Skip to Content

The Local’s List of the Best Restaurants in Spitalfields for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We may receive a commission if you make purchases through affiliate links (at no extra cost to you). Read why our approach to travel is different.

Share This Article

5 months ago

Spitalfields might appear small and unassuming at first blush, but this handful of streets wedged between London’s impossibly cool East End and the skyscrapers of the City of London, laden with the history of successive generations of immigrants is home to over 140 restaurants and eateries. And if anyone knows the best restaurants in Spitalfields, it’s me, a long-time resident of Spitalfields and Shoreditch.

The sheer competition for excellent food means restaurants open and close down at what feels like breakneck speed. Tragically, one of my favorite restaurants in the area shut its doors for the final time in August 2024, having lasted for only 11 months. I hope it’ll come back one day (we’ll keep you updated via our newsletter and in this post), but otherwise, you can guarantee that we’ll keep you informed of the best of what Spitalfields has to offer at any given point in time.

One thing I will say is that Spitalfields is known around London for cutting-edge food experiences, so if you want to take a risk and try somewhere that doesn’t appear on this list, chances are that you’ll leave feeling happy and satisfied.

Find out at the end what we think the best restaurant in Spitalfields right now is.

A note on Spitalfields Market

The food within Spitalfields Market is entirely different ballgame. There are so many restaurants and eateries within the Market alone that including them would crowd out all of the excellent options outside of the Market.

Because of this, we specifically haven’t included any of the food within Spitalfields Market in this article, but don’t fret: if you’re looking for the best food in Spitalfields Market, we have you covered.

Vegans and vegetarians

You wouldn’t be accused of being sceptical if you doubt me when I declare that Spitalfields has one of the highest concentrations of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in London. In fact, there is so much on offer just for vegans and vegetarians that we’ve put together a list of the best of the vegan food on offer in Spitalfields.

Breakfast and Brunch

Potter & Reid

We love Potter & Reid for its genuine local neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot charm that too many try to manufacture. This is a space that simply isn’t designed to be fussy but rather the focus is on fresh and seasonal breakfast and lunch dishes made with quality produce and attention to detail.

Because of that focus, the menu changes virtually every week, but you can almost certainly be sure their super tasty grilled cheese toastie is on the menu (and we are the authority on grilled cheese toasties in London). We might not be able to guarantee what’s on the menu, but we can guarantee that whatever is on the menu will be done exquisitely.

As far as the best breakfast in Spitalfields goes, breakfast at Potter & Reid is up there on the podium competing with the big chains and the little outfits alike. It’s the perfect start to a day exploring Spitalfields.

Trade

Trade is firmly one of the best places for a good cup of coffee in Spitalfields, but it’s the hearty breakfast options which make Trade one of the best breakfasts in Spitalfields. I firmly believe that a good space can improve the taste of any meal, and Trade in Spitalfields has created the perfect relaxed atmosphere – and that’s no easy feat given that it’s on busy Commercial Street.

Probably a lot of the reason why Trade is on this list is their very healthy selection of (unhealthy) grilled cheese toasties. Beyond that, they offer a huge selection of their “Trade-made” cookies, cakes and other treats which are the perfect complement to a nice breakfast.

If the sun is making an appearance, try to snag a table on the terrace at Trade.

Canto Corvino

One of the reasons why Canto Corvino is one of the best breakfasts in Spitalfields is because the restaurant is right in front of your eyes and yet is virtually unknown unless you know to look for it. Their weekday breakfast is a simple affair of classics like avocado toast and granola, but this being an Italian restaurant at heart (and a great one for dinner, I might add), they have wonderful breakfast options like their breakfast focaccia and eggs with pancetta.

It’s quite rare to find a restaurant in Spitalfields that isn’t constantly busy but yet serves excellent food in a great environment. Canto Corvino is that gem hidden in plain sight, and you’ll be glad you gave it a shot.

Cafe 1001

This old-school cool, industrial-style restaurant represents the hipster side of Spitalfields that lends from neighboring Shoreditch. Cafe 1001 has one aim: inspire connection between the myriad peoples and cultures that venture down Brick Lane every day. This is a cafe by day and a cocktail bar, lounge and disco by night, which are so many of life’s joys in one.

The team puts its focus on just one meal of the day: brunch. But we all know brunch is more than just a meal; it’s descriptive of a type of eating more than it is a simple indicator of a mealtime. That type is a bit more fun, a pinch slower and definitely more gluttonous. And it’s that experience that Cafe 1001 serves every single time, making this the best brunch in Spitalfields.

Their brunch menu harkens back to their aim, and the way that manifests itself is in a menu curated by a British/Afghan culinary team. You’re in for a surprise at Cafe 1001, and the surprises keep coming if you decide to stay beyond your meal which is why this is one of the best restaurants in Spitalfields.

Lunch

Café Mission

The first thing you’ll notice when you set foot in Café Mission for lunch is that there will be lots of people wearing athleisure (and probably barefoot), and plenty of them in front of laptops. The space is located on the rooftop level of the same building that houses Mission E1, a yoga and wellness studio which means it has become a post-yoga and remote-work hotspot for locals.

But the fun doesn’t stop there: the Spanish tortilla, fresh bread and sandwiches and desserts at Café Mission are absolutely fantastic; it’s no surprise to anyone who has been why it has quickly made a name for itself as one of the best restaurants in Spitalfields.

Café Mission feels very much like an oasis in an area where calmness seems almost impossible to achieve. I put this down to why countless friends have told me that Café Mission feels like London’s best-kept secret. And just in case that wasn’t enough, the terrace is one of the best rooftops for views of the City of London.

Not too long ago, there used to be a restaurant named Maene in exactly this space; we were sad to see it shut its doors. However, the perfect consolation was the opening of Café Mission which has cemented its place as one of the best lunches in Spitalfields in a very short time.

Café Mission also offers a dinner service in the latter part of the week. With its ever-changing menu, it’s a great choice for a laidback dinner with guaranteed great food.

Crispin

Crispin has a kitchen filled with a talented team of chefs who know their way around seasonal produce. The chefs work with independent growers and small-scale producers to create some incredibly tasty but often simple dishes that emphasize the best of what’s available. Freshness is directly correlated to flavor, and Crispin gets freshness right at every turn.

If you’re looking for the ideal spot for a business lunch in Spitalfields that doesn’t feel pretentious and always delivers on food, Crispin is the place to go.

Crispin is probably known for being a dinner restaurant, but sitting outside when the weather permits to enjoy the daylight makes it one of the best lunches in Spitalfields. Having said that, you can’t really go wrong at Crispin, and it is firmly one of the best restaurants in Spitalfields. And it’s housed in a very unique looking architectural pavilion which makes it just that bit more fun.

Enoteca Super Tuscan

Located on the impossibly pretty Artillery Passage in Spitalfields, Enoteca Super Tuscan is the perfect place for a weekday lunch with a glass of wine (Super Tuscan wine, specifically). They’ve got all of the Italian gems that you’ll recognize and love, but they also constantly change the menu to keep it interesting.

Be warned: Enoteca Super Tuscan is only open on the weekdays for lunch and dinner.

Dauns

This is one for the vegans and those of us who can very happily enjoy a vegan lunch. Dauns is a Scandinavian deli that makes some of the best lunch in Spitalfields – and without the pretentiousness that you might find at other vegan restaurants.

If you need help choosing from the menu (and you might because vegan Scandinavian food is quite the rarity), consider the Swedish meatballs or the “Skagen” (Swedish shrimp toast) tofish was also absolutely fantastic (I think it might be better than normal Skagen).

Dauns also sells a whole range of vegan, Scandinavian foods like dill crisps, Swedish hot dogs, and mash and gravy with lingonberries. They’ve created a beautiful atmosphere that makes you want to sit down and actually feel time passing, so this one might be for a longer lunch. They also have an early dinner service on Saturdays, which is why Dauns is one of the best restaurants in Spitalfields.

Best to-go lunch in Spitalfields

Kastner & Ovens

I would like to take this opportunity to announce that if you are in Spitalfields between midday and 2 pm on the weekdays and are looking for an incredibly tasty lunch that quite literally always deliver on quality and taste, head straight to Kastner & Ovens on Frying Pan Alley. Despite the amount of amazing food in Spitalfields, Kastner & Ovens is consistently one of the best lunches in Spitalfields.

There is a new menu every day, but you can always expect some favorites like their quiches and pies. The other thing that is always guaranteed to be there is their dessert table which has everything from treacle tart to seasonal pumpkin pie. It’s very hard to say no to cake when it’s staring you in the face.

Dinner

Pearly Queen

Pearly Queen is the newcomer on the Spitalfields dining scene. It’s hard to believe that a restaurant that specializes in seafood could be one of the best restaurants in Spitalfields (it is landlocked, after all), but even just a look at their menu will make it clear why. This is the height of English fusion innovation, with dishes like prawn pate, hake Kyiv, lobster dauphinoise and sticky toffee madeleines, depending on the season.

Pearly Queen is delightfully unassuming, and that’s all the more special given that it is owned by celebrity Michelin-starred chef Tom Brown. Brown’s latest venture is a nod to the simplicity, creativity and diversity that make East London’s dining scene so unique. Those joys come out in every single one of the dishes at Pearly Queen, making it one of the best restaurants in Spitalfields.

Give the Buffalo oysters a shot. You absolutely, positively will not be disappointed.

London Detroit Pizza

I can think of upwards of four friends who live in the neighborhood who would be horrified that I put a pizza restaurant in a best-of restaurants for Spitalfields guide. “This is center of innovative cooking,” they cry. “So many of our restaurants are in the Michelin guide and you choose this?”

But none of them have eaten at London Detroit Pizza and indulged in what may be some of the best pizza in London.

I’m going to get even more controversial: I’ve lived between New York and London for a little while now, and I’d still say this is, consistently, one of the best Detroit-style pizza restaurants around.

The base of the pizza is lined with not too much and not too little cheese to make it perfectly scrumptious on the tongue. It’s crispy, and the sauce is flavorful but knows not to overpower the rest of the ingredients.

Daniel absolutely loves the red stripe (I’ll admit, the marinara sauce is delicious), whereas I would say the Tuscan is where it’s at (I like basil, what can I say). But you could also get both. Two slices is usually the minimum for one person, but you could easily find yourself wanting another corner slice. And get a dipping sauce!

You can’t book London Detroit Pizza in advance, and, unfortunately, there’s always a queue.

I would suggest going for an early dinner and then walking a little further down the road for a cocktail at Spitalfields’s best bar when you’re finished.

Gunpowder

Gunpowder can only be described as Indian food, served as tapas style, modernized and perfected, and yet somehow evokes the charm of Bombay in the 40s. The restaurant only has about 15 seats, so you really want to try to book this one ahead.

In terms of dishes, you probably don’t need to be told this, but the venison doughnut is a special dish that merits a try. It’s a particularly interesting way to cook venison, and it’s a pretty generous portion.

There is no one in London who hasn’t heard of Gunpowder’s Old Monk Rum Bread and Butter Pudding. I can put my hand on my heart and say it’s one of the best bread and butter puddings in London (or even the world).

This one I’m not giving you a choice about: order the rum bread and butter pudding.

I once, famously (among whom, you ask), ordered eight slices of the bread and butter pudding to take to a dinner party. They boxed it up so perfectly that it made me feel like I wasn’t the only person to do this. It’s just so good.

Gunpowder can be as long or as short a meal as you want, but they’re known for bringing out dishes at breakneck speed. You can finish a full three-course meal in an hour, so if you’re looking for a fast and impressive dinner option in East London, Gunpowder is the choice.

Som Saa

Som Saa was once a pop-up (in Peckham, I believe) but has now found a permanent home in Spitalfields after a successful crowdfunding campaign. The restaurant is set in an old fabric warehouse and has maintained the rustic and industrial look.

Som Saa is very specific about the food that they serve – and they’re big on spice. It’s lesser-known dishes from Northern and North-eastern Thailand that are king here.

You will love the pad grapow pbet which is a stir fried duck with holy basil and chillies over a bed of rice and a crispy duck egg. Having said that, Som Saa really does put the highest level of effort into every dish they craft so I don’t think you can go wrong with any choice.

I have on good authority that they’re still using the same oven and charcoal grill that they used during their pop-up days. And if you like sharing, they’ve got quite a few dishes for that.

Som Saa makes their coconut milk fresh onsite which seems like just a nice little touch, but it means that their curries really do have a layer of flavor that only freshness can give. You know when you have a Thai curry and the soup feels a bit flat? That’s because the coconut milk isn’t fresh.

Som Saa is basically always busy, so you really need to book ahead if you want a table.

The Market Coffee House & Bar (The English Restaurant)

I’m just going to admit right here and now that for the longest time I thought The Market Coffee House & Bar was a tourist trap. I decided, as a resident of Spitalfields, that I was too wise to fall into the trap and simply couldn’t try it. And then I tried it and quickly repented for my sins. The food at The Market Coffee House delivers tasty British dishes every single time, and it firmly earns its place as one of the best restaurants in Spitalfields.

The restaurant is housed in an old Spitalfields building that is every bit of the Victorian charm that you could want with its 17th-century oak wood panelling and open fireplaces that are just so inviting. In many ways, this is the restaurant of a bygone era with all the trappings of a traditional British kitchen that can produce precise and delicate flavors.

When you dine at The Market Coffee House (and, frankly, for any English meal), dessert is truly non-negotiable. I firmly believe that no one does dessert and puddings quite like the English do (bread and butter pudding, treacle tart, sticky toffee pudding, Eton mess – need I say more?), and you would be remiss not to treat yourself to dessert.

You may see this online and on Google Maps as both The Market Coffee House & Bar and The English Restaurant. It’s the same place.

And the best restaurant in Spitalfields is…

St. JOHN Bread & Wine is the jewel in the crown of Spitalfields. But you might have already heard of this one: it was a favorite of Anthony Bourdain.

This is a London institution that serves up the best British fare with local produce every single day. You’re absolutely guaranteed a new flavor that you’ve never experienced before, and you might just come to realize you were missing something your whole life.

It’s difficult to recommend dishes here because the menu changes so frequently (it all depends on what quality ingredients they can get), but they usually have weird and wonderful things like veal sweetbreads, fried pig’s tail and the quintessentially English smoked eel.

I’ll admit, St JOHN Bread & Wine isn’t so friendly for vegetarians and vegans.

What I like about St. JOHN Bread & Wine is that they’ve nailed the trifecta: quality of service; quality of service; and atmosphere. The staff are all immaculately dressed in what are essentially white lab coats. Their dress matches the understated and no-fuss atmosphere of the design of the restaurant which is black, white, chrome and wood.

All of the staff are super friendly, so if you’re dining alone in East London, this is the perfect spot to sit at the bar and enjoy an amazing meal.

If you go for nothing else, you need to go to St. JOHN Bread & Wine for the ever-changing selection of very British desserts. They usually always have a bread and butter pudding with butterscotch sauce and a treacle tart, both of which I love dearly. But they always have something peculiar on the dessert menu.

Most recently they had a gooseberry fool. It felt like something straight out of a Roald Dahl novel. I have eaten dinner elsewhere and then gone to St. JOHN Bread & Wine just for dessert many a time.

When you get to the desserts part of their menu, you’ll notice that they sell madeleines fresh from the oven in half dozen and dozen. There’s something quirky about the pricing of the half dozen and dozen madeleines. See if you spot it.


Share This Article

Looking for the best comprehensive travel insurance? SafetyWing has you covered.
And for your eSIM in every country, there is only one option we recommend: Airalo.


Read more of our best insights from around the world