Best restaurants in Maida Vale

Since launching, this bento box of a restaurant has had Maida Vale’s sushi-lovers in a spin: fans now need to book well in advance for Saturday night – or settle for a takeaway. It’s a miracle the kitchen can churn out so many dishes in such a small space. A stonking line-up of nigiri, maki rolls, gunkan wraps and sashimi is the main attraction, although there’s much more to tempt – especially in the evening. Appetisers of Wagyu tataki with jalapeño salsa or sliced sea bass with ponzu jelly, chilli and daikon set the scene for skilful tempura, grilled eel teriyaki, breaded pork tonkatsu or ‘dynamite’ beef fired up with spicy Japanese mustard sauce. Lunch is a simpler affair revolving around bento boxes, donburi rice bowls and various noodle riffs. The quality of the cooking more than justifies the high prices, and we’ve always found the staff perfectly pleasant.

Don’t be fooled by the seasonal moniker: The Summerhouse is now open right through the year – by popular demand. Dreamily located by the banks of Little Venice, just a skip from its sibling The Waterway, this breezy venue offers canal-side dining “with a Cape Cod influence” and sunny echoes of a Long Island beach retreat. Seafood is the main culinary event, with New England clam chowder and popcorn shrimps alongside seared scallops with truffled leeks and pancetta crisps, Canadian lobster with potato salad or beer-battered haddock and chips. Salads, mezze and steaks also get an airing, along with some “outstanding” desserts – perhaps pear and almond tart or spiced rice pudding with caramelised bananas. Drinks include international wines and seasonal refreshers such as River Cruise (Grey Goose vodka, Southern Comfort, amaretto, orange juice and grenadine). The Summerhouse has its own moorings, if you fancy turning up by boat.

Inspired by the roadside cafes of North India, this Maida Vale eatery specialises in fusion dishes that are as beautiful to look at as to eat. Vibrant colours and meticulous presentation make each plate worthy of an Insta post, though we’re pretty sure the aroma will have you diving in as quickly as possible.

A selection of chaats (Indian snacks) kicks off the menu, which is helpfully split into vegetarian and non-vegetarian starters and curries. Keep your eye out for gems such as pav bhaji (delicious buttery buns rarely found outside Mumbai) and baingan bhartha (slow-roasted aubergine) among the usual favourites such as tandoori chicken and lamb rogan josh. An impressive drinks menu, including wines, beers, spirits, cocktails and softs, is sure to satisfy even the trickiest customer, as are the generous portions and reasonable prices.

Carmel is a relaxed all-day restaurant that takes inspiration from eastern Mediterranean cuisine to create a menu that evolves seamlessly from morning to night. Stick around for the Instagrammable interiors too ,which include trailing green foliage and hanging lamp lights dangling from the ceiling.

A big name in the local area, The Hero has made waves thanks to its gorgeous interiors and fantastic atmosphere. But if you head upstairs to the second floor, you’ll discover one of the best grill restaurants in the capital. There’s a neighbouhood feel here, complete with candlelit tables and slick service. Bank this one for date nights or elegant celebrations.

A superb location awaits at this Little Venice local, with one side of the restaurant open onto the Regent’s Canal and a ‘distinctly cool’, clubby interior living up to Gogi’s billing as a ‘bar and grill’. Exposed brickwork, red strip lighting, black seats and a funky dance/R&B soundtrack set the mood, while the menu offers a reasonably priced, 60-dish jaunt through the mainstream Korean repertoire. Generous earthenware pots filled with spicy bibimbap provide ‘invigorating stimulation for the nose and palate’, bulgogi BBQs are a table-top fixture, and the pictorial menu also covers various soups, noodles, salads and appetisers such as bossam (slow-cooked pork belly with punchy daikon and cabbage leaves for wrapping) – not forgetting the obligatory kimchi. Lunch focuses on one-dish picks from the full-line-up, and there’s Korean beer to slake the thirst.