Independent Places to Eat in London: Our Favourite Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Spots

One of the best things about staying in London is that every neighbourhood has its own culinary personality. Step away from the bigger brand names and chain restaurants and you'll find independent cafés tucked down quiet streets, family-run restaurants that locals have loved for years and neighbourhood bars where one drink can easily turn into an entire evening. At The Resident, we're always sharing recommendations with guests looking for somewhere genuinely good to eat. They're all centrally located, easy to reach from our London hotels and well worth making room for in your itinerary.

As always in London, we'd recommend booking ahead for popular restaurants, particularly at weekends, during school holidays and throughout the festive season.

Breakfast: Monmouth Coffee, Covent Garden

If your idea of a great start to the day involves exceptional coffee rather than an elaborate brunch, Monmouth Coffee is hard to beat. A favourite among Londoners for decades, this small café in Seven Dials takes coffee seriously without taking itself too seriously. The atmosphere is relaxed, the coffee is expertly sourced and roasted, and the pastries are every bit as tempting as the flat whites. From The Resident Covent Garden, it's just a short stroll away, while guests staying in Soho or Victoria can easily reach it via the Underground.

A tip from The Resident Insiders: Grab a pastry to go and wander through nearby Neal's Yard before the crowds arrive.

Breakfast: The Breakfast Club, Soho

While it's now something of a London institution, The Breakfast Club still retains the independent spirit that made it popular in the first place. Expect generous stacks of pancakes, hearty full English breakfasts and plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans. It's cheerful, welcoming and ideal if you've got a full day of sightseeing ahead. We recommend arriving early, as queues can build up quickly. 

Lunch: Bancone, Covent Garden

Fresh pasta, simple ingredients and consistently excellent cooking have earned Bancone a loyal following. The menu changes regularly, but you'll often find silky hand-made pasta dishes, generous sharing plates and seasonal ingredients treated with a light touch. Despite its popularity, it manages to feel refreshingly unpretentious. Located just a few minutes from Covent Garden station, it's an easy choice for a leisurely lunch while exploring the West End.