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.
Toasties at The Knave of Clubs
Shoreditch - 25 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6JX
The return of this Shoreditch pub may feature rotisserie chicken as the main event, but there's also a great selection of toasties on the menu. What you're after is their standard grilled cheese (which comes with leek and red onion) but it's also worth checking out the other toasties, particularly a toastie version of a Cuban (ham, roasted pork, swiss cheese, mustard & pickles). Get some of their amazing roast potatoes on the side to really carb it up.
Saganaki toastie at Essi
Homerton - The Adam and Eve pub, 155 Homerton High St, London E9 6AS
This East London toastie went fully viral at Essi's original Shoreditch residency and it continues in their Homerton home inside the Adam & Eve pub. Essi mixes Greek and Australian influiences and this take on the classic saganaki dish really showcases that. Inside the sourdough, you'll find Kasseri cheese, Australian rainforest lime, ghee and thyme. They describe it as "a sando of pure, UNHOLY joy."
Toasties at Two Drops
Battersea - Unit 20 Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW11 8EZ
The sister bar to The Drop in King's Cross (which also does toasties) this always has three savoury options on the menu. There's a marmite & shallot, a smoked haddock & English mustard or salt beef, pickled gherkin & horseradish. Look out specifically for the special guest toasties too. At the time of writing, they've teamed up with Ruben's Reubens for a great-sounding fennel sausage ragu toastie. Ans steering slightly away from cheese for a moment - there are even sweet versions like the dulce de leche, banana & hazelnut toastie.
Cheese & leek toastie at Farm Shop
Mayfair - 64 South Audley Street, London W1K 2QT
Farm Shop's downstairs wine bar remains one of the handiest drinking destinations in Mayfair and there's a great menu featuring plenty of cheese and charcuterie there. There's also a fantastic four Somerset cheese and leek toastie (as the original Farm Shop is actually in Somerset). One to pair with some surprisingly good value wine.
The OG Marmite Cheesy at Rogue Sarnies
Bethnal Green - 460b Hackney Rd, London E2 9EG
A sandwich that had Eating with Tod declaring 'the umami feels were real', this is one of the always-on sandwiches at Rogue Sarnies. Made with a combo of Camembert, cheddar and Parmesan in their bread that's made fresh on site every day, it's elevated with a sticky Marmite glaze that takes it to god-tier status.
Swiss cheese toasties at Jumi
Newington Green and Crouch End
Jumi is a cheese shop and deli that specialises in Swiss cheese and while their raclette and fondue nights are well worth a look, their cheese toasties are an absolute must. Inside the sourdough, you'll find emmental, raclette and schlossberger along with fig and apple mustard.
XXL Three Cheese toastie at The Wigmore
Fitzrovia - 15 Langham Pl, London W1B 3DE
If size is important when it comes to a cheese toastie, then Michel Roux's pub beside The Langham London has just the thing for you. Their XXL toastie will take over your table at over a foot long, filled with three cheeses and mustard. The Wigmore also has regular toastie chef collabs - Asma Khan and Jose Pizarro recently created their own versions.
Signature cheese toastie at bbar
Belgravia - 43 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0PP
One of this South African bar's signature dishes, the cheese toastie (aka 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 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 mainly with Montgomery cheddar adding in others like Ogleshield, London raclette and Comte along with onions and leeks. It all comes in Polaine sourdough.
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 Broadway Market
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.
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.
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