Kings Cross

The scrumptious, simple, yet interesting food (squid pancakes, for example) and hip yet relaxed Exmouth Market vibe make this one of our favorite places for brunch. It's also a great place to go for a coffee (which is roasted on-site) to linger over and enjoy with a book. This spot became so popular that they opened up a much bigger, industrial-inflected space at Kings Cross that serves the same great mix of small plates.

Known for his relaxed approach to cooking, Bill Granger has fronted major culinary hits in Australia and Asia. Similar to its West London counterpart, this bright, airy, and generally packed place in King's Cross offers casual all-day dining with a comfort food slant (awesome mash) and a fantastic weekend brunch. Look for simple dishes, like the signature ricotta hotcakes or the Kimchi rice.

With its first parlour in Tufnell Park, ice cream innovator Ruby Violet has joined the ranks of major restaurants like Caravan and Dishoom and opened right in the middle of the action in up-and-coming Kings Cross. Now the droves of tourists, students, and area locals get to treat themselves to the incomparable concoctions—chocolate sorbet, licorice, and masala chai among them. Take it to go, or in the colder months, huddle in their gem box of a dining room behind the bar.

The School of Life help you to live wisely and well with their publications and program of advice and motivation. It's basically the smart man's self-help center. Check their website for current classes, sermons, and events.

Real Food Market launched their food festivals back in 2007, well before the organic and local food movement really took off in the UK. Though they still organize amazing festivals, they’ve expanded to two full-scale farmers markets with easy, accessible weekday hours. While you’ll find some produce here, the emphasis is really on prepared foods—in addition to ready-to-eat street food, you’ll also find cheese, jams, breads, smoked meats, and some of the city’s best pastries.

This relatively new and growing chain of modern Indian restaurants reveals a new dimension to a city already well-versed in the cuisine. Expertly decorated to resemble an old Iranian Bombay cafe, the vibe is casual and, as tradition dictates, ideal for both large groups and singles reading the paper and having a chai. The long menu of rotis, naans, grilled meats, and stews is spice-inflected but not necessarily curry heavy. There are three more locations in Shoreditch, Carnaby, and Covent Garden.

The D&D group (of Terence Conran & company fame) has gone and created another classic a la Skylon, Bluebird, etc. This time it's in King's Cross which is going through a major regeneration. In what used to be the German Gymnasium—the first purpose-built gym in the UK from way back in the 1860's—they've set up an eponymous all-day restaurant that's perfectly placed to serve all the EuroStar travelers heading to Paris from St. Pancras across the street. Fittingly, it feels like a gateway to old Europe, where the Sekt and Champagne flow and Schnitzel and Sauerkraut is served in what feels like an elegant Viennese café (with a modern twist). The hulking space has been beautifully reinterpreted.