30s Magazine

Discover the most instagrammable restaurants in London where the food, drinks and your photo’s backdrop guarantee a boost in insta-likes.

London is one of the world’s top culinary destinations. The restaurant scene is constantly evolving and the cultural diversity influences and inspires chefs to create innovative cuisine. Besides the great food the restaurants and cafes are also perking up their decor to draw in aesthetic conscious people. Find out where to go to snap that perfect insta-worthy photo in this tried and tested round up;

Peggy Porschen

Pink and pastels ceramics, a floral adorned facade and picture perfect pastries and cakes. Peggy Porschen is utterly dreamy and elegant and famed for their cupcakes. With a cup of tea in hand, a slice of moist and fluffy cake in reach and a view on Elizabeth’s street boutiques, you know you’ve made it to London’s chic. – metrostation Sloane or Victoria https://www.peggyporschen.com/

Elan Café

Stepping into one of the six Elan Cafés in London is like entering a Barbie doll house. With everything pink and marble it’s a favourite backdrop for brunch and lunch photos. The interior is like no other with accent walls covered in roses, pink velvet chairs and marble tables. Each Elan Café is slightly different in decor. The menu is packed with colourful and healthy foods like avocado mash, smoothies, porridge, banana pancakes and a variety of sandwiches or wraps. https://www.elnlondon.co.uk/

Milk Train

Milk Train is not really a restaurant but an ice cream parlour in Covent Garden. Don’t expect a simple cone with a few scoops, but instead the ice cream equivalent of the freakshake. You can opt for toppings such as sprinkles, oreo cookies, cotton candy, chocolate slivers or candy. It’s a visual masterpiece and even more so a sugar boost but totally worth it! – metrostation Covent Garden https://www.milktraincafe.com/

Duck & Waffle

With possibly the best view in the city, skyline restaurant Duck & Waffle is one of the most popular breakfast/brunch spots in London. They are always fully booked months in advance and waiting lists aren’t uncommon. In a few seconds you are taken to the 40^th floor where you’ll have a jaw-dropping 360 degrees panoramic view on London. For breakfast one can indulge in savoury and sweet waffles, mimosas, eggs Florentine and Benedict, or a cocotte. As the name suggests their signature dish is waffles with duck. – metrostation Liverpoolstreet https://duckandwaffle.com/

Fortnum & Mason at the Royal Exchange

Fortnum & Mason is the quintessential tea brand and hamper & gifts store of London. Their department store is a must on your list when visiting London. But for an exclusive Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea one heads to the financial district of London. The al fresco style restaurant & bar is located in the center courtyard of the Royal Exchange Building so you get to enjoy the marvel of the historic building while sampling exquisite tea blends in a high tea arrangement, brunching or a chic luncheon. – metrostation Bank https://www.fortnumandmason.com/

Maître Choux

Maitre Choux is the go to place for the best éclairs, choux and chouquettes in London. The modern version of a French patissier and tearoom is located in chic South Kensington. The éclairs come in savoury and sweet varieties. Must-try: their Sweet Pink Afternoon Tea when they pair some of their most exciting éclairs and choux together with Laurent Perrier Champagne! https://www.maitrechoux.com/

Kalifornia Kitchen

Whomever said vegan and gluten-free are boring has never been to Kalifornia Kitchen. This cotton candy pink restaurant serves sexy vegan and gluten-free food, healthy juice mixes and sweet vegan desserts. What to expect: For breakfast you get to dive into Buckwheat Banana pancakes, scambled tofu on sourdough toast or a vegan break buritto. For lunch or dinner try the Panko Oyster mushrooms with sweet potato truffle mash and sautéed swiss chard. Or opt for a Curry bowl or a roast vegetable tajine. Don’t skimp on dessert because the vegan/gluten-free lime and raspberry cheese is too good to miss out. – metrostation Tottenham Court Road https://www.kaliforniakitchen.co.uk/

Sushi Samba

Sushi Samba has two restaurants in London, one in a high rise building on Bishopgate with a stunning skyline view and one in Covent Garden. The one in Covent Garden has my personal preference because of the aesthetics; a tropical jungle vibe. Real live plants are draped from a ceiling installation featuring South American and Japanese plants. Orchids and trees are dispersed between the bar and velvet seating nooks. On the menu: Japanese/Peruvian/Brazilian fusion food like pork belly with butterscotch miso, scallops with vanilla, jalapeño and mango, a Kobe bun with pickled onions and horseradish mayonnaise and octopus with peppers. – metrostation Covent Garden – https://sushisamba.com/

Temakinho

At Temakinho Japanese Sushi rolls are immersed in Brazilian flavours creating unique, colourful fusion food. Both the Soho restaurant as well as the one at London Bridge are decorated in a tropical style with jungle print wall paper and fringed lamps, rattan furniture and happy colours. – between metrostation Tottenham Court Road and Covent Garden or London Bridge https://www.temakinho.com/

Sky Garden

London’s highest public rooftop garden offers spectacular views across London and beyond. There are two restaurants and two bars. On level 36 there’s the brasserie style restaurant Darwin overlooking the Tames river. Restaurant Fenchurch with west facing views is more high end and serves contemporary British food. Both make for an once in a life time experience, especially during dinner when the romance factor is as sky high as the setting. metrostation Monument https://skygarden.london/

Sketch

Sketch invented the pink restaurant trend that is now so prevalent worldwide. Although the pink room is the most popular room, the other spaces at Sketch are just as instagrammable. Even the toilets are a must see where you get to pee in a white pod under a colourful glass tiled ceiling. – metrostation Oxford street https://sketch.london/

Slug & Lettuce

Slug & Lettuce is your go-to place for a casual meet up with friends. They serve good value breakfast and lunch during the day and in the evening they turn it up a notch with cocktails and burgers. The decor is fun and feminine with pinks and floral prints. There are three venues in Aldgate near London Tower, St Pauls and Canary Wharf. https://www.slugandlettuce.co.uk/

Coppa Club

With a view on the river Thames and London Bridge, and neighbouring the Tower of London, Coppa Club is a favourite among locals and tourists alike. The restaurant has an open space floor plan with a central brass bar and marble herringbone floor. The outdoor terrace is however most insta-famous because of the riverside glass igloos. Snuggled inside the glass capsules you get to enjoy cosy dinners/drinks with friends while gazing up to the stars and admiring the magical lights of London by night. Sheepskin rugs, fluffy blankets and twinkling lights make boost the winter cheer. In summer the igloos transform into laid-back Surfer Shacks with bohemian style furniture and tropical plants. – metrostation Tower Hill https://www.coppaclub.co.uk/towerbridge/

Alto by San Carlo

The Italian rooftop restaurant at Selfridges, Alto by San Carlo, is like a hidden sanctuary and feels like a piece of Italy in London. The al fresco restaurant is in summer boasting with lemon plants. In spring they transform it into a cottage garden with wisterias. –metrostation Bondstreet/Marble Arch https://sancarlo.co.uk/restaurants/alto-by-san-carlo/

Hello Darling

The facade of Hello Darling is like a classic Hollywood diner. Once inside you are a bit thrown off guard as the interior is more like a cosy livingroom. Their menu makes up quickly for that as it’s full of small sharing format dishes (3 or 4 per person) and pretty botanical cocktails. –metrostation Waterloo https://www.hellodarling.london/

The Knot Churros

Although the reviews about the churros and ice cream aren’t well, the place and desserts are highly instagrammable. My recommendation is thus: go there for the gram but not for the churros- metrostation South Kensington https://www.theknotchurros.co.uk/

The Farm Girl

With four restaurants in London (Soho, Nottinghill, Knightsbridge, Chelsea) the Australian brand has made a solid name for itself in the London food scene. The menu is packed with healthy choices like acai bowls, a variety of fruit bowls, oats, quinoa bowls and toast. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free or lactose intolerant you’ll find something that matches your taste. Tip: try the rose or lavender latte! https://www.thefarmgirl.co.uk

Bourne & Hollingsworth

Looking for a beautiful brunch place? Enter Bourne & Hollingworth where irt feels like stepping into an abandoned country house. The restaurant mixes soft furnishings and armchairs with cane garden furniture and wrought iron benches. The whole space is filled with hanging baskets, fully grown trees and trailing creepers, effectively bringing the outside in and offering a relaxed and charming brunch experience. –metrostation Totenham Court Road https://www.bandhbuildings.com/the-restaurant

Palm Vaults

For Palm Vaults you need to go a bit off the beaten track but it’s totally worth it. In this pastel coloured restaurant the food and the lattes are healthy and insta-worthy. The pastel lattes are coloured naturally with beet or matcha. The granola, acai and smoothiebowl are picture perfect with edible flowers and fresh fruits. – metrostation Hackney Central