Guide to the best restaurants in East London

Whitechapel restaurant Tayyabs is well-established as a favourite for Punjabi cuisine. This informal and bustling spot can accommodate groups of all sizes. Expect a lively atmosphere and diverse crowd who all come here for the flavour-packed South Asian dishes, with vegetarian and non-vegetarian choices on the menu. You can BYOB too.

There's no permanent menu at Rogues - instead the dishes are continually evolving and you'll see what's current written up on a blackboard in the restaurant. This stripped-back neighbourhood eatery offers seasonal set menus and small and large plates, paired with selected beers, wines, and cocktails. It also hosts weekly cocktail masterclasses.

Mediterranean eatery Morito has an airy and contemporary feel. The menu is diverse, covering every corner of the region from Spanish tapas to kofte and dolma. Don’t miss Mondays if you’re plant-based – the menu goes entirely vegan for the day. A concise wine list is on offer to complement meals.

Bistrotheque in Bethnal Green has a clean industrial feel. Based in a former warehouse, expect whitewashed walls and exposed ceiling vents. This understated space contrasts with the dinner theatre downstairs, hosting lively drag acts. The menu is European, with dishes prepared using fresh seasonal produce. Cocktails and wine are served too.

Rochelle Canteen provides a cosy sanctuary in Shoreditch, and has become a major name on the London restaurant scene. Located in a converted bike shed, there’s a daily-changing menu of British and European dishes made with quality seasonal produce. There are a few outdoor tables under a canopy for al fresco meals.

Independent Shoreditch restaurant Popolo dishes up Italian food with a distinctive Middle Eastern and Moorish twist. Plates are made for sharing at this simple and contemporary venue, which has exposed brick both inside and out. The menus change frequently, with dishes like octopus and risotto. Low-intervention wines are also available.

For delicious seafood that’s some of the finest in the capital, check out The Sea, The Sea, located near Haggerston station. This intimate restaurant offers a peaceful chef’s table experience where you can sample innovative fish and seafood recipes. Expect dishes such as wild salmon roe with white asparagus or trout with banana miso.

Double Michelin-starred restaurant The Clove Club is an icon of London dining. Located in Shoreditch, the interior is bright and airy. Lunch and dinner means indulgent tasting menus that showcase contemporary British cooking, including vegetarian versions. There’s also a set lunch option for when you need a speedier meal.

Michelin-starred restaurant Lyle's is known for its trendy, minimalist design and daily-changing menus of modern British cooking. It has received acclaim for its tasting menus, with vegetarian and pescetarian selections available. Food is prepared with ingredients sourced from around the UK, and there's a sophisticated wine list to accompany meals.

Explore fresh, Italian-inspired food at Manteca. This modern restaurant feels bright and inviting. The speciality here is hand-rolled pasta and whole-animal butchery; ricotta cheese is made in-house too. Expect dishes like duck liver parfait and pasta with spicy pig-tail ragu. There’s also a diverse selection of wine and cocktails.

Cafe Cecilia is an all-day dining destination. It attracts a hip crowd with its crisp interiors and seasonal menus of British classics. Begin your day with kippers or toast and marmalade, or later sample dishes like leg of lamb or pork and apricot terrine.

For a unique meal, visit Barge East, a restaurant on a 120 year old Dutch barge. This award-winning eatery has a stylish rustic look and serves seasonal and sustainable British dishes. There’s a set menu, with a vegetarian option. Otherwise, chill in the canalside gardens for drinks and street food.

In Spitalfields there’s Crispin, a stylish all-day dining venue. The restaurant has a unique triangle shape but the interior is low-key and understated. The European dishes here use locally-sourced ingredients from small suppliers. Wine is also a big attraction, with the list focusing on natural bottles and rare and indigenous grapes.

If you’re looking for a restaurant dedicated to sustainability, Silo is a must-visit. Menus are projected onto the walls, furniture, crockery, and cutlery are made from recycled and reclaimed materials, and there’s a zero-waste menu. This modern restaurant delivers bold flavour combinations like coffee kombucha crème fraiche in a fresh, clean setting.

Acme Fire Cult has serious barbecuing credentials but the emphasis is on veggies. Meat and fish are on the menu, but they're a side dish rather than the star of the show. This is a modern and informal space where food and drinks are closely linked, using beer by-products for sauces and ferments.

Fine dining restaurant Da Terra serves experimental tasting menus with Italian and Brazilian influences. It’s a welcoming and understated venue in the heart of Bethnal Green. Choose between seven or ten course tasting menus full of inspiring flavours and colourful courses. Well-selected wine pairings are available for each menu.

At Campania & Jones you’ll find a rustic space for authentic Southern Italian dishes. There’s a warm atmosphere here. Try the simple menus, including à la carte or a monthly-changing set menu of four courses. There’s a well-curated wine list, with the focus being on Southern Italian bottles that match the food flawlessly.

Haggerston’s Berber & Q is an on-trend railway arch restaurant with a modern interior. The focus is on live-fire cooking and dishes are served family-style to share. Vegetable-based dishes get just as much attention as meat here, with options like honey-roasted aubergine on offer as well as grilled short rib.

The Water House Project started in 2015 as a supper club but now has a permanent home in Bethnal Green. Intended to be a social fine dining experience, in the smart interior you’ll sample elegant multi-course menus that change monthly. Each contemporary dish is paired with a low-intervention wine or non-alcoholic alternative.

Expect fresh flavours at Oren, taking inspiration from the eastern side of the Mediterranean. The place has a cosy, earthy feel, serving grilled dishes and plates to share. Seafood fans are in for a treat with the likes of pollock pastrami and cured sardines, but there are meat and vegetarian options too.

Casa Fofó might be unpretentious but it still dishes up Michelin-starred cuisine. This is a comfortable and compact neighbourhood venue serving tempting food with Asian inspirations. A set menu is available each day, with a veggie alternative. You can try imaginative dishes here like candied nori with a creamy parfait.

Beginning life as a food truck, Lahpet is now a bustling East London restaurant bringing Burmese flavours to the city. This simple and contemporary venue is ideal for casual meals. The eclectic menu is packed with authentic modern dishes like refreshing salads and coconut noodles served with dumplings.

Brat takes influence from Basque cooking traditions, and its sophisticated menus have earned it one Michelin star. The interior is elegant and modern, and the menu includes lots of grilled meat as well as seafood dishes. There’s an eclectic wine list and each month the focus is on a different specific vintage.

For decadent Italian food, look no further than Gloria. This outrageous restaurant features a lavish interior, tasty cocktails, and OTT dishes that are truly memorable. The menu features options like a giant 250g burrata, spaghetti carbonara served in a whole wheel of pecorino, and the biggest lemon meringue pie you’ve ever seen.

Bubala’s Spitalfields restaurant is a go-to for veggie-friendly Middle Eastern feasts. It’s a cosy and candlelit venue, serving a tasting menu of both familiar favourites and exciting new flavours. Try halloumi with black seed honey or crunchy confit potato latkes. À la carte choices are available too, plus European wines.

Visit Brawn in Columbia Road for Mediterranean dishes in an elegant environment. The playful dining room features pops of colour, posters, and quirky decor to create a unique setting. You can try out dishes like burrata, parmesan fritters, and fresh pasta here. There’s a varied wine list, including skin-contact and sparkling options.

This minimalist Korean restaurant in Hackney is run by a welcoming family and offers a relaxed atmosphere with sleek white walls, dark wood accents, and an open kitchen where their father prepares fragrant Korean dishes. The menu changes but typically includes classic options like gochujang prawns and tender beef short ribs. As of summer 2024, it's a BYOB spot, allowing diners to enjoy their meal with their preferred drinks while focusing their budget on delicious food.

Sune is a modern restaurant located by the canal in Broadway Market, created by two seasoned hospitality professionals. With a lovely outdoor terrace, it's an ideal setting for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. The menu features dishes such as ricotta gnudi with octopus and nduja and lamb neck with apple mustard and peppercorn gravy. These plates are paired with an impressive selection of bold natural wines.

Kolamba is a laid-back Sri Lankan restaurant serving authentic dishes in a zen-inspired setting. With lush foliage, rustic brick walls, and ambient lighting, the atmosphere is calm and welcoming. The menu features favourites such as Ceylon chicken curry, slow-cooked on the bone in creamy coconut milk, and toasted pumpkin with black pepper and red chilli.

Leo's is a collaboration between Juliets Quality Foods and former Bright and P. Franco chef Giuseppe Belvedere, serving a menu of Sardinian-inspired dishes. It's located in a classic Clapton building, serving everything from morning coffee and traditional Italian lunch to relaxed evening dinners around a wood hearth, all complemented by a fine selection of wine.

Nest is a modern restaurant from the team behind the Michelin-starred Restaurant St Barts, serving tasting menus in a cosy space. Here, they focus on sustainably farmed British produce and feature only one type of meat at a time (except during seafood or vegetarian seasons) to minimise waste. Despite its exclusivity, Nest offers a personal dining experience with excellent value for money, which has helped it build a dedicated following.

Elis is a more relaxed venture from the chef behind the two Michelin-starred Da Terra. Chef Rafael Cagali draws on his Brazilian and Italian heritage to create an innovative à la carte menu complemented by a carefully curated wine list from Noble Rot. The à la carte menu offers hearty Brazilian sharing plates and pasta dishes reflecting Chef Cagali's Italian heritage. It's also located inside the former Bethnal Green town hall.