How London Fell in Love With Spice Bags and Laverbread

"We don't need to wax lyrical about London's food scene - we know it's the best restaurant city on the planet and it was just named the world's best food destination in the 2026 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards. The diversity of food on offer is its biggest strength; it's cliche to say but you really can eat your way around the globe in London."

"What we're starting to see now though is more regional specificity and more Celtic representation, not just in the produce but in the dishes. Deeney's and Auld Hag are flying the flag for Scotland with haggis toasties, square sausage morning rolls and macaroni pies. Detroit-style pizza may be the headline act at Ria's but owner Ria Morgan-Ratcliffe has added a little nod to Scottish roots with a battered deep fried Mars Bar on her dessert menu."

"Old-school restaurants like Rules, Wiltons and Sweetings are doing dishes like steak & kidney pudding, fish pie and spotted dick. There are modern classics, like roast bone marrow and parsley salad, alongside Eccles cakes and jam roly poly, at St JOHN. Sally Abé is opening her own British bistro Teal in Hackney this spring, serving Cornish mussels with Jersey Royals, Dorset crab royale with English peas and lovage, marmalade ice cream sandwiches and penny lick ice creams."

London's restaurants combine unmatched global diversity with abundant traditional British options and a rising focus on regional specificity. Traditional outlets include chippies, curry houses, pie-and-mash shops, pubs serving Sunday roasts and caffs offering fry-ups, while old-school restaurants present classics such as steak and kidney pudding, fish pie and spotted dick. Modern British plates and desserts appear alongside regional bakes at venues like St JOHN and the forthcoming Teal bistro. Scottish and Welsh representation is increasing, with establishments offering haggis toasties, square sausage rolls, macaroni pies and Welsh bakes like bara brith, alongside playful nods to heritage on contemporary menus.

Read at London On The Inside