Love it or hate it, you’ll probably end up hitting the shops this month to pick up those last few Christmas gifts. If you’re shopping in London, you know the drill – go off-peak (evenings are good), leave your heels at home, and make a list to avoid any aimless wandering. Most importantly, reward yourself with a restaurant stop along the way – you’ve earned it! Here are some of the best places to eat near London’s top shopping destinations.
REGENT STREET (for Apple, Kate Spade, Burberry, Hollister, Levi’s, Hamleys…)
Where to eat: You’re spoilt for choice for great eats around Regent Street. You can dine in style at Gordon Ramsay’s Heddon Street Kitchen, enjoy Indian fine dining at Atul Kochhar’s Kanishka, or treat yourself to steak at Hawksmoor Air Street. If you’d rather keep things casual, head to Kingly Court and grab a bite at Whyte & Brown, The Rum Kitchen or The Good Egg.
OXFORD STREET (for Selfridges, Pandora, Primark, Disney Store, NikeTown…)
Where to eat: You’ll struggle to find much worth eating on Oxford Street itself so it’s worth making a detour into Soho or Marylebone. You can linger over wine and charcuterie at 28-50, grab a lunchtime bento at Cocochan, or try some of London’s best Indian food at Roti Chai. For a special pre-Christmas treat, splash out on cocktails and dim sum at Hakkasan or feast on crab and steak at BEAST. Check out our Oxford Street dining guide for more great options nearby.
WESTFIELD (for The White Company, Michael Kors, Prada, Lego, Tiffany & Co…)
Where to eat: Luckily for weary shoppers, Westfield has some solid options for a quick bite to eat. If you’ve got hungry kids in tow, head to Spaghetti House for pizza and pasta, Bleecker and Byron for burgers, or Bill’s for brunch and comfort food. If you’d rather get in, get out, and eat elsewhere, check out local favourites like Kricket and Bocconi.
COVENT GARDEN (for Chanel, Mulberry, Jo Malone, Hotel Chocolat, Tom Ford…)
Where to eat: Restaurants around Covent Garden Piazza fill up fast so book ahead for the best tables. You can catch up with friends over dumplings at RedFarm, pop into Café Murano for pasta and great wine, or refuel at grand brasseries like Balthazar and The Delaunay. Kids will love the interactive tables at pan-Asian restaurant Inamo and the burgers and ribs at Big Easy.
KING’S ROAD (for Boden, Calvin Klein, Lululemon, Petit Bateau, Space NK, Kiehl’s…)
Where to eat: After a day of gift hunting in Chelsea’s chic boutiques, enjoy an early supper at local favourites like Bluebird, Kutir, or The Ivy Chelsea Garden. Manicomio is a great choice if you’re in the mood for Italian, or try Zheng for traditional Malaysian dishes like beef rendang and nasi lemak.
Shopping elsewhere? Book tables on the go using the OpenTable app.
Updated December 2021.
