London's best cheese toasties

Catherine Hanly 11 January 2024

Whether heaven for you is an old-school Breville offering or a more modern grilled cheese take, this is where to find London's best cheese toasties any day of the year.

Saganaki toastie at Essi

17b Kingsland Rd, London E2 8AA

This East London toastie went fully viral last year and one look at explains why. The sandwich in question is on offer at the Greek restaurant residency Essi at TT Liquor in Shoreditch. Their sandwich on Dusty Knuckle bread is made with kefalograviera cheese and topped with rainforest lime, thyme and honey.

XXL Three Cheese toastie at The Wigmore

Fitzrovia - 15 Langham Pl, London W1B 3DE

For a sandwich that would satisfy the size requirements of a Scooby snack head to Michel Roux's pub at The Langham London. Over a foot long it's filled with three cheeses and mustard.

Provisions' toastie menu

Hackney - 308 Hackney Rd, London E2 7SJ

Lunchtimes in Hackney got a whole lot more interesting with the arrival of the toastie menu at Provisions. Every day from 12pm they serve a selection of toasties featuring a range of cheeses including Comte, Raclette and Blue d'auvergne as well as cooked ham.

Dairy beef tartare & rockefeller toastie at Sune

Broadway Market - 129A Pritchard’s Road, London E2 9AP

Already a cast-iron classic on this new restaurant's menu, the toastie itself combines the elements of oysters Rockefeller inside - mornay/bechamel sauce mixed with cooked oyster and spinach. It's served with dairy beef tartare which you load up on the toastie. Heaven.

Braaibroodjie at bbar

43 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PP

One of this South African bar's signature dishes, the braaibroodjie at bbar features a winning combo of Ogleshield, Godminster Cheddar and Lincolnshire Poacher grilled to perfection with red onion, plum tomatoes and Mrs Ball’s Chutney.

Chilli and coriander cheese toastie at The George

Fitzrovia - 55 Great Portland St, London W1W 7LQ

When Michelin-starred chef James Knappett has been involved in your menus, it's no surprise that the bar food at The George in Marylebone is a cut above. Their take on a classic features chilli herb sauce and is served with Ghatti Masala Ketchup. You can also add ham hock as an extra.

Cheese toastie at Kappacasein

Borough Market - 1 Stoney St, London SE1 9AA

No list of London cheese toasties would be complete without a reference to Kappacasein. Their Borough Market stall features a perma queue for their grilled cheese sandwich made with Montgomery cheddar, Ogleshield, London raclette and Comte along with onions and leeks.

Morty and Bob's grilled cheese sandwich

King's Cross, Kensal Rise and Westfield London

Named after both of owner Charlie's grandads, Morty & Bob's started life as a grilled cheese stall in Netil Market and now comprises three restaurants across town. Their signature dish comes in various iterations - there's straight up with cheese and grilled onions, a mushroom and truffle version and also a Nduja option.

The Hamish Macbeth from Deeney's

Leyton, Walthamstow and Hackney

The haggis toastie has always been Scottish cafe Deeney's signature dish since its street food days. Now you can find them in their own standalone restaurants in Leyton and Walthamstow along with a stall in Broadway Market. The Hamish Macbeth is stuffed with haggis, bacon, cheddar, caramelised onion, rocket and mustard on granary. There's also a veggie version, The Lady Macbeth.

Toasted truffle cheese sandwich at 45 Jermyn St

Mayfair - 45 Jermyn St, London SW1Y 6DN

For the swankiest of toasties, you need to go to St James where the annual truffle menu at 45 Jermyn St. features this beauty. Homemade sourdough is coated with freshly whipped butter, stuffed with raclette cheese made and truffle shavings and then brought to the table for a final shaving of fresh truffle.

Braaibroodjie at Little Kudu

Peckham - 133 Queen’s Road, London SE15 2ND

For a South African take on the toastie you need to try chef Patrick Williams' braiibrodjie. It's made with Baron Bigod brie and smoked tomato chutney and topped with pickled onions.

Cheese and chutney toastie at Chaiiwala

Various locations across town

For a spicy kick to your toastie you need to head to Indian street food group Chaiiwala where theirs is filled with a tangy chutney and topped with sliced chillies. There's also a double carb version - the Bombay sandwich - stuffed with aloo potatoe and green chutney.