Secret Foodie Streets

Secret streets? In London – one of the most well-trodden cities in the world? What I’m talking about are those streets just a touch too far from the nearest tube station. The streets that didn’t make it into the tourist guidebooks and that are mainly frequented by Londoners in the know. These streets all have something unique about them that can’t quite be relayed in words. They all have great places to eat and drink and are worth a trip just to soak up the atmosphere.

Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell has a small lunchtime market on week days serving up pricey, but extremely tempting snacks and dishes with a vast array of restaurants and drinking holes. It’s very much at its best in summer because of the al fresco option. Chairs and tables are set outside the excellent eateries, such as English brasserie The Ambassador. There’s award-winning Moorish food at Moro and the buzzy Cafe Kick bar comes alive during the summer months with people spilling onto the street, sipping on caipirinhas. 

The market is a top brunch spot for a weekend hangover too. Whether you want amazing coffee and eggs benedict to die for at Caravan, or a good old English fry-up at Ayla’s, you can wile away the day feeding your delicate stomach. Other solid options include Medcalf and Santore whose pizzas inspire a loyal following.

Broadway Market in Hackney is brimming with the cool crowd from the East End, and is bustling at the weekend. With stalls of cheeses and gooey chocolate brownies, you could spend all day nibbling and strolling around the market. 

But the pubs are also worth a visit. The Cat and Mutton has a vast open space downstairs and room upstairs for private functions. Food is kept simple with roast pork belly sandwich and a ploughman’s slate making appearances on the menu. 

The Dove is also a good choice, though the staff aren’t always the friendliest. There’s a great selection of hearty food and a fine selection of beers and the place is generally packed full of people, bringing to life this nice old pub.

Shepherd Market in Mayfair is packed full of old English boozers with lashings of history. There’s also a spot of high-level shopping with some interesting jewellers.

On a chilly day you’d hide inside, positioning yourself next to an open fire to keep warm. However, as soon as the sun comes out, revellers who’ve managed to escape their places of work head to these historical cobbled streets for a few drinks before sampling the restaurants. These include the family-run restaurant The Little Square, and Le Boudin Blanc which serves French cuisine. 

Ye Grapes and the Shepherds Tavern are oldies but goodies. These pre-17th century public houses are good for cosy winter indoor drinks and vibrant summer boozing on Shepherd Market itself.

Gloucester Avenue in Primrose Hill is dotted with some fine pubs and restaurants that would suit any palate. The Engineer serves up superior pub grub with a gorgeous garden to enjoy it in, and although the prices are as you would expect for an area like Primrose Hill, the building is lovely, has a thoroughly pleasant bar and there’s a very good chance you’ll bump into one of the many celebs that frequent the area. 

Opposite The Engineer, next to the canal, is a small Sardinian restaurant called Sardo Canale with a beautiful courtyard for al fresco dining and an ancient olive tree situated in the centre of the outside space. Sardo serves up some of the most delicious Mediterranean food in the capital. The Mufflone cheese that comes with the meat and cheese platter is to die for, and their Primi (pasta) and Secondi (meat and fish) courses are made from the freshest of ingredients.

Head a little further down this street and you’ll find the best pizzas on the hill at The Lansdowne served in a lovely, if a little pretentious at times, English pub. Finally, there is a classic place for after-work drinks called The Pembroke Castle with reasonably priced food and booze.

Lancashire Court in Mayfair has a handful of excellent options for eating and drinking. The al fresco option here is also excellent, with the cobbled streets swiftly filling with people looking for sustenance of all sorts come summer time. 

Rocket is a great little Italian place, with pizzas cooked in a traditional oven as well as consistently fresh salads and grills with burly flavours. Or try Hush, which is the perfect place for a ‘relaxing coffee’, and serves attractive brasserie-style food. 

Set within the Hush courtyard you’ll find La Cave, which specialises in rare and fine wines. La Cave is sold as a private room with the capacity to seat 12 people, and with your very own maitre’d and chef it will be quite the memorable experience.

The Ambassador
55 Exmouth Market
EC1R 4QL
Closest Tube – Farringdon

Tel: 020 7837 0009

Moro
34-36 Exmouth Market
EC1R 4QE
Closest Tube – Farringdon

Tel: 020 7833 8336

Cafe Kick
43 Exmouth Market
EC1R 4QL
Closest Tube – Farringdon

Tel: 020 7837 8077

Caravan
11–13 Exmouth Market
EC1R 4QD
Closest Tube – Farringdon

Tel: 020 7833 8115

Medcalf
40 Exmouth Market
EC1R 4QE
Closest Tube – Farringdon

Tel: 020 7833 3533

Santore
59–61 Exmouth Market
EC1R 4QL
Closest Tube – Farringdon

Tel: 020 7812 1488

The Cat and Mutton
76 Broadway Market
E8 4QJ
Closest Tube – Bethnal Green

Tel: 020 7254 5599

The Dove
24–28 Broadway Market
E8 4QJ
Closest Tube – Bethnal Green

Tel: 020 7275 7617

The Little Square
3 Shepherd Market
W1J 7PB
Closest Tube – Green Park

Tel: 020 7355 2101

Le Boudin Blanc
56 Shepherd Market
W1J 7QX
Closest Tube – Green Park

Tel: 020 7499 3292

Ye Grapes
16 Shepherd Market
W1J 7QQ
Closest Tube – Green Park

Tel: 020 7499 1563

Shepherd’s Tavern
50 Hertford Street
W1J 7SS
Closest Tube – Green Park

Tel: 020 7499 3017

The Engineer
65 Gloucester Avenue
NW1 8JH
Closest Tube – Chalk Farm

Tel: 020 7722 0950

Sardo Canale
42 Gloucester Avenue
NW1 8JD
Closest Tube – Chalk Farm

Tel: 020 7722 2800

The Lansdowne
90 Gloucester Avenue
NW1 8HX
Closest Tube – Chalk Farm

Tel: 020 7483 0409

The Pembroke Castle
150 Gloucester Avenue
NW1 8JA
Closest Tube – Chalk Farm

Tel: 020 7483 2927

Rocket
4–6 Lancashire Court
W1S 1EY
Closest Tube – Bond Street

Tel: 020 7629 2889

Hush and La Cave
8 Lancashire Court
W1S 1EY
Closest Tube – Bond Street

Tel: 020 7659 1500 (Hush)
Tel: 020 7659 1515 (La Cave)