Sprawling the northern terrain of Greater London is Islington, a borough known for its Victorian residences, buzzing nightlife, and rich artistic and theatrical tradition. Home to politicians such as Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson, as well as celebrities including Kit Harrington, Colin Firth, and Lilly Allen, this postcode certainly holds weight. The giddying bustle of this locale is further emboldened by its eclectic collection of eateries, which include historic pubs, Michelin-starred joints, and obscured gems. Epitomising London’s sheer multiculturalism, this posh locale presents a staggering kaleidoscope of global restaurants. Read on to discover the best places to eat in Islington.
1. Farang
Farang, a tongue-in-cheek name given that it means "foreigner," is known for its authentic Thai cuisine, led by chef and food writer Sebby Holmes. It has been awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand every year for five years in a row, besides securing a place in the "National Restaurant Awards Top 100.". Devoid of opulent frills, the humble establishment is adorned with hanging plants, exposed brick pillars, and granite flooring. The simple wooden cabinetry and furniture take a backseat, with the food stealing the spotlight.
The restaurant boasts authentic Thai ingredients, which are flown in from Bangkok every week. Real Asian spices, lovingly married with fresh local produce, bring forth truly exemplary food. Farang recommends its feasting menus, which treat guests to handsome shares of the menu’s best bits. Additionally, visitors can take home Farang’s cooking books, curry pastes, and stir-fry sauces.
2. Trullo
Trullo is a discerning restaurant in London's sea of Italian eateries. Honest-to-goodness cooking, sustainable produce, and fastidious technique define its food. With plain velour banquettes, inornate light pendants, exposed metal pipes, and open shelves bearing scattered artwork, Trullo is certainly modest compared to most Italian restaurants. However, less is more in the case of Trullo, as the restaurant carries an air of quiet elegance, allowing the food to take centre stage.
The handmade pasta is rolled out and cooked minutes before service, and seared meat and seafood come fresh off the live charcoal grill. Sustainable produce, comfort recipes, authentic methods, and pristine quality are the guiding principles of Trullo. At the time of writing, their signature dish is “Papardelle with beef shin ragu,” a kind of flat-pasta dish with beef sauce – made from scratch, this dish takes a whopping eight hours to complete.
3. Little Georgia
As the name suggests, Little Georgia celebrates a woefully underrepresented cuisine by bringing home-cooked Georgian meals to London. A stylish establishment, the grey walls are plastered with quirky Georgian-themed posters. Floating shelves bearing vintage memorabilia, such as dial phones, suffuse the joint with a charming playfulness. Snazzy pendants, portrait-enveloped pillars, and comely mahogany furniture come together to create a wonderfully welcoming dining room, demonstrating elevated style as well as homely warmth.
Khachapuri (a kind of cheese bread) and Khinkali (beef and pork dumplings) are Little Georgia’s treasured dishes. A bespoke collection of Georgian libations, such as Chacha (traditional grape vodka) and Mukuzani (a dry Georgian vintage), also features on the menu.
4. The Tamil Prince
Residing in an elegant 19th-century building, the Tamil Prince is an elevated Indian boozer, presenting fabulous South Indian fare with frothy pints. Understatedly grey-patterned ceilings suspend gold pendants that demurely light up the establishment’s bottle-green walls. Slender creepers accessorise the walls, lending an air of casual sophistication. Desi pub classics such as chicken lollipop, onion bhajis, and okra fries pair brilliantly with their exclusive collection of draught beers. Leaps and bounds beyond conventional curries, South Indian gems such as beef uthappam (a savoury pancake, which is a staple Tamil breakfast dish) and Chettinad lamb (a spiced lamb dish from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu in India) have successfully broadened the popular perception of Indian cuisine.
5. Caravel
Relishing modern European cuisine in a converted barge docked at Regent’s Canal is a memorable experience on many counts – this utterly unique river-dining experience catapulted Caravel to fame. The vessel, with limited seating capacity, is furnished with a handful of white-clad tables and manicured creepers. The open cabinet hosts a mini library, and a small picket fence separates the kitchen from the dining room. Rabbit and pork rillettes and grilled cuttlefish are some of Caravel’s most lauded dishes. Enviable wines from Italy and France add a nice touch of class to the dining experience.
6. FKABAM
Featured on the "World’s 50 Best Restaurants" list, FKABAM (formerly known as Black Axe Mangal) is renowned for its Turkish-inspired dishes. Plumes of colours stand out brazenly in the humble buttery-white establishment. The boisterously floral tables, flaunting shades of red, yellow, and blue, are FKABAM’s statement pieces. Flower garlands frame mirrors and artwork, uplifting the space with chintzy flamboyance. The raucous haunt is known for sumptuous delights such as foie gras and prune doughnuts, cod’s roe flatbread, and lamb offal flatbread. Sweet cocktails don umbrellas, tying in with FKABAM’s offbeat interior couture.
7. Westerns Laundry
A Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, Westerns Laundry is a British and Spanish seafood restaurant. White-painted exposed brick, trendy tube lights, and ceiling-high windows conjure a modern, industrial establishment. Floating shelves, wooden flooring, and rows of rustic wine bottles imbue the dining lounge with a bohemian vibrance. The palatial restaurant is filled with bright yellow banquettes and long tables, encouraging open communication and creating an environment of familial harmony. The courtyard, with cobble-stoned floors and olive trees, provides great outdoor seating. The dynamic, seasonal menu has never failed to deliver excellence. At the time of writing, their specialty is “Tripes à la Lyonnaise” (veal with tomato and white wine sauce) with herb salad. Their confit duck leg and monkfish baked rice are some of their other dishes that have received rave reviews.
8. Top Cuvée
Top Cuvée is an intimate neighbourhood restaurant serving delectable small plates and botanical wines. The compact space is littered with bistro furniture, bubble lights, and artsy books. The scarlet accent wall is ornamented with a floating shelf displaying some of Top Cuvée’s prized wines. The modest bar and simple cabinets packed to capacity with gorgeous vino bottles embolden the restaurant’s rustic character, besides underscoring its love of wine. Mini eats, such as the sweet potato, blue cheese, and sage croquettes; the cornish cockles; and the burrata with delice pumpkin and dukkah, have been critically acclaimed. Known for their wines, they have an impressive (and ever-changing) collection of whites and reds. Internationally sourced wonders are served by the glass, by the bottle, and sold online. At the time of writing, their latest release is the Amico Frizz Chardonnay from Riesling in Germany.
9. Ottolenghi
Ottolenghi, a Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant, is a labour of love by chef Yotam Ottolenghi. The abstract establishment is characterised by dramatically curvaceous chairs, plush white surroundings, chains suspended from the ceilings, and eccentric statement pieces adorning the walls. Its interiors certainly evoke the whimsy of a modern art gallery. Led by Chef Jeanne Gleize, Mediterranean classics such as the shakshuka breakfast and Middle-Eastern wonders like the roasted aubergine salad testify to Ottolenghi’s unique flavour profile. The exclusive wine collection includes enviable brands from Slovenia, France, Chile, and Italy.
10. La Petite Auberge
Proclaiming itself “the true French bistro in London,” La Petite Auberge is highly reminiscent of an old-fashioned tavern in France. In true French fashion, the establishment certainly possesses oomph, with the vintage picnic tablecloths, exposed brick panels, tree-trunk beams, intricate guard rails, and the ornately tiled stairway. Retro posters litter the walls haphazardly, in harmony with the chintzy accent wall. The cacophony of patterns ties together beautifully to conjure a rustic French luncheonette. At the time of writing, the special lunch menu presents delicious mains such as Boeuf Bourguignon (French beef stew in burgundy wine), Civet de Lapin Ala Française (rabbit casserole with mashed potatoes), and Roulade d'Aubergine Farçi au Chevre (baked aubergine rolls stuffed with goat cheese). Their sweet crepes are among their best sellers – the “pomme cannelle,” in particular, has been lauded by guests over the years.
In all its glorious affluence and heady vibrance, Islington certainly holds immense culinary promise. There’s no better place to be for a hearty meal – it's time to embark on an incredible epicurean sojourn in Islington, London’s very own abode for haute cuisine and global gastronomy.
