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Best restaurants in North London

If you're on the hunt for the best places to eat in North London and aren't sure where to start, we don't blame you. North London's restaurant scene is growing by the minute, which means that there are a lot of fantastic restaurants to choose from. The good news is that you need not worry! We’ve got you covered with our round-up of the best restaurants in North London. From Italian spots in Islington to Thai food in Highbury - and everything in between - you won’t be short of options when it comes to dining in North London once you’ve perused this guide.

Updated on 01 April 2025

North London boasts some of the city’s top names as far as eating out is concerned, so we thought it might be handy to round them all up in one easy-to-use guide (think of it like a little tick list which you should most definitely try to work your way through). The most popular postcode – Islington – is a fashionable North London area, with streets full of independent boutiques, great gastropubs and an array of restaurants. Situated close to the City and the West End, this corner of the capital has a strong cultural and arts scene too, and is home to the legendary Almeida Theatre. Elsewhere, Stoke Newington is another exciting part of North London for eating out, with the village-like ambience of Church Street always a popular choice.

We’ve hand-picked the very best places to eat in North London to help you in your search. However, if you can’t find what you are looking for here, then you can refine your search even further with our handy area guides, from restaurants in Stoke Newington to places to eat in Crouch End.

We've done our best to bring you tried-and-tested North London restaurants, whether that's by our own in-house critics or SquareMeal users. Once you’ve found something you like the look of, simply click through to view the full listing which includes opening hours, menus and more.

Farang

Farang

72 Highbury Park, Highbury, London, N5 2XE

Highbury restaurant Farang deals exclusively in big-flavoured Thai food. Having originally started as a street food stall, Farang’s menu largely revolves around their amazing curries and no one is complaining.
£50 - £79
Thai
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Hero

The Hero

55 Shirland Road, Maida Vale, London, W9 2JD

The latest smash hit restaurant from Public House Group, The Hero is beautifully designed over multiple levels. You can grab a bite to eat in the downstairs pub, but the real sparks fly one floor up at The Grill, which is the sort of meat and fish heavy grill house that we all dream of. Head up to the Library for snacks and sultry cocktails. 

£30 - £49
British
Gastropub
Top Cuvée

Top Cuvée

177B Blackstock Road, Highbury, London, N5 2LL

One of London's top natural wine bars also serves up a compact but excellent menu of French inflected bistro classics, like steak tartare, leek tarte tatin, and asparagus in a sauce gribiche. If you're feeling snacky, excellent pommes frites go nicely with a glass of something cold and fizzy. 

£30 - £49
British
Wine Bars
Jolene

Jolene

21 Newington Green, London, N16 9PU

Bakery by day and restaurant by night, Jolene serves a simple French menu with some clear Italian inspiration. The spacious dining room gives off a relaxed feeling and is the perfect place to enjoy the wonderfully comforting food.
Under £30
French
The Parakeet

The Parakeet

256 Kentish Town Road, Kentish Town, London, NW5 2AA

Another of the capital's top gastropubs can be found in Kentish Town, where a pair of former Brat chefs are busy grilling sea bass over coals and generally cooking up a storm. The dining room is very atmospheric too, complete with old-school stained glass and candles on the tables. You can pop in for a pint and a snack and have just as good a time. 

£50 - £79
British
Gastropub
SquareMeal London Top 100
Goodbye Horses

Goodbye Horses

21 Halliford Street, Islington, London, N1 3HB

Goodbye Horses has been an enormous hit since it opened in 2024, thanks to some rather lovely design quirks, adventurous modern European cookery, and an absolutely killer natural wine list that might just be one of the best in London. It's worth popping to sister site The Dreamery too, London's first ice cream and wine bar.

£30 - £49
Modern European
Wine Bars
Sonora Taqueria

Sonora Taqueria

208 Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington, London, N16 7HU

One of - if not the - definitive taco spot in London, no-one who ventures to Stoke Newington for a box of Sonora Taqueria goodies has ever been unhappy. Don't underestimate the size of these beauties - they are absolutely stuffed - and make sure you get yourself a quesadilla and a cup of chilled horchata whilst you're at it. 

Under £30
Mexican
The Baring

The Baring

55 Baring Street, Islington, London, N1 3DS

There are some cracking pubs in the quaint little neighbourhood in between Angel and the Regent's Canal, but The Baring is probably the best of them. Expect some genuinely superb, inventive European cooking alongside a quality old-world wine list. 

£50 - £79
Pubs
British
Wolkite

Wolkite

82 Hornsey Road, Holloway, London, N7 7NN

Right up there among the best Ethiopian restaurants in the city, Wolkite is a great choice for vegans and vegetarians, but frankly, everything on the menu is absolutely delicious. The lamb ribs are a must-order, and get in on Wolkite's homemade tej (honey wine) whilst you're here too. Wolkite gets bonus points for wonderful hospitality on top. 

Under £30
Vegetarian
Vegan
Ethiopian
Trullo

Trullo

300-302 St Paul's Road, Highbury, London, N1 2LH

If you’re wanting a top notch Italian meal and amazing pasta in particular, then Trullo is the spot for you in North London. Based near Highbury and Islington station, Trullo is the sister restaurant of Padella.
£30 - £49
Italian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Tamila King

Tamila King's Cross

8 Caledonian Road, King's Cross, London, N1 9DU

We're huge fans of Tamila's ultra-accessible, affordable Indian cooking. Out of this world rotis meet fantastic curries, a classy cocktail list and a buzzy, canteen-style dining room where hungry diners are packed side by side. 

£30 - £49
Indian
Caravel

Caravel

172 Shepherdess Walk, Islington, London, N1 7JL

The Spiteri brothers (the sons of genius restaurateur Jon Spiteri) have something truly great going on between the walls of this Islington canal barge. Lorcan's cooking harks back to nostalgic favourites, from potato rostis to jelly and ice cream, whilst Finn mixes a mean cocktail and runs front-of-house with his dad's charm. 

£30 - £49
Modern European
British
Primeur

Primeur

116 Petherton Road, London, N5 2RT

A long residential street in Stoke Newington is the home to Primeur, a French restaurant in a converted garage. The menu changes daily, with simple ingredients used at the highest level to create exceptional dishes.
£30 - £49
French
Bull & Last

Bull & Last

168 Highgate Road, London, NW5 1QS

A wonderful old-school gastropub in Highgate, the Bull and Last feels like a posh country affair and has décor to match. The menu of refined classic dishes is an all-round winner too.
£30 - £49
Gastropub
Perilla

Perilla

1-3 Green Lanes, Newington Green, London, N16 9BS

Overlooking Newington Green with large sweeping windows is Ben Marks’ European restaurant, Perilla. Expect simple but elegant interiors and a small menu which uses basic ingredients but lifts them to great heights.
£50 - £79
Modern European
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Drapers Arms

The Drapers Arms

44 Barnsbury Street, Islington, London, N1 1ER

Tucked away from the business of Upper Street in Islington sits The Drapers Arms - the Georgian style dining room of this gastropub is the perfect place to enjoy its crowd pleasing food.

£30 - £49
Gastropub
F.K.A.B.A.M

F.K.A.B.A.M

156 Canonbury Road, London, N1 2UP

F.K.A.B.A.M made a name for itself (originally as Black Axe Mangal) off the back of raucous, full throttle cooking, with former St John chef Lee Tiernan using a massive pizza oven to turn out squid ink flatbreads. The name may have changed, but the style has not - F.K.A.B.A.M is still a must-visit.

Under £30
International
The Plimsoll

The Plimsoll

52 St. Thomas's Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 2QQ

The Plimsoll has become one of London's most in-demand bookings, largely off the back of a borderline mythical burger that sells out every night. To be honest, the whole menu is stonkingly good, but be aware that they turn tables pretty fast and the restaurant is always absolutely packed. It's worth it though.

£30 - £49
Pubs
British
Victor Garvey at The Midland Grand

Victor Garvey at The Midland Grand

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, King's Cross, London, NW1 2AR

Victor Garvey (also of Michelin-starred SO:LA) has brought a big slice of gallic panache to the stunning Grade I Listed Midland Grand. One of London's most spellbinding dining rooms meets one of its most precise chefs - this was always bound to be a big hit. 

£50 - £79
Modern European
French
SquareMeal London Top 100
Soutine

Soutine

60 St John’s Wood High Street, St John's Wood, London, NW8 7SH

This causal bistro-style café and restaurant in St John’s wood takes its inspiration from the streets of Paris. Serving food all day, the menu covers the French classics from a Croque Monsieur to Confit de Canard.

£30 - £49
French

Want to shop around North London a bit to find the perfect spot for your next meal? Have a look at our guide to the best restaurants in Islington for our top tips on restaurants in one of London's trendiest neighbourhoods. Or, check out our list of cool restaurants near Highgate for a funky evening of stellar food and drink.

If you're looking for a spot to host your next special event, such as a big birthday or corporate dinner, then make sure to take a look at our list of private and group dining rooms near North London.

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