The Ultimate London Foodie Guide

As a self-proclaimed foodie, one of the main things that made me so excited to spend time in London was the amazing variety of restaurants and culinary cultures. In between five hours of classes daily, as well as studying in the afternoons, there is little time left for culinary exploration. For that reason, I’ve compiled my tested and approved places so you can enjoy them as well.

Starting off strong, the LSE campus has some great options for in-between lectures and classes. I had my morning lectures in the Marshall Building, and the coffee shop on the ground level, called Beaver’s Brew, had fresh sandwiches and salads every day, plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, as well as other baked goods and delicacies. If you visit, it is MANDATORY for you to try the cookies - they are unbelievably delicious. The coffee shops in the Centre and CKK Buildings also offer great variety of snacks (such as sandwiches with pink ciabatta!) and tasty matcha for your 10-minute breaks. There were many students that opted for sushi as lunch, from places such as Wasabi and Itsu that are within walking distance from campus. Personally, I think that the best, within budget sushi in Central London can be found at Gourmet Sushi in Notting Hill, which is a must-visit area during your stay in London. The quality and selection of Gourmet Sushi is higher than other places, although I must admit that Itsu is very convenient for a quick lunch, as the stores can be found all around London, and are beautifully designed. My personal favourite for a quick lunch in-between classes was VietEat near Holborn station. It is a small and charming Vietnamese restaurant that I visited at least 3 times. The restaurant offered a “happy hour lunch” option with an appetizer, main course, and refreshment for only £15, which is a great price for London restaurants. My go-to order was the veggie spring rolls and the chicken curry, and I am embarrassed to admit that I think about that restaurant daily. Being only a 5-minute walk from campus, it is my top recommendation for your stay.

I would not recommend visiting any fast-food establishments; for me, it is a shame, since London is full of local and unique pubs, restaurants, and brasseries that are worth so much more. My favourite restaurant was Bill’s in Soho. I would describe it as a fusion of different cultures, such as Greek, Indian, Moroccan, and French. We started with a watermelon-feta salad - an homage to my home country of Greece - and chose a tandoori chicken and a buttermilk chicken burger for our main dishes. We also visited an amazing Indian restaurant-bar, Bandra Bhai. Located in Fitzrovia, it is an underground, “hidden” bar, an homage to a smuggler’s den. The selling point of the restaurant is the groovy and retro atmosphere, and we tried some delicious papadi chat, paneer butter masala, and an incredible steamed wild sea bass (one of the few times I genuinely enjoyed eating fish). And if you are feeling a bit fancier, I highly recommend any Big Mama restaurant; they are a bit mainstream and very sought-after, but worth a visit. My recommendations are Ave Mario, Gloria and Circolo Popolare. All located in Central London, they are well-known for their amazing, Italian-inspired atmosphere and decoration. If you visit, make sure to try their pizzas with the amazing fluffy dough, and their truffle pasta. The waiter will come up to your table and prepare the dish on the spot. It is on the pricier side, but you can save it for a more special occasion (such as an end-of-session celebration!).

For coffee and snacks, make sure to visit Eat Ten cafe at Somerset House for a gorgeous view and delicious snack - I spent the entire day there while studying for my final exam. Also, a perfect spot for people watching, offering a great variety of sandwiches and salads, as well as very tasty matcha. Two of my favourite places for coffee were Blank Street and Over Under; I’m more of a matcha person myself, but their lattes, cappuccinos and the rest of their menu were equally delicious. Cafe Kitsune in Polytechnic is also a must-visit. A Japanese fusion cafe, offering delicious matcha drinks, the fluffiest croissants I have ever tasted, and an insane selection of katsu/sando sandwiches. Lastly, if you prefer to cook instead of going out, I went to Waitrose to stock up my mini fridge with some essentials. The selection there was much more diverse than at my local grocery store in Athens, and I found the prices quite normal compared to their equivalent in Greece.

This blog was written by one of our 2023 Student Ambassadors, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the summer school experience at LSE.