You've been to Shoreditch, right? Well, that means you've probably gone through the effort of wading through the thick and viscous crowds of people to end up in a bar that's got a City boy infestation problem, a drinks menu with unnecessarily lewd sexual puns and, in the very worst case scenario, a ball pit. While it used to be an area solely populated by the hip and happening, Shoreditch has undergone a transformation in the last few years that's seen it torn between its status as a genuinely 'cool' location and somewhere that your mum would happily frequent on a Saturday night with the members of her book club.
And – you know what – we're not mad about that. Yes, Shoreditch has lost a bit of its edge, but along with that softening it's become less pretentious, less arch about its own importance, and more welcoming to a wider range of restaurants, bars and coffee shops than ever before. You can find both Michelin-worthy restaurants and ethical coffee shops getting along just fine in the area next to fuss-free, family-friendly chains. Shoreditch is an area that caters for everyone now, and it's especially well-suited to those who love good food and drink.
Ask about the best restaurants in Shoreditch during a dinner party or a lunch break and you're almost be guaranteed to get a different answer from everyone around the table. "Obviously Smokestak," says your mate that has an Aaron Franklin shrine in their room. "It's Leroy," says the friend with a penchant for small plates and fine wine. "The Clove Club. No questions asked," sneers the one person in your friendship group who can actually afford to eat there. No matter what your tastes are – or what cuisine you're in the mood for – there's a load of London's very best restaurants Shoreditch can call its own. Excellent Thai, Indian, British, Turkish and even Burmese food can all be found around E1. So you should find yourself there, too.
From relative newcomers to East London staples like Brawn that have got the skill of pig cooking down pat, here's our list (in no particular order) of the best restaurants in Shoreditch.
The best restaurants and bars in Shoreditch
Leroy
18 Phipp Street, EC2A 4NU
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
Joe Woodhouse
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
Joe Woodhouse
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
Ed Thaw
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
Ed Thaw
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
Ed Thaw
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
Joe Woodhouse
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
Joe Woodhouse
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
Joe Woodhouse
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
Ed Thaw
The great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good
Ed Thaw
Leroy is a wine bar and restaurant from the same team behind Ellory (RIP). Don't worry about the sequel not living up the original's expectations, though: sommeliers Ed Thaw and Jack Lewens, and chef Sam Kamienko, are high achievers, you see, and Leroy also managed to nab itself a star in the 2019 Michelin Guide. Why? Because it's excellent. And, more importantly, excellent fun. Steak tartare on toast and roasted mallard are brutish dishes done daintily well with a charm you'll find yourself falling head over heels for. This is East London, after all, so don't be surprised that the plates change with almost every visit. That's part of the appeal, however, and the great thing about dining at Leroy is that no matter what surprising and exciting dishes are on the menu, you won't be surprised by the fact that they're all outrageously good.
Brat
4 Redchurch Street, E1 6JL
Brat is one of the most well-respected restaurants in Shoreditch. It's not hard to see why
Brat is one of the most well-respected restaurants in Shoreditch. It's not hard to see why
Brat is one of the most well-respected restaurants in Shoreditch. It's not hard to see why
Brat is one of the most well-respected restaurants in Shoreditch. It's not hard to see why
Brat is one of the most well-respected restaurants in Shoreditch. It's not hard to see why
Brat is one of the most well-respected restaurants in Shoreditch. It's not hard to see why
Best restaurants Shoreditch – Brat
Kerplunked directly above Smoking Goat, Brat is one of East London's most lauded restaurants and undoubtedly one of the best restaurants Shoreditch can call its own. That reputation exists for a reason, and Brat has every right to feel confident in keeping its crown for the foreseeable future. Tomos Parry's approach to wood-fire cooking might leave you smelling like a bonfire but it'll also leave you filled with wild rabbit sausage, roast duck, and some of the best cooked fish in the entire city. It's unique, inventive and – most importantly – delicious. Visit Brat once and you'll be hooked for good.
BAO Noodle Shop
1 Redchurch St, London E2 7DJ
It wasn’t long ago that the original Bao in Soho would draw crowds so large that, at any given time, the queue would stretch around the block. And while, thankfully, you won’t have to stand in the rain for hours on end to nab a table at their Shoreditch iteration, the food is no less worth it. Introducing noodle bowls to their already impressive culinary repertoire, Bao Shoreditch shifts the focus away from the eponymous buns, towards steaming bowls of broth, accompanied by a lengthy selection of snacks and, of course, a few Bao buns for good measure. Fancy keeping the night going? They have a karaoke room downstairs that’s available for hire.
Dishoom
7 Boundary Street, E2 7JE
The Shoreditch outlet of Dishoom is decked out in the style of the old school Irani cafes that populate Bombay
John Carey
The Shoreditch outlet of Dishoom is decked out in the style of the old school Irani cafes that populate Bombay
John Carey
The Shoreditch outlet of Dishoom is decked out in the style of the old school Irani cafes that populate Bombay
John Carey
The Shoreditch outlet of Dishoom is decked out in the style of the old school Irani cafes that populate Bombay
John Carey
The Shoreditch outlet of Dishoom is decked out in the style of the old school Irani cafes that populate Bombay
John Carey
The Shoreditch outlet of Dishoom is decked out in the style of the old school Irani cafes that populate Bombay
John Carey
Ever heard of Dishoom? It's this cute little Indian restaurant group that serves great food at an unbelievably affordable price all across London. Oh, you have? Get you. Anyway, the Shoreditch outlet on Boundary Street is decked out in the style of the old school Irani cafes that populate Bombay and eating heaping plates of naan and lamb raan there feels a bit like being transported into the thrumming hub of the city itself. We were a little hesitant in telling you about this hidden gem at first because we didn't want it to start getting swamped but – look – it's one of the best restaurants Shoreditch has got, and it'd be unfathomably selfish of us to keep it all to ourselves. If you do pay the East London premises visit, here's a real insiders tip: order the house black daal. It's the best-kept secret this side of the city. Or not, as the case may be.
Casa do frango
2 King John Ct, EC2A 3EZ
Casa do Frango Shoreditch
@lateef.photography
No matter the weather, the time of year or how many holiday days you have left (two, which you’re saving for christmas, because you burned through the rest over summer), there’s one surefire way to capture the sun, heat and languor of the Algarve: Casa do Frango. The bright kick of peri peri chicken, the salty pillow of a bacalhau fritter, the flavour bomb that is their Portugueuse rice, all of it washed down with the effervescence of a port and tonic, is enough to transport you a million miles away from the thrum of Shoreditch.
Smoking Goat
64 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ
Ben Chapman's Smoking Goat is a smoking gun if you ever needed proof that Shoreditch was one of London's hottest dining areas. And we're not just talking about the heat emanating from the fiery plates of chilli sauce fish wings and lamb laab coming out of the kitchen's pass, either. Smoking Goat is a consistent noisemaker when it comes to sifting through the chorus of the best Thai restaurants in London and definitely one of our personal favourite places to dine in the city. Lardo fried rice, natural wine and a communal seating set-up that ensures everyone around you gets to know how charming and interesting you are? Sounds like our cup of tea.
Llama Inn
1 Willow Street, EC2A 4BH
The adage goes that the higher the restaurant, the worse the food and this couldn't be more wrong for Llama Inn. Sitting pretty on the rooftop of the Hoxton Hotel in Shoreditch, this restaurant follows in the footsteps of its New York sibling's success, serving Peruvian flavours and playful cocktails. As easy on the eyes as it is on the stomach, this interior design dreamscape of a restaurant is helmed by head chef Marcin Maliczowski, who has worked closely with famed Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio. From puckering ceviches and citrussy-dressed oysters to fragrant aji verde pork chop and cabbage anticucho – the menu is studded with heady hitters that are downright devourable. Make sure not to skip the carob sticky fig ice cream sandwiched between a soft chai-spiced bun – pud perfection.
Padella
1 Phipp St, EC2A 4PS
View on Instagram
For what is ostensibly a simple pasta restaurant that serves up great plates of the stuff at fairly reasonable prices, Padella can get a lot of schtick from people. We’re almost certain this stems from the queue that tends to linger at its original Borough site, which unfortunately forms every day because people are so keen to get their hands on the restaurant’s reasonably priced plates of wonderful pasta and..well… you can see why we think the hatred is a little unfounded and perhaps anchored in bitterness. But we digress – the Shoreditch site avoids all these problems by both allowing you to book, and also letting guests put down their name and number for a table and head off for a drink, returning when they’re called. Talk about gaming the system.
The Clove Club
380 Old Street, EC1V 9LT
View on Instagram
Do you like really, really nice food? Do you like eating really, really nice food in a really, really nice space? If you answered yes to both of those, we'd hazard a guess at saying that you'd really, really like The Clove Club. Located in Shoreditch Town Hall, The Clove Club serves "modern British cooking" that's leagues more exciting than that label can convey. The full-on tasting menu costs £145 per person, but for all those ducats you'll get a calibre of meal you won't find anywhere else in the city. The Clove Club is the epitome of a modern classic.
Blacklock
28-30 Rivington St, EC2A 3DZ
If heaven were a place on earth, it’s highly likely that it might be found in a plate of Blacklock’s infamous chops. Failing that, perhaps you might locate it in their cull yaw crumpet, the slow cooked meat absolutely drowning in incredible gravy, or even possibly in their cheesecake, dolloped onto your plate by the mammoth spoonful from a tray that seems to grow legs and wander around the room on its own. If you don’t manage to find the celestial world, never fear, it’s not exactly time wasted as you’ve gotten an incredible meal out of it. Win win, right?
Smokestak
35 Sclater Street, E1 6LB
London's best nose-to-tail restaurants – Smokestak
London's best nose-to-tail restaurants – Smokestak
London's best nose-to-tail restaurants – Smokestak
London's best nose-to-tail restaurants – Smokestak
London's best nose-to-tail restaurants – Smokestak
London's best nose-to-tail restaurants – Smokestak
London's best nose-to-tail restaurants – Smokestak
London's best nose-to-tail restaurants – Smokestak
London's best nose-to-tail restaurants – Smokestak
Barbecued things are just goddamn tasty, aren't they? It doesn't matter whether those things are a beef brisket, a slab of pork belly or an aubergine, there's something about grilling food that imparts it with an extra dimension of flavour. Smokestak is one of the best spots in London to find real-deal barbecue and is one of the best restaurants Shoreditch hot got for that. It's also one of our favourites for a plethora of other reasons. Toeing the line between the slightly upmarket nose-to-tailery of restaurants like St. John (you'll find both pig's head on toast and bone marrow flat bread on the menu) and the more down-to-earth grubbery of American smokehouses, Smokestak is a venue suitable for just about every occasion. Birthday? Great. Job promotion? Maybe even greater. Marriage proposal? Marry us! Then order a whole beef brisket for the table to celebrate. Because that's what real love is all about.
Gloria
54-56 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3QR
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Jérôme Galland
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Joann Pai
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Jérôme Galland
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Joann Pai
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Joann Pai
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Jérôme Galland
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Joakim Blockstrom
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Jérôme Galland
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Jérôme Galland
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Joann Pai
Gloria comes from the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food.
Jérôme Galland
London continues to lose its collective head over Gloria – a restaurant that arrived on our shores courtesy of the bombastic Big Mamma group, a Parisian hospitality group specialising in pan-Italian comfort food. And when we say comfort, we mean it. Pastas are hot and heavy and not for anyone afraid of over-egging their daily sat fat intake. Save room for dessert, too: either tiramisu dished up generously from a hulking dish, or the standout lemon meringue tart, with an implausibly big, snowy pillow of lightly torched meringue atop its custard-rich lemon curd. Banging.
Brawn
49 Columbia Road, E2 7RG
Brawn isn't just one of our favourites restaurants in Shoreditch, it's one of our favourites in London
Brawn isn't just one of our favourites restaurants in Shoreditch, it's one of our favourites in London
Brawn isn't just one of our favourites restaurants in Shoreditch, it's one of our favourites in London
Brawn isn't just one of our favourites restaurants in Shoreditch, it's one of our favourites in London
Brawn isn't just one of our favourites restaurants in Shoreditch, it's one of our favourites in London
You haven't done your due diligence on the Shoreditch dining scene unless you've paid a visit to Brawn. Featuring a daily menu of seasonal, produce-driven dishes, Brawn's kitchen team throws out some big Mediterranean shapes. Grilled veal tongue, pheasant, onglet; the menu may read like an isle of misfit toys but each ingredient is given ample opportunity to sing at Brawn. The pastas are consistently excellent and we've yet to had a meal that disappoints at this Columbia Road cult classic. Brawn, glorious Brawn, what more could you ask for?
Rochelle Canteen
16 Playground Gardens, E2 7FA
View on Instagram
Rochelle Canteen sits in the converted bike shed of the old Rochelle School, looking out over the trees of Arnold Circus. That scenic sight is comparable to the idyll of eating at Rochelle Canteen. Under the tutelage of Margot Henderson, head chef Euan Farmer has created a menu that leaks love all over the shop where even simple plates of smoked cod's roe on toast taste as if it they've been passed through the hands of an angel. There aren't many restaurants capable of making us excited over a listing of 'beef mince and tatties' but Rochelle Canteen is one of them. That's why it's one of our list of the best restaurants Shoreditch has got.
Lyle's
56 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ
Lyle's is where to go for a real lunch to remember. A meal that your parents will bring up at every family barbecue, bat mitzvah, and funeral for the next decade to come.
Per-Anders Jorgensen
Lyle's is where to go for a real lunch to remember. A meal that your parents will bring up at every family barbecue, bat mitzvah, and funeral for the next decade to come.
Per-Anders Jorgensen
Lyle's is where to go for a real lunch to remember. A meal that your parents will bring up at every family barbecue, bat mitzvah, and funeral for the next decade to come.
Per-Anders Jorgensen
Lyle's is where to go for a real lunch to remember. A meal that your parents will bring up at every family barbecue, bat mitzvah, and funeral for the next decade to come.
Per-Anders Jorgensen
Lyle's is where to go for a real lunch to remember. A meal that your parents will bring up at every family barbecue, bat mitzvah, and funeral for the next decade to come.
Per-Anders Jorgensen
Lyle's is a hell of a room and James Lowe and John Ogier are a hell of a restaurateur double act. Trying to find a chink in its armour is like trying to damage Achilles in absolutely any place but his heel – by which we mean it's pretty much flawless. The wine list is well-read, knowing exactly what it's talking about, and the staff are comparably attentive and informed. The seasons dictate the majority of the menu and there's always a fully vegetarian menu on the cards if you do fancy going without meat. If you're up for a spot of meat eating? Well, then you can't go wrong with a bit of homemade blood cake now, can you?
Lahpet
58 Bethnal Green Road, E1 6JW
Lahpet is a Burmese restaurant that any self-respecting eater in the city should visit when they can. There aren't many places in the capital to discover the food of Burma and we'd recommend making Lahpet your starting point if you want to make sure your relationship with that cuisine starts off on the right foot. Lahpet's signature salad, the lahpet thohk, is an absolute must and if the sweet and sour tamarind-laden taste pickles your fancy, go one step further and order the slow-cooked pork shoulder that comes laced with pickled mustard greens, star anise, pea shoots and peanuts. Tackle all that with side order of funky and delicious balachaung and you'll be ready to take on the strongest mouthwash on the market.
Pizza East
56 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ
View on Instagram
Pizza isn't meant to be complicated. And going out for pizza isn't meant to involve having your palate challenged and being forced to use a knife and fork to work your way through the cheesy, soupy mess placed in front of you. Pizza East makes our pick of the best restaurants in Shoreditch because of it's no-frills approach to pizza. Toppings like prosciutto cotto, wild mushroom, tomato, and thyme are uncomplicated and wholly delicious while wood oven'd non-pizza dishes like the beef ragu lasagne hit a similar sweet spot. If you're simply in the mood for simply tasty grub, Pizza East is simply the best.
Burger & Beyond
147 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger
Burger & Beyond is one of the best joints in Shoreditch to grab a dirty burger. Burger & Beyond's Bougie Burg has its mayonnaise plumped up with bone marrow to ensure that you get the most out of your meal, but it doesn't stop there. Oh, no, no, no. The American cheese is smoked and even the onions are cooked down in beef fat till they reach a meaty residue you'll barely recognise as ever having once been a vegetable. The Rice Krispie fried chicken burger with miso maple butter is also straight fire.
On The Bab
305 Old Street, EC1V 9LA
View on Instagram
On The Bab is never not packed, and if you're ever lucky enough to see a free seat when walking down Old Street, you should absolutely pop in for a bite. We don't care if you're on your way to a nine-course tasting menu or if you've just eaten a nine-course tasting menu, if there's space at On The Bab: you go in, and you eat. And how! Lip-scorching jjigae, superbly stodgy bibimbap and crisp Korean fried chicken are the essentials on the Korean street food-ish menu – though finding a misfire is no easy feat. Order a bottle of shoju if you're up for a raucous time.
Beigel Bake
159 Brick Lane, E1 6SB
View on Instagram
Salt beef, salmon and cream cheese, peanut butter: it doesn't matter what you decide to get your bagel from Beigel Bake slathered in, you're in for a treat. Yes, it's become a bit of a tourist trap in recent years and you will have to wait in a line of wannabe Instagram influencers and Americans abroad, but the fact of the matter is that the bagels are still good enough to warrant the price point. If you're looking for a lunch that will do a halfway decent job at filling you up, Beigel Bake should still be on your Shoreditch hit list. Stopping by BB after a heavy night out and buying an entire bag of bagels to eat on the journey home? We've been there, we've done that.
Pachamama East
73 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HR
Pachamama East is one of our favourite spots in Shoreditch
The Peruvian fusion menu at Pachamama is split into sections of 'sea', 'soil', and 'land' to help you layout plan your best attack. Sweet potato ceviche might sound a bit strange but trust us that you won't even miss the presence of raw fish (or, at least, won't miss it too much) once you've got stuck in. Elements of various different cuisines and cultures can be found scattered all over; a dish of pork mince, doubanjiang and green beans representing Sichuan well.
Officina 00
156 Old Street, EC1V 9BW
Pumpkin gnocchi with brown butter, sage, and gorgonzola at Officina 00
Head chef Elia Sebregondi and director Enzo Mirto have opened up Officina 00 on Old Street – a warm and welcoming restaurant serving great plates of pasta at an affordable price
A spread of dishes at Officina 00
A spread of dishes at Officina 00
Salt and pepper hake at Officina 00
The cocktails at Officina 00 are well worth exploring
The cocktails at Officina 00 are well worth exploring
The cocktails at Officina 00 are well worth exploring
Pumpkin gnocchi with brown butter, sage, and gorgonzola at Officina 00
Interior of Offiicina 00
Fresh handmade pasta is having a bit of a moment in London. Bully for you, then, that Elia Sebregondi and Enzo Mirto opened up Officina 00 on Old Street – a warm and welcoming Italian restaurant where you can get your fill of that cuisine du jour at a reasonable price. Shoreditch's pasta scene has improved measurably since Officina's gnocchi, corzetti, and pici came crashing into the fray, and we've thanked our lucky stars ever since it did. Give a few plates of pasta company with a bottle from the restaurant's impressive Italian wine list and you'll struggle to part company with Officina 00 at the end of the meal.
Oklava
74 Luke Street, EC2A 4PY
View on Instagram
Selin Kiazim's Oklava is everything you'd want from a modern Turkish restaurant. While some high-end eateries are more than happy to raise menus to ridiculous prices and look down upon humbler mangal joints, Oklava bridges the gap between the kebab shops you know and love and the lofty, astute technical skills that Turkish cuisine is just as capable of achieving. Seftali kebab is taken to an unprecedented level of gorgeous, cooked till its pâté soft and spicy and presented on a handkerchief of lavash bread that soaks up its juices just wonderfully. Pides come fully loaded and hum with flavour while the drinks selection matches the food's flavour tit for tat. Order a sumac and pomegranate martini (sumac vodka, spice rum pomegranate juice, lime) before moving on to some of the bright and beautiful Turkish wines.
Passione Vino
85 Leonard Street, EC2A 4QS
While ostensibly a wine bar, Passione Vino is also quietly one of Shoreditch’s best restaurants, unsurprisingly featuring one of the city’s most exciting wine selections. Famously lacking a wine list, staff ask you questions and bring you a glass or a bottle based on your preferences. It’s rare they’ll deliver you something you won’t like, and usually it’s something you’ve never drunk before. Food is – unsurprisingly – Italian, and deeply unpretentious, with a concise menu of classic dishes done extremely well. Passione Vino is a hidden gem at its finest – we’ll keep the secret if you do too?
