Casual Restaurants in London

In need of a breather from the 100 miles per hour nature of the capital? Find the best restaurants for casual dining in London with our hand-picked guide! Featuring laidback eateries with a touch of urban NYC, easygoing restaurants playing sweet soul music and stripped back cafes with spectacular views of the Shard, recharge those batteries at our recommended picks for casual restaurants in London.

Looking for further inspiration? Check out our complete guide to the best restaurants in London!

Last edited by Scarlett Welch

Last updated on 11th December 2024




Iberica - Restaurants

If you're looking for a casual, but beautiful, place to grab a bite to eat, these London Iberica restaurants have your back. Think tasty tapas of croquetas, jamon Iberico and tortillas washed down with vino or sangria.

Pasta Remoli - Restaurants

In need of a casual dining spot in London? Carb lovers will go absolutely nuts for Pasta Remoli. They're serving up some of the best Italian eats, from creamy spaghetti to decadent ravioli and plenty of parmesan cheese to top it off.

Humble Grape Bars

Beautifully crafted with sleek furniture, exposed brick walls and simple decor, the bar offers over 30 different varieties of wine for the venue's guests. If that wasn't enough, guests can accompany their drinks with a selection of delicious, casual dishes.

Haymarket Kitchen

The restaurant found in the heart of one of London's most notorious clubbing destinations is one of your more unlikely places to eat but ahead of the wave when it comes to casual dining in London. Haymarket Kitchen in Tiger Tiger boasts vibrant interiors and a relaxed aesthetic where you can enjoy a curated international menu with influence from Mexico to Europe. 

Mamma Dough - Restaurants

From the tasty sourdough slices covered in toppings to the stripped-back spaces that create a relaxed vibe, Mamma Dough's casual restaurants in South London aren't to be missed. Plus, you can even nab your choice of booze to wash it all down.

Exhibit

Bottomless Dinner and 4 other offers

Looking for a chilled out restaurant in London with something a little extra for afterwards? It's time you met The Exhibit, a hub for eating, drinking and socialising in Balham. Check out their Dinner and a movie nights, where you can get a large plate from the main menu and a ticket to their snug independent cinema for less than £20. A great choice for a casual date night in London.

Pizza Pilgrims Canary Wharf

Pizzaiolo in training £55 per person and 7 other offers

The Pizza Pilgrims team are opening yet another site in London, this time setting up shop in Canary Wharf. Known for creating authentic, Neapolitan pizzas that are topped with the most flavoursome ingredients, this new East London venue also offers 16-player foosball tables, plasma screen TVs and vintage video games.

The Loose Box

Based in the heart of Britain's political world, The Loose Box was created with the busy working populace in mind. Open early in the morning to cater for Westminster's many early risers, the restaurant-cum-cafe serves a number of delicious dishes throughout the day. Using only the freshest ingredients available and working had to ensure they cast the smallest possible carbon footprint, each meal and sharing platter is stunningly refreshing and will leave guests smiling from ear to ear. 

Slug And Lettuce - Bars

Slug & Lettuce is the perfect spot to hang out with your crew, with loads of tasty drinks and grub to dig into. These bars are scattered all over London, from Croydon to Richmond and Tower Bridge, so you can dive into cocktail trees and snag some fabulous bottomless brunch bargains.

YO! Sushi - Restaurants

YO! Sushi's London venues are offering a great place to have Japanese fare across casual spaces. Nab items from their famous conveyor belt or go for a cheap set menu offer from Monday to Thursday.

The Four Thieves

Birthday Prosecco

We need to talk about The Four Thieves' Gin Yard. A charming alfresco space with ample comfy seating and artworks lining the walls, the space is covered all winter so it's really cosy all year round. Head out here with a drink or two before dinner and enjoy those relaxing vibes, they grow the lavender used in their gin out here, so it smells great too. Head chef Richard Allen prepares a menu of seasonal and fresh British pub classics when it's time to eat.

The Gourmet Bar

The Gourmet Bar is a modern, sophisticated restaurant located within Novotel, Greenwich. It invites you to unwind after a long day in its quirky surroundings, decked out with velvet sofas and contemporary art. Whether you're looking for a spot of brunch or a delicious dinner, it has something for everyone, including pizzas, burgers and tempting starters like salt and pepper squid.

VQ - Various Sites

Head to Euston, Bloomsbury, Notting Hill or Aldgate where the stylish and relaxed VQ has got you covered for quick bites and long lunches from breakfast through dinner. Boasting everything from soup and sandwiches to steak and spaghetti, it's one of London's best casual restaurants.

The Birds

The Birds in Leytonstone has been given a make over, keeping its traditional boozer charm and adding a heap of kitsch interiors inspired by Alfred Hitchcock. As well as a delicious pub menu, great craft beer selection and quaint beer garden, the venue also hosts regular events from brunch through to bingo.

Busaba - Restaurants

Looking for a casual date spot that'll impress? Or a place to catch up with friends or family over delicious food in a relaxed environment? Then Busaba should be your go-to. The first Busaba restaurant opened up in Soho 1999, but since then, they've gained mass popularity, now boasting numerous locations across the city, including Covent Garden, Kingston and Stratford. 

You'll find these lovely, laid-back spots slinging out a fantastic menu of authentic Thai food. So, whether you fancy chicken satay, black pepper beef from the wok, green curry or a fragrant pad Thai, head here to fill your boots with delicious eats - complete with wine or refreshing Singha beer.

Meat & Shake Tooting

Struggling to find a decent casual dining spot in South London. Fear not, the team at Meat & Shake are here to help. The venue has made a name for itself by serving fine cuts of seasoned halal meat. Enjoy a belly-warming brisket, sink your chops into a seasoned steak or enjoy a cheese and sauce topped burger that's full of attitude.

Pho London

With locations including the picturesque setting of Battersea Rise and a charming hideaway in Oxford Circus, Pho is a firm favourite on London's casual dining scene. Expect tasty Vietnamese food with authenticity and relaxed service at the core.

Smiths of Smithfield

Chef's Choice Menu and 6 other offers

Delivering delicious comfort food at all time of the day and accompanying each dish with an ice-cold drink, Smith of Smithfield is a vibrant, four storey restaurant in Central London. Decorated with distinctly rustic decor, the restaurant's talented team of chefs work with the best cuts of meat that Britain's farmers have to offer, butchering, seasoning and grilling each cut on site before serving it to the many guests that walk through the door. To help wash the copious amounts of comfort food down, the bar offers 60 different types of craft beer and an array of handcrafted cocktails. 

Market Halls - Top London Sites

Bringing offbeat charm and some of the capital's finest eats, to it, these great market hall venues are truly offering something for every appetite. With a plethora of eateries and delicious cocktails, it really is perfect for just chilling with mates for lunch, or grabbing a quick bite. 

Ping Pong London

Relaxed and welcoming - yet seriously stylish - Ping Pong specialises in seasonal, bite-size dim sum, refreshing cocktails and theatrical Chinese teas. It's a stunning place for some food and drinks across London, with an excellent brunch offering which includes bottomless plates.

Coin Laundry

Looking for a laid-back neighbourhood restaurant and bar in Exmouth Market? Coin Laundry has your name all over it; serving up proper comfort food, rejuvenated 70s cocktails and a big fat slice of nostalgia in a cosy and comfortable setting. Come for a couple of drinks or play some kerplunk in the basement; there's an 'anything goes' spirit that makes Coin Laundry an excellent option for a casual London meal.

Albert's Schloss Soho

For a laid-back time with a great entertainment lineup throughout the week (think cabaret, live music and more), head to Albert's Schloss Soho, a buzzing venue inspired by Queen Victoria's husband's heritage and love of the arts.

The Bavarian bier hall is decked out with long benches, a sparkling disco ball and stacked logs to give that Alpine feel. On the menu, you can look forward to sharing gooey pots of fondue with your friends, schnitzel and curried wurst, washed down with a cool stein of beer. 

Balans Soho Society

Sophistication and relaxation meet at Balans Society Soho, with a quirky interior, amazing cocktails and a mean British menu, this all-day den is the perfect way to hide away from the bustling streets outside.

Spagnoletti

With a menu dreamt up by pasta master Girolamo de Gennaro and executive chef Manuele Bazzoni, Spagnoletti is an all-day Italian restaurant located in King's Cross. Their open kitchen cooks up everything from lobster tagliolini and cacio e pepe to yellowtail tuna steaks or charcoal arancini, paired with a refreshing Aperol spritz.

Shrub and Shutter

Having already pulled off several sell-out residencies across London, pop-up restaurant Fodder is now teaming up with cos cocktail bar Shrub and Shutter to create a menu full of innovative small plates that pair perfectly with their crowd-pleasing concoctions. Available between Wednesdays and Saturdays, the menu is divided into small plates and 'sticks' all made with seasonal ingredients and minimal waste products. 

The Red Duck

If you're looking for a casual Chinese restaurant, without compromising on flavour, then The Red Duck in Balham is the place for you. Think crispy spring rolls, sichuan veggie dumplings and Singapore fried noodles, all washed down with signature cocktails.