Running parallel to Regent Street and made up of 14 lanes and thoroughfares, Carnaby is a pedestrianised area in London that is famous for its high-end shopping.
Regarded as been the epicentre of culture in the West End of London for centuries, the street was the birthplace of Swinging London in the 1960s, and the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix all hung out here. You’ll still see the iconic Rolling Stones ‘tongue and lips’ logo rendered in bright lights above the street, in fact.
Back then, people were attracted to Carnaby for its cheap rents and independent boutiques selling colourful clothes and playing loud music from morning ‘till night; many punters of the time say it was like going to a groovy nightclub, but in the middle of the day!
Today, the area has tried to recapture some of that energetic soul. While the main drag boasts mainly international and British heritage labels, step off into the side streets and you’ll find quirky independent boutiques and one-off concept stores from major brands.
Just like the sixties, where individualism ran supreme, there’s plenty of choice here if you’re looking to shop. But that’s not all; the area also has its fair share of wonderful places to eat, meaning that you don’t have to venture too far to find somewhere for a quick bite or a lavish meal after all that shopping.
To help ensure that you’re always close to the action of Carnaby Street, here’s a selection of outstanding restaurants that are no more than a five-minute stroll from this iconic location.
Oka, Kingly Court
Easy to spot with its seductive red-walled exterior, Oka is a passion project dedicated to serving traditional sushi and hot dishes inspired by pan-Asian cuisine. Oka prides itself on offering fresh ingredients, with each dish made to order to ensure vitality and vivacity in each bite. The chefs here innovate within the confines of tradition, stretching the limits of what’s possible while following authentic preparation methods. The results are magic.
You can taste the attention to detail in their dragon roll, a classic dish found everywhere that is elevated at Oka thanks to its fresh prawns and light, spicy mayo that blends well with the traditional accompaniment of avocado. For something a little different, go for their spider roll filled with soft-shell crab, fragrant kimchi, and wasabi mayo for that added kick.
While taking cover in their comfortable, brightly lit interior decorated with thick marble walls and dark wood chairs, you can also enjoy tataki (seared fillets of tuna or salmon served with truffle oil and ponzu sauce) or simply sip a few sakes and forget about the madness occurring just a few steps away back on Carnaby Street.
Address: Carnaby St, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW
Website: okarestaurant.co.uk
Dishoom, Kingly Street
Did you even dine in London if you didn’t go to Dishoom? Well, if you’re looking for great things to eat in the vicinity of Carnaby Street, then rest assured; the very first outpost of the now ubiquitous purveyors of Bombay-style comfort food was here.
For those not in the know, Dishoom is an enduringly popular and lovingly curated Indian restaurant serving classic Bombay dishes that, just like the 60s Bombay beat bands the location is inspired by, are sure to delight you with flavour and texture.
With a fun yet measured interior that boasts chequered-tile floors and bright leather seats, it mixes hippy-trail vibes with cues from the subcontinent’s familiar patterns and hues. Despite the restaurant chain growing to include eight other establishments in the UK, standards haven’t dropped – as so often is the case with expansion – and Dishoom Carnaby still maintains its authentic charm and showcases that in its delightful cooking.
The Chef’s special in Carnaby is the Salli Boti, a tender curried lamb dish that is braised in a rich gravy and finished with salli crisp chips. A Parsi classic, this one is sure to open your mind to the distinct flavours of the ethnoreligious group.
Still hungry? You could also go with a medley of small plates that include Gujarati-style lamb samosas, the house chaat, or the Keema Pau, a minced lamb dish you’ll often find in the Irani cafes of Bombay, served in homemade buns.
If you’re in town for breakfast, then you can’t do better than Dishoom’s legendary bacon naan roll which involves crispy bacon, chilli jam, cream cheese and herbs, all encased in a freshly baked naan that’s been brushed in melted butter. It’s just the fuel you need before taking on the Carnaby’s shops.
Address: 22 Kingly St, Carnaby, London W1B 5QP
Website: dishoom.com
Read: Where to eat near London’s Kings Cross
Bodean’s BBQ, Poland Street
For a smokey and southern-styled BBQ feast, Bodean’s is a fantastic option for those shopping on Carnaby Street who are suddenly struck with an appetite that only grilled meat can cure.
The brainchild of Andre Blais, a Kansas City native and lover of its beloved BBQ scene, the restaurant was started in 2002 and has now grown to include five smokehouses in London, including this outpost on Poland Street.
The interior, filled with jet-black leather booths and dimly lit lamplight, evokes the traditional BBQ ovens used to sear and cook their meat and creates a welcoming atmosphere ready to overwhelm you with big, hearty flavours.
Try their Pit Boss Platter to share between two people, which comes with an assortment of ribs, pulled pork, beef burnt ends, smoked sausages, and brisket and chicken thighs – yours for £28 per person. If you’re looking to feed the whole family, get their 14-hour smoked beef brisket covered in a perfectly crisp bark and packed with smoky flavour.
Address: 10 Poland St, London W1F 8PZ
Website: bodeansbbq.com
Kiln, Brewer Street
The second restaurant from chef and Thai food enthusiast Ben Chapman, Kiln is quite the spectacle, with bar seating overlooking flames, coals and clay pots (making it a great place to dine solo, by the way). The vibe transports you right out of central London and to somewhere altogether hotter and more rustic.
Here, dishes are loosely influenced by the region of Thailand that borders Burma, Laos and Yunnan, forgoing the familiar coconut cream based curries and liberal use of palm sugar for something altogether more earthy and herbal. In this setting, that’s no bad thing.
Accordingly, Kiln is unlike many other Thai restaurants in the capital, and offers something unique and distinctive.
The restaurant works proudly with a close clutch of suppliers, with fish sourced directly, daily, from fishing boats in Cornwall, and heritage vegetables earning equal billing on the menu to protein. During game season, that menu comes alive with jungle curries of wood pigeon or wild mallard and minced laab salads of raw venison (whose season begins in April through October, incidentally).
But even better, and on more consistently throughout the year, is cull yaw, a type of mutton from retired female ewes that has been fattened with high degrees of welfare in mind. The meat has an incredible depth of flavour, and has been making appearances on the menu of several acclaimed London restaurants in recent years. At Kiln, it’s often served as a collar chop accompanied by a spicy dipping sauce, or in grilled skewers with a little sprinkle of cumin. Just so damn delicious.
Website: kilnsoho.com
Address: 58 Brewer St, London W1F 9TL
Read: Where are the best Thai restaurants in London?
Pollen Street Social, Pollen Street *now sadly closed*
In the heart of Soho, once the epicentre of creativity and experimentation in the capital, there are bound to be a few Michelin-starred restaurants nearby pushing the boundaries. Pollen Street Social is one of those establishments, with owner Jason Atherton and his head chef Dale Bainbridge serving up distinctively British dishes of poise and precision.
Here, delicate flavours and a commendable command of the finer details work together to grace the plates of a multi-course tasting menu, with the bright and airy dining room ensuring that the spotlight very much falls on the food.
The restaurant proudly sources its ingredients from some of the UK’s finest producers, with their lamb and beef coming from the Lake District and plump scallops from the renowned Orkney Islands. On a previous visit, the Devon crab served with Spanish melon and speciality ajo blanco ice cream was our pick of an impressive bunch.
Though that tasting menu certainly isn’t cheap (it currently stands at £165 a head), the set lunch represents a relative bargain, at £75 for three courses plus the various accoutrements that a place of this stature revels in.
Considering Pollen Street Social boasts a mighty 5 AA rosettes (one of only 7 in London and just 16 in the whole of the UK) and a 9 out of 10 in the Good Food Guide, that suddenly feels like rather good value.
*Sadly, in March of this year, it was announced that Pollen Street Social would close after 13 successful years*.
Address: 8-10 Pollen St, London W1S 1NQ
Website: pollenstreetsocial.com
Sabor, Heddon Street
Founded by former Barrafina head chef Nieves Barragan and business partner Jose Etura, Sabor is a Michelin-starred tapas bar and grill serving Andalusian-inspired tapas around a horseshoe counter on the ground floor, and larger sharing dishes cooked in a traditional wood-fired oven from Castile in their first floor El Asador.
That latter location is a beautiful space to dine in, with a spiral staircase leading to a boisterous dining room that has you sitting in close proximity with your fellow diners, building a communal, convivial experience.
The menu includes some less familiar tapas such as confit rabbit shoulder and tortilla gallega, or you can go big and order Sabor’s signature Churrasco de Cordero; Iberian lamb ribs roasted in the famous wood ovens of the region.
The main event, though, is without doubt the whole roast suckling pig, which is one hell of a spectacle and one of the finest eating experiences in the capital. Bring a friend or two for this one!
Address: 25 Gloucester Rd N, Bristol BS7 0SG
Website: saborrestaurants.co.uk
Read: Where to eat on the Elizabeth Line
Dehesa, Ganton Street
A Spanish-Italian hybrid, Dehesa offers classy, well-executed small plates and a great wine list just off Carnaby Street. It’s the place to come for inventive and creative modern tapas in London, we think.
Like all good small plates affairs, the menu at Dehesa responds to the seasons; on our last winter visit, a roasted hake with caramelised celeriac and crispy kale was sublime. When it comes to mainstays on the menu, the signature deep-fried cheese-stuffed courgette flowers is a particular highlight.
The restaurant also does the classics well; the crisp and creamy jamon & manchego croquetas are not to be missed, nor are their gloriously garlicky pil pil tiger prawns.
For the quality of food on offer, Dehesa is a refreshingly informal dining spot, ideal for a light bite of cheese and charcuterie or a full blown tapas feast, equally. If you’re looking to sit outside, their heated corner terrace is the largest in Soho and is the perfect spot to take a load off while watching the colourful world of central London go by.
Address: 25 Ganton St, Carnaby, London W1F 9BP
Website: saltyardgroup.co.uk
Pizza Pilgrims, Kingly Court
A little dough, a ladleful of sauce and a sprinkle of cheese… No dish in the world manages to coax pure ambrosia from so few ingredients as pizza. Even the word ‘pizza’ evokes an image that gets this writer salivating, Pavlov dog-style, and judging by the mess that you’ve made on your mobile, might we assume you’re the same?
If you’re pining for a pizza whilst wandering the streets of Carnaby, then make a move to Pizza Pilgrims in Kingly court. Come for the wood-fired Neapolitan, stay for the delicious Gin and Pocello (their own version of Limoncello – just delicious).
Pizza Pilgrim’s mantra is ‘In Crust We Trust’, and they stay true to this pledge with a base of lightness, chew, a hint of sourness and the requisite heat blisters that are the hallmark of a true pizza from Southern Italy. Their arancini balls make an excellent starter, too.
Website: www.pizzapilgrims.co.uk
Address: 11 Kingly St, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW
Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, Kingly Court
We end where we began; in Kingly Court. Here, up several flights of stairs and overlooking the main courtyard, is Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, not only one of the best restaurants close to Carnaby Street, but one of our favourite places to eat in London, full stop.
The story of the restaurant has been well documented; restaurateur Imad Alarnab’s three successful restaurants in Syria’s capital Damascus ended up a victim of the cruel war being fought there, seeing Alarnab flee the country in search of a new life. He found it in London, where his Syrian Kitchen has been thriving, garnering praise from national critics and a coveted Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide.
It’s easy to see why; Imad’s Syrian Kitchen is a hugely likeable place, with the big man working the room with grace and warmth, and the hearty, generous (it’s very easy to over order) flavours of his homeland finding their way onto every plate here.
Tear off a chunk of the restaurant’s house pita, drag it through the roughly-hewn hummus that’s been dusted generously in sumac, get stuck into the complex, no-one-bite-is-the-same fattoush, and prepare to feel very well-looked after, indeed.
And with those massive portions still lingering, we’re off for a lie down!
Address: 2.14 Top Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby St, London W1B 5PW
Website: imadssyriankitchen.co.uk
Still hungry? Hop on the Victoria Line from Oxford Circus, head north, and check out these great restaurants in Highbury and Islington to satisfy that appetite of yours.