Where to eat in London. Where to eat in London - proven tourist spots

Anyone who has applied for a UK visa remembers the recommended minimum amount of funds of at least £50 per day. This amount can be considered sufficient to live an interesting British day without gastronomic delights. How to combine the desire of tourists to eat tasty and nutritious food in London with modest financial capabilities?

Street food

One of the popular snack options not only for tourists, but also for local residents of the city - street food (street food). This sounds unappetizing until you find yourself at a colorful local market where you can't resist the smell of freshly prepared food. London's most famous market is the atmospheric Borough Market (boroughmarket.org.uk), located next to London Bridge tube station. The best days to visit it are from Thursday to Saturday. With £10 in your pocket you can count on 'first, second and compote'. The only inconvenience is that you will most likely have to stand while eating all this gastronomic splendor.

Fast food chain restaurants

If you don't like eating on the go or don't trust street chefs, head to one of the many cafes of famous chains such as Pret-a-Manger, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Eat. There you are guaranteed fresh food, from hot soups (around £3.5) and porridges to delicious baked goods. A large salad at these establishments will cost around £4.5, and a sandwich - from £1.5 (small) to £4 (large loaf). As a rule, these chains charge an additional service fee (about 20-25% of the order value) if you want to eat at a cafe table. When paying at the checkout, you may be asked: taking away (takeaway) or eating in (meals at a table)? If you decide to stay, be prepared for a higher check. Don't think you've been deceived - look carefully at the price tag. It usually shows the takeaway price in large print, followed by a less visible price with a service charge.

Restaurants with national cuisine

Those who want to add some exoticism to the foggy everyday life of the British capital should look into, for example, Korean, Indian or Vietnamese restaurants. There you can sit comfortably at a table and order vegetable curry for just £4.

On the website www.tripadvisor.co.uk it is easy to find budget restaurants with good reviews by filtering by the cheap eats parameter (“cheap and cheerful” in our opinion).

Pizzerias

One of the most popular and favorite cuisines, Italian, can be enjoyed on a budget in numerous pizzerias offering takeaway food. Very tasty and inexpensive pizza can be found at Pizza Union (whole pizza - from £4) or Princi (large slice straight from the oven - from £4). It’s easy to guess how popular the establishment is - there’s always “no place for an apple to fall.” In this case, it’s worth following the crowd and looking inside. Of course, this rule also applies to other European cuisines, but most often it is the Italians who manage to treat the guests of the establishment to a tasty, varied and inexpensive meal.

Supermarket

Many tourists love foreign supermarkets, where the choice can be limited only by imagination. If you don't mind satisfying your hunger in your hotel room, then go grocery shopping in the next Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer or Waitrose. You'll have the same cereal and milk and croissant you'd eat at your hotel breakfast, but you'll pay a fraction of the price. For example, a large packet of cereal costs on average £2, a carton of milk from £0.45, and a croissant in the fresh bakery department around £0.70. Of course, eating in your room is not as fun, but the savings are significant.

English pub

It is completely illogical, being in the capital of Great Britain, to bypass the typical english pub. Even if you are a categorical opponent of alcohol, it makes sense to pop into a pub for the traditional “Fish & Chips” dish (fish and chips). The pub can be a fun and economical way to spend time, especially if you are traveling with friends. If you don’t abuse alcohol, you can spend £10-15 per person.

Pocket nutrition

And stock up pocket food in case of a long excursion or trip outside London. In an unfamiliar place, it is sometimes difficult to find where to eat inexpensively.

If you are on a budget, there are inexpensive hotels with good transport accessibility to the central areas of London in the area of ​​Paddington Station. You can see prices and hotel locations on the map below.

1 . IN Dishoom Bombay Cafe in Covent Garden they don't serve curry and you have to wait in line for about an hour. And it’s worth it: the decor of Iranian cafes of the last century, an interesting menu, patient waiters, half of the guests are from India. Dishes are served at lightning speed and served in such a way that it is convenient to share them with diners.

Everything we tried here was excellent, especially the vegetable Okra Fries, the Dishoom Chicken Tikka pieces in a spicy ginger, green chilli and turmeric sauce, and the salty yogurt lassi with cumin.

Dinner for two will cost around £50-60

dishoom.com/12, Upper St. Martin's Lane, London

Dishoom Bombay Cafe

2. To a Japanese eatery with a unique name Sushi Eatery I recommend coming to Soho hungry. Go down to the lower floor and, in order not to be tormented by choice, order the “sushi buffet” on the spot. The buffet here includes six servings of sushi, sashimi and nigiri and hot dishes ranging from excellent miso to fried tofu. Don't miss the inconspicuous but delicious Edamami - steamed green beans in pods and Japanese vegetable and chicken gyoza dumplings. Just in case: you can only pay in cash here.

Sushi buffet - £18.80

40 Frith Street, Soho, London


3 . In the most beautiful department store in London Liberty It’s nice not only to buy stylish accessories, decor with famous prints and tea sets from the best pottery workshops. You can try out the beautiful cups in action here, in the cozy Café Liberty. The British come here with their mothers and girlfriends for afternoon tea with or without champagne. The perfect place to try a scone, treat yourself to an obscene piece of hazelnut brownie and have a relaxed chat in a cozy atmosphere.
liberty.co.uk/, Regent Street, London; main entrance from Great Marlborough Street

Bar at Brasserie Zedel


4. Brasserie Zedel hid in the first nook from Picadilly Circus. A real teleport from the buzzing Regent Street to a French, almost intimate restaurant with velvet Art Deco interiors. In a hall that is huge, not only by London standards, more than 200 people can dine at the same time, which does not spoil either the appetite or the atmosphere. Well-trained and charming waiters do everything to ensure that adults enjoy their food, and that children do not interfere with this. It's a good place to warm up with soup (£3 to £6) or lunch - a two- or three-course "menu of the day" costs £10-£13. After 22:00, Zédel has dinner with live music. A wonderful place to relax after shopping.

brasseriezedel.com, 20, Sherwood Street, London

Vegetable snack Okra Fries at Dishoom Bombay Cafe

5. Vegans, raw foodists and adherents of a balanced diet have a direct route to Whole Foods Market, which is around the corner from the brasserie. Just looking at the shelves with all the colors of the rainbow, cold-pressed juices, detox smoothies and bags of superfoods makes you feel healthier. You can have a balanced lunch, breakfast and dinner in a restaurant, or in the park, pick yourself a salad at the salad bar and order pizza at the hot food bar.

Salads - £1.69 per 100g, hot dishes - £1.99 per 100g

20 Glasshouse Street, London

You can satisfy your hunger while on the run in a chain cafe. Pret-A-Manger. This is one of England's few healthy fast food joints, where you can always warm up with Thai soup, fill up on crunchy salads (like prawn and avocado or salmon and spinach) or drink an organic cappuccino with addictive carrot cake. They have been baking it here for 30 years using the same recipe. I highly recommend the hot croissants with a juicy filling of mozzarella, tomatoes, bacon and ham.

And so on. We are finally wandering the streets of London.

And, naturally, we are faced with the question - where and what to eat in London?

It is common knowledge that English cuisine does not belong to global culinary brands, such as French or Chinese. And the British themselves are not very proud of their cuisine - the dishes, as a rule, are oversaturated with calories, but frankly, the imagination is rather weak.

How can one not remember the notorious “porridge, Sir”, various puddings and fried lamb with roast beef.

Well, I won’t say anything about oatmeal - no matter how many times I dined in London, I never ordered it. But I have had the opportunity to try the classic English Breakfast more than once. This is just an example of a classic English cuisine.

And I can honestly say that I like him. Although probably not very useful either. Judge for yourself: this is scrambled eggs with slices of bacon fried until crisp, and a couple of sausages fried in good butter. Add beans and fried tomatoes there. Sometimes fried mushrooms are added again. This breakfast will be offered to you in any hotel of three stars or higher.

And yet, despite some asceticism of the English “catering” where to eat in London no problem. Who doesn’t feed the British and tourists, and what they don’t feed them...

London Restaurants They offer cuisine for every taste and every budget - Japanese, Indian, Chinese, in general, you can list all or almost all countries.

The British themselves are very fond of Indian restaurants. How else can we explain their number in London - more than 7 thousand. And on almost any corner. As a rule, these are small restaurants served by real Indians.

The food is tasty, inexpensive and, as is customary in Indian cuisine, very spicy. Be extremely careful when ordering - there is a chance to grab something incomprehensible, after which you will not cry. This once happened to a friend of mine - neither before nor after that have I seen so many tears on his sometimes courageous face.

It’s better to immediately warn the waiter - “Not spicy, please,” i.e. without excess spices. As a rule, the staff London restaurants understands the aspirations of tourists. You can read how to explain yourself when traveling abroad in my. The average cost of lunch for two here can be around 20-25 pounds.

Japanese cuisine is also highly revered in London and is a significant competitor to traditional London restaurants. Moreover, in some places sushi in London is sold right on the street or at the station.

You can put different sushi and rolls in a box and eat them somewhere on the side, like pies. They are packaged in clear packaging of one or two pieces (costing £1-1.5 each), and the sauce and ginger come in tiny packets.

This is all we are talking about places and menus that are called a quick “snack”. The same sandwich in London costs from 2 to 4 pounds and is found everywhere - in cafes, pubs, and shops. True, the taste leaves much to be desired.

Therefore, people still prefer Indian, Turkish and Chinese small shops, where the food is very tasty and, most importantly, not expensive. Moreover, in most of them, you can take what you ordered, which is called takeaway. So, fast food lovers have something to do in the capital of England.

In the central London district of Soho is Chinese China Town - a genuine multinational food paradise. It is located at the Leicester Square metro exit, and is within walking distance from Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.

This is where there are countless different not only Chinese, but also Indian, Thai and even African restaurants. You can have dinner here for 10-15 pounds, if there is no fuss.

For lovers of Italian cuisine, I will say that there are also plenty of small Italian restaurants in London, but, as it seemed to me, there are not many specialized pizzerias at all.

Since we're talking about how inexpensive it is eat in London, you must keep in mind that if you went to some large shopping center on your shopping trip, and it’s lunch time, then take advantage of this opportunity.

All retail establishments of this size have inexpensive snack bars and restaurants. The food here is usually inexpensive and quite tasty.

And of course, you can buy ready-made food in supermarkets. Almost everywhere there are sliced ​​fruits - pineapples, mangoes, apples and others in a box with a fork. A package costs from 2.5 to 5 pounds.

You can also buy sets in boxes - salad and noodles with chicken, couscous, noodles with shrimp, etc. Such boxes also cost 3-6 pounds. When the expiration date expires, they are sold at half the price.

There are also sushi sets in supermarkets, but they are a bit dry and cannot be compared with those sold on the streets or in Japanese restaurants.

To summarize, the average prices for snack-class food will be as follows:

Takeaway food will cost 4-6 pounds. Coffee - Espresso costs 1.2-1.5 pounds, cappuccino - 2-2.2 pounds. Croissant - approximately 2-2.5 pounds. Cake - 2.5-3 pounds.

A typical English dinner of salad, steak and sides will cost a minimum of £10-20 depending on location.

But what are we all about restaurants and snack bars? In London, by the way, there are many real, expensive and famous “A La Carte” restaurants where you can get acquainted with traditional English cuisine.

For example, famous London restaurant Rules. This is the oldest establishment in London: it was opened in 1798 (35 Maide Lane, Covent Garden tube). In this classic English restaurant you will be offered mainly meat dishes - lamb or beef.

You can try a classic English steak in the Aberdeen or Angus chain restaurants.A decent piece of meat, the size of a size 43 sole, will cost you 25-30 pounds.

Yes, don’t forget to check with the waiter what degree of doneness you prefer. Well Done is a well done steak. Its antipode is an almost half-baked, what is called “bloody” piece of meat.

But in general, going to a classic London restaurant It won't cost you less than 50-80 pounds for two. And only if you don’t go too overboard with alcohol.

So, here is the time to remember such a British catering phenomenon as the Pub (the full name is “public house”, abbreviated as “pub”).

A pub is a traditionally British establishment. It is impossible to imagine the UK and London in particular without pubs. Main business pubs in England(And London pubs, naturally) - sale of alcoholic beverages. And in a pub there is usually a lot to choose from, but the main drink remains beer.

The most attractive thing for the British is that in pubs you can meet friends, drink beer, talk, and just watch football. People are also attracted by the presence of slot machines and music in pubs, usually live music. Usually, pubs in England are distinguished by their unusual design and atmosphere. Many of the buildings in which operating pubs are located are architectural monuments of art.

Titles pubs in England- a separate topic. It seems that their owners were competing to see who could come up with a name for the tricky ones. Well, for example, Golden Lion, Rainbow Pub, King's Arms, Green Man, etc.

And the pub next door to the London hotel, where my travel colleague and I once stayed, was called “The Hands of Devonshire” (Devonshire is a locality in England). This London pub We immediately renamed it “Brawler’s Hands” and was marked by repeated tastings of local beers.

Although, I must say, some names fully correspond to the content. For example, the Sherlock Holmes pub, located near London's central Trafalgar Square, is styled after his apartment on Baker Street, where the famous detective allegedly lived.

So, on the issue of having lunch, as they say, cheap and cheerful, London pubs out of competition. The food here is simple, good quality and inexpensive.

The most popular dish in pubs in England This is Fish and Cheeps. It is cod fillet baked in batter with fried potatoes. Although this is a definite blow to the liver, it is still tasty and relatively inexpensive - 5-8 pounds.

And of course, beer, of which there are simply a huge number of varieties. Moreover, some you will not find anywhere else. And if you can try Irish Guinness in almost any country, then “London Pride” is only here.

When ordering, remember that beer differs not only in name. Stout - black beer, bitter - dark, ale - dark sweet, lager - light. Beer on tap is sold in pints (0.568 l) and half pints. Be careful when ordering cider, especially Scrumpy Jack. After the fourth or fifth glass, the legs begin to work somewhat out of sync.

However, London pubs There is also a colossal drawback. By evening, crowds of screaming people gather in them. The crowd is like in a stadium. And if there is also football on TV...

It is almost impossible to eat at this time, because... there are no seats. What personal service is there, I wish I could find a place to just stand. But still, it’s worth visiting at least once at this time. Not to eat, but just to gaze, plunge into the atmosphere of a real English pub and see real English from the inside.

There are higher class pubs. There are especially many of them in Leicester Square. There is shabby furniture that is at least a hundred years old, walls with cartoons from the century before last, etc.

If you happen to be in the Tower area (and this, I think, is inevitable), I recommend going to The Minories pub, named after the street of the same name on which it is located. This is if you walk from the Tower Bridge (the Tower Fortress will be on your left), then ahead you will see the brick overpass of the Tower Gateway Station railway station. This pub is located right below it.

Here, as in any London pub, your order is taken at the bar counter and then brought to your table. When ordering, you are given an empty bottle with a plate with a number inserted into it. You place this bottle on the table of your choice and the waiter uses this number to determine where to bring the order.

Here are some more pubs worth visiting:

Lamb & Flag.

The oldest London pub in the Covent Garden area - it is more than 300 years old. Today you have to endure a real battle to get to the bar counter - there are usually a lot of people.

In this pub you will feel the atmosphere of a real English pub - stuffy, smoky, noisy. Some people like it, some don't, but be that as it may, this atmosphere is the hallmark of a real London pub.

Up the stairs you reach a restaurant and another bar, popular with those who work in the area, Covent Garden shoppers and tourists.

Address: 33, Rose Street, Covent Garden London Metro: Covent Garden

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

One of the few pubs in London that can truly be called a museum. Entering it, you immediately find yourself in the world of antiquity.

Just outside the entrance there is a plaque that lists the names of the 15 monarchs who reigned during the pub's existence.

The countless narrow, dark corridors leading to the bars and dining rooms can confuse even regulars. The bar on the ground floor is the most interesting. The small room is very dark, even the ceiling is decorated with black wood, not to mention the walls.

In the center of the room there is a fireplace, above which hangs a portrait of the pub's first waiter, who took office in 1829. On a high shelf are leather-bound books that have been signed by prime ministers, ambassadors and peers.

Address: Wine Office Ct., 145, Fleet Street, London Metro: Blackfriars

Black Friar

This pub can be called a kind of “drinking and art gallery” - it is decorated with mosaics not only inside, but also outside. It depicts scenes from the life of the monks and the pub itself.

Black Friar was built on the site of a 13th century Dominican monastery (hence the monastic themes of the mosaics). The pub makes an indelible impression; no wonder this place is very popular among both tourists and local residents.

Address: 174, Queen Victoria Street, London Metro: Blackfriars

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Pubs of London open daily, usually from 11:00 to 23:00. Serving food starts around 16-17 days. However, it is better to check the opening hours of a particular pub.

You can come in any clothes, you can just read the newspaper and you don’t have to order anything.

You must be 18 years old to buy and drink alcohol in pubs. Persons between 14 and 17 years of age may enter pubs, but may not purchase or consume alcohol.

Children under 14 years of age are only allowed into pubs that have a children's certificate, and only if accompanied by an adult and only in areas specially designated for children. Pubs with this certificate must serve food and non-alcoholic drinks, usually until 21:00.

That's actually all I wanted to tell you briefly about how and where to eat in London. I have no doubt that you yourself will find among the huge number London restaurants, pubs and other similar establishments, whatever you like best.

There will be no problems with this. Cases of starvation among tourists visiting London have not yet been recorded.

Valery Maslov was with you

Eating out in London restaurants can cost you a lot of money. To ensure you don't spend your entire budget on one dinner, here are 10 places in central London where you can eat inexpensively and deliciously.

London is famous for its multicultural establishments. Koshari Street is an Egyptian eatery that serves koshari - a mixture of rice, chickpeas, tomatoes and pasta. A very filling and tasty thing, which is also served with cheap soups.

Prices: koshari from 4.50 pounds, salads, soups - from 2.95 pounds.

In the afternoon, prices are off the charts and there are a lot of visitors. Therefore, we recommend coming here for breakfast: before 11.00 you can have a delicious meal here, spending up to 10 pounds. The main menu is baked goods filled with dried fruits, nuts and cheese. There are also hot dishes.

Prices: breakfast – 3-6 pounds.

Address: Warren Street, W1, 020 7388 6175.

This central city cafe is a slightly odd but brilliant example of how an old public toilet can be turned into a stylish space. The food here is cheap and tasty: from omelettes and sausages to desserts and delicious coffee.

Prices: Sandwiches and hot dishes around £3-5.50.

Address: 27a Foley Street, London, W1W 6DY.

A small Swedish restaurant that serves every kind of soup, fish and chips you can imagine. From the exclusive: rye porridge half and half with oatmeal, smoked mackerel and spicy cabbage and oregano salads.

Prices: breakfast - 2.25-4.50 pounds, lunch - 2.95-9.95 pounds.

Address: 61 Great Titchfield Street, W1.

Young lamb burgers with rosemary and potatoes made this diner famous throughout the city. While £9.50 for a signature Honest Burger may seem like a lot, we can assure you it'll last you all day. Tip: come right after opening at 11:30 to grab a seat and try the famous sandwich.

Prices: Beef burger with fries – 8 pounds.

Address: 4a Meard Street, W1.

A minimalist white brick interior, hipster music and delicious coffee are what you should come to this cafe for. There is a large selection of homemade baked goods - from chocolate cakes to fish and meat pies.

Prices: breakfast/brunch on weekends - 2.80 - 9.50 pounds, lunch - 3.50 - 6.50, pizzas from 4.95 pounds.

Address: Berwick Street, W1.

This is probably the only place in Soho that serves a metre-long pizza for the ridiculous price of £6. There are different fillings: from sausages to truffles. Pizza is also available to take away.

Prices: from £6 takeaway.

Address: 11 Dean Street, W1.

Spicy food lovers are advised to check out this curry restaurant. The exotic menu and incredibly low prices (a full three-course meal will set you back £3.75) attract hungry diners from all over. By the way, you can also dine here in the evening for under 10 pounds.

Prices: Lunch from £3.75.

Address: 16 Percy Street, W1.

Bibimbap is a Korean dish made of rice, lettuce, hot peppers, eggs and meat. Served in small pots and reasonably priced at around £6.50. In addition, the restaurant serves other types of Korean dishes: various soups, porridges and salads.

Prices: Bibimbap from £6.45 - £9.95.

Address: There are two branches at 11 Greek Street and 10 Charlotte Street, W1.

Vietnamese canteen where you can try real noodles and salads in baguettes. Local chefs put in just enough spice to make you love the spices rather than hate them.

Prices: Takeaway - around £4.35.

Address: There are two branches at 4-6 Theobalds Road, Holborn, WC1, and 4079 and 21 Rathbone Street, W1.

Source: The Guardian.

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