Homes & Gardens
9 of London’s Secret Restaurants You Don’t Know About
From sex shop fine dining to tapas in an old church crypt, here are nine under-the-radar restaurants.
What a find. Did you know that there is a parallel world of secret restaurants in London? Tucked away in the most unlikely of spots, be it hidden behind an unassuming door or in a disused Victorian loo, are unassuming restaurants of the highest calibre.
Love yourself a hidden gem? Get in the know with our edit of London’s best secret restaurants.
They don’t make it easy to find this critically acclaimed Shoreditch restaurant run out of a former school bike shed. Diners first must track down the inconspicuous door in the garden wall. Then ring the buzzer for entry. Once in, they’ll discover an eclectic restaurant, with a daily changing seasonal menu and a local ‘in the know’ buzz. Book it.
Would you believe that one of Clapham’s favourite date-night restaurants is housed in a century old Victorian lavatory underneath the tube station? This covert wine bar retained original features such as the mosaic floors and tiled walls. Order a sharing charcuterie board or the highly rated whole baked camembert. Book it.
Just knock on the door. Strolling past, you wouldn’t think much of the blue door, behind which lies a locals’ favourite bar and restaurant. Come evening, it has a house party vibe and by weekend, go for the bottomless brunch and Sunday roasts. Book it.
Without prior knowledge, you would hardly guess that this discrete and enchanting restaurant even existed. In Horto, meaning ‘In The Garden’ in Latin, is a hidden away al fresco restaurant near London Bridge. It serves hearty Mediterranean beach bar inspired food. The décor is all cascading greenery and charming rustic touches. You’ll thank us. Book it.
Concealed behind a metal gate below street level is a church vault housing Gremio de Brixton, a quirky Spanish tapas bar. This darkly atmospheric restaurant, in the crypt of St Matthew’s Church, has low-brick ceilings and red-gold lighting. Tapas favourites include padron peppers, Spanish tortilla, boquerones and fried squid. Book it.
Behind unassuming wooden doors on Little Portland Street and where you’d least expect it, lies a Bedouin tent style restaurant with a starry sky above. This moody restaurant runs every Thursday to Saturday with guest DJs. The weekly changing Middle Eastern menu features flatbreads, spatchcocked quail, shish kebabs and beetroot borani. Book it.
Located behind a pastel pink curtain inside another restaurant, Kebab Queen resembles your archetypal late-night greasy kebab shop. Don’t be deceived. This elegant and intimate fine dining restaurant has plush blue velvet stools, chandeliers and a six course tasting menu featuring dover sole and samphire. If you know, you know. Book it.
A secret cellar restaurant hidden under a sex shop in Soho? Yes, you read correctly. This hacienda-style Mexican tapas restaurant is accessed via an unmarked door disguised as a Soho sex shop with peep show neon lights in the window. The restaurant serves tacos, ceviche, tiraditos and calamari. Book it.
By Annabel Jack
October 2023
Love yourself a hidden gem? Get in the know with our edit of London’s best secret restaurants.
For Dining In A Former Bike Shed: Rochelle Canteen
They don’t make it easy to find this critically acclaimed Shoreditch restaurant run out of a former school bike shed. Diners first must track down the inconspicuous door in the garden wall. Then ring the buzzer for entry. Once in, they’ll discover an eclectic restaurant, with a daily changing seasonal menu and a local ‘in the know’ buzz. Book it.
For A Quirky Night In A Disused Victorian Loo: WC Clapham
Would you believe that one of Clapham’s favourite date-night restaurants is housed in a century old Victorian lavatory underneath the tube station? This covert wine bar retained original features such as the mosaic floors and tiled walls. Order a sharing charcuterie board or the highly rated whole baked camembert. Book it.
For A House Party Vibe: The Little Blue Door
Just knock on the door. Strolling past, you wouldn’t think much of the blue door, behind which lies a locals’ favourite bar and restaurant. Come evening, it has a house party vibe and by weekend, go for the bottomless brunch and Sunday roasts. Book it.
For A Garden Restaurant You Didn’t Know Existed: In Horto
Without prior knowledge, you would hardly guess that this discrete and enchanting restaurant even existed. In Horto, meaning ‘In The Garden’ in Latin, is a hidden away al fresco restaurant near London Bridge. It serves hearty Mediterranean beach bar inspired food. The décor is all cascading greenery and charming rustic touches. You’ll thank us. Book it.
For Spanish Tapas In A Church Crypt: Gremio de Brixton
Concealed behind a metal gate below street level is a church vault housing Gremio de Brixton, a quirky Spanish tapas bar. This darkly atmospheric restaurant, in the crypt of St Matthew’s Church, has low-brick ceilings and red-gold lighting. Tapas favourites include padron peppers, Spanish tortilla, boquerones and fried squid. Book it.
For A Bedouin Tent Behind Unmarked Doors: The Tent At The End of The Universe
Behind unassuming wooden doors on Little Portland Street and where you’d least expect it, lies a Bedouin tent style restaurant with a starry sky above. This moody restaurant runs every Thursday to Saturday with guest DJs. The weekly changing Middle Eastern menu features flatbreads, spatchcocked quail, shish kebabs and beetroot borani. Book it.
For Subterranean Fine Dining Turkish Style: Kebab Queen
Located behind a pastel pink curtain inside another restaurant, Kebab Queen resembles your archetypal late-night greasy kebab shop. Don’t be deceived. This elegant and intimate fine dining restaurant has plush blue velvet stools, chandeliers and a six course tasting menu featuring dover sole and samphire. If you know, you know. Book it.
For Tacos And People Watching Under A Sex Shop: La Bodega Negra
A secret cellar restaurant hidden under a sex shop in Soho? Yes, you read correctly. This hacienda-style Mexican tapas restaurant is accessed via an unmarked door disguised as a Soho sex shop with peep show neon lights in the window. The restaurant serves tacos, ceviche, tiraditos and calamari. Book it.
By Annabel Jack
October 2023
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Annabel Jack
Contributing Editor
Annabel is a regular contributor to The Guide, with a taste for the finest in food, fashion and interiors.
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