Hyde Park holds a special place in our hearts. Not just because it’s usually filled with cute dogs, but because when the sun is out, it’s one of the best places to spend a day in London. Whether you’re a walker, a bench sitter, or a wicker-basket-and-blanket picnic-er, most of the time you’ll need a plan when the sun decides to rudely set. Enter this very useful guide filled with our favourite spots to eat near Hyde Park’s various entrances. Take your pick.
South Kensington Entrance:
Smack bang between Holland Park and Kensington Palace Gardens is Maggie Jones’s. This British restaurant specialises in hearty British food which roughly translates to: potatoes and butter. If you don’t think that you want stilton mousse or fish pie in this kind of weather then you’re sadly mistaken, drunk, or both.
Dozo is a great option if you’re looking to get something light before heading into the park. The sushi is good quality and the rolls are fun. Be warned that it gets packed at lunchtime, so our move would be to get some rolls to go, and eat them right there in the park.
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South Kensington can be dangerous business. One minute you’re leaving the park, happy and vitamin D’ed up, and the next you’re lost in an endless stream of schoolchildren hyped up on fruit juice and the sudden social capital of an excellent T-Rex impression. That’s why it’s important to know that Pappa Roma, and specifically its giant wood-fired pizza, is a 15-minute walk from Hyde Park. This place is cheap and cheerful, with mosaic tiling, candles aplenty, and pistachio-topped cannoli. What more could you ask for?
Knightsbridge Entrance:
The UK outpost of a popular cafe in Doha, this small spot on Brompton Road specialises in chapati and karak—a real plot twist, we know. The menu includes different variations of chapati (a savoury layered flatbread that originates from India) filled with all manner of delicious things from spicy keema, to cheddar cheese, to cinnamon, or Nutella. Paired with the sweet and fragrant karak (a strong black tea, sweetened with evaporated milk and spiced with cardamom) it makes for an ideal takeaway park picnic situation—if you can wait until you get to Hyde Park before taking a bite of your wrap that is.
There are several reasons to get excited about Cicchetti, a spot owned by the San Carlo restaurant group and located directly by Harrods. From the jazzed-up dining room that makes you feel like you’ve escaped Brompton Road and somehow landed in Venice, to the daydream-worthy truffle and pecorino ravioli, it’s more than worth your time. So the next time you find yourself exiting the park from Hyde Park Corner, this is a spot that should be on your radar.
Queensway Entrance:
Our perfect day would go something like this: wander around Hyde Park for a good three hours, soak up some sun, work up an appetite, and end up at Normah’s. And you really will want to work up an appetite. Because at this Malaysian spot inside Queensway Market everything from the incredibly crispy fried chicken wings, to the tender beef rendang, and the prawn laksa is delicious. Just make sure, whatever you do, that you get your own portion of roti.
MEATliquor
After a wholesome day of taking turns pointing at ducks and yelling “Isn’t that your boyfriend” with your friend, it’s time to refuel. And in the spirit of keeping things silly, head to this loud and proud meat joint that has ‘poke for Jäger’ buttons on every table and crispy fried chicken smothered in tangy buffalo sauce. It’s fun, it serves some hippie fries we have a bit of a crush on, and most importantly, it’s less than a three-minute walk from Hyde Park.
Marble Arch Entrance:
If you’re looking for a casual snack that you won’t remember by the end of the night, look elsewhere. Bibi is less casual and more life-altering. You might think we’re being dramatic but some of the dishes here—Lahori chicken, we’re looking at you—will awe you into silence. From melt-in-your-mouth orkney scallop in a tangy lemonade dressing, to the aforementioned tender grilled chicken in a cashew and yoghurt whey sauce, the food here is excellent and should not be rushed. Come here if you’re planning a post-park hang that’s about more than just the fact it’s a six-minute walk away.
One of our favourite places to get Japanese food in London, both of Chisou’s locations are close-ish to Hyde Park (the other one is in Knightsbridge). And both serve a range of Japanese classics from tempura, to udon noodles, and a signature baby spinach and spicy prawn salad which you should definitely have on your table. The sushi here is also great and there’s outdoor seating in case you’re not done soaking up the sun just yet.
High Street Kensington Entrance:
This Italian spot on Gloucester Road has a homely interior, a spacious downstairs room, and a menu full of big portions of pastas and some pretty great pizza. Basically, this is a restaurant that will satisfy most. A loud and messy group dinner kind of spot or lunch with a couple of friends who aren’t going to critique the fact that there’s cream with the rigatoni. While it’s not the best Italian food you’ll eat in London, it’s perfectly satisfying and the chaos is all part of the charm.
You just inadvertently worked up an appetite chasing a stranger's springer spaniel around a pond, now it’s time to fill up at this inviting Persian spot on High Street Kensington. Happily, there’s no need for a reservation here. Start off by getting some freshly baked naan—that you’ll smell as soon as you walk in—and a mixed mezze starter. The chicken biryani and tender koobideh skewers are also really great. It’s the perfect meal before getting back out there to gawk at every dog you see. Except we don’t know how much you’ll be in the mood for running after these hefty portions.
