London’s position as one of the world’s leading cities for culinary wonders is only strengthening as its food scene continues to evolve. In Shoreditch, one of the city’s trendiest areas, tradition and innovation go hand in hand at some must-visit hotspots to know about. From Brick Lane to Old Street to Spitalfields, here are the best restaurants in Shoreditch to visit right now.
A French-inspired bistro is home to some hot date nights, and a London icon boasts its own in-house bakery. In Spitalfields, a neighbourhood gem is the place to go for creative seafood and unique oyster platters, while Brick Lane is home to one of the best curry houses in London. Head over to Old Street for an izakaya-inspired hotspot and get ready for one of the best Sunday roasts in the city at an elegant gastropub. Whether you’re looking for modern British fare, Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisine or hearty homemade pasta, these restaurants have all the bases covered for any occasion. So, check out the 12 best restaurants in Shoreditch and find something special to try today.
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Looking to dine out in one of London’s coolest areas? Read on for the best restaurants in Shoreditch
For one of the best restaurants in Shoreditch for innovative tasting menus – book at NEST
NEST in Old Street is the place to be for modern tasting menus featuring British cuisine. In this trendy part of London, NEST sets itself apart with its sustainably reared meat, ethically caught seafood and organically grown vegetables. Fast on its way to matching its MICHELIN-starred sister restaurant, Restaurant St. Barts in Farringdon, NEST provides seasonal tasting menus perfect for any occasion. Try liver parfait and black berries, delicate quail escabeche and BBQ venison and Cumberland sauce. Finish off with the smooth sweet corn custard and Guinness. Sustainably produced wines, beers and ciders are carefully selected to pair perfectly with the season’s picks.
For one of the best restaurants in Shoreditch for a romantic date night – visit Bistro Freddie
Perfect for a romantic night out, Bistro Freddie on Luke Street boasts one of the finest blends of British and French flavours you’ll find in the capital. Here you can look forward to seasonal appetisers, hearty main courses, shareable pies, and large cuts of meat cooked over an open flame. Sandwich board-style handwritten menus for both lunch and dinner courses help create the traditional bistro-style feel of France while offering classic British dishes. Try the black pudding with burnt apple and butter or the crispy lamb salad and anchovy dressing starters. Move onto hearty mains like the plaice meunière with capers and dill, lamb chops with leek soubise and wild garlic and the mighty chicken tarragon pie that’s great for sharing between two. The all-French wine list curated by sommelier Alex Price provides a perfect partner for any meal.
For one of the best restaurants in Shoreditch for Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisine – try Pachamama East
If you’re looking for something different, then Peruvian-Chinese cuisine has some of the tastiest and most creative dishes you can find and Pachamama East is the perfect place to try it. With a focus on sharing dishes, check out the various tasting menus that cater to many diets, with vegetarian, pescatarian and vegan options. Enjoy blue fin tuna ceviche with wasabi, and pork belly chicharrónes with sweet miso glaze. Followed by tender confit duck leg with Peruvian rice and Amarillo butter. The a la carte menu also offers up different seafood options like sea bream tiradito and grilled miso salmon and a traditional pisco sour cocktail ties up the meal nicely.
For one of the best restaurants in Shoreditch for oysters and date nights – book a table at Pearly Queen
Led by famed chef Tom Brown, Pearly Queen in Spitalfields is the place to go for seafood lovers. The crispy buffalo oysters with ranch dressing – inspired by London’s chicken shops – are the star of the menu. Check out the bold, creative options like the pickled oyster with horseradish and cucumber, or if you prefer other seafood to oysters, then don’t worry, there’s something for everyone. Order the zesty bream ceviche with green tomato, lime and jalapeño or the delectable plaice with tomato butter sauce, courgette and chervil, which is also part of the chef’s choice of 8 sharing plates, so is one of several great shared options for group bookings. Don’t miss the Oyster Happy Hour between 3-6 pm every day, which includes a half-dozen raw oysters with champagne mignonette served with a glass of sparkling Crémant de Limoux, or the seafood brunch every Sunday between 12 pm and 2 pm.
For one of the best restaurants in Shoreditch for juicy steaks – check out Blacklock Shoreditch
Blacklock Shoreditch on Rivington Street is one of Shoreditch’s premier haunts for juicy steak. Known for its vibrant ambience, Blacklock prides itself on showing you a good time while ensuring your belly is thoroughly full upon departure. Set in an old 1940s furniture factory, it’s easy to imagine the workers crafting various leather recliners and rosewood dining chairs, much like the ones diners sit on here. Check out the ‘lunch friendly’ steak sarnie and Blacklock double cheeseburger, or order the lamb cutlets, pork belly and ribs, grilled to perfection using vintage Blacklock irons. For hearty steak mains, get your teeth stuck into some Blacklock fillet, sixth ribeye or the thick-cut porterhouse, with generous portions, perfect for sharing.
For one of the best gastropubs in Shoreditch – visit The Princess of Shoreditch
The Princess of Shoreditch boasts creative, gastropub cooking, with new head chef Nikita, winner of MasterChef Pros in 2022, at the helm. In a quieter corner of this trendy part of London, you can enjoy the set lunch menu, a Sunday roast or the seasonal la carte options, all made using British produce. Starter highlights include steak tartare with smoked oyster and cucumber on sourdough toast and cured seabream with coal-smoked aubergine. Moving onto the mains, the Iberico pork chop with sweetcorn is a go-to option, alongside roasted quail, served with a spicy-sweet peach sichuan puree and a Scotch egg.
For one of the best restaurants in Shoreditch for great British fare – don’t miss St. JOHN Bread and Wine
St. JOHN Bread and Wine in Spitalfields is perfect for special occasions, offering an inviting and understated atmosphere that reflects its focus on simple, yet exquisite dining. The menu features standout starters like the rich and cheesy Welsh rarebit and the delicate smoked eel with pickled cucumber. For mains try the juicy grilled veal with chickpea and green sauce or go try a unique take on classic British flavours and order the ox heart with lentils and anchovy. Take some time to peruse the carefully curated fine wine menu (and if you find something you love, you can buy a bottle to take home). Voted best value restaurant by The Observer Food Monthly and Best British Restaurant by the Evening Standard, St. JOHN Bread and Wine lives up to its reputation.
For one of the best wine bars in Shoreditch – try Crispin
Crispin, a stylish wine bar near Spitalfields is led by the talented head chef Lewis de Haas, who creates a modern European-inspired menu that emphasises seasonality and sustainability. Working with independent growers and small-scale producers, Crispin is dedicated to a responsible food system that celebrates fresh, high-quality ingredients. Try sardines with tomato, capers, and smoked chili for your starter and follow it up with flaky hake served with ‘nduja, cocco beans, sea beet, and capers. An expertly curated list of European wines complements the ever-evolving menu. Crispin’s commitment to seasonality and innovative cooking makes it an unmissable destination for wine lovers and foodies alike. If you’re headed to central London instead, don’t miss the sister restaurant Bar Crispin in Soho.
For one of the best curry houses in London – check out Brick Lane’s neighbourhood gem City Spice
Not quite Shoreditch, Shoreditch, but you can’t miss a curry on Brick Lane. The iconic London street is filled with Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants, but the difference maker is City Spice – Brick Lane. This gem has been voted the best curry house on the street, and that’s some feat, considering the competition Indian restaurants have in this neck of the woods. The menu bursts with Bengali flavours, and there’s a vegan menu available as well. Check out popular dishes to start you off like duck tikka or shingara: Bengali pyramid pastries. Vegetarian starters include saag paneer roll and classic onion bhajis. Moving onto the main event, a good option for sharing is a Thali, a silver platter with small select curries to dip into. Check out the award-winning options like the Rezala curry, with chicken, lamb or vegetables as well as the lamb shank and gunpowder chicken all served with City Spice’s unique Bengali spice (various levels of spiciness available).
For one of the best restaurants in Shoreditch for homemade pasta – visit Officina 00
Officina 00 in Old Street is the place to be for artisanal Italian pasta in Shoreditch. This restaurant and pasta workshop is dedicated to crafting exceptional pasta dishes, inspired by traditional regional Italian recipes. Seasonal menus and innovative cooking techniques, elevate Officina’s offerings, making it easily one of the best nights out in Shoreditch. Much like its sister restaurant, Officina 00 in Fitzrovia, you can also take a pasta-making masterclass in the workshop. Once you’ve sampled the pasta dishes here, you’ll want to learn from the best straight afterwards. Start with creamy buffalo burrata with tomato tartare or the zesty prawn tartare with fresh ricotta. Standout main pasta dishes include the huge XL double raviolo with semi-dried tomatoes and burrata and the ink tagliatelle with baby octopus and yellow pepper. Finish off your meal with a delightful affogato coffee dessert, and a classic Italian flourish.
For one of the best Japanese restaurants in Shoreditch – try Edo Izakaya
The newly opened Edo Izakaya evokes the relaxed setting of a traditional Japanese izakaya pub, which combines informality with elegance. Izakayas are the perfect spot to kick back with a drink and some tapas-style food after work or on the weekends. There’s a traditional menu of sashimis and sushi, a tantalising tasting list that offers a bit of everything and a bottomless prosecco brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays. Start with sashimi options including mackerel, scallop, sea bass and yellow tail sashimi, or try sushi rolls filled with spicy tuna, salmon and avocado. Don’t miss signature rolls like the volcano, made with snow crab, prawn tempura and asparagus. For small plates, standout dishes include Ika karaage squid and pork gyozas. If you’re after something heartier, the miso black cod and beef ribeye will hit the spot. Pair your meal with a traditional flight of sake, and you won’t be sure if you’re in London or Tokyo.
For one of the best Sunday roasts in Shoreditch – book your table at temper Shoreditch
For hungry diners in Shoreditch with steak on their minds, a visit to temper Shoreditch on Great Eastern Street is a must. Highlighted on celebrity MasterChef UK, temper Shoreditch is the area’s prime location for a traditional but modern take on barbequed meats. This sleek, stylish smokehouse offers a diverse menu, including in-house aged and butchered steaks, smoked meats, tacos, and indulgent Sunday roasts. Start in the upstairs cocktail bar which features creative drinks alongside snacks like aged beef nachos and crispy pork bites. The barbecue offers up delectable meat and seafood like beef brisket tajin carnitas, lamb with kimchi carnitas and mezcal prawns. Or, go for classic steak options such as 28-day aged rump, picanha and chateaubriand, or on-the-bone cuts like sirloin, ribeye and porterhouse. Book on Saturdays for the bottomless brunch or Sundays for the classic roast.
Whether you want to enjoy some great pub food, branch out and experiment with Eastern cuisines like Japanese or South American-Asian fusion, or just stick to classic British fare with a modern twist, Shoreditch has it all and more. Sort your bookings out now to get the best table in the house and prepare yourself for a great gastro journey through Shoreditch.
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