East London’s best restaurants

There’s more to East London’s dining scene than small plates and natural wines – although you’ll find plenty of both in these warehouse-lined streets. It’s also where you’ll find some of London’s most interesting restaurants – places that fuse cuisines, add twists to classic dishes, and have been awarded constellations of Michelin stars. Here’s our selection of the best throughout Shoreditch, Dalston, Farringdon, Borough Market, and beyond. 

Angelina, Dalston

It’s a bit simplistic to describe Angelina as a fusion restaurant. It’s more of an egalitarian enoteca, which is a fancy way of saying that lots of different places inspire it – but its main muses are Italy and Japan. You’ll sit down for a kaiseki menu of 13 small plates per person, with the menu changing every five weeks according to the seasons (we’ll forever dream about the tempura tomato we once tried here). Its wine list is Italian-leaning and intriguing – go for the grand classici pairing to try a selection of the best bottles.  

Luca, Farringdon

When you hear, ‘Welcome to Tuscan paradise’, you don’t expect to be in Farringdon. But that’s how guests are greeted at Luca, The Clove Club’s formidable (and now Michelin-starred) younger sibling. There isn’t a bad item on the ever-changing menu, but highlights include paper-thin monkfish bathed in zingy jus (ask for more bread to mop up every drop), oozy, cheesy parmesan fries that the waiter describes as ‘life-changing’ (we’re inclined to agree), and a freckly finale of tiramisu (one of the best in London). Tuscan paradise? Found.

Cycene, Shoreditch

Although named after the Old English word for kitchen, there’s nothing old-fashioned about Cycene. It’s been designed to feel like a journey through someone’s house; you start with a drink and starter in the bar, then head up to the kitchen for a snack before eating the rest in the intimate dining room. The menu is hyper-seasonal and ingredient-focused, which the team will proudly talk you through as they present each course. Book the Hearth Room for a private chef-led experience for four to six guests. 

Jolene, Newington Green 

This neighbourhood restaurant is about as East London as they get: industrial chic interiors, candlelit tables, and an ever-changing menu chalked up on a blackboard (woe betide you if you get here too late and find the best dishes crossed out). Not that it’s easy to pick the best dishes; the bread is, as you’d expect from a bakery, excellent (especially when topped with plump sardines), the ragu is always worth trying, and get any joint of pork if it’s on the menu.  

Bouchon Racine, Farringdon 

Sometimes, you just want to cosy up in a wood-panelled room and order something comforting and French. And Bouchon Racine, stashed above Three Compasses in Farringdon, answers that call – and more. Inspired by Lyon's bouchons and Paris’s bistros, it is properly French, to the point where it’s one of few places in London where you can order tête de veau (veal’s head) preceded by escargots and followed by a cheese plate. Bon appetit.  

OMA, Borough Market 

Simply put: OMA is one of the best Greek restaurants in London right now. Sitting above Agora in Borough Market (a great walk-in-only option if you can’t get into OMA), it’s a hissing, sizzling restaurant, with a huge open kitchen that turns out plate after plate of creative Greek cooking. Try the spanakopita (a gloopy, deconstructed take on the classic spinach pastry), as many breads and spreads as you can fit in, and the charred lamb belly on a bed of hummus.  

The Clove Club, Shoreditch

Recipient of two Michelin stars amongst many other accolades, British chef Isaac McHale’s nine-year-old restaurant pioneered the fine dining scene in east London. Each beautifully composed dish is part of the whole experience, and every aspect of the meal manages to be composed to perfection without feeling stuffy or overdone. Reservations can be hard to come by – if you have a serious craving, take one from the Shoreditch locals and sit at the bar for (an excellent) glass of wine and some (pretty special) snacks.

BRAT Restaurant, Shoreditch

Two east London locations (London Fields is a pop-up) of this Basque grill prove its local reputation. Nearly everything on the menu is cooked over a fire, imparting rich, smoky flavour to each dish. Prices seem strikingly high – it’s important to remember that the menu is crafted for sharing. The deserved recipient of one Michelin star, there have been whisperings of a Soho location coming later this year.

The Water House Project, Bethnal Green

A lot of fine dining restaurants claim to offer a relaxed atmosphere. But none do it quite like The Water House Project, whose aim is to serve a first-class tasting menu in a sociable, casual setting. And it’s done so via a ‘borderless’ kitchen, where chefs are set up amongst the (communal) tables to remove all barriers between them and diners. This puts you in prime position to chat with the masterminds behind the 11-course menu, which features exceptional ingredients like mackerel from Cornwall and eel from Devon. 

Brutto, Farringdon

Dark and sultry, this is one of few London restaurants that feels a bit like NYC – the ambience is cool, and it’s the type of place where you can become a regular. Sidle up to the bar solo and sip an on-tap £5 negroni with some gnoccho fritto – or, bring a group and enjoy a full fiesta of Florentine classics. Either way, you’re guaranteed a good time when eating here.

Sessions Arts Club, Farringdon

Set inside a former courthouse, Sessions Arts Club is one of those delightfully decadent restaurants that feels more like a private members’ club – squashy armchairs, rotating art collection, and all. But the menu is, thankfully, better than your typical club food; simple yet elevated, like oysters topped with blackberry, or a perfect crème caramel. In summer, get a seat on one of the two terraces; in winter, curl up next to the fireplace. 

Da Terra, Bethnal Green

If you’re one of those people who has the menu memorised before arriving at a restaurant, you’ll be disappointed at Da Terra. Mind you, that’s the only disappointment you’ll experience: this two-Michelin-starred, menu-less restaurant is exceptional. Chef/owner Rafael Cagali’s concept is a fusion of Italian and South American flavours – you’ll likely try things you’ve never had before whilst eating (and drinking) here. You’ll also have fun. The soundtrack is pulled from the ‘80s and ‘90s and there’s a separate bar turning out mean Negronis.