Best restaurants in North London

If you aren’t from North London and find yourself in the area in need of a meal you might not know where to start and we wouldn’t blame you. The North London restaurant scene is growing by the minute meaning that there are a lot of really great restaurants to pick from. Well there’s no need to worry as we’ve got you covered with our guide to the best North London restaurants. From Islington Italians to Thai food in Highbury and everything in between, you won’t be short of options in North London for any meal once you’ve perused this guide.

Updated on 13 January 2020

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 gastro pubs and an array of restaurants. Situated close to the City and the West End, this corner of the city has a strong cultural and arts scene too, with the legendary Almeida Theatre being found here. 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 handpicked the very finest of North London’s restaurants in this helpful guide to the best restaurants in the area. However, if you can’t find what you are looking for here, why not search by specific location by using our guides to Stoke Newington or Crouch End.

Every one of the North London restaurants featured in our list have been tried and tested by food critics and our own customers to make sure we’re bringing you only the very best recommendations. Once you’ve found your ideal eatery you can click through to read the restaurant’s full review.

Black Axe Mangal

Black Axe Mangal

156 Canonbury Road, London, N1 2UP

A certified Hipster Haven, Black Axe Mangal is a wonderfully chilled out spot just opposite Highbury and Islington station. The food is all of a very high level and served alongside a great drinks menu.
Under £30
International
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Trullo

Trullo

300-302 St Paul's Road, London, 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
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Oldroyd

Oldroyd

344 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 0PD

Tom Oldroyd’s small Angel-based restaurant would be easy to miss but inside there is some amazing cookery on show from the ex-Polpo chef. There’s also a lunch menu on offer for just £10.
£30 - £49
Modern European
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500

500

782 Holloway Road, London, N19 3JH

Named after the iconic Fiat model, 500’s first impression is that of a rather cramped Italian café but then the amazing Italian food arrives and you quickly realise that this place means business.
£30 - £49
Italian
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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
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St John

St John's Tavern

91 Junction Road, London, N19 5QU

This Victorian pub in Archway is a great spot for drinkers and diners alike, and the impressive menu, which changes daily and is written up on a big blackboard focuses on traditional British cooking.
£30 - £49
Gastropub
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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
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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
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Namaasté Kitchen

Namaasté Kitchen

64 Parkway, London, NW1 7AH

Indian restaurant Namaasté Kitchen in Camden goe beyond the standard dishes you would expect in an Indian restaurant with a whole section of the menu dedicated to grilling, as well as twists on the classics.
£30 - £49
Indian
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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.
£30 - £49
Modern European
SquareMeal London Top 100
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Farang

Farang

72 Highbury Park, 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.
£30 - £49
Thai
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The Drapers Arms

The Drapers Arms

44 Barnsbury Street, 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
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Likya Ocakbasi

Likya Ocakbasi

68-70 Golders Green Road, London, NW11 8LN

There are a number of Turkish restaurants in North London but you won’t find any better than Likya Ocakbasi in Golders Green which serves the most brilliant kebabs alongside a whole host of bread and appetizers.
Under £30
Turkish
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Westerns Laundry

Westerns Laundry

34 Drayton Park, London, N5 1PB

In a somewhat unlikely location in Drayton Park, Westerns Laundry occupies the ground floor of an ex industrial building and serves wonderful seafood dishes which are written up on the large blackboard and change daily.
£30 - £49
British
Fish
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Smokehouse Islington

Smokehouse Islington

63-69 Canonbury Road, London, London, N1 2DG

Part of a trio of London pubs, Smokehouse is a lovely gastropub in Islington with large wooden tables giving it a rather rustic vibe, yet the delicate and refined food is anything but rustic.
£30 - £49
Gastropub
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Frederick

Frederick's

106 Islington High Street, Camden Passage, London, N1 8EG

Having been open for over 50 years now, Frederick’s is a classic establishment and its food has really kept up with its reputation over the years, with a high level Modern European menu on offer.
£50 - £79
Modern European
£30 - £49
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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
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Odette

Odette's

130 Regent's Park Road, London, NW1 8XL

A long-standing favourite in the Primrose Hill area having opened in 1978, Odette’s continues to flourish under the ownership of Welsh chef-patron Bryn Williams serving both tasting menus and a wonderful a la carte.
£30 - £49
Modern European
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Wanting a meal in Islington specifically? Have a look at our guide of the Best Restaurants in Islington for our tips on restaurants in one of London's friendliest neibourhoods.

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