172 "Drinks & A Light Bite" restaurants in London.
When you don’t want to commit to a full dinner (blind date, catching up with an aunt, waiting two hours for a table elsewhere), bars with good food are ideal. Make an easy exit after the first round, or go for a second and maybe some food if it’s going well. Either way, these spots have you covered.
P Franco is a Clapton wine shop that hosts guest chefs who serve stunning small plates to neighbourhood regulars. You want to be a regular.
Barrafina is a legendary tapas restaurant that’s crowded but always worth the wait. The Drury Lane outpost in Covent Garden has a pretty terrace.
Tayer + Elementary is a three-part bar in Old Street. You should come here to drink and snack, but you should also come here to eat the tasting menu.
The Camberwell Arms is a traditional south London pub, serving great British cuisine during the week and incredible roasts on a Sunday.
Sibarita is a casual, affordable tapas spot just far away enough from the madness of Covent Garden’s main square.
Not only is the sushi at Sushi Atelier on Great Portland Street great, it’s also very affordable. Sit at the bar and get the 12-piece omakase.
Bao Borough is the third outpost of London’s most famous Taiwanese restaurant. The buns are still good, but the smaller plates are even better.
Earth Kitchen is an all-day restaurant in Dalston serving tasty, homely food in a very comfortable environment.
Morito is an energetic but corridor-like spot on Exmouth Market specialising in north African and Spanish inspired small plates.
Jolene is a bakery, café, and restaurant on Newington Green serving very nice, very grainy, very wholesome breakfast, lunch and (on some days) dinner.
Peg is a walk-in wine and skewers spot in Hackney from the people behind P. Franco and Bright. It’s a place you want to be.
Kerridge’s Bar and Grill near Embankment serves tarted up (and expensive) English classics, and nothing about it is hard to get on with.
Salon is a restaurant in Brixton Market. Downstairs is a wine bar and small plates situation, while upstairs they serve an eccentric tasting menu.
The Compton Arms is a little pub in Islington serving some tasty small plates and one of the best burgers in town.
