Jordan Bassett

Sunday lunch. There’s nothing quite like it. An elemental meal, one that Londoners take incredibly seriously. Debates about what constitutes the ‘perfect’ Sunday roast have been known to last for hours. There is no shortage of top roasts in London. We’ve rounded up the city’s best Sunday meals from a host of homely pubs and restaurants all around town. What makes a good roast? For us, it’s simple; a cosy room is a good start, maybe in a pub with an open fire. Then it comes to the plate – we need perfect roast potatoes, well-cooked lamb, beef or pork and a decent plant-based option too. A Sunday roast is more than just lunch - it’s self-care. From snug neighbourhood staples to more bijou gastropubs, posh hotels, Michelin-star spots, and even a metal bar in Camden, we’ve got something for every taste (if that taste is for comforting mounds of roast meat, lashings of gravy and carbs for days).  A lot of these places get quite busy, by the way. So you’re always advised to book ahead to avoid disappointment.  RECOMMENDED: London's 50 best pubs. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor, and her Sunday roast order is usually pork belly with extra gravy, extra roasties and a big glass of Pinot Noir. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Apologies to the sinister shopping centre Santas, but the thing we most truly respect about this time of year is the Christmas sandwich. So pure. So dense. So carby. This year, the gallant staff of Time Out London have taste-tested festive sarnies from 12 bakeries and indie delis across London, in order to find the jolliest Christmas sandwich in town. These are the best Christmas sandwiches in London, according to us. RECOMMENDED: For more festive fun here’s our guide to the best Christmas markets in London.  And don’t miss the best Christmas events, either. 

You say Haringey, I say Harringay – let’s call the whole thing off and have a kebab. Yes, it’s confusing, but Haringey is the borough and within it you’ll find Harringay Green Lanes, a mile-long strip that teems with bars and cafés, music venues, Victorian boozers and staggeringly well-stocked grocery shops. And that’s before we get to the sensational Turkish restaurants that line the main drag. This is the very best of London in all its noisy, aromatic, chaotic glory. It’s not the starriest of London locales, even if the so-called ‘Harringay Ladder’ (a grid of 19 streets to the west of the Lanes) is becoming ever-more desirable. What Green Lanes excels at, though, is sheer stimulation of the senses. Whether you’re grabbing a gözleme flatbread for a few quid or enjoying the mural of John Lennon and Brazilian football ace Alex de Souza (sure!), you’re sure to spark the imagination. It’s an overwhelming place, so here’s our pick of the crop. RECOMMENDED:The best things to do in north LondonLondon’s best Turkish restaurantsThe best restaurants in Finsbury Park

Some pairings never go out of fashion – they are simply too perfect. Beer and sausage is the Lennon-McCartney of the food world: crowd-pleasing and nourishing, with each component a complement to the other. Stein’s, a Bavarian beer hall on the banks of the Thames in beautiful Richmond, has the booze and wurst formula down to a fine art (no wonder there's also a branch in Kingston and a more upmarket version in Kensington). Take your seat in the massive, treelined beer garden and sink your teeth into a pillowy pretzel as you await, say, a juicy bratwurst nestled amid golden nuggets of pan-fried spud. Wash it down, perhaps, with a crisp Erdinger wheat beer. Be warned: you can’t order booze without first ordering grub. If you’re looking for somewhere to soak up one of the most picturesque bits of London with a pint in hand, all you need is food. Time Out tip Stein’s has a very cute and pretty large play area for the kids. Since no child has ever wanted to leave a playground, that’s your whole afternoon sorted. Order this It’s not all about wurst, you know: the schnitzels are just as satisfying, while the cheese noodles will be a gift to your future hungover self. RECOMMENDED: The best breweries and taprooms in London.

“Here, each dish is not merely food – it's an exploration of Persian culture and heritage.” So say the owners of Sufi, a family-run restaurant beloved among Shepherd’s Bush locals. A good 20-minute walk from Shepherd’s Bush Market tube station, this is an informal, intimate eatery where sesame seed-topped flat naan breads are baked in a clay oven for all to see. It’s an understated performance where the dishes are the stars of the show: aesthetically, the restaurant’s interior doesn’t feel a million miles away from being in someone’s front room, while the food itself is prepared with palpable care. Generous slabs of chicken and lamb kebab land with an avalanche of steamed rice, while the khoresh gheimeh – a sweet, tomato-based stew packed with tender lamb and chickpeas – arrives like a warm embrace. Service is similarly homely and generous, with staff keen to offer advice on their hearty, carb-tastic cuisine. Time Out tip Much of the menu is, admittedly, meat-ageddon, but Sufi is typically welcoming to vegans and vegetarians, with the aubergine stew a gooey delight. What’s nearby? The Shepherd and Flock pub, another low-key gem that’s also a little tucked away but much more rewarding for it. RECOMMENDED: London's best Persian restaurants.

The lighting is low, the food is seriously spicy and there are no airs and graces at Smoking Goat. You’ll be glad of the dim wattage, given how many of the dishes in this fiery Thai BBQ restaurant are best eaten with your hands. A chin slicked with sauce and fingers covered in oil: not always a great look, but it’s certainly a sign of an extremely enjoyable meal. The original Smoking Goat was launched in Soho by Ben Chapman (the man behind Kiln and Brat, two other foodie destinations) and after it shut this Shoreditch branch became the go-to spot. The Moo Hong Braised arrives in a vat of gloriously gloopy sauce, while the fried egg, rice noodle and lardo is Heaven-sent when accompanied by a hoppy draft lager. Get stuck in. Time Out tip Smoking Goat is a buzzy place and the volume level is generally set to: loud. Get ready to shout. What’s nearby? You’re two minutes away from Village Underground if you want to keep the party going – and you will. RECOMMENDED: An expert guide to London’s best BBQ joints by Melissa Thompson.

The Connaught, one of two bars in the ultra-fancy hotel of the same name, is one for special occasions. That’s unless you can happily drop over a grand on a cocktail (their 1893 Sidecar). Not every drink on the menu is quite so overdraft-inducing: mixes such as the bracingly sharp, gin-based Balancer are more realistic for most people (even if the cost is akin to what you might expect to spend on a decent meal). What you’re paying for, though, is a unique experience in one of the best bars in London – if not the world. What with the marble floors and plush leather sofas, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a Bond movie. Spiffy waiters wheel out a Martini trolley and mix your indulgent beverage right in front of you. Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in the Dolphin anymore. Order this The bar’s food menu is, naturally, more comprehensive than that of most boozers, running from posh pizzas to caviar on rye bread. What’s nearby? For a truly decadent night out, dine at swish sushi restaurant Umu and head to the Connaught for a nightcap. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in Mayfair.

Simmons comes to us from a different time. A simpler time. The King’s Cross bar opened in 2013, the same year that Little Nan’s Bar served a similar niche as a pop-up in what was then called the Deptford Bunker: cocktails served in chintzy teapots against a colourful, thrift shop-style backdrop. Nan’s has gone legit as an award-winning destination in a permanent space, while there now are loads of swish branches of Simmons throughout London, with one in Manchester. The original King’s Cross gaff, though, has retained its retro vibe, with a skull-shaped glitterball, a neon Top of the Pops logo on the wall and that trusty old SEGA Megadrive ready to rock’n’roll. King’s Cross – and much of London, in fact – has shapeshifted since 2013, but Simmons is forever. When is Happy Hour? This place is famous for its Happy Hour, which stretches the term, gloriously, from 4pm to 9pm Sunday to Friday. What’s nearby? There’s an old-fashioned black-and-white photobooth tucked at the back of Coal Drop’s Yard. Infinitely more fun after a teapot full of booze. RECOMMENDED: The best quirky bars and pubs in London.

Naming no names, but restaurants with a view can sometimes be a bit… complacent. And when it comes to views, you can’t really ask for more than a gorgeous vista of St. Paul’s Cathedral, the gently lapping Thames and the twinkling lights of the South Bank. It’s impressive then, that Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe still pushes the boat out – and then some. This elegant ‘modern British’ venue, linked to the famous theatre next door, offers a fine line in classic seafood and the hearty likes of roast corn-fed chicken, with a more casual bar menu serving up pub classics. No prizes for originality, perhaps, but it beats a lot of the chains in the area and the view is so stunning you really won’t want to leave. Yes: parting is such sweet sorrow. Order this Swan’s afternoon tea, a dreamy delight served the traditional way on a dainty cake stand, is as British as the theatre itself. Time Out tip A portion of the restaurant’s takings go towards supporting the Globe. Mmmm: delicious altruism. RECOMMENDED: London restaurants with the best views.

What does £38 get you these days? That’s how much Dusty Knuckle co-founder Max Tobias spent on ingredients for the bakery’s first test batch of sourdough loaves – 16 of them – back in 2013. The following year, the Dusty Knuckle Bakery opened in a shipping container in Hackney, before moving to a permanent space in Dalston, where the Knuckle crew now serve up mega-stuffed sarnies, pastries baked to perfection and, on evenings from Thursday to Sunday, some of the best pizzas in town. Tobias and his co-founders Rebecca Oliver and Daisy Terry have also committed to assisting ‘at-risk’ youngsters who, through a mentorship programme, are trained up to work in the bakery. So you’re doing good with every bite, which is perhaps why the venture was so successful that a second cafe opened on Harringay Green Lanes in 2021.  Time Out tip You’ll also find a Dusty Knuckle van parked up in Highbury by the tennis court end of the Highbury Fields, serving up loaves, toasties and coffees. Order this The nduja pizza – with vegan option available – is a fiery treat. Yes, you do want the harissa dip on the side. RECOMMENDED: The best bakeries in London.

When is a pub not a pub? Bethnal Green’s The Sun Tavern is somewhere between old-school boozer and nu-school bar, largely due to its array of cocktails and a rather refined snack menu that edges into charcuterie board (parmesan petit saucisson, anyone?). Rest assured, though: it looks and feels very much like a pub, with bar stools and creaky wooden floors honouring the venue’s origins, which stretch back to 1851. The Tavern is also set apart by its penchant for poitín, an Irish moonshine that, traditionally, varies from 40 to 90%. Despite that hair-raising fact, it actually goes down very easily – a little too easily, if anything – with a fruity flavour that more than complements a crisp lager. Throw in regular club nights and guest DJs and there’s something for everything here (existential quandary notwithstanding). Order this They love their whisky at the Sun Tavern, with a good few of the bar’s cocktails based around the firewater. The Swanton Bomb will knock your socks off. What’s nearby? E Pellicci, an Italian café that’s been in Bethnal Green almost as long as the Tavern – since 1900 – serves monumental fry-ups that seem tailor-made for soaking up a poitín hangover. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best pubs in London.

Here at Time Out, we love an historic London pub. Whichever borough you’re based in, it’s well worth setting sail to experience those low beams, crackling fires and local legends in every corner of the city. Which brings us to The Mayflower, reportedly the spot from which English settlers – dubbed the Pilgrims – departed for the promise of America in 1620 (Captain Christopher Jones part-owned the pub, apparently). There’s said to have been a boozer on the site since 1550 and this one, overlooking the Thames, oozes ye olde world charm, with tankards hanging from those aforementioned beams and suitably nautical paintings on the walls. Upstairs you’ll find a cosy restaurant that serves pub classics (including the slightly on-the-nose ‘old English sausages’) and the likes of bang bang chicken salad, with some good vegan options too. The riverside views are readymade for contemplating rich histories and bold new horizons. Time Out tip There’s a Mayflower ‘descendants’ book – if you can prove you’re related to those onboard the ship in 1620, stick your name down and secure your legendary status. Order this The cask ales change every couple of days, so make like the Pilgrims and take a punt on the unknown. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best pubs in London.

Here is a Thameside pub within dribbling distance of Fulham’s Craven Cottage football stadium and pretty much next-door to the famed River Café restaurant. Its crowd, then, is predictably sporty and well-to-do. If that sounds like you, you’ve found a slice of Heaven. And even if it doesn’t, to be honest, the place is so vast that you’ll find a corner to make your own. There are regular BBQs on the sprawling terrace, which boasts views of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race – indeed, the pub holds an annual Boat Race Festival to celebrate. All year round, though, this is a beautiful boozer with cosy, comfy leather sofas and a banging menu (we reckon the Sunday roast deserves its own festival). Order this The towering sticky toffee pudding, plonked in a pool of gooey goodness and topped with vanilla ice cream, stands head and shoulders above most pub desserts. Time Out tip Ad-hoc workshops speak to the pub’s fanciness, while the weekly quiz night attracts diehard general knowledge dons. RECOMMENDED: The best pubs in Hammersmith.

So, you’re looking to impress but, at the same time, keep it casual. Perhaps we’re talking about a date here. Perhaps it’s dinner with a mate and anything too formal feels weird. Whatever the occasion, you’ve found the answer in the Counter, which Nieves Barragán Mohacho (former exec-chef at the acclaimed Barafina) launched back in 2018. This is the low-key section of Sabor, which is essentially four Spanish venues in one, completed by the fancy El Asador restaurant upstairs, the private dining space La Mesa and a somewhat swish bar. Unlike El Asador, the Counter is walk-ins only. While the full-blown restaurant focuses on mega mains, its cooler sibling is all about the small plates. Think crispy Segovian suckling pig; tiny shrimp with a fried egg dolloped indecently upon them; and deep-fried monkfish ready to dip in fiery chili jam aioli. It takes a lot of work to look this effortless. Time Out tip Sabor is tucked away down Heddon Street, a side street offering an improbable amount of calm from Regent Street. Had a busy day out shopping? Why not swing by the bar to restore your nerves? Order this The bombas de chocolate, a trio of pillowy doughnuts glazed in choc and scattered with crushed pistachio, will complete the night. RECOMMENDED: London’s best Spanish restaurants.

When you think of Brighton stereotypes, your mind might not immediately drift to enormous steaks chargrilled inside a glass-fronted restaurant tucked into a concrete low-rise. Well, here comes the Coal Shed to reduce your preconceptions to ash. The seaside original was such a success that this London branch opened at One Tower Bridge in 2018, offering succulent surf-and-turf charred to perfection in a setting much cosier than the steely exterior would suggest. Portions are absolutely massive – this is the kind of place that will happily serve you a stonking wallop of mac and cheese as a mere side dish to, say, half a rotisserie chicken – and the staff are similarly generous with their time and expertise. Brighton people are super-friendly, so that’s at least one stereotype that’s been upheld. What’s nearby? Pop over Tower Bridge to Savage Garden, an elegant rooftop cocktail bar, to continue to indulgent vibe. Order this If you can’t decide between the puddings (fair enough), opt for ‘desert selection’, which is simply four of them on one plate. It’s for two. Allegedly.                                           RECOMMENDED: London’s best restaurants for steak.