In the first of a new series that will look at the best places to eat within a mile of famous sites around the world, we present our 5 TOP restaurants near The Shard in London.
There are a lot of different opinions about the Shard, which is the tallest building in the UK and the fourth biggest in Europe. Whether you like it or not, it’s a big part of the skyline of the city. It opened in 2012 and has huge views of London and beyond. Looking up from below makes you think about how small you are in comparison to everything else in the world. The sharp edge of the building’s peak seems to cut through the clouds like balloons.
The view of the Shard from many places in London is just as beautiful. Our favourite is seeing how it cuts through a dark, rising sky from the top of Frank’s Café in Peckham; it makes us proud to live in London.
You have to go to the top of the building to see the views, but we’re not sure about the food options on the way up. Don’t worry, though; there are some total crackers just a short walk away. There are now only 5. We worked hard to get that number down. Here are our picks for the 5 BEST places near The Shard.
Padella is only 0.2 miles from The Shard.
London Bridge is the closest tube stop to The Shard. It only takes a few seconds to get from the tube to Padella’s huge queue. You’ll always have to wait in queue because they don’t take bookings and they serve some of the best fresh pasta in London. You’ll be repaid for your time with delicious, addicting pasta and friendly conversation at amazingly low prices.
Wright Brothers is 0.2 miles away from The Shard.
We think that the Shard is lucky to be close to Borough Market, not the other way around. There are a lot of great places to eat in this foodie haven, but the Wright Brothers stands out because they only serve fresh fish, especially oysters. The menu is simple: it’s just a list of specials, and almost all of them are fish that is cooked with great care and respect for the amazing ingredients. We love how this is the only way to cook fish this fresh.
El Pastor is 0.2 miles away from The Shard.
El Pastor is a new restaurant that opened right across the street from Borough Market. Sam and Eddie Hart, who run Barrafina, have changed the traditional Mexican taqueria into a fun, carnival-like place in the middle of London. There is great food, especially the beef short rib and bone marrow wraps that are split and put together by the customer. Mezcal makes everything taste better and makes you a little less drunk than you were before.
Jose is 0.6 miles away from The Shard.
There are a lot of places to get tapas near the Shard, but Jose in Bermondsey is our favorite. Some people think of Jose Pizarro as a celebrity in London. He is a very friendly and generous cook, and this shows in all of his London restaurants. Jose looks and feels like a piano bar, with lots of standing room and bar stools, and a chalkboard menu to match. You could just stop by for a glass of wine and a plate and not feel out of place. As well, you can eat a lot of traditional tapas and a few bigger meals that focus on the ingredients. IDEAL magazine really likes this one.
Restaurant Story is 0.6 miles from the Shard.
Restaurant Story on Tooley Street is the place to go if you want to eat food that is cooked with real imagination, flair, and accuracy. It is in four walls of smooth wood that look like a Swedish sauna and is right next to a bus stop. It doesn’t seem to belong there. Do not be fooled, though; there is some real cooking going on inside. It would be unfair to call the style “New Nordic”; it’s much less derivative than that, though Chef and Owner Tom Sellers did learn at Noma. No, the food is based on ingredients and seasons, with a focus on memories. It’s a great place to celebrate a special event.
