Guide to a foodie weekend in London

Foodies are spoilt for choice at The Savoy Hotel. Whether you want to sample their world-famous afternoon tea or wine and dine at some of the best hotel restaurants and bars in the city, you're in for a tasty treat. As well as great drinking and dining options, you'll get luxurious and glam accommodation with fantastic river views.

Treehouse Hotel is a whimsical venue with buckets of unique style, complete with lots of greenery and vintage furniture. If the chic aesthetic of Treehouse Hotel isn't enough to make you book, then perhaps the restaurants will be. A modern Mexican restaurant with impressive city views is on-site, as well as other drinking and dining options.

NoMad London is located in a Grade II-listed building in Covent Garden. It offers more than just a comfortable place to stay; it's earned a reputation within the foodie world for its excellent dining and drinking options. There are 91 guest rooms with tasteful decor and useful amenities, plus a glass-ceiling restaurant and a laid-back on-site pub.

The Churchill Arms was voted one of the most beautiful pubs in the country, probably thanks to its flower-covered façade. It was built in 1750 and was a favourite haunt of Winston Churchill's grandparents, hence the Churchill memorabilia. You can expect a changing selection of cask-conditioned ales, craft beers and ciders. The wine list also features bottles from all over the world. Hungry? The kitchen cooks up a Thai storm daily - think fragrant curries, stir-fried dishes and nibbles like spring rolls.

This Church Street boozer is a simple Irish pub in the heart of Stoke Newington. You'll probably want to order a Guinness (it will be one of the best you'll have in the city), but they also have a world-famous stout on tap, which has a rich, earthy taste. Inside, you can expect a wood-panelled interior with quirky additions, like prints of Frank Sinatra and pub signs, whilst the back door leads to a beer garden.

The Owl and the Hitchiker is an ode to Douglas Adams' best-selling sci-fi The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy novels, with a sprinkling of the works of Edward Lear. The space is decked out in a quirky style with secondhand furniture, a ping-pong table and a signature giant wooden owl. The food menu is made up of Caribbean fare, like jerk chicken burgers and fried plantain. There's also a selection of beers on tap and wines, cocktails, and spirits.

You might want to eat here solely to try the famous Dexter cheeseburger, a glossy, cheese-filled, gherkin-stuffed burger that's earned itself a reputation on London's burger scene. It's located in a North London boozer down a side road in Finsbury Park. I can be pretty tricky to get a table so make sure you book ahead. If you're one of the lucky ones, make sure you order their deep-fried salad potatoes served with a mountain of fresh aioli.

This quaint restaurant is a firm favourite among the pasta-fiends, which explains why there's always a queue to get a table. There are two venues located on the edge of Borough Market and in the heart of Shoreditch, with narrow counters offering a glimpse of the chefs. It's reasonably priced for the quality of food, like their famous plates of Pici Cacio e Pepe and fettuccine with Cobble Lane cured nduja, mascarpone, and lemon. They also make a mean must-order Negroni.

This no-frills establishment has been a longstanding Punjabi curry house in Whitechapel since it opened in 1972. Famed for its sizzling mountains of melt-in-your-mouth lamb chops and dry lamb curries, every dish maxes out on flavour. It's not only got an excellent menu, but it's also atmospherically wild (probably because it's BYOB). It's also mega cheap; you can easily spend less than £20 and walk out with change.

With a couple of locations in East London, Renegade Wine Bar is an exciting prospect for those who are passionate about food and drink. As well as offering delicious bar snacks, including English cheeseboards, these hip venues serve wine made right here in London. Bottles from guest vineyards in surprising locations like Finland and Sweden are also served here.

This trendy East London bar hosts live jazz and DJ sessions alongside a set Japanese menu of classic specialist dishes, like spicy tuna maki and green salad with miso. Sip on creative cocktails, like the white old-fashioned with miso, or opt for Japanese sake and sit back, relax and listen as the DJ spins the freshest tracks in the background.

When renowned bartenders Alex Kratena and Monica Berg joined heads, they came up with Tayēr + Elementary, a minimalist walk-in bar in Shoreditch that was voted number two on the list of the best bars in the world in 2022. It's trendy with exposed brick walls and an overall industrial-style theme throughout. Pick from a menu of pre-bottled drinks or let the bartenders showcase their craft with one of their in-house cocktails.

This 1920s casino-themed bar lets you bring your own spirits so that a trained mixologist can craft five rounds of bespoke cocktails just for you. Choose from various mixers and garnishes, and sit back while the mixologist curates your perfect tipple. The space is old-school, with wooden furnishings and dim-lighting. It makes for an exciting date spot.

Not only does The Milk Float serve delicious seasonal cocktails with an awesome view of the canal, but they also let you hire out canoes to explore Hackney Wick's waterways. Just down the canal, you'll find Alfred Le Roy, a cocktail bar on a barge that lets you grab a drink out of their water-facing hatch as you canoe by.

Foodies who love to cook can take part in a class at Jamie Oliver Cookery School in Holloway Road. Join a hands-on cooking class at this community-minded venue, with over 30 classes to choose from ranging from making sushi to Indian street food. You get to enjoy the delicious meal you've cooked afterwards too.

Visit Stepney City Farm and can you pet adorable farm animals, learn the ins and outs of a working farm, and discover how food is grown, making it a fascinating destinations for gourmets. This bustling farm also has a variety of activities going on like yoga classes and markets. There's also a farm café with a seasonally-inspired menu that uses local ingredients.

It's all about seasonality and simplicity at Gold, a neighbourhood favourite in Notting Hill. Seasonal sharing plates are cooked in wood ovens with dishes crafted with ingredients in their prime, like wood-roasted whole sea bream with wild oregano and capers and octopus carpaccio served with grilled peppers and vinaigrette. As for the drinks, you can expect biodynamic wines and simple, seasonal cocktails.

If you're a traditional sandwich-for-lunch kind of person, then you have to try Max's Sandwich Shop. Two thick slices of focaccia filled with what is basically a full meal. The menu features classics like ham, egg 'n' chips slathered with piccalilli and a silky béchamel lasagne sandwich with deep-fried macaroni. You can turn up, settle down at a table and have your sandwich plonked in a brown paper bag in front of you in minutes. A must for any sandwich aficionado.

This tiny spot has just a few seats. They don't take reservations, but you can usually nab a seat if you hang about for a bit. Go up to the bar to order from a small menu of Nepalese dumplings and a thali of the day, which usually consists of a few curries with soup and rice to accompany. Opt for a creamy vegan mango lassi on the side to sweeten everything up.

In line with Mercato Metropolitano's green ethos, everything sold at the Mercato Mayfair is sourced as fresh and sustainably as possible. Feast on food from around the world at one of the market's street food stalls or stock up on fresh produce to take home with you. They stock all sorts, from meats and cheeses to wine and sweet treats.

Borough Market has a history dating back over 1,000 years when traders first started selling food on the site. Local traders are there week-on-week, selling everything from olive oil, cheese and fruit to street food, chocolate and fresh meat. Even if you’re unsure what to buy, you’ll be able to wander around and enjoy the free samples handed out across all of the stalls.

Stock up on the finest cheese at any of Neal's Yard Dairy shops around the city. From crumbly Wensleydale and tangy red Leicester to Suffolk brie and blue cheese from Devon, Neal's Yard Dairy stocks all kinds of cheese selected for flavour and quality. They visit the cheesemakers to ensure that the best batches of cheese are selected before maturing them in Bermondsey. What's more, everything is hand-wrapped before being sold in-store.

In 2024, Chishuru's head chef became the first black woman in the UK to be awarded a Michelin star. This place is really commanding attention, serving a modern menu of punchy West African flavours and dishes made with traditional methods. Fixed lunch and dinner menus are served but vegetarian diners can also be catered for.

The Ledbury gained its third Michelin star in 2024, cementing its reputation as one of London's hottest restaurants. Despite being run by Australian chef Brett Graham, this place celebrates the bounty of the British countryside, serving tasting menus. The dining space is classic and refined, making the ideal backdrop for a special meal.

The original St. John location opened in 1994 in a disused smokehouse. Today it remains one of the city's hottest dining destinations and is a leader in British cuisine – it's widely crediting with reviving interest in offal recipes. The menu changes every day to always give diners fresh and inspiring flavours.

Brother Marcus has been a staple on the brunch scene for some time. The modern decor combines lush foliage, exposed raw brick, and open space. You can expect Eastern Mediterranean fare like a sun-blushed tomato pide on a cauliflower base. The brunch menu offers the option to go for the 'Marcus' Choice', where you pay a set fee and they curate an order just for you. As for drinks, there are alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails plus beer, wine, cider, juices, smoothies, and hot drinks.

There's a reason Megan's has won best brunch in London on more than one occasion. The menu takes inspiration from Mediterranean cuisines, like shakshuka baked eggs topped with halloumi and scrambled turmeric tofu, all made better by adding their bottomless Prosecco option. Every one of their restaurants is a delight to look at, decorated with hanging plants, wicker lights and rustic wooden furniture. One for the Instagram grid.

Banana bread with whipped mascarpone, fresh berries and flaked almonds, torched peach French toast with coconut yoghurt, and sweetcorn fritters with smashed avocado and poached eggs are just a few of the things you can expect to see on Darcie and May Green’s menu. They've got venues dotted all over the city, but the one on a barge perched along the canal in Paddington gets our vote, designed by British pop artist Peter Blake.

If you've got a sweet tooth then you can't miss an experience with Chocolate Ecstasy Tours. This operator offers private city tours covering some of the finest treats the capital has to offer. You'll learn about the food and the city whilst exploring chocolate shops, bakeries, patisseries, and gelaterias, with lots of bits to sample along the way.

A tour with Secret Food Tours will help you uncover leading local foodie spots in the city. If you want to discover the scene in a particular area or find the best street food or drinks, there's a tour that'll keep you interested. Each tour is guided by a passionate local, plus you can organise bespoke private tours.

Discover London's food culture on a tour with Devour London. One of these tours helps you to experience local culture as well as tasty food. You'll learn interesting information about the city and its history on your tour, whilst also sampling tasty titbits along your route. Every tour includes a meal as well as additional samples.