Bloomsbury restaurants: Heather Steele shares her favourite spots

Heather Steele

Published: July 15, 2026 at 1:14 PM

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From a historic Victorian boozer and no-frills trattoria to authentic Shaanxi dining and Middle Eastern meze, read this insider's guide to where to eat in Bloomsbury

Looking for the best places to eat in Bloomsbury? Lifestyle and culture writer Heather Steele shared her must-visit recommendations, from a chic modern wine bar to a famous café selling baked-to-order madeleines.

For more London food recommendations, check out our reviews of the best restaurants in Kings Cross, best restaurants in Fitzrovia and best restaurants in Clerkenwell.

Meet the expert

"I am drawn to Bloomsbury more than anywhere else in London because it has everything I love: museums, excellent bookshops and some of the capital’s greatest restaurants. Despite all those assets, it also feels quieter than the rest of central London thanks to its green squares and rows of Dickensian townhouses. Here are some of my favourite places to eat, drink and explore in this historic part of town." Heather Steele, lifestyle and culture specialist

Café Deco

Chic and unfussy, this restaurant, bar and wine shop is all about low-key dining. Run by the ultra-cool Anna Tobias and the same team as 40 Maltby Street, its flower-filled space is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday, serving up dishes including roast chicken with caesar salad, and brown butter tart with strawberries. As of this summer Californian chef Augusta Hood is heading up the kitchen, adding a retro Americana feel to the menu. The colourful outdoor tables are the ones to bag for excellent people watching. cafe-deco.co.uk

Café Deco minimalist and chic interiors, with white tablecloths and warm lighting

Honey & Co

Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich moved their much loved Middle Eastern restaurant from Warren Street to Lamb’s Conduit Street a couple of years ago – and it’s as good as ever. As well as serving the kitchen’s classic meze and signature feta and honey cheesecake, this Bloomsbury site is big on breakfast. My go-to? The sabich: fried aubergine marinated in chilli and garlic dressing served with pitta, tahini and a fried egg. honeyandco.co.uk

St John x London Review Bookshop

Since October St John has taken over the much-missed Cake Shop inside the London Review Bookshop opposite the British Museum. As well as its legendary doughnuts (order the vanilla custard) St John’s famous made to order madeleines are available in the afternoons, then wine, cocktails and snacks are on the menu until 7pm. Another couple of coffee shops I love for their decent americanos and chilled atmosphere are Store Street Espresso and Knockbox Coffee on Lamb’s Conduit Street. londonreviewbookshop.co.uk

St John famous doughnut

The Lamb

One of London’s oldest pubs (it’s been pouring pints for 300 years and has served everyone from Sylvia Plath to Charles Dickens) is also one of my favourites. A picture-perfect proper boozer – think wood panelling and antique snob screens – it’s just the place for a pit stop and homemade scotch egg if you’ve been shopping down Lamb’s Conduit Street (which is home to the likes of Pentreath & Hall and Oliver Spencer). It’s also much loved for its Sunday roasts. thelamblondon.com

The Brunswick Centre

I like the Brunswick Centre because I’m a big fan of brutalist architecture. While I admit it’s not for everyone, it’s fun to explore and is home to Skoob Books and the original 1970s Curzon cinema, which has one screen dedicated entirely to documentaries. Later this year Ravinder Bhogal of Jikoni is launching Karam’s, a Southeast Asian vegetarian restaurant serving thalis and craft breads. brunswick.co.uk

Zetter Bloomsbury

Zetter opened its newest hotel around the corner from the British Museum this spring. In a series of striking Georgian townhouses the hotel has a web of bold bars and lounges where you can order a cocktail, sink into a sofa in front of a fire and eye up the antique artworks and artifacts that adorn the hotel. Bedrooms are smartly designed and many have rolltop baths at the foot of the beds – just the place to read a book in London’s literary hub. thezetter.com

Zetter lounge with plush blue chairs, soft grey walls and wooden floors

Master Wei

If authentic Asian food’s your thing there are two especially noteworthy options in Bloomsbury. Master Wei is headed up by Guirong Wei, co-owner of Islington hotspot Xi’an Impression. Serving classic Shaanxi dishes, her signature thick biangbiang noodles are available in beef and veggie varieties. Nearby Abeno is a family-run Japanese restaurant specialising in savoury pancakes. Open since the 90s, the restaurant is all about Kansai-style okonomiyaki, where guests cook their own dishes on tabletop hotplates. master-wei.com

Noble Rot

The original Noble Rot (there are now sites in Soho and Mayfair too) has everything I want from a restaurant: a fantastic seasonal menu, friendly, on-the-mark service and a lively atmosphere. Launched by the team behind the indie wine mag of the same name, the drinks choice is expansive and exciting. The kitchen is headed up by Stephen Harris of The Sportsman and leans Franglais (think comte tart or lemon sole with seaweed butter). I think its £24 set menu is one of the best-value lunches in town. In the evening its cosy bar is just the place for a glass or two, alongside plates of cheese and charcuterie, and an end of night scoop of chartreuse ice cream. noblerot.co.uk

Noble Rot black and red shopfront

La Fromagerie

Patricia Michelson’s pioneering cheese journey began after a skiing accident on holiday in France in the 90s. She returned to London with a 35kg wheel of beaufort in the boot of her car, which she sold from her garden shed. Now she has a cheese empire in London. Her Bloomsbury shop and supper club is my pick. The shop is the perfect place for picking up picnic bits (including wine) to enjoy on Coram’s Fields. lafromagerie.co.uk

Ciao Bella

Ask a local for their favourite spot in the area and they’ll probably say this no-frills family-friendly trattoria. On Lamb’s Conduit Street, the restaurant opened in 1983. Serving huge portions of classic Italian dishes ever since, Ciao Bella is one of London’s best spots for the full chequered tablecloth and limoncello shots at the end of the meal experience. The food might not be the best Italian food you’ve tried in London but the amatriciana is excellent – and the warmth and atmosphere (there’s a live pianist) will make this a joyous, memorable experience. ciaobellarestaurant.co.uk

Ciao Bella's tiramisu

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Authors

Heather Steele

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