Providing easy access to the city's vast array of restaurants, The London Underground is not only a convenient way to travel around the capital, but a greener alternative too. The simplest way to pay is to tap your contactless card or smartphone. You can also buy an Oyster card (a pre-payment card which you can top up as required). In this article series, we take a look at some of the Michelin Inspectors’ favourite restaurants within easy reach of the Tube network. For information on London's transport network, we've got that covered too.
Shining bright in its signature red, the Central Line is perhaps the busiest and most famous of all London Underground routes. Given its name, it should be no surprise that it serves as the capital’s main artery, running right through the heart of the city and stretching out over 74km. Reaching all the way from West Ruislip in the west to Epping in the East, it is London’s second longest tube line and even extends beyond the capital to incorporate parts of Essex. It is also home to an array of fabulous restaurants and cuisines, from Basque to American and Turkish to Taiwanese. Here are a few of the highlights.
Notting Hill Gate: Sunday in Brooklyn
American
The swish neighbourhood of Notting Hill is home to many a good restaurant, not least this warmly run NYC export where all day dining includes burgers, pancake stacks and a whole host of cocktails. The latter fly out from behind a huge bar and include many specifically designed for brunch, so you can start your day with an extra spring in your step. The cooking itself is well-executed and delivers flavours to match the excellent service and enjoyably relaxed vibe.
Marble Arch: Lurra & Donostia
Basque
You get two for the price of one with this pair of restaurants just a few yards from each other, and both a short walk from Marble Arch station. The duo have the same owners, whose aim was to bring Basque cooking to Marylebone after a life-changing trip to San Sebastián. Donostia is the cheaper of the two, offering tapas like squid a la plancha with ink sauce. Lurra is more dominated by grilled dishes, with the superior quality ingredients its greatest strength – expect whole fish, Galician octopus and presa Iberica among others.
Bethnal Green: Da Terra & Elis
Creative, Modern Cuisine
Located just four minutes’ walk from Bethnal Green station, the Town Hall Hotel is a mighty fine proposition. There’s a real grandeur to the historic building and, thanks to being that little bit removed from the city centre, the rooms are more than spacious. It is also home to not one but two restaurants. Da Terra is the Two Michelin Star brainchild of Chef Rafael Cagali, who demonstrates originality and visual flair across his creations. Elis, also overseen by Rafael, is the more relaxed and affordable option, which pays homage to the chef’s Brazilian-Italian heritage.
Snaresbrook: Provender
French
Living in east London and craving a classic French onion soup or steak frites? Well, there’s no need to cross the channel just yet; instead, hop on the Central Line to Snaresbrook and walk a mere 3 minutes to Provender, the area’s answer to a bustling Parisian bistro. This long-standing restaurant’s flavoursome French favourites are suitably satisfying and come at appealingly reasonable prices too, with their 'prix fixe' menu proving particularly excellent value.
Loughton: Tom, Dick & Harry’s
Modern Cuisine
We finish, fittingly, at the end of the line with a restaurant in the far north eastern corner of the Central Line’s vast reach. Laid-back and lively are what you can expect from the atmosphere at Tom, Dick & Harry’s, a well-run brasserie that's always busy and clearly a hit with the locals. The extensive menu includes an array of small plates to kick off, before moving on to main courses including market seafood and a choice of meats from the charcoal oven. These straightforward, well-executed dishes are the perfect match for the terrific atmosphere.
Other restaurants that we love on the Central Line include:
Holland Park: Six Portland Road
European
Bond Street: Mount St.
Modern British
Oxford Circus: Kanishka
Indian
Tottenham Court Road: Bao
Taiwanese
Bank: Cabotte
French
Why not complete your culinary trip around London with a stay in a Michelin-recommended hotel?
Hero Image: © Cabotte
