The Best Hidden Restaurants in London That Locals Swear By: Spots for Italian, Thai, and Middle Eastern Cuisine

London’s food scene is vast, but the restaurants locals swear by are rarely the loudest or most visible. Away from famous dining streets and viral openings, Londoners gravitate towards neighbourhood restaurants, basement kitchens, and understated borough favourites that deliver on flavour rather than hype. These are the best hidden restaurants in London that locals return to out of habit, not curiosity.

This guide brings together hidden gems food in London across Italian, Thai, Middle Eastern and Israeli kitchens — places people rely on when they want something reliable, relaxed, and deeply satisfying.

1. Kapara (Soho)

Kapara sits just off Soho’s busier streets, offering a Tel Aviv-inspired take on modern Middle Eastern dining. Led by Israeli chef Eran Tibi, the restaurant focuses on bold flavours, generous sharing plates, and a lively but intimate atmosphere. 

Expect fresh hummus, challah, vibrant vegetable dishes, and grilled meats designed for the table. Despite its central location, Kapara feels surprisingly local, especially during midweek evenings when when regulars from nearby offices and neighbourhoods fill the room.

2. Brutto (Farringdon)

Hidden near Farringdon station, Brutto is a no-frills Italian restaurant inspired by traditional Florentine cooking. The menu is simple and unapologetic, with ribollita, pasta, and grilled meats served in a stripped-back space. 

It attracts locals who care more about flavour than presentation, and who don’t mind sharing tables or shouting over the room. Italian food that feels honest, not polished.

3. Kiln (Soho)

Kiln is tucked behind Brewer Street, serving Thai-inspired food cooked over open fire. While it has a cult following, many visitors still miss it entirely due to its discreet location and walk-in-only policy. 

The menu focuses on Northern Thai flavours, clay pot dishes, and smoky meats, making it one of London’s most distinctive Thai experiences — a hidden gem locals rely on rather than plan around.

4. Café Cecilia (Hackney)

Set along the Regent’s Canal in Hackney, Café Cecilia feels like a neighbourhood secret despite its growing reputation. The cooking leans European, with Italian influences, seasonal ingredients, and restrained, confident flavours. 

It’s the kind of place locals choose for long lunches and relaxed dinners, rather than special occasions or trend chasing.

5. Berenjak (Soho)

Berenjak brings Persian and Middle Eastern flavours to a basement space just off Soho’s main roads. Inspired by Tehran’s hole-in-the-wall cafés, it focuses on grills, flatbreads, dips, and small plates. 

The underground setting adds to the sense that you’ve stumbled onto something locals quietly swear by and recommend selectively, rather than broadcast.

6. Ciao Bella (Bloomsbury)

Ciao Bella has been quietly serving classic Italian food near Lamb’s Conduit Street for decades. It’s traditional, comforting, and refreshingly unchanged, with pasta, risotto, and hearty mains. 

Locals value it for its consistency and lack of pretence, making it a true neighbourhood staple rather than a destination restaurant.

7. Som Saa (Spitalfields)

Som Saa is tucked behind Spitalfields, hidden inside a former warehouse courtyard that many people walk past without noticing. The restaurant focuses on regional Thai cooking, with fermented flavours, bold spices, and dishes inspired by Northern and Southern Thailand. 

The space feels industrial and understated, and the crowd is largely local, especially on weeknights. It’s a strong choice if you want Thai food with depth and character, without the noise of trend-driven dining.

8. Tayer + Elementary (Old Street)

Tucked near Old Street roundabout, Tayer + Elementary is best known as a bar, but its food offering makes it a quiet dining destination too. The menu changes often, blending Middle Eastern touches with European techniques. 

Locals stop by casually, often without planning to eat, and end up staying longer than expected.

9. Amber (Aldgate)

Amber is hidden beneath a hotel near Aldgate, offering refined Middle Eastern-influenced cooking in a calm, modern space. The menu highlights vegetables, spices, and careful technique without overwhelming the plate. 

It’s a good example of how some of London’s most interesting food is tucked into unexpected locations.

10. Padella (Shoreditch)

While its Borough Market sibling draws crowds, Padella in Shoreditch feels far more local. Tucked into a quieter corner, it delivers handmade pasta, seasonal sauces, and excellent value. 

Locals tend to choose this location for a calmer experience, proving that even well-known names can still function as hidden gems food in London when removed from tourist circuits.

Where Londoners Actually Eat

For most Londoners, eating out isn’t about discovery — it’s about habit. The restaurants listed here are chosen because they fit into real lives: after work, midweek, unplanned, or on evenings when reliability matters more than novelty.

These places don’t rely on being new or noticed. They rely on people who return without thinking twice. That quiet loyalty is what turns ordinary neighbourhood restaurants into the hidden places locals swear by.