night out I’ve had with my friends. Think schnapps, schnitzels and Lederhosen – it’s chaotic in the best way possible.
“For cocktails, Lucy Wong in Fitzrovia is brilliant. It does Chinese ‘snacky bits’ alongside the drinks, which turns out to be a winning combination. It’s perfect for girly catch-ups. I also love Cadet wine bar on Newington Green – it has a lovely selection and a great vibe. The Fat Badger on Golborne Road deserves a mention too. It’s more a pub than a bar, but it serves great cocktails. You can start with dinner upstairs (George is a genius), then head downstairs for live music and drinks.
“There’s a coffee shop called Kuro just off Notting Hill that does the most delicious matcha and pastries. It recently opened a bagel shop and a larger bakery around the corner – and all three are very good. I love grabbing a matcha and pastry, then walking up to Hyde Park or down Billionaire’s Row (Kensington Palace Gardens) to ogle the houses.”
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Gina Jackson
Travel Writer & Content Creator
“I love Westerns Laundry – it’s owned by the same brilliant minds behind Jolene and has that same unfussy charm. You can stroll in without a reservation, and it’s just minutes from Highbury Fields. Another favourite is Empire Empire in Notting Hill – an excellent Indian spot with a disco-inspired vibe and some of the best curries in town. And for something a bit special, I love The Waterhouse Project in Bethnal Green. The tasting menu, the space, the whole experience is sublime – it’s tucked away on an unsuspecting road and still feels like a well-kept secret.
“For drinks, Soma in Soho is a favourite. The entrance is a discreet door on a side street – you slip downstairs into a slick space serving Indian-inspired cocktails. It’s intimate, stylish and always delivers.
“When it comes to culture, Sir John Soane’s Museum is my favourite in London. It’s full of antiquities and artworks, and the architecture alone is mind-boggling. Entry is free, which is a bonus. I also love The Wallace Collection and the Museum of the Home – both offer something quietly brilliant and beautifully curated.
“My favourite way to spend a chilled weekend is wandering around Stoke Newington. I’d start with brunch at Lot 103, then head to Fink’s Pump House for coffee and an ice cream sandwich – it sits right on the edge of Clissold Park. You could easily spend the whole day there and then wind up at Perilla for dinner. It’s one of those neighbourhood restaurants that’s quietly excellent.”
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Hope Pointing
Private Chef
“One of my favourite hidden gems is Shiuli in Twickenham – it’s refined Indian food without the fuss. Elevated curries and clever fusion dishes make it a standout. The Chicken 65, truffle naan and burrata chaat are must-orders. I also love Daddy Bao in Tooting. It’s a brilliant Taiwanese spot and tucked away in the storeroom is an underground cocktail bar with a sexy, intimate vibe – perfect for date night or drinks with the girls. For steak, Roxie is a small chain with locations in Wimbledon, Earlsfield and Tooting – it’s amazing value and consistently good.
“For drinks, the Churchill Arms in Kensington is a summer classic. The floral façade is legendary, the Thai food is brilliant, and it’s great for standing outside with a drink after work. I also love The Surprise in Chelsea. Tucked away in a mews it and has a lovely, low-key charm.
“When it comes to culture, I think the Saatchi Gallery deserves more attention. The exhibitions are often free, always interesting, and the space itself is beautiful. Plus, it’s perfectly placed for dinner, shopping or a date night on King’s Road.
“For weekend wandering, I love grabbing a coffee from the cart on Wimbledon Common and heading out for a walk – it’s peaceful and grounding. The Surbiton Farmers Market is another favourite. It’s full of brilliant produce and community spirit. And then there’s Pavilion Road in Chelsea, which is heaven for food lovers. I’ll pick up cheese from London Cheesemongers, wine and snacks from Mother Vine, dinner at The Sea, The Sea, and finish with ice cream from Ice Cream Union. It’s perfect for a post-run mooch with the girls or a long evening of feasting.”
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Rosie Kellett
Food Writer & Content Creator
“I think Westerns Laundry and Primeur don’t get the recognition they deserve. Some of the most delicious food I’ve eaten this year has been in their dining rooms – both are understated, ingredient-led, and quietly brilliant. If you haven’t been, go.
“One of my favourite hidden bars is Charlie’s in Shoreditch. It only opens on Thursdays and is tucked beneath a leather goods shop – blink and you’ll miss it. Charlie runs it solo, and it’s such a great little spot. He closed briefly over the summer when he had a baby, but I think it’s reopening soon.
“I’m always drawn to London’s independent bookshops, cafés, music venues and restaurants – they need our attention more than ever. It’s harder than ever to keep small businesses alive, and we all miss them when they’re gone. Now’s the time to support them if you can.
“One of my favourite under-the-radar rituals is heading to the Community Sauna Baths in Hackney Wick. They’re super affordable and have an amazing social impact programme that makes sauna accessible to people who might not otherwise experience it. It’s restorative, welcoming, and quietly transformative.”
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Annie McMonagle-Wilmot
Content Creator
“Some of my favourite hidden gems in and around London are the ones that feel quietly special without the fuss. For dinner, I love The 10 Cases in Covent Garden – a little slice of Paris in central London – and Primeur in Canonbury, a candlelit spot tucked inside an old car garage, complete with chalkboard menus and dried flowers. Bull & Gate in Kentish Town is my go-to for a phenomenal Sunday roast, while Wilson’s in Ladywell serves small plates, wine on tap and impeccable service in a cosy village setting. For brunch, Conscious Kitchen on All Saints Road is a West London favourite – seasonal, nourishing and still blissfully under the radar.
“When it comes to bars, I gravitate towards smaller, characterful spots like Golborne Deli for wine and people-watching, Vine Flowers & Wine on Bermondsey Street for festive-season cosiness, and Franklin’s in Notting Hill for its secret downstairs den. Yield in N1 is another favourite – a wine bar tucked inside a deli, perfect for date night grazing.
“For culture, Wilton’s Music Hall is breathtaking – the world’s oldest grand music hall, especially magical in winter. I also romanticise a trip to the cinema: Electric Cinema on Portobello Road and Regent Street Cinema feel so nostalgic. Afterwards, I love browsing coffee table books at Maison Assouline over espresso.
“Bookshops are another obsession – I love Libreria in Shoreditch, BookBar in Islington and Chelsea, Word on the Water (a floating barge bookshop), and Heywood Hill in Mayfair, where Nancy Mitford once worked.”
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