Hoppers Shoreditch marks an exciting chapter for one of London’s most influential modern Sri Lankan restaurants, bringing the much-loved brand east with a confident, richly layered new opening at the Tea Building. Arriving a decade after the original Soho site helped introduce Londoners to Sri Lankan hoppers, kothu and short eats, this fourth outpost feels both familiar and forward-looking, taking up the space that once belonged to beloved restaurant Lyle's.
While Sri Lanka remains firmly at the heart of the Hoppers identity, Shoreditch turns the spotlight towards South India, drawing inspiration from research trips and meals across Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. The result is a menu that balances greatest hits with thoughtful new additions created exclusively for this site. Expect classics alongside standout dishes such as a deeply savoury crab kari omelette with delicate thread paratha, or a crisp benne dosa generously stuffed with paneer ghee roast. There’s comfort and punch in equal measure, from sizzling salmon mappas to crunchy Kochi chilli chicken chop, finished with coconut and curry leaf crumb.
More regional specialities add depth, including a Dindigul-style short rib beef biryani made with fragrant seeraga samba rice, and prawn paniyaram inspired by Chettinad flavours. Drinks follow the same southern Indian thread, with cocktails riffing on nostalgic café staples: rose milk becomes a silky milk punch, while Old Monk and cola is reworked into the playful Young Monk. Soft drinks, lassis and alcohol-free options are given just as much attention.
Designed by Atelier Wren, the space nods to traditional Chettiyar homes, weaving carved timber, Athangudi tiles and tropical textures into a setting that feels warm, layered and lived-in. Art and sculpture from Chennai and Colombia-based artists complete the picture. It’s unmistakably Hoppers – just with a new sense of place, purpose and discovery.