London’s foodie scene is firing on all cylinders. But where can you find truly excellent food with kids in tow? Here we reveal where to eat in London with children…
Dishoom
Ever since this ‘old Bombay-Irani style café landed in London in 2012, its stream of loyal followers has been drooling over its pillowy bacon naan rolls and creamy bowls of black lentils. But if you haven’t taken the kids, we implore you to start now for Dishoom really can be an all-out family affair. Head to the Shoreditch branch that still retains more of a local feel, where staff won’t roll their eyes at tablets on the table or screeching toddlers. There’s a children’s menu with breakfasts of granola and fresh berry-topped pancakes, and later, plates of mild and ridiculously tender murgh malai chicken thigh, piled high with Bombay potatoes. Though get them to nibble your grilled masala prawns or spicy lamb chops and there’s no going back.
Dehesa
From the enduringly tasty Saltyard Group, Dehesa is pitched in the centre of Soho and though the cooking is serious and grown-up, the atmosphere is warm and buzzy and will embrace little ones as if it were sitting on Spanish soil. Nab a table on its outdoor terrace to capture the joyous embrace of Soho and start with a few nibbly bits to whet their appetite: pan con tomate, giant salty olives, strips of jamon iberico, before forging through its discerning menu. Kids will fall for its crispy jamon and Manchego croquetas, its calamari and patatas bravas, whilst you fawn over the real thrills: chorizo and scallop pinchos, sizzling dishes of garlic prawns and zesty crab tostadas whilst gleefully quaffing albarino. The promise of dulce de leche ice cream for pud should keep them in line until dessert, too.
Bella Vita
There’s a whole lotta love for Italian restaurants in London, from flashy trattoria-style spaces to low-key Neapolitan pizza hangouts. But for somewhere with a staunch commitment to big, bold Italian flavours and a heartwarming welcome for your bambinos, Bella Vita on Hackney’s Broadway Market is one to tick off your (London) bucket list. Tables spill onto the pavements when the sun’s beaming down, where diners quaff aperol spritz and tear off hunks of pizza crust to dip in olive oil. Inside, playful retro interiors set the scene and waiting staff buzz about tables laden with steaming bowls of pasta and just-baked pizzas – all of which can be dished out in smaller portions for little mouths. And when you’re done? Let the kids run wild on London Fields whilst you perch beneath a tree for a drink or three.
Bistrotheque
The wildly popular East End institution, hidden down an unassuming side street, isn’t an obvious choice to go en familie. The tablecloths are crisp and white, the service is swift and precise, and the food is grown-up and accomplished. On paper, it shouldn’t work for kids. But the reality is very good news for parents who are desperate for finely tuned bistro dishes in a space that embraces children. Book a table for brunch and they can tuck into French toast with bacon and maple syrup, large breakfasts of bacon, eggs and all the trimmings, and crispy fried potatoes with aioli.
Darcie & May
With kids in tow, it’s often the destination rather than the food that gets them excited, and climbing over the threshold of this Antipodean canal boat at the Paddington end of Regent’s Canal will elicit enthusiastic grins. You can’t miss the barge, smothered in statement British pop art, and the rich roasty scent of coffee will lure you in with promise of Aussie favourites such as banana bread and berries, finely executed brunch dishes and dinners of barbecued meats and fish. There’s also Melbourne Mars Bar Cheesecake for pud. Enough said.