Riding House Fitzrovia

Housed on Great Titchfield Street, Riding House Cafe really hits the mark for trendy London dining. It’s spread across two distinct sections: a convivial bar full of after-work drinkers and a more relaxed, curtained-off dining room. Dark wooden walls are reminiscent of those of a stable, leaning into the name, paired with burnt orange mohair seating and oversized old-timey tassel lampshades that create a homely warmth.  

A versatile menu can have you wondering where to start. It’s an eclectic mix, spanning continents with options from asado grills to miso sea bass. We opt for a selection of small plates and skewers, starting with an artichoke dip that comes topped with a caramelised layer of Parmesan. It’s rich and cheesy but overpowers the artichoke flavour. Regardless, it spreads smoothly across the nicely charred sourdough, and makes for a solid start to the evening. Skewers, whilst taking up a starring section on the menu, seemed to get lost amongst everything else. Not particularly stand out in their own right but enjoyable, nonetheless. 

Deep-fried calamari come in pleasantly crisp and tender chunks, alongside a lively kimchi mayo. Continuing the battered food trend come sticks of aubergine, deeply crisp and smothered with large salt flakes, with a real kick from Korean barbecue sauce. The food here may appear to be straightforward sharing plates, but each dish has intricacies that elevate it above many similar restaurants.  

Cocktails are dependable if nothing special, but desserts end the evening on a high. Sweet cinnamon-doused doughnuts come perfectly spherical, hot and fluffy, with a sticky toffee sauce that steals the show.  

Tasty food, a vibrant atmosphere and overall great value for money make Riding House a solid option at all times of day - we reckon it’s worth a stop off if you’re in the area.  

Located just a stone’s throw from Oxford Circus, The Riding House offers an escape from central Soho, no matter whether you’re looking for a laissez-faire lunch with friends, or somewhere to get some respite with a coffee.

A restaurant of two parts; on one side you’ll find a pared-back, light space with hardwood flooring, exposed brick and plants dotted throughout the room. It provides an area for somewhere to unwind, with one large sharing table and seats at the bar, ideal for a leisurely brunch with friends or a lunch besides your laptop. Then if you walk through to the dining room, you’ll find something a little grander, with plush seating, dim lighting, and a number of separate booths and tables available to book. This area is better suited to a lunch or dinner in groups, where you can settle in and work your way through the extensive menu.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a special brunch menu available at weekends, it’s always a good time to head to The Riding House. For breakfast you'll find anything from a ‘burgerdict’ with beef patty, poached egg, tomato and hollandaise on a muffin, to pancakes with toasted marshmallows, coconut clotted cream, white chocolate and banana infused maple syrup. The brunch menu follows a similar theme, with the addition of some more lunch appropriate dishes such as a smoked Cajun stew and Sunday roasts that offer something a little different from tradition. Think slow-roast pork shoulder with pineapple chutney and sour cream dip, or truffled portobello and sweet potato Wellington with porcini cream.
The dinner menu offers a combination of small and larger plates, sides, and a number of sweet options like hot chocolate brioche doughnuts with coffee caramel.

To drink, there’s a selection of wines from across the globe, as well as a number of beers and cocktails to ensure a tipple for everyone's taste.