Guide to the best restaurants around Holloway Road

One hot tip in Holloway is Sambal Shiok, which attracts diners from all over the city. It's a humble laksa bar from chef Mandy Yin. Try a spicy laksa curry with noodles – there are four different types – plus authentic Malaysian snacks. You can buy ingredients to take home from the pantry too. 

Sample plant-based Eritrean cuisine at Keren View. This popular local spot is humble, with simple surroundings and enthusiastic hospitality. Expect generous portions of homemade food packed with spice. Vegan desserts and a small selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available too.

Ranked as some of London's best pizza, Zia Lucia is a stylish contemporary restaurant where you get a choice of pizza bases, such as traditional, wholemeal, gluten free or charcoal. Choose your favourite base and then decide on which topping to go for, with tempting options like mushrooms and burrata. Wine, craft beer, and cocktails are served too.

Filó opened in 2024 and serves Brazilian cuisine. Quality local ingredients are used to craft classic dishes like ceviche, pão de queijo, and picanha steak. The menu includes vegan and GF options. The restaurant's exterior is painted dark green and the theme continues inside with green pot plants lined up on the windowsills.

Family-run restaurant Lamezia specialises in authentic Italian food. Pasta, bread, and pizza dough are freshly made here each day. Favourites like pasta and pizza are on the menu, plus other main courses and sharing platters. Kids are welcome and there's a friendly atmosphere here. Wine and cocktails are available.

Sought-after burgers and Somali-style fried chicken are available at D's Kitchen. This bright and compact restaurant often has a bustling crowd inside. If you fancy something new, you can get a burger here in a waffle, doughnut, or croissant instead of your typical burger bun. This is budget-friendly and imaginative food.

Local Chinese restaurant Shu La La specialises in fiery Sichuan dishes. The restaurant is spacious and contemporary with bold murals inside. The menu is varied and includes street food and hotpot, as well as salads, dim sum, noodles, and veggie dishes. Chinese drinks are available here to complete the meal. 

Female-owned restaurant Mesi's Kitchen serves Ethiopian food in Holloway Road. This cosy local spot has a welcoming atmosphere and serves food in the traditional way, piled on top of injera bread and eaten with your hands. There are meaty options as well as ample plant-based dishes. You can expect generous portions here.

One of Holloway Road's most popular eateries is Nón Restaurant. This bright and contemporary Vietnamese spot has a friendly atmosphere and is flooded with light. You'll find something delicious here whether you need a speedy meal or something long and indulgent. Dishes include favourites like papaya salad, pho, fried noodles, and curries.

Family-run eatery Hot Wok Kitchen serves pan-Asian cuisine, with influences from China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. These are fresh dishes made with top quality ingredients - on the menu you'll find favourites like chicken satay, laksa, chilli beef, and fried rice. Meals for kids and Asian drinks are also served here.

Opened in 2013, Bisha is one of London's top restaurants for Eritrean food. This simple restaurant serves vibrant and authentic dishes and has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Expect dishes like spicy lentils and chicken drumsticks. You can also go all in and order a platter of tempting traditional favourites.

Discover Georgian cuisine at Tbilisi. This long-established restaurant serves authentic regional cuisine packed with heady herbs and spices. Don't miss the traditional khachapuri bread loaded up with gooey cheese and eggs. You can also sample Georgian wine and spirits. It's simple and cosy inside the restaurant.

Get your sushi fix at Po Po Sushi Bar. This modern and casual restaurant specialises in fresh sushi and other Japanese dishes. A broad selection of sushi rolls and sets are on the menu, including vegetarian choices. You'll also find appetisers like gyoza and hot food like katsu curry and yakisoba. Complement the food with a Japanese beer.

Family-run restaurant Trevi Ristorante is conveniently-located opposite Highbury & Islington station. The restaurant specialises in authentic Italian dishes served in a cosy and friendly environment with lots of light flooding in. Expect fresh pasta, meat, and fish dishes complemented by a concise choice of drinks, including prosecco.

One of Holloway's most popular destinations for Italian food is Volare Pizzeria. This family-friendly restaurant has an attention-grabbing colourful sign and a simple interior with plenty of space. The pizza dough here is fermented for 48 hours. As well as pizza and calzone you'll see options like charcuterie and fresh pasta.

Azuma specialises in Japanese and Korean recipes, served in a smart and simple dining area with exposed brickwork and wooden furniture. Sushi, noodles, and bibimbap are on the menu. Choose from sushi boxes or individual rolls, noodle dishes like udon or ramen, and bibimbap with your pick of toppings. Sake and Japanese beers are also served.

Pasta lovers in Holloway head to Berto, from the same team behind neighbouring restaurant Zia Lucia. This place is bold and modern and specialises in fresh pasta with sauces like carbonara, homemade pesto, and four cheeses. You can also get some Zia Lucia pizzas here, and wine and craft beer are served.

At Alcedo Bistro & Bar you get accessible and hearty British and European food. A couple of Latin American dishes are on the menu too. The venue is elegant with exposed bricks and there are outdoor tables as well. There are a range of spaghetti and risotto recipes here as well as hearty meat dishes like steak, roast chicken, and burgers.

Get affordable and authentic Korean dishes from GoBong. This family-run eatery is popular for takeaways but has a simple area for eating-in. This vibrant place specialises in fresh and honest food like bibimbap, Korean-style noodle soup, dumplings packed with fillings, and Korean fried chicken. All the food is made without artificial flavours.

Long-established restaurant El Rincon serves Latin, British, and European dishes. Food is available all day long, with alcohol served from noon onwards. Menus change regularly but expect filling options like lasagne, pork ribs, pasta dishes, as well as small Latin plates just made for sharing like calamari and croquettes. Indoor and outdoor seating is available here.

Get vegan versions of Chinese takeaway favourites at Loving Hut. The simple dining room has a traditional look. Lots of imitation meat is on the menu, as well as dishes that use veggies or tofu. Expect the likes of vegan chicken balls, plant-based crispy duck, and noodles. Juices and tea are served here.

The focus at Amor Gastronomia is on Roman culture and cuisine. The charming interior is full of rustic details, with shelves full of wine bottles and trailing vines. It's a simple menu with a range of antipasti followed by pinsa, a Roman take on a pizza. There are various options, including vegan recipes. Finish off your meal with Italian wine.

Ssäm is a compact local spot for Korean food. You can bring your own alcohol to this casual eatery and enjoy it alongside traditional dishes like jjigae, fried chicken, and bibimbap. Vegetarian dishes are also on the menu. Although you have to supply the booze, Korean soft drinks are available.

Cosy Italian restaurant Che Cosa has a bright and sunny interior that you can get comfy in. The food here is simple and budget-friendly, making it a great option for any meal. Vegan dishes are served and gluten-free pasta and pizzas are available. As well as pasta, pizza, salads, and burgers, there's a concise choice of alcoholic drinks.

Get a taste of the Mediterranean at Neza Restaurant & Bar. This simple restaurant has a contemporary look and is decorated with hanging lights. A private dining room is also available. On the menu you'll see hot and cold starters, burgers, pizza, pasta, and meat from the grill. There's also a varied choice of alcoholic drinks.

Low-key restaurant La Mia Cucina specialises in Italian and Mediterranean dishes. This small and cosy eatery has a traditional look and there's also plenty of outdoor seating. Pizza, pasta, ravioli, and salads are on the menu, as well as meat and fish recipes such as chicken schnitzel and salmon fillet.

Award-winning restaurant The Sitara serves traditional Punjabi cuisine with a soundtrack of live jazz. The venue is smart with colourful red walls lined with photos of famous jazz musicians. Classic dishes are on the menu like pakoras, biryani, and chicken tikka, plus there's a vibrant musical atmosphere. 

At 500 you can sample classic Italian cooking in a cosy environment. This intimate restaurant is run by a small team and serves authentic dishes. Antipasti is available to begin your meal, followed by pasta and risotto as well as meat and fish dishes like oven-baked rabbit and chargrilled tuna steak. A wide range of Italian wines are also available here.

Colourful restaurant Nid Ting Thai focuses on authentic Thai recipes. The interior is filled with intriguing pictures and decor. Food is served in a cosy atmosphere. Favourites like tom yum soup, chicken satay, curries, and noodle recipes are available here. Set menus for groups are also available.

Opened in 1992, Lahmacino was the first London restaurant to specialise in lahmacun, traditional Turkish flatbreads topped with minced meat. This bustling and casual restaurant still serves lahmacun, as well as oven-baked pides, gozleme pastries, and hearty mains like casseroles and stews. Indoor and outdoor seating is available at this popular neighbourhood spot.