Food & Drink

10 Of London’s Best Delis

Get your cured meats and olives at one of these superior delis – plus our top three destination delis out of London.

There is no greater paradise for the epicure than to step inside a delicatessen, its counters groaning with fresh produce and its – ideally wooden – shelves proudly presenting all the superior store cupboard essentials that we might ever need. These are our favourite London-based deli counters – plus three worth leaving town for.

Nourished Communities




Nourished Communities is a relevant newcomer to London's deli scene, and certainly one of the most vibrant. Offering both locally sourced produce and artisanal goods, ut was founded by Rollo Millership during the pandemic, the venture beginning as a means to connect local farmers and producers with the community. Since its inception, Nourished Communities has expanded to three locations across London, in Islington, Highbury and Walthamstow. Each one is a veritable Aladdin's cave, brimming with a diverse range of products sourced from independent producers and growers. Think the likes of artisan hot sauces, free-range meats, local honey, handmade chocolates, organic fruits and vegetables, and refillable household products. The stores also emphasise sustainability, offering refill stations for olive oil, wine, lentils, and oats. But beyond the traditional retail offering, Nourished Communities actively engages with the local community. In 2023, they hosted the Nourished Communities Food Festival, which featured over 100 independent producers, speakers on regenerative agriculture, and workshops on fermenting and mushroom cultivation. Find out more here.


Luigi’s, Fulham




Luigi’s is a Fulham Road institution, its jolly red façade inviting lovers of Italian deli food in since 1973. Homely and lively, it’s like walking into the busy kitchen of a bustling foodie family – except that you can take all the lovely cheeses and olive oils you so desire home with you. Alternatively, just pop in for lunch and emerge with a delicious helping of fresh pasta to devour in one of the area’s lovely garden squares. At Christmas, the shop is festooned with panettone which hang from the ceiling, making it an experience of pure magic for Italophiles and foodies alike. Shop Luigi’s online.


Hack & Veldt, Chiswick




Inspired by French grocery stores, Hack & Veldt opened its lovely doors in Chiswick back in 2012, the guiding principle to sell only that which they loved themselves. We approve heartily of the fact that you can sit in to have one of the excellent Monmouth coffees or even a craft ale or a glass of natural wine. To leave without one of its superior pastries would, however, be a criminal waste of a visit. There is no online shop, but that just means you’ll have to go in person. Discover more here.


Panzer’s Deli, St John’s Wood





Few delis are regarded with such reverence as Panzer’s, which was first established in 1944 and whose opening marked the first Jewish delicatessen in the capital. If you are in the area, there is no better place to pick up a hot lunch on-the-go, although if you leave without your arms weighted down by bunches of flowers from the florist and greater quantities of cheese and charcuterie than you can honestly consume, then you’re made of sterner stuff than us. Do try one – or several – of the huge varieties of bagels it makes at its bakery. And make space for some Scottish smoked salmon for which it is renowned, and which is hand-sliced to customer specifications. If you’re hosting an event, it’s worth noting that they cater too. Shop Panzer’s online.


Italo Deli, Vauxhall