Meats, cheeses and bread in all shapes, sizes, and flavours – there’s something truly special about London delis, with artisan food being the order of the day and a feast for the senses. While your budget may not exactly stretch to shopping in one of these spots every week – if it does, then we’re extremely jealous – a trip to your nearest deli is always a unique experience, and many even offer you the chance to try the fruit of their wares in-house.
You want a Spanish goat’s cheese that’s only produced on one remote mountain farm? They’re the ones that will most likely have it. Aching for some salami hand-crafted by Italian monks deep in the mountains? No problem! So, leave the Tesco shop for another week, and join us for a delicious trip around thirteen of the best London delis:
1. OREN Delicatessen, London Fields
The new kid on the block when it comes to London delis, OREN Delicatessen answers the question of ‘what happens when the chef of a MICHELIN guide restaurant opens a deli?‘ The answer: absolutely delicious food! Produce ranges from freshly baked pita and challah, as well as plenty of dips, dishes, snacks, pickles, and more. They’ve also got a careful selection of natural wines, beers, and pre-mixed cocktails. Don’t miss their lunch-time specials of stuffing-filled pitas, tabbouleh, and more. But a bag of pita and hummus from here is also sure to blow your mind.
📍 6c Ada Street, E8 4QU.
🚇 Nearest stations are Cambridge Heath or London Fields.
2. Fork Deli, Bloomsbury
This lovely London deli-cum-café is located right in the heart of Bloomsbury near UCL, and they serve up some of the meanest toasties, paninis and soups you can find anywhere in central. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in a whole host of mouth-watering cakes and freshly-baked pastries – from gluten-free chocolate cake to traditional Portuguese pastel de natas – and they source all their ingredients and sourdough breads from local producers. And the best thing of all? The staff are super friendly, and they double as a wine bar, so you can while away the hours from day to night, swapping cups of coffee and emmental and ham sandwiches for carafes of vino and cheese and charcuterie boards – fancy! Find out more here.
📍 85 Marchmont St, London, WC1N 1AL.
🚇 The nearest stations are Russell Square and King’s Cross St Pancras.
3. General Store, Peckham
Though it bills itself as a ‘neighbourhood grocery shop’, General Store is so much more than your standard village shop, hence its feature on this list of London delis. The whole shop is practically overflowing with incredible fruit and vegetables, meat and cheeses, and they bake some pretty darn delectable breads and pastries, too! Quite simply, this place is the perfect excuse for a jaunt down to Bellenden Road in Peckham.
📍 174 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15 4BW.
🚇 The nearest station is Peckham Rye.
4. Lina Stores, multiple venues
There are so many Italian delis in London that are molto bene (or ‘very good’), but Lina Stores is up there with the best of them. Why? Well for starters, they’ve made fresh pasta in their Soho store for seventy five plus years now, so you can be sure it’s some damn fine pasta. They’ll sell you all of the finest products that Italy has to offer, including some absolutely ripper coffee, or you can visit their online store. But we’d recommend a visit to one of their deli branches – nothing quite compares to the sights and smells of a real Italian deli! If you are wanting even more of a foodie fix, they also have four restaurants spread across the capital.
📍 Head to the website to find your nearest venue.
5. The De Beauvoir Deli, Hackney
Having made the transformation from rundown auto shop to up-market deli in 2009, The De Beauvoir Deli has been providing joy for foodies ever since. Amongst the big crowd pleasers here are the homemade sausage rolls and Scotch eggs, so if you’re planning a picnic, or just fancy some warm, flakey goodness, then this is the place to be. They also grow their own produce on site, and source the rest of it from top-notch suppliers, so you’ll certainly be getting the very best here.
📍 98 Southgate Road, N1 3JD.
🚇 The nearest station is Haggerston.
6. Leila’s Shop (Shoreditch)
Shoreditch is famous for its restaurants and for its raucous bars, but it’s also got a damn good deli in its midst. Local food hero Leila McAlister spent most of her formative years as a culinary nomad, so it’s no wonder her shop stocks food from all over the world. From honeys and jams to fresh fruit and chutneys, all the products in Leila’s Shop are seasonal and picked out by Leila herself to ensure top quality. Her attached deli uses this incredible produce to make some cracking food, which attracts regulars such as Ralph Fiennes and Alexa Chung. And if it’s good enough for Voldemort, then it’s certainly good enough for you.
📍 15-17 Calvert Avenue, Shoreditch, E2 7JP.
🚇 Nearest station is Shoreditch High Street.
7. Melrose and Morgan, Primrose Hill and Hampstead
Melrose and Morgan are big fans of artisan foods and ingredients, so they go the extra mile to get all the good stuff. Whilst you’ll find the usual suspects of succulent meats, cheeses, and breads, their in-house chefs also are on hand to whip up some delicious treats. A delectable range of sandwiches sits alongside near-perfect cakes and tarts, and the word on the street is that the salads are pretty much to die for. They’ve got locations in both Primrose Hill and Hampstead, so head along to liven up your weekly shop!
📍 Primrose Hill: 42 Gloucester Avenue, NW1 8JD. The nearest station is Chalk Farm.
📍 Hampstead: Oriel Hall, Oriel Place, NW3 1QN. The nearest station is Hampstead.
8. The Ham & Cheese Co, Bermondsey
A Bermondsey gem here. On the downside, you won’t find any sweet treats here. But that’s because of the massive upside – perhaps the best selection of delicious meats and cheeses in London. The Ham & Cheese Co are the dictionary definition of specialists, only sourcing from a handful of farmers and butchers across Italy and France, but this focus really does pay off. If you’re ever wanting to host a cheese and wine night, this really should be your first stop. Yes, even before you hit the wine shop…
📍 You’ll find them when they open their maturing rooms on Saturdays, where you can look at the full range, at Arch 10, Dockley Road Industrial Estate, SE16 3SF.
🚇 The nearest station is Bermondsey.
9. Hack & Veldt, Turnham Green
Perhaps the best reason to make the journey out west to Chiswick, Hack & Veldt have truly earned their place amongst London’s best delis. Since opening in 2012, they’ve been bringing the good people of west London all the deli staples, along with beautiful baked goods, artisan coffees, and an array of different craft alcohols thrown in for good measure. They claim to only sell things they absolutely love, so head along and maybe, just maybe, you might fall for them too!
📍 94 Turnham Green Terrace, Chiswick, W4 1QN.
🚇 The nearest station is Turnham Green.
10. Fink’s Salt and Sweet (Finsbury Park)
This fantastic, laid-back spot in Finsbury Park – not far from Clissold Park – offers up a fantastic range of meats, cheeses, breads and oils that are guaranteed to have your mouth watering in no time. The whole joint is housed inside an old Victorian butcher’s, and it’s a top notch spot to pick up delicious treats both salty and sweet. They also do home deliveries and hampers and offer an eclectic selection of wines, spirits, craft ales and other goodies to boot. Don’t miss their twin coffee shop, called Fink’s Gillespie, just down the road.
📍 70 Mountgrove Rd, Finsbury Park, N5 2LT.
🚇 The nearest station is Arsenal.
11. Luigi’s Delicatessen, Fulham
Welcome to la famiglia! This friendly London deli in Fulham Broadway – which first opened its doors in 1973 – is all about the homely atmosphere, so expect to be treated like one of the family as soon as you walk through the door. They’re big on tradition and serve up a whole host of products which Italy is most famous for. From lovely cheeses to authentic olive oils and vinegars, there’s a reason this spot is so beloved by locals. The fact that they serve wine and fresh pasta may also help!
📍 349 Fulham Road, SW10 9TW.
🚇 The nearest stations are Fulham Broadway and South Kensington.
12. I Camisa & Son, Soho
Another established Italian spot and a favourite among London delis, Soho’s rustic I Camisa & Son first opened all the way back in the late 1920s. Their homemade pesto and rosemary focaccia is particularly delicious, but they also offer up real Italian mozzarella, pecorino, gorgonzola, salami, freshly-marinated olives and risotto rice. They were recently saved from a sudden Christmas closure in 2022 when the landlord granted them a two year lease extension. Go down and support them to keep them in business even longer!
📍 61 Old Compton Street, Soho, W1D 6HS.
🚇 The nearest station is Leicester Square.
13. The Larder, Ladywell
First opening its doors in 2014, The Larder has since become a must-visit deli for South East London’s ever-growing band of foodies. The friendly owners Cynthia and Katherine taste-test every bit of produce that they sell – so they know that it’s all bloody great. They also make a real effort to champion local producers across the cheese, chutney and charcuterie sold here. They also stock a plethora of craft beers from London’s best breweries. A worthy addition to this fab list of lovely London delis.
📍 71 Ladywell Road, London, SE13 7JA.
🚇 The nearest station is Ladywell.