The best restaurants, pubs & places to eat in Islington

Jul 31, 2023

From gastro pubs to neighbourhood Italian restaurants, here are 10 of the best places to eat in Islington.

A charming restaurant that serves unfussy, yet sublime Italian dishes in a relaxed environment. Lauded by many, the compact menu of antipasti, pasta and secondi plates speak of the simple elgance of good, Italian cooking. The restaurant has just opened a wine bar next door, for a glass or a bottle over a selection of antipasti or as a post or pre-dinner drink.

Address: 300-302 St Paul's Road, N1 2LH

Website: trullorestaurant.com

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The neighbourhood restaurant on Islington Green has reopened following a major refurbishment that started in 2020, overseen by The Wolseley Hospitality Group. The French-style brasserie comes with a cocktail bar, and a grand dining room with red leather banquette seating and dark wood panelling. There's also a private dining room for up to 46 guests. The kitchen serves elegant French classics, such as steak tartare and crab linguine.

Address: 9 Islington Green N1 2XR

Website: bellanger.co.uk

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Within its first year of opening, The Baring has already made it into the Michelin Guide, thanks to its superb, high calibre kitchen. Perched near Regent's Canal, chef and co-owner Rob Tecwyn (ex-Dabbous, The Henrietta Hotel, Morito, & Kerridge's Bar and Grill) plates up sophisticated yet simple dishes of the likes of smoked eel and pig cheek terrine; and roasted gurnard, tropea onion and taramasalata, to enjoy alongside a selection of low intervention wines and craft beers.

Address: 55 Baring Street, Islington, N1 3DS

Website: thebaring.co.uk

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A neighbourhood pasta bar by ex-Bancone crew. It serves classic pasta dishes such as brown butter cacio e pepe ziti, and silk handkerchief served with sauteed leeks, mint, peas, walnuts and Burford Brown egg yolk, alongside small plates like charred octopus salad with lemon dressed potatoes, and burrata with rainbow chard, garlic, lemon and chilli.

Address: 4-6 Islington Green, N1 2XA

Website: nocirestaurant.co.uk

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This back-street Desi pub comes with a Tamil Nadu kitchen helmed by chef Prince Durairaj (ex-Roti King). The south-Indian menu of small and big plates is short but considered, and the dishes are bright and zingy. Housed in a back street 19th century pub with outdoor seating, you've got well-known cocktails with a south Indian twist to go with a vibrant array of small and large plates.

Address: 115 Hemingford Road, N1 1BZ

Website: thetamilprince.com

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A charming Georgian pub with an award-winning British kitchen with one of the loveliest gardens north of the river. Think Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden, with leaves and wisteria spilling down from the trees like waterfalls as shade. A good spot for a Sunday lunch.

Address: 10 Thornhill Road, N1 1HW

Website: the-albion.co.uk

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Since the early 1700s, Canonbury Tavern has been providing Londoners with the perfect spot to drink, eat and laugh with friends. Even George Orwell once sat writing his book 1984 here. Showcasing classic British pub food, hearty meals from the grill and, of course, a Sunday roast, everything's a winner on Canonbury Tavern's menu. No matter when you go, make sure you spend time in the back beer garden, which is one of the largest in London with the room to seat over 200 people.

Address: 21 Canonbury Place N1 2NS

Website: thecanonbury.co.uk

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This relativity new boozer (opened in November) is the sister venue to the elegant outpost in Coal Drops Yard. It comes with a locals feel, and excellent food. With a focus on provenance, the pub has a selection of small plates and bar snacks, as well as an a la carte menu, and another for a delicious Sunday lunch.

Address: Unit 102, Wolf & Badger, Stable Street, N1C 4DQ

Website: hiccehart.co.uk

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A vegan Caribbean restaurant full of Jamaican flavours that started life operating out of a ghost kitchen in Wimbledon in 2020. Founded by two siblings, the idea behind the restaurant was to recreate traditional Caribbean dishes loved by their family, but make them vegan. Menu highlights include jerk ‘chicken’ and ‘goat’ curry as well as ‘fish’ tacos. While you’re there, try a cocktail too – a rum, Malibu and Lemoncello slushie perhaps or the Antiguan Zombie with white and dark rum, triple sec, passion fruit, grenadine, and something called Tike Fire Rum.

Address: 1 Tolpuddle Street N1 0XT

Website: jamdelish.co.uk

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Found by Regents Canal, Plaquemine Lock's Bib Gourmand kitchen serves up culinary odes to Southern America. Full of cajun and creole flavoures, the Louisiana-inspired pub offers up the likes of cornbread, po’boys, gumbo and jambalaya.

Address: 139 Graham Street, N1 8LB

Website: plaqlock.com

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