The best BYOB restaurants in London: 12 corking casual spots

BYOB – four of the best letters there are when it comes to dining out in the capital, particularly at the end of the month right before payday. That’s not to say we don’t love sampling the many tipples London's best restaurants and bars have to offer. It's just that sometimes it’s nice to know exactly what you’re going to be drinking with your meal and – let’s face it – it's always helpful to keep costs under control. 

If you’re on the hunt for the best BYOB restaurants in London, then you’re in for a treat. We’ve scoured the streets and rounded up the best deals in town, with every single one of these spots allowing diners to turn up with their favourite drinks in hand. 

While it's absolutely possible to eat out in London on a budget, it’s often the drinks that can rack up the bill. You'd be hard-pressed to enjoy a couple of cocktails without putting a dent in your wallet these days, and even a medium glass of house wine can take the biscuit when it comes to cost.

As it turns out, there are quite a few spots across the city that allow you to bring your own booze, offering seriously reduced or non-existent corkage fees. Be sure to grab yourself a couple of beers or your finest supermarket bottle of vino and book yourself a table at one of these BYOB restaurants in London.

Eating out doesn't have to be an expensive feat, and we never want you to sacrifice your love of good food. From steakhouses with weekly deals to curry houses where you can bring your own every night of the week, these are the best bring your own booze restaurants in London. Our advice would be to put those pennies towards something important, like dessert, instead. It's the logical thing to do. 

Hawksmoor, Various locations

What: With its mass of central London locations, Hawksmoor is a steak haven loved by the masses. You might also know about the group-wide Monday Wine Club; don’t worry, there’s no initiation, simply bring a bottle of wine, be it something cheap and cheerful from the local offie or a Magnum of Champagne, and enjoy seriously discounted corkage.
Corkage: £5 every Monday 
Where: Various London locations
Book now: Hawksmoor Borough; Hawksmoor Air Street; Hawksmoor Knightsbridge; Hawksmoor Wood Wharf and more

Enoteca da Luca, various locations

What: It may come as a surprise that this cosy collection of Italian wine bars allow you to BYO wine, but they do, and for just £5 a bottle. Now with three sites around the city, Enoteca da Luca brings a taste of the Mediterranean, offering a selection of authentic Italian plates. Whilst they offer a pretty extensive selection of wines to choose from, you now have the option to bring your own bottle to pair with homemade pastas, and meats straight from the grill.
Corkage: £5 (Monday and Friday)
Where: Devonshire Square, EC2M 4AE; 20-21 Watling Street, EC4M 9BR; 10-12 Basinghall Street, EC2V 5BQ
Book now: Enoteca da Luca Devonshire Square; Enoteca da Luca St Pauls; Enoteca da Luca Guildhall

Tayyabs, Whitechapel

What: This iconic, family-owned Punjabi/Pakistani restaurant is one of the most popular curry houses in town, with a reputation for turning out great food since 1972. It gets mightily busy here, especially on weekends, but at least you can occupy yourself with the booze you’ve brought along while you queue for a table.
Corkage: No charge
Where: 83-89 Fieldgate Street, E1 1JU
Book now: Tayyabs 

Mien Tay, Shoreditch

What: For more than a decade, Mien Tay has drawn crowds of diners on Kingsland Road’s Pho Mile with its first-rate south-western Vietnamese food. You’ll find all the usual suspects on the extensive menu, from soups and salads to stir-fries, along with some more unusual dishes, including deep fried frog’s legs and chargrilled goat. Prices are low and made more enticing still by the BYOB policy, although be aware that Mien Tay doesn’t allow you to bring your own spirits.
Corkage: £2.50 per person Sunday-Thursday; £3 per person Friday-Saturday
Where: 106 Kingsland Road, E2 8DP
Book now: Mien Tay 

Minnow, Clapham

What: Pretty pastels and views over Clapham Common aren’t generally synonymous with a BYOB policy, but lovely little neighbourhood joint Minnow makes an exception a couple of times a week. Tuesdays are completely BYOB with no corkage for those who order a main and a side. Come Sunday, it’s all about the BYOB roasts, allowing diners to tuck into an organic roast with all the trimmings, plus a pudding, for £30, with the option to bring your own booze.
Corkage: No charge on Tuesdays, or Sundays after 4pm (with certain orders)
Where: 21 The Pavement, SW4 OHY
Book now: Minnow 

Preem and Prithi, Brick Lane

What: Taking up the ranks of the ever growing selection of curry houses on Brick Lane, Preem and Prithi combines its cosy atmosphere with tasty dishes and an excellent BYOB policy. Here, you'll find an extensive list of authentic curries, which are all pretty reasonably priced to begin with, and don't worry about having to pay a corkage fee - just bring your own booze and get stuck in.
Corkage: No charge 
Where: 122-120 Brick Lane, E1 6RL
Book now: Preem and Prithi 

Mangal 1, Dalston

What: Beloved amongst locals, Mangal 1 is a renowned Turkish ocakbasi restaurant which has been serving residents for over 30 years. If you’re looking for unfussy, but delicious dining, you’ll find it at Mangal 1, with traditional grilled kebabs and a BYOB policy that makes for an affordable evening out. Seating is a little cosy, but surround yourself amongst the crowds of hungry punters for some seriously good food, and whatever you've grabbed from the local offie.
Corkage: No charge
Where: 10 Arcola Street, E8 2DJ
Book now: Mangal 1

KaoSarn, Brixton, Clapham and Tooting

What: There aren’t many places doing BYOB in West London, but KaoSarn fills that gap with its three restaurants, each boasting authentic Thai menus, reasonable prices and the option to bring your own drinks (free of charge). Whether you’re in Brixton, Clapham, or Tooting, head to KaoSarn for Tom Yum soups, massaman curries, Bangkok style noodles, and plenty more.
Corkage: No charge
Where: Coldharbour Lane, SW9 7EL; 110 St John's Hill, SW11 1SJ
Book now: KaoSarn Brixton; KaoSarn Clapham

Guanabana, Camden

What: Bringing a taste of the Caribbean to Camden Town, Guanabana boasts eye-catching interiors from its lime green walls donned with funky, colourful artwork to its jungle of potted plants. Booze options are all priced differently, from £3 for a beer to £6 for a bottle of wine, and slightly more for spirits. Or if you head over on a Monday, there’s no corkage on any size alcoholic beverage, which makes for an even more affordable evening.
Corkage: No charge on Mondays, prices from £3 the rest of the week
Where: 85 Kentish Town Road, NW1 8NY
Book now: Guanabana 

Viet Food, Soho

What: If you’re on the hunt for a bring your own booze restaurant in central, then you've found your next evening out at Viet Food. This cosy, fuss-free Vietnamese eatery is primely placed on Wardour Street, offering authentic dishes and the option to bring along your own drinks. There’s an enticing wine list but if you’d rather pick from your own collection, then go ahead, with a corkage fee of £10 per person.
Corkage: £10 per person (wine only)
Where: 34-36 Wardour Street, W1D 6QT
Book now: Viet Food

Roti King, Euston

What: The queues at Roti King might indicate its success with waits often over an hour. Menus of Malaysian and Singaporean street food are on offer, from laksa to rendang curry, perfectly paired with, well, whatever you end up bringing. Corkage here is £10 per table, so we recommend bringing a big group of friends to help split the cost. 
Corkage: £10 per table 
Where: 40 Doric Way, NW1 1LH
Book now:  Roti King 

Little Georgia, Hackney

What: Simple, cosy and BYOB, Little Georgia has two sites across the city with this one allowing guests to rock up with their own drinks. Specialising in Georgian cuisine, here you'll find the likes of traditional stuffed cheese breads and khinkali dumplings. Corkage here is only charged if your bill is under £25 a person, so you may as well order a couple more dishes and drink the booze for free. 
Corkage: £5 corkage if your bill is under £25 per person
Where: 87 Goldsmiths Row, E2 8QR
Book now: Little Georgia

If you’d rather save money on your food than drinks, then be sure to check out our guide to the best set menus in London for some stellar lunch and dinner deals. Keen to bag a free or discounted meal? Start earning points with SquareMeal Rewards to receive money off your restaurant bill.