London’s restaurants boast a dizzying array of cuisines from all around the world. Whether you’re after Thai food or Mexican food, Japanese or Nigerian, Italian food or even old-timey British staples, London has you sorted. As well as a multitude of cuisines, there is everything from delicious budget spots to ultra-dancy splash-out indulgences, with all manner of aesthetics and interiors to match. That means there are plenty of cosy restaurants that are perfect for escaping into, this Autumn.
From charming Italian restaurants to intimate eateries, these are London’s most wonderfully cosy restaurants. Escape from the weather and warm up inside – the vibes are impeccable here…
1. Campania, Bethnal Green
Walking along the street towards this charming little restaurant, you are all but transported to Italy’s cobbled streets. The vision continues as you enter Campania and take a seat at your table. It’s easy to forget the world of London outside. It’s such a cosy restaurant that everything outside seems to slip away, and you’re left with wonderfully rustic interiors, traditional Italian dishes, hand-made pasta, and unmatched vibes. It’ll be quite a shock when you leave the restaurant after your meal, only to discover that you’re still in London, and not Campania in Italy.
📍23 Ezra Street, London, E2 7RH.
🚇 Nearest station is Hoxton.
2. Nest, Shoreditch
Nest isn’t just one of our favourite restaurants in London – for many of us, it is at the very top of the list. And this is as much down to the cosy vibes and warm service as it is the delicious produce-led food. When our Fleur visited, she wrote, “every aspect of the dining experience is designed to make you feel at home.” It’s also remarkable how, despite being just metres from a busy East London road, “you feel miles away – almost as if you’re tucked away in the countryside.” If you haven’t visited this charmingly cosy restaurant, be sure to head down this autumn!
📍 374-378 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT.
🚇 Nearest stations are Old Street and Hoxton.
3. Little Duck The Picklery, Dalston
Over in Dalston, this intimate restaurant brings a supper-party vibe to dinner every night. It feels almost like you’re hanging out in someone’s kitchen and sitting around the counter as you watch them cook. And much like a dinner party with friends, the friendly service ensures your wine glass – and your plate – are rarely empty. Oh, and when the light hits the restaurant just right, the whole place glows marvellously.
📍 68 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AH.
🚇 Nearest station is Dalston Junction.
4. My Neighbours the Dumplings, Clapton
My Neighbours the Dumplings has two sites in London: one in Clapton and one near Victoria Park. But for cosy restaurant vibes, the Clapton site just takes the win. No wonder, since it is the OG restaurant and boasts a myriad of rooms that make you “feel like you’re part of a Studio Ghibli movie”. There’s a basement bar, a main dining area where you can see the chefs making your dumplings, and a hanging garden for events and special bookings.
📍 165 Lower Clapton Road, London, E5 8EQ.
🚇 Nearest stations are Clapton and Hackney Downs.
5. 64 Old Compton Street, Soho
64 Old Compton Street is another wonderful restaurant that brings the spirit of Italy to London, that builds off the success of older-sister restaurant 40 Dean Street. A relaxed atmosphere coupled with friendly service makes for an ambience that works equally for date nights and special occasions, as well as business lunches and pre-theatre dining. Throw in the vintage decor and intimate size of the site, and it just screams cosy dining.
📍 64 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4UQ.
🚇 Nearest stations are Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus.
6. Kudu Grill, Nunhead
Open-fire cooking meets gastro-pub vibes in this Nunhead restaurant that occupies a former Truman’s pub. With flames roaring in the kitchen and ultra-comfy seating everywhere, it’s the kind of restaurant you could easily spend hours in. In the summer it’s the perfect respite from the heat, and in the autumn it’s a wonderfully cosy spot for cool-weather dining and drinking.
📍 57 Nunhead Lane, London, SE15 3TR.
🚇 Nearest station is Nunhead.
7. Elis, Bethnal Green
You wouldn’t necessarily expect a little-sister restaurant to a Michelin-starred eatery to be cosy, but Elis is a special spot. This cosy restaurant pairs eclectic mismatched furniture and decor with personal touches that speak to the chef’s upbringing and past. Knick-knacks and photos on the walls and shelves approach the level of intimacy of a family photo book. Pair that with the warm service and ultra-comfy seating – plus the hearty but refined Brazillian flavours – and you’ve got a charming restaurant, indeed.
📍 1st floor, Town Hall Hotel, 8 Patriot Square, E2 9NF.
🚇 Nearest stations are Cambridge Heath and Bethnal Green.
8. Brunswick House, Vauxhall
Brunswick House proves that it isn’t just the small restaurants that can provide wonderful comfy autumnal vibes. Indeed, when the sun starts to set and all the candles are lit in this “antique-filled Grade II* Georgian mansion”, you’ll be hard-pressed to find more cosy restaurants in London. The ambience is only furthered by all those hanging plants and light fixtures, as well as the luxe red curtains and drapes. Take a seat, sip at a cocktail, enjoy some marvellous food, and
📍 30 Wandsworth Road, London, SW8 2LG.
🚇 Nearest station is Vauxhall.
9. Sessions Arts Club, Farringdon
Cosiness and romance go hand-in-hand, and few restaurants embrace that more than Garringdon’s Sessions Arts Club. The Grade-II* listed building positively oozes character with rustic and luxe components sitting alongside each other. At night, when the candles are lit, the low lighting infuses the place with a positively sultry air. Diners are sure to fall in love with both the restaurant and their dining partners!
📍 4th Floor, Farringdon, 24 Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0NA.
🚇 Nearest station is Farringdon.
10. Vintoteca, Farringdon
When it comes to London’s cosy restaurants, we’d love to include all of London’s wine bars. But they rarely serve enough food to qualify as a proper restaurant. Vinoteca is one of those rare wine bars in London that convincingly doubles as a restaurant thanks to serving more than just olives and bread. We’re particularly enamoured with Vinoteca’s OG site in Farringdon. With its intimate size and chill vibes it’s a charmingly cosy spot. Whether you’re here for a meal or a few glasses of wine, you’ll find yourself falling under Vinoteca’s spell.
📍 7 St John Street, London, EC1M 4AA.
🚇 Nearest stations are Farringdon and Barbican.
11. 422 Cicchetti & Wine, Earlsfield
Here’s another London wine bar that edges its way into restaurant territory thanks to a hefty menu. 422 Cicchetti & Wine is a gorgeous little spot that you’ll find yourself returning to over and over again for the perfectly cosy autumn vibes. Sip on some wine and graze across plates of food as the candlelight flickers into the night. What bliss!
📍 422D Garratt Lane, London, SW18 4HW.
🚇 Nearest station is Earlsfield.
12. Archway, Battersea
Tucked away under a Battersea arch, this restaurant has a small menu that befits its small stature. With room for just 54 covers at a time, the restaurant celebrates the very best ingredients it can get in its Italian-leaning dishes, whilst also ensuring the vibes remain relaxed. The food and wine may be impeccable, but so are the cosy vibes; there’s no pretension or stuffiness here!
📍 Arch 65 Queen’s Circus, Nine Elms, London SW8 4NE.
🚇 Nearest station is Battersea Park.
13. Rambutan, London Bridge
By now you’re probably starting to notice a few common threads between many of these cosy restaurants. They’re often small, and there’s often some connection between the dining room and the kitchen that makes the diners feel more like part of the action. Both are true at Rambutan, with its open kitchen and intimate size. Plus, on a cool autumn evening, the Sri Lankan food is the perfect warming choice.
📍 10 Stoney Street, London, SE1 9AD.
🚇 Nearest station is London Bridge.
So, there you have it – a round-up of London’s most charming and cosy restaurants. You can definitely expect to find a few of us in the corners of these places, illuminated only by candles as we tuck into food and wine this autumn.