The best restaurants in North London

Little Georgia captures the warmth, flavours, and character of traditional Georgian hospitality, with retro decor and welcoming, knowledgeable staff. The menu ranges from indulgent cheese-filled khachapuri and walnut aubergine rolls to hearty khinkali dumplings, pork kebabs, and richly spiced bean dishes, with thoughtful vegetarian options too. To complete the experience, diners can explore a selection of Georgian wines from one of the world's oldest winemaking regions.

Oui Madame is a quietly confident European bistro in North London, known for its relaxed elegance and warm hospitality. Open for dinner only, it serves seasonal, Mediterranean-leaning dishes designed for easy sharing, balancing refinement with comforting simplicity. With its rustic, homely interior and a thoughtfully curated wine list, it remains a low-key local favourite and a genuine hidden gem.

Von Crumb is a community-minded schnitzel café serving generous, impeccably fried schnitzels that stay crisp outside and juicy within. The menu ranges from classic chicken and premium veal to beef and vegan aubergine versions, plus schnitzel sandwiches in challah bread and a few other options. With good coffee, a relaxed interior, and a welcoming, dog-friendly atmosphere, it's a simple North London spot built around honest connection.

Rabieng Thai is a North London favourite serving classic Thai dishes in a cosy, unpretentious setting, with BYOB keeping things affordable and easy-going. The menu covers all the crowd-pleasers, from tom yum, pad Thai, and coconut curries to satay, prawn cakes, papaya salad, and generous stir-fries with a proper hit of herbs and spice. It's a dependable, good-value spot for a no-fuss Thai meal, best booked ahead at weekends.

Max's Sandwich Shop in North London reimagines the humble sandwich as a creative, fully fledged meal, led by chef Max Halley's playful and experimental approach. The compact, quirky space serves a frequently changing menu of bold combinations, from lasagne sandwiches to Asian-inspired takes packing spring rolls. A no bookings policy and cult favourite status mean you'd best be prepared to queue, but you'll forget all about that once you take your first bite.

The Parakeet in Kentish Town is packing some serious expertise underneath its dashboard – it's backed by the team behind The Blues Kitchen and has a former Brat chef at the helm. Head upstairs at this North London gastropub to discover a beautifully appointed dining room where you can enjoy seasonal, fire-cooked British dishes crafted from top-quality produce. The bar offering is strong as well, naturally.

If Dolly Parton hadn't already written “Jolene”, she might've been inspired to do so by a visit to this charming restaurant in North London. The candlelit venue is a local favourite, with a changing blackboard menu listing seasonal dishes like juicy pork loin, bread slathered  in creamy butter, and ribbony pasta drenched in sauce. The restaurant also has a successful spin-off bakery business, so freshly baked breads and pastries are readily available as well.

Being co-owned by actor Theo James certainly helped build up initial buzz, but since opening in mid-2025, Lupa has proven it's far from a vanity project. The North London restaurant juxtaposes traditional osteria decor with original Victorian features while finding culinary inspiration in the Eternal City. Diners can enjoy their best life here as they gorge themselves on typical Roman comfort food like slow-roasted porchetta, stuffed artichoke hearts, and lasagne, washing it all down with aperitivos and Italian wines.

Goodbye Horses is a friendly North London restaurant and wine bar specialising in seasonal, sustainably minded small plates with international influences, created by a former Papi chef. The intimate, cosy space pairs its convivial food menu with a thoughtfully chosen selection of organic and biodynamic wines.

The North London restaurant scene has a penchant for attracting the kind of projects that might come off as a tad pretentious were they imbued with Hackney hipsterism or West London poshness, but North London self-assuredness just makes them work like a charm. The buzzy Don't Tell Dad is such a place, shifting from bakery to restaurant as the day goes on, serving an inventive, European-leaning menu crafted by a team of pros who know what they're doing and why.

When it comes to Italian dining in London, you can't, shouldn't, mustn't skip Trullo. A true North London institution for more than a decade, Trullo is where you go for some of the best handmade pasta in the city (arguably matched only by Trullo sibling Padella), freshly grilled dishes, a cornucopia of sustainable, seasonal produce, and bottles of fine Italian wine. Despite the high acclaim, this is still a neighbourhood trattoria at heart, with the prices and simple setting to match.

You can't have a list of the best restaurants in North London without including a proper chippy, and Toff's is as proper as it gets. Boasting nationwide acclaim, not to mention quite a few awards, this simple spot offers a dining-in menu as well as takeaway, with all the usual suspects in the line-up. The fish served here are caught just 24 hours before being battered and plated, ensuring unbeatable freshness.

Towards the tail end of the pandemic, the opening of The Tamil Prince was a beacon of hope for brighter days ahead, its desi charms, updated for the 21st century, undeniable. It has since expanded to a second location and even spun-off a more casual brand, Tamila, but the North London original has lost none of its appeal. Come here for top-notch Indian food, irresistible cocktails, and a lively atmosphere where anyone will feel right at home.

Cinder has a couple of restaurants in North London, both revolving around wood-fired cooking and smoky flavours. From charred flatbreads and grilled aubergine to expertly cooked meats, everything is served in a convivial dining room with a laidback yet polished feel. It's a great choice for anything from a casual midweek meal to a sociable Friday night dinner with friends.

Xi'an Impression was one of the restaurants helping kickstart the spread of culinary delights from China's Xi'an province across London. A popular match-day destination thanks to its location opposite Emirates Stadium, this modest North London restaurant showcases regional specialities like hand-pulled noodles, shredded bread in broth, and Xi'an-style burgers – quite different to your usual Chinese takeaway order, yet still familiar and affordable.

Tollington's was one of the hottest new openings of 2024 – a somewhat surprising development for what is, in essence, a chip shop, but one that speaks to the quality of cooking on display here. Applying an Iberian twist to the classic fish bar, this compact North London restaurant has won over critics and punters with its blend of Spanish and British comfort (sea)food, including standout dishes like chips bravas, cuttlefish and mash, and John Dory piri piri. It's a concept that's so good yet so simple, it's a wonder no one has come up with it before.

What The Wolseley is to Central London, Soutine is to North London, just instead of a Mittel European grand café expect a stylish Parisian bistro with the same deft touch at transforming a meal into a special occasion. Boasting sun-soaked pavement tables, interiors clad in artwork, and marble tabletops, the St John's Wood restaurant serves classic French delicacies like escargots, goujons, and souffles. It's also popular with the weekend brunch crowds.

Perilla takes the best bits of fine dining – namely, the food – but leaves all the fuss behind, running things with an ease and skill born of experience and comfort. Think of a friend who happens to be a chef inviting you over for a dinner party, and you'll be on the right track. The seasonal menu is ingredient-led and focuses on simple yet refined dishes, classical European flavours, and produce bursting with freshness.

Chuku's in Tottenham is the world's first Nigerian tapas restaurant, built around sharing, socialising, and a strong sense of community. Its inventive small plates, served in a relaxed, art-filled setting, reinterpret traditional recipes with modern touches, offering an accessible and flavour-packed introduction to Nigerian cuisine. Headlined by its slogan “chop, chat, chill,” this North London restaurant delivers a sociable, culture-rich dining experience for both newcomers and fans of West African food.

There's no shortage of great Turkish restaurants in North London's Green Lanes, but Antepliler is reliably one of the best. Steeped in genuine Turkish hospitality with a side of brisk proficiency, the staff can handle both intimate meals and big group gatherings, serving lavish feasts of authentic dishes in a setting kitted out in natural colours and rustic touches. There are also various Antepliler offshoots to be found on the same street, specialising in everything from late-night kebabs to sticky-sweet desserts.