10 Must Try Restaurants in London- The Adventuring Millennial

London is my favorite city in the world.

And there are so many reasons why I love this exciting, historic, and diverse city. I grew up obsessed with British culture. I mean, what 90s kid didn’t love Harry Potter? And in college, I spent 6 months living and studying in London.

But I also love London for its food.

I know, London sometimes gets a bad rap in the culinary world. But I really don’t understand that reputation. London attracts some of the world’s best chefs. And traditional British food is actually really delicious. So in this post, I want to share some of my favorite London food. I am going to outline 10 must try restaurants in London.

Ready to dig in? Let’s go!

Breakfast: Duck and Waffle

Brekkie with a view? Yes, please!

Duck and Waffle is a 24/7 restaurant located on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate. Once you exit the glass elevator, you will soon see the large, open dining room. It offers sweeping views of the impressive city. One glass wall overlooks the Thames, Tower Bridge, and gives an up-close view of The Gherkin.

And yes, the breakfast menu actually includes duck and waffle. But you can also choose from a list of other treats, including sweet waffles, traditional English breakfast, and spiced dhal.

Make sure you schedule a reservation for Duck and Waffle. They seem pretty strict about this process. You have to reserve with a credit card that will be charged if you don’t show for your reservation. You can only reserve your table for an hour. After that, they will “invite” you to move to the bar. But when I was there for breakfast, it was fairly empty. And I don’t think they were timing our table or anything like that.

Coffee: Notes

Notes is a specialty coffee roaster with location all over London.

During the day, choose from a selection of specialty coffee beverages and light breakfast offerings. At night, they serve wine, beer, cocktails, and upscale bar snacks.

I recently visited Notes Trafalgar Square. Grab a seat by the large window-facing bar for some prime people watching. You can watch as Londoners rush off to work. It is also the perfect spot to relax before visiting The National Gallery or National Portrait Gallery.

Doughnut: Doughnut Time

When you need an Instagram-worthy breakfast treat, look no further than Doughnut Time.

These specialty doughnuts come in a variety of creative flavors. And when I say creative I mean it. Some of their most popular doughnuts include Life on Mars, I Make Honey Moves and Captain America. Yea, those really are the names.

I tried the Bellatwix Lestrange. This soft, yeast doughnut was topped with a chocolate glaze, biscuit crumbs, Twix bars, and caramel drizzle. Its no wonder that they cost £4 each.

Food Market: Camden Market

Alright, this isn’t technically one restaurant.

But you can’t ignore London’s food market scene. Camden Market is filled with food stalls, craft vendors, and bars. Stroll around the market before deciding where to eat. I know, it may seem overwhelming. There are so many delicious options. Do you want fresh pasta from The Cheese Wheel, steak and chips from STAKEhau, or a falafel flatbread from Nazari?

Well, you can’t go wrong. But whatever you do, don’t leave without checking out Dutch Pancakes. I first tried these when I studied abroad in London. And let me tell you, I’ve been dreaming about them ever since. I was so excited that I found the same stall over 5 years later. Honestly, it’s no surprise this place is still thriving. The mini puffy pancakes smothered in Nutella are little pockets of heaven.

Tea: At Buckingham Palace

Yes, dreams do come true.

Unfortunately, you have to time it right to make this one a reality.

Buckingham Palace is usually closed to the public. After all, the QUEEN lives there. And she has to take care of important royal business. But when she decides to take a well-deserved break, the place is open for visitors! Although this can vary, she usually spends August and September at Windsor.

So check the website before your trip. Regardless of tea, you should take the opportunity to tour Buckingham Palace if you can. You won’t get to see the private apartments or living quarters. But you can view some of the more impressive operational rooms.

The tour ends at the Buckingham Palace Gardens. And here, there is a small popup cafe. Enjoy a selection of tea, pastries, and other sweets while you pretend you are a Garden Party guest.

Pub: Porcupine

Porcupine is the epitome of a traditional British pub. It has operated in some iteration since 1725. Today, stop by this central London pub for classic British fare. You can enjoy a selection of meat pies or, of course, fish and chips.

And of course, don’t forget to order an ale or a cider. This is the place to get a full British pub experience.

Fast Food: Nando’s

Call it an obsession. That’s fine.

Yes, I love Nando’s. Sure, its a fast food chain. But once you try their peri peri chicken you will understand. They just don’t make chicken like this in the States (ok, except at the Nando’s locations in Chicago and DC).

And maybe this is one of those nostalgic places. I first tried this when I studied abroad in London. Ever since I have visited Nandos whenever I could in Canada and DC.

Nando’s probably won’t make most “must try restaurants in London” lists. But if you are looking for an affordable, quick, and delicious lunch, check out Nando’s. Just please don’t forget to order the peri peri fries and perinaise sauce.

Dinner: Dishoom

Places like this make me question why people dislike London’s food.

Dishoom pays homage to the traditional Iranian cafes of Bombay. So I didn’t know those were a thing. But when I visited Dishoom, I learned that these cafes welcomed everyone: students, older people, taxi-drivers, lawyers, and artists. At these cafes, it didn’t matter what you did for a living. Everyone gathered here for a relaxed, slow meal surrounded by good company.

Dishoom also offers an upscale, but still relaxed setting. The menu features a variety of Indian-inspired sharing plates. Take your time, eat slowly, and enjoy the process. They don’t take reservations, but I promise the okra fries and black daal are worth the wait.

After Theater Drinks: Sherlock Holmes

You can’t leave London after only visiting one pub.

Stop by the Sherlock Holmes for another traditional British pub experience. This place has it all, a classic menu, ales, and a Sherlock Holmes collection. Wait what?

Yes, enjoy your pint while enjoying the collection of Sherlock Holmes related books, pictures, and trinkets.

And, this central London pub isn’t too far from the West End, so it is a perfect way to end a night at the theater.

Late Night Dessert: Mister Fitz

If you liked Doughnut Time, you are going to love Mister Fitz.

Mister Fitz, which is run by the Doughnut Time owners, is a colorful and Instagram-worthy ice cream parlor.

Stop by for a delectable ice cream sandwich, like the Sean Combs or Banana Ooh-Na-Na. Yes, this place was basically built for Instagram. But the treats are fun and tasty. And they are open late, so this is the perfect place to satisfy your late night sweet tooth.