Trullo is the kind of neighbourhood Italian restaurant you’d find in an actual Italian neighbourhood, and the food is simply fantastic.

Black Axe Mangal on Highbury Corner isn’t a typical restaurant. It’s a restaurant that loves heavy metal and cooking with offal.

Oldroyd is a mix of French, Italian, and Spanish, and the best restaurant in Islington. It’s also very small, so plan accordingly.

Llerena is a straightforward but excellent tapas spot in Islington, serving products direct from the family farm in Extremadura, southwest of Madrid.

Smokehouse in Islington serves some of the best meats in London. Make sure to go for the lamb shoulder. And wash it down with a beer.

Rök Islington is where you go when you want meat, smoke, and salt. Don’t sleep on the scallops with ’nduja.

The Ottolenghi in Islington is a reliable place for salads and delicious pastries.

Linden Stores is a wine bar and small plates spot near Highbury Corner, and it’s really quite nice.

The Gate is a vegetarian spot in Islington that meat-eaters won’t complain about. And if you don’t feel like going healthy, have some cocktails.

Little Georgia in Islington has fun vibes, friendly waiters, and an excellent Georgian menu. Come for a group dinner or date night.

Delhi Grill is a fun spot for a cheap group dinner in Islington. Get involved with the whole menu.

El Inca Plebeyo serves Ecuadorian food in a simple space that’s covered in colourful paintings, tiles, and tablecloths. Be sure to get the hornado.

Bellanger is a spot in Islington that looks looks and feels very grown-up, but it’s not stuffy. And it’s good at all times of the day.

Yipin is an upscale Chinese spot in Islington. The menu has a lot of options, but you should focus on the Sichuan and Hunan dishes.

For one of the best breakfasts/brunches in Islington, head to Sunday. The eggs benedict is worth the long queue.

Alpino is an old-school caff in Islington that serves enormous breakfasts and lunchtime pastas. And all at crazy low prices.