UPDATE 2021 – Now a list of 18 most Instagrammable cafés, restaurants and bars in London.
Instagrammable places to eat have been trending for the better part of a decade and with new places cropping up all the time, it’s hard to keep track of them and easy to forget about others that have been left in the dark. To help make things a little easier, I’ve put together a list of 18 (originally 10 but I keep finding more) of the most photogenic restaurants and cafés across London that will complement your IG feed perfectly.
If you’ve browsed a few ‘gram worthy guides for places to eat in London you may notice a few differences with mine and that a couple of popular ones are missing. That’s because although I’ve been to them, I’ve chosen mine not just because they are pretty but because the service and food was amazing too, and really isn’t that the most important thing if you’re going to be spending your money to provide free marketing for them? I think so.
So without further ado, here is my guide to 18 of the most Instagrammable (and delicious) cafés and restaurants in London:
1. Dalloway Terrace
Location
Fitzrovia
Closest Underground station
Tottenham Court Road – Central and Northern Lines
Dalloway Terrace is most popular for photos because of its feature wall that changes seasonally. Though it’s beautiful when it’s adorned with spring flowers, the cooler season is the best time to come. The covered terrace at Dalloway Terrace is one of the cosiest spots when the temperature drops in the city as it’s kept warm with outdoor heaters.
Sure, the wall is beautiful and it is the restaurant’s defining feature, but I also want to stress that the food here is amazing! If you love truffles then you won’t be disappointed, their wild mushroom risotto was the perfect autumnal comfort food and don’t get me started on how much I enjoyed pinching Michael’s fries!
PFH Top Tip: it’s not possible to book a specific table, which means you can’t be guaranteed one against the feature wall. I suggest booking first thing or arriving a little earlier for your reservation and asking if it’s possible to wait for one.
PLEASE be kind and polite to the staff. When we went we wanted to sit with the wall, we asked if it was possible and they let us wait for one to be sanitised. As we were eating our meal a couple were showed to their table and the woman starting screaming (no lie) at the staff because she wanted to sit with the wall for photos and refused to sit down despite there being no other tables available. See what patience and kindness will get you?
As an alternative to the terrace try The Coral Room, the bar at the hotel, as it’s equally as beautiful. See number 14 for more.
Book your table for 12pm to get the best chance of a seat against the feature wall.
2. Winter Garden at The Landmark London
Location
Marylebone
Closest Underground station
Marylebone – Bakerloo
Baker Street – Bakerloo, Circle and Hammersmith & City, Jubilee and Metropolitan Lines
Edgware Road – Bakerloo, Circle and District, Circle and Hammersmith & City
I learnt about The Landmark London back in 2014 when I was working for its sister hotel, K West. I used to go over there every other month for team meetings or fam trips and it was always my favourite hotel of the three to work in because of what’s waiting inside for you when you get past reception.
The Winter Garden is a spectacular indoor courtyard filled with tall palm trees reaching up towards the high glass ceiling. The ceiling previously only covered the ground floor but it was raised to create the Winter Garden as it is today.
Though The Landmark London’s High Palms High Tea is named one of the best afternoon teas in London according to Time Out London, I do highly recommend eating lunch their too. The Landmark has a set menu for £45 pp which includes 3 courses and a glass of prosecco, the set menu includes their exquisite Slow Cooked Short Rib of Aubrey Allen’s Beef which I highly recommend if you eat meat. You can also enjoy a more budget friendly visit by booking a table at the Garden Terrace, which overlooks the Winter Garden, for tea, coffee or cocktails.
PFH Fun Fact: T-Swift stayed at The Landmark London.
Please note a smart dress code is required as this is a five-star hotel.
3. Tiffany Blue Box Café at Harrods
Location
Ground floor of Harrods in Knightsbridge.
Closest Underground station
Knightsbridge – Piccadilly Line
Who doesn’t want to have breakfast at Tiffany’s? It’s entirely possible at the Tiffany Blue Box Café in Harrods. The whole decor is Tiffany Blue and is made complete with little nods to the movie classic such as sheets of the script and a replica eye mask to the one Holly Golightly wore. How could a fan resist?
If breakfast doesn’t take your fancy, book a table later in the day for a four course afternoon tea with unlimited tea, sandwiches and scones.
Get ready to pose with your Tiffany tea cup before indulging yourself in all the sweet and savoury treats of your dreams.
Reservations are necessary to avoid disappointment as tables are limited.
4. EL&N
Locations
Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge
St Pancras Station
Selfridges
Market Place, Oxford Circus
Brompton Road, South Kensington
Park Lane, Mayfair
Lowndes Street, Belgravia
Carnaby Street
Wardour Street, Soho
Closest Underground station to the Knightsbridge location
Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge – Piccadilly Line
Wardour Street, Tottenham Court Road – Central and Nothern Lines
Something that’s extra special about EL&N is that the interior for each one is different. Yes they’re all cute, pink and serve some of the most outrageously beautiful drinks and cakes you’ve ever seen, but they still all have something unique about them. Whether it’s a wall of candy love-hearts, floor to ceiling flowers or neon signs there’s a perfect backdrop for your next Instagram post waiting for you inside.
The most popular and photo-worthy EL&N location in London over the years is the one with the twin alcoves lined with candy love-hearts, you can find this Instagrammable location downstairs in their Hans Crescent café, opposite Harrods in Knightsbridge. I think their newer location on Wardour Street is definitely going to take over as EL&N’s most Instagrammble café! With neon signs lining the walls and a pink and purple arcade that features a pink motorbike arcade game, EL&N on Wardour St is crushing the Instagrammable café game!
With queues almost always out the door, EL&N is one of the top examples of a café nailing the highly sought after “most Instagrammable café in London” title. The menu actually tells you what photographs best and which is most popular for TikTok and they’re not wrong, these drinks really do look good in your hand or on the table in a photo. I highly recommend their Lucky Latte (see above) it’s topped with Lucky Charms cereal!
Hans Crescent EL&N. Photo taken by @sarahtaylorphotoandfilm
EL&N does not accept any bookings so arrive when it opens to get the best table.
5. Drunch
Locations
Regent’s Park
Mayfair
Closest Underground station
Regent’s Park: St John’s Wood – Jubilee Line
Mayfair: Bond Street – Jubilee and Central Lines
Fancy getting photos for the ‘gram and a decent brunch? Then make your way over to Drunch. Unlike most of the Instaworthy cafés, restaurants and bars on this list, the decor or view is not the main attraction, oh no. When it comes to brunch no one does it better than Drunch. Whether it’s an outrageously themed cocktail like the Escobar’s or a designer latte with a chocolate dusted haute couture logo, Turkish Eggs or heart-shaped-nutella-stuffed pancakes – you don’t want to miss the opportunity to snap the most Instagrammable brunch in London for your feed.
Head to their Regent’s Park for cosy lounge vibes and the Mayfair Drunch for terrace dining with gigantic teddies for company.
Drunch doesn’t take reservations so I recommend arriving when they open (11am weekdays and 10am on weekends). Expect a long queue on weekends.
6. Peggy Porschen
Locations
Belgravia (pictured)
Chelsea
Closest Underground station
Victoria – Circle and District and Victoria Lines
It’s possible that Belgravia Peggy Porschen is the most Instagrammed café in London. Its seasonally decorated exterior is posted by food, fashion, travel, beauty and lifestyle bloggers who have travelled here from all around the world.
As Peggy Porschen is first and foremost a bakery, I can guarantee you that you will always enjoy what you eat here, provided you have a sweet tooth. Their selection of cupcakes, biscuits and cakes by the slice is vast and trust me, everything is photogenic. If cake isn’t your thing then you can still get something that will make your table flat lay super cute, order a coffee or hot chocolate and it will come with a festive chocolate dusting.
Either book a table here or arrive 10mins before they open (10am) to grab a table out front. Make sure you select outdoor seating with your booking to get the best spot for photos. The outdoor seats are ideal because you’ll have natural lighting, a backdrop of the pink café and your photographer (or the poor schmuck you’ve convinced to take photos of you) will be able to step back onto the pavement to get a clear shot of you.
7. The Ivy
Photo taken by @leana.esch
Location
There are multiple restaurants all across the UK.
The exterior restaurant in the blog post is The Ivy Market Grill Covent Garden and the interior photographs are of The Ivy Brasserie, Norwich.
Closest Underground station for The Ivy Market Grill
Covent Garden – Piccadilly Line
Each restaurant under The Ivy umbrella is decorated with a different theme but they are always elegant. If you don’t want to eat out I recommend going for drinks. The seasonal cocktail list never disappoints – I’m talking Lavender Ladies in summer and Toffee Apple Martinis in Autumn – but the mixologists are always prepared to serve you whatever your heart desires.
It’s not too costly given the atmosphere but if you do want to keep the cost down go for breakfast. You can get a tea/coffee and a selection of mini pastries for less than £12 per person, I highly recommend their vegetarian breakfast though if you’re extra hungry.
Though each restaurant’s interior is different, the doorway is always adorned with a seasonal display making it an ideal spot for a photo before you enjoy a drink or meal there.
Please note the dress code is smart casual
8. Aubaine
Locations
Selfridges
Brompton Road, Kensington
Marylebone
Mayfair
Notting Hill
Covent Garden
Closest Underground station to Selfridges
Bond Street – Central Line and Jubilee Lines
For a quick trip to France on the Tube, head to any of Aubaine’s locations across all of the most popular spots in London.
Aubaine’s Selfridges location is particularly popular on Instagram as it’s decorated head to toe in lavender and lilac wisteria (not real if you’re worried about hay fever). I recommend booking for the first reservation in the morning and asking for a table within the flowers when you arrive because you cannot be guaranteed a seat there, plus the breakfast menu is delicious whether you’re ordering a croissant like I did or Eggs Benedict like Michael.
As for Aubaine’s Mayfair location I recommend booking for drinks and/or dinner – I mean champagne cocktails and burrata after work, on a date night or with friends sounds perfect right?
Book your table at Selfridges for when they open to get the best opportunity to sit at their prettiest tables. Tables at Aubaine restaurants can all be booked except the Deli at Covent Garden which only takes walk-ins.
9. Saint Aymes
Location
Tyburnia
Closest Underground station
Marble Arch – Central Line
For another café with shockingly priced but ridiculously attractive drinks, head to Saint Aymes. At one point in time Saint Aymes was dubbed the prettiest café in London (according to their website anyway). Each area of the café is decorated with a different floral display and though it’s all photogenic, I would say the outdoor seats are the best. To get those I recommend turning up when it opens (check the times on the website for the day you want to visit because it varies) because there’s a £25 minimum spend to book a table.
Saint Aymes has been featured in major publications such as Marie Claire, Time Out and The Telegraph and has been used as a shoot location by L’Oreal, Too Faced and Instax Fuji Film, so you know, it cute!
10. Farm Girl
Location
Notting Hill (pictured)
Soho
Knightsbridge, Harvey Nichols
Fitzrovia
Hoxton
For a killer vegan menu that looks even more exciting than it already sounds, head to any of Farm Girl’s locations. I’m talking braised shiitake bulgogi tacos, Açai smoothie bowls and coconut BLTs with rose, matcha or turmeric lattes decorated with a cute bulldog.
If flat lays of your food is what you’re after then Farm Girl is the place for you.
11. Circolo Popolare
Location
Fitzrovia
Closest Underground station
Tottenham Court Road – Central Line
Tucked away on one of the side streets off Oxford Street hides Circolo Popolare, the Italian restaurant of dreams in central London. Absolutely nothing could prepare me for the beautiful decor of this restaurant, I love it so much I’ve written about it twice and eaten there more times than I should admit.
The lighting within Circolo Popolare is romantic but dim and makes taking photos a little harder so I found the best spot to be outside in their little garden. However, it’s not as breathtaking as their white alcoves filled with wine bottles, purple and red flowers strung from the ceiling beams and fairy lights that resembles a starry sky (they create beautiful bokeh too). You’ll just have to go twice to decide for yourself which is best and though harder to get a photo I do recommend going for dinner as this restaurant is romantic AF.
Circolo Popolare is part of the Big Mamma group whose restaurants are known for incredible food all across Europe. I highly recommend their Cacio e Pepe which on weekends and evenings is served for two straight from a pecorino wheel, alternatively you can order a plate of Cacio e Pepe on weekdays for lunch.
Click here to make a reservation, they do take walk-ins of up to 6 people if you can’t get a table.
12. Alto San Carlo at Selfridges
Location
Fifth floor of Selfridges on Oxford Street.
Closest Underground station
Bond Street on the Jubilee and Central Lines.
What could possibly be one of the most sought after restaurants with their summer 2021 Dior takeover is Alto on the fifth floor of Selfridges.
Usually decorated with lemons and hanging vines this Italian rooftop restaurant looks like you’ve stepped out of central London and into the Amalfi Coast. During the Dior takeover it resembles more of the terrace of an Italian villa whose Dioriviera ceiling drapes seek to offer you a cool sanctuary from the sun.
The menu is Italian cuisine served in a tapas style with the purpose of ordering multiple plates to share. Yes that means you can order pasta, pizza and risotto and eat it all!
Might I suggest a linen outfit or a summer dress (if you wear them) – dress for lunch in Capri for the right vibe in your photos.
To get to Alto, take the express lift opposite the Chanel perfume counter on the ground floor.
Reservations are necessary, Alto x Dior is not currently taking walk-ins.
13. Club Mexicana
Locations
Soho
Seven Dials Market, Covent Garden
Closest Underground station
Oxford Circus – Central, Bakerloo and Victoria Lines.
Hidden away from shoppers, tourists and locals that regularly line Carnaby Street is Kingly Court (opposite Broadwick Street) where you’ll find a treasure trove of restaurants, including Club Mexicana.
Club Mexicana is a vegan Mexican restaurant; it’s colourful, delicious and will blow your mind even if you’ve been eating vegan before it became a trend.
As a vegetarian who misses fish tacos, their beer-battered Baja Tofish tacos satisfy that craving so well that upon my first bite I forgot it was vegan as was momentarily hesitant to take another bite because I was convinced it was fish!
These colourful tacos, burritos and Mexican beers served with chilli salt rims on hot pink tables will give you the pop of colour that your summer Instagram feed is craving.
Added bonus, you can get x3 tacos and a margarita for under £20!
Reservations are necessary to avoid disappointment. Please note that Club Mexicana asks that reservations are for dining not just drinking.
14. The Coral Room at The Bloomsbury Hotel
Location
Fitzrovia
Closest Underground station
Tottenham Court Road – Central and Northern Lines
Another favourite of mine and Instagrammable restaurant at The Bloomsbury Hotel in Fitzrovia is their bar, The Coral Room.
Sure the decorative seasonal wall in Dalloway Terraces outside is beautiful for photos but The Coral Room is my personal favourite of the two. The boldly painted coral walls, colourful L.E. Hall artwork hung in gold bamboo frames on every wall, potted palms that almost give the impression that they’re leaning in to your intimate conversations and statement bar that glows from within, all pull together to create a tropical oasis from bustling Oxford Street that’s just minutes away.
You can trust in The Coral Room to make cocktails that not only taste good but look every bit as glamorous as you’ll feel sipping them.
You can enjoy a light lunch, afternoon tea or drinks at The Coral Room. My recommendation is to get drinks and then take your meal in Dalloway Terraces (reservations needed).
The Coral Room is less popular than Dalloway Terraces so it will be easier to get a table here, however their afternoon tea is popular so it’s best to book your table.
15. Jin Bo Law at the Dorsett City Hotel
Location
Aldgate
Closest Underground station
Aldgate – Circle and Metropolitan Lines
Aldgate East – District and Hammersmith & City Lines
Jin Bo Law is the skybar at the Dorsett City Hotel. Located on the 14th floor of the hotel Jin Bo Law offers incredible views out across the city of London and serves as an incredible backdrop for your “out in the city” photos. The view from Jin Bo Law includes the Gherkin, Shard and “walkie-talkie” on right and Tower Bridge and the River Thames to the left.
Jin Bo Law is my top choice on this list to start an evening out in the city both for the view and the music, if 90s/00s RnB and cocktails is your thing then you’ll love Jin Bo Law.
For the best photos reserve a table outside on weekday when it’s quieter. The vibe is better at the weekend but there’s a minimum spend on Friday nights so something to keep that in mind when booking.
For another rooftop bar see number 17 on the list of most Instagrammable cafés and restaurants in London.
16. Christina’s Shoreditch at the Mondrian London Shoreditch hotel
Location
Shoreditch
Closest Underground station
Liverpool St Station – Central, Circle Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines and the Overground, TFL rail, C2C, Greater Anglia, Stansted Express
Shoreditch High Street – Overground
Old Street – Northern Line or the Great Northern network
Christina’s Shoreditch is the café and bar in one of East London’s newest hotels: Mondrian Shoreditch hotel. The Mondrian chain took over The Curtain hotel after is had to close its doors during the height of the pandemic and the makeover has been an incredible transformation. The Mondrian Shoreditch now boasts three amazing places to dine including BiBa, a Spanish restaurant ran by World Famous Michelin Star chef, Dani García.
Christina’s, located to the right of the hotel, is where you enjoy pastries baked fresh in the neighbourhood bakery, Chestnut Bakery, some of the best sandos in London that are made with fresh ingredients from local farmers and growers and you can sip on cocktails made with ingredients only sourced from independent suppliers such as Hepple Gin and Kanpai Sake. Christina’s has put sustainability at the forefront of their conception and everything delicious morsel served speaks to this.
Pop into the lobby at the Mondrian Shoreditch London for a neat Lightroom experience much like a mini Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirror Room.
Book a table at Christina’s Shoreditch to avoid disappointment.
17. The Aviary at Montcalm Royal London House hotel
Location
Shoreditch
Closest Underground station
Liverpool St Station – Central, Circle Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Lines and the Overground, TFL rail, C2C, Greater Anglia, Stansted Express
Shoreditch High Street – Overground
Old Street – Northern Line or the Great Northern network
Much like number 15 (Jin Bo Law) on this list of Instaworthy restaurants in London, The Aviary is also a skybar bar within a Shoreditch hotel. The Aviary is the rooftop restaurant and bar at the Montcalm Royal London House hotel. Some of the view highlights at The Aviary include the “walkie-talkie” and The Shard.
Though the view isn’t quite as impressive as Jin Bo Law the terrace at The Aviary is much bigger so you can enjoy drinks with a backdrop of London’s skyscrapers with a little more personal space.
The Aviary also has some of the most sought after dining experiences in London: igloo pods, you’ll need to plan your booking in advance for these as they’re always snapped up quickly.
Book a table on the terrace for a seat outside with a city view.
18. Tavolino
Location
Southwark
Closest Underground station
London Bridge – Northern and Jubilee Lines.
Tavolino is an Italian restaurant located within one of London’s newer complex, More London, which sits along the River Thames close to London Bridge station. Aside from very good pizza, pasta and cocktails made with some of the best Italian spirits Tavolino is one of the best spots to savour a view of Tower Bridge, one of London’s most iconic landmarks. For more ideas on where to take photos of or with Tower Bridge then take a look at my blog post, Best locations to photograph Tower Bridge.
Book a table outside on the terrace if it’s not raining for unobstructed views of Tower Bridge. If it’s raining book a table inside and request the second floor for the best indoor views of the bridge.
So there you have it, my top 18 Instagrammable cafés, restaurants and bars in London where you’ll be able to get killer content and good food! Enjoy!
Keep an eye out here throughout the summer of 2021 as new restaurants get added!
Do more on & for the planet, Gabriella
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If you enjoyed this blog post, why not check out my 10 most Instagrammable places in London, England blog post.
