King's Cross, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

A “lovely canalside location” at the foot of the Kings Place concert hall (and with a large outside terrace in summer) is the strong suit of this contemporary fixture, which is very well-appointed for an arts centre venue. “Excellent meat” is the top culinary attraction, supplied by the owners’ farm in Matfen, Northumberland.

2021 Review: For the “mind-blowing sound system”, or as “a great place to grab a drink and a bite with your mates”, this “groovy”, music-led four-year-old, near Granary Square has won quite a following. (It was founded by music consultant Paul Noble, who has worked with Monocle and the Beeb; and Canteen founders Patrick Clayton-Malone and Dominic Lake). “The new, handy Festival Hall branch has the same vibe as the King’s Cross original, and here they offer really well-prepared cooking to match the cool sounds, laid-back atmosphere and enthusiastic service... it deserves to thrive.”

A “lovely setting at a very convenient location in King’s Cross” – overlooking the fountains of Granary Square from its large and leafy outside terrace – is sometimes let down by “average and rather overpriced food” at this stylish brasserie – although for the most part it still “seems better than its Ivy Collection cousins” (minus the stained glass, it’s really an Ivy in disguise). On the plus side, there’s a “reasonable fixed-price lunch menu”.

Overlooking the canal at Granary Square behind King’s Cross station, this striking modern gastropub certainly looks the part and packs in the crowds. It avoids harsh critiques, but feedback generally makes it clear that “the location is better than the dining experience”.

A particularly solid choice for brunch – this “buzzy” Kiwi-run chain (with seven branches) fits the bill well, with “interesting small plates” of pan-global fusion food and an emphasis on notably good coffee (which they roast in-house). On the downside, the food is often “passable and no more” and their “lively” interiors (Granary Square in particular) can become “hopelessly crowded”, giving rise to incidents of “slapdash service”. Still, they’re “fun” and “reasonably priced”. (See also Vardo).

2022 Review: This aptly-named, all-day café in Barnsbury is the local hot-spot for weekend brunch – “if you can get in before the queues”. “Courgette fritters, pancakes, banana bread” all get a shout-out, along with a “seriously good Virgin Mary”. It’s less frenetic during the week, when they take bookings.

“Tucked away” near the canal at the foot of an old, repurposed gas-holder near King’s Cross, this “lovely wine bar and restaurant” showcases Champagnes and wines from movie icon and co-owner Idris Elba’s ‘Porte Noire’ brand. The food menu is “rather limited”, but it’s “nicely realised”; and “the wine list is exceptional”. Service is professional, and it’s a “sleek” looking and “buzzy” venue too (incorporating a handful of nice outside tables in summer).

Due to open in the second half of 2023 – this historic Islington pie ’n’ mash shop in Chapel Market closed in 2018 but has been rescued by Alex Pashby of street-food trader The Beefsteaks (‘An exclusive 18th Century London steak club reimagined as inclusive 21st Century street food’). At first it will operate as a low-intervention wine bar serving British small plates – as it takes off, the hope is for the food offering to expand.