London Restaurants - East London

59 Chatsworth Rd, Lower Clapton, London E5 0LH

Leo's comes from the people behind Juliet's Quality Food in Tooting and this Clapton restaurant has them collaborating with ex-Bright chef Giuseppe Belvedere. An all-day bar and restaurant, it serves up a regularly changing menu that draws on Giuseppe’s Sardinian heritage, using the best possible produce from the British Isles and the continent.

1F Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PN

Run by the team that was once Hot 4 U, Papi sees chef Matthew Scott team up with Charlie Carr from Wingnut Wines. While also having a big focus on sustainability and zero-waste, it's key to point out that 'fun' is a big part of the vibe of the restaurant. Expect a regularly changing menu, great wines and a small bar downstairs too.

4 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7XN

This family-run Dalston ocakbasi was transformed into one of London's most exciting restaurants when ownership passed to the original owners' sons. Now you can expect thrilling modern Turkish food through an East London lens.

25-35 Fisherman’s Walk, London E14 4DH

Fairgame is billed as a "funfair for grown-ups" with lots of fairground games. It's also home to a great collection of food vendors too. At the time of writing, they're Dos Mas Tacos, Burger & Beyond and Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana - each of them well worth a visit. And yes, they might have some candyfloss too.

Unit 3, 75 Marsh Wall, Hampton Tower London E14 9WS

Zia Lucia are best known for their 48-hour-fermented pizza dough, available in traditional white flour, wholemeal, vegetable charcoal, and gluten-free. Choose a base and one of their toppings, from Margheritas through to Spicy Burrata.

10 Newfoundland Place, London E14 4BH

M Restaurants are primarily about steak, grills and particularly wagyu cuts. On top of that, each of the M Restaurants has a specific identity and here in Canary Wharf, the specialities are Provencal food. But whatever you do, try not to miss the wagyu.

2 Westgate St, London E8 3RN

This double business sees Sichuan’s fiery chicken buns upstairs while downstairs is the latest outpost of the much-loved Dumpling Shack.

Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, London E2 9NF

Elis is the second restaurant in the Town Hall Hotel in Benthal Green from the two-Michelin-starred Da Terra team. Inspired by chef Rafael Cagali, the menu takes its inspiration from his Brazilian/Italian heritage.

20 Canada Square, London E14 5NN

Scarpetta is a mini-chain of restaurants in the City of London. Launched by two Italian best friends, they say the restaurant uses recipes from the farms, mills and roasteries that they've known since childhood. There's plenty of fresh pasta, Italian wines and they have a post-work happy hour too.

37 Westferry Circus, London E14 8RR

This restaurant first opened at St Katharine Docks, before relocating to Canary Wharf. Here you'll find Indian cuisine focusing on the Punjabi region and South India. They have a heated riverside terrace too.

Unit 3, 25 Cabot Square, London E14 4AQ

With bottles lining the walls and a modern aesthetic the Canary Wharf branch of Vagabond is perfect for wine lovers. There are over 120 wines by the glass available (all self--pour) and even self-pour craft beers.

4 Park Pavilion, 40 Canada Square, London E14 5FW

Roka has had hits from Mayfair to Dubai, with its combination of high-end sushi and signature robatayaki dishes. This Canary Wharf outpost overlooks Canada Square and has an extensive rooftop terrace.

12 Cabot Square, London E14 4QQ

Iberica pride themselves on offering as close an authentic Spanish restaurant experience as you'll find here in the UK. Founders Marcos Fernandez Pardo and Nacho Manzano want all their restaurants, including this Canary Wharf branch, to celebrate Spanish gastronomy.

12 George Street, Wood Wharf, London E14 9QG

Emilia's Crafted Pasta's flagship restaurant in Wood Wharf sees all their pasta made fresh in-house every day. The team work closely with hand-picked suppliers for all their produce. This location even has tabletop games in the shape of a custom table bocce that they've planted in the bar.

18-20 Mackenzie Walk, London E14 4PH

Humble Grape is a small wine bar chain that features over 400 sustainable wines across their locations, with a big focus on independent vineyards. The Canary Wharf wine bar boasts a waterfront location with a modern European menu.

1 Crossrail Place, London E14 5AR

This popular Copenhagen chain serves up a large menu of sushi and yakitori. The Danish influence shines through the inventive takes on Japanese cuisine with plenty of fresh produce on offer.

Canary Wharf Shopping Centre, Crossrail Place, London E14 5AR

Chai Ki comes the man behind from Roti Chai, Rohit Chugh. Here the focus is on "modern Indian soul food". You can also find The Toddy Shop, where there's a big focus on cocktails and their own infused beers.

Cabot Square, London E14 4QT

Boisdale is a celebration of Scottish produce and whisky - there's a whopping 1000 bottles on offer here - along with a big Cuban cigar terrace. You'll also find an art-deco-style Oyster Bar and Grill and there's a big focus on music, particularly blues and jazz.

78 Lower Clapton Road, Lower Clapton, London E5 0RN

After building up a devoted following at Peckham's Market, Abby Lee has moved her Malaysian restaurant to a permanent space in East London. As before, it's all about Modern malaysian food but with a bigger menu. If they're on, the Lor Bak (five-spice pork and prawn bean curd roll) is a must. 

593 High Rd Leytonstone, London E11 4PA

This small, family-run Thai spot in Leytonstone has become one of the city's best restaurants. From its regularly changing specials board and friendly, chaotic service to its legendarily good moo krob, people really love Singburi. It's genuinely worth crossing to the furthest regions of North East London from wherever you live.

165 Lower Clapton Rd, Lower Clapton, London E5 8EQ

This is a family-run Chinese dumpling house and sake bar that started as a pop-up and has become hugely popular in Clapton (it also has a sister site in Victoria Park). The specialities are their hand-rolled dumplings made fresh every day. Alongside those dumplings, there's a big range of sake from small family-run Japanese breweries.

20 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AZ

Freddie Janssen's Dalston cafe has become a big hit in East London. Here you can expect an globally-influenced menu with popular dishes like their kimcheese croissant or the Snackmuffin (their own take on another certain breakfast muffin). Mainly open during weekdays keep an eye out for special dinner services too.

58 Evering Rd, Lower Clapton, London N16 7SR

Bake Street has achieved almost legendary status, primarily for its weekend brunch menu. That's when they put their Nashville fried chicken sandwich on the menu which has become one of London's cult dishes (along with their creme brulee cookies). To those add lamb birria tacos and more. Good luck in grabbing a table (there are no reservations and they only have outside seating).

42 De Beauvoir Cres, London N1 5SB

This little cafe down on the canal in Hackney is one of London's best waterside spots. Run by Laura Jackson and Lori de Mori the food is always seasonal and delicious and, because there's no booking, landing a table here feels very much like winning in life.

1 Corbridge Cres, London E2 9DS

Gabriel Waterhouse's Water House Project started as a supper club before becoming a pop-up restaurant and then finding this permanent location. Sticking to the supperclub roots, there's a monthly-changing tasting menu, with a bit of Nordic influence throughout.

1a Bayford Street London E8 3SE

Facing Heaven is Julian Denis' sequel to Mao Chow, moving just around the corner from the previous restaurant. The vegan menu takes influences from Cantonese, Yunnan and Shaanxi cuisines as well as adding in a few Puerto-Rican, American and Portuguese flavours into the mix. They have hot pots at the weekend too.

134 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8DY

Song Que is an excellent Vietnamese restaurant on Kingsland Road's strong Vietnamese food scene. Expect authentic cuisine with excellent pho and banh mi, which underlines its longstanding great reputation. If you're looking for the best Vietnamese food in London, this should be on your list.

374-378 Old St, London EC1V 9LT

Nest offers a set, regularly changing menu of small plates with a strong focus on provenance and local, British suppliers. Sustainability is also a big thing here and the wine list concentrates on low/no intervention.

197 Richmond Rd, London E8 3NJ

While the original Pophams is mainly a bakery and cafe, this, their second, also functions as a restaurant. So while you can still buy their bread and pastries here, there's the added draw of the pasta restaurant, with all the pasta made fresh in-house. It should go without saying that the desserts are pretty great as well.

68 Dalston Ln, London E8 3AH

All-day Hackney restaurant Little Duck - The Picklery comes from the same people behind Rawduck and Ducksoup. It's part shop and cafe and they're proud of their fermented food and drink (as the name gives away). On the menu, expect small plates that see those pickles put into action, with a focus on sharing.