As an Italian expat living in London, getting to take my pick from the ever-expanding range of eateries that grace the British capital is one of the prospects that keeps me afloat when homesickness kicks in. What I personally find fascinating about the best restaurants in London is the way that, however established or emerging, these gastronomic hubs manage combine a flair for cooking with evocative storytelling into an experience that lasts.
Over the last few months of surveying the Big Smoke's intercontinental food scene on behalf of the Livingetc team, I have begun to spot a few recurring patterns, particularly when it comes to defining what makes trendy London restaurants so widely — and instantly — resonant with in-the-know local crowds. With no inch of the capital city's 1,572 square kilometers surface left untouched by its gourmet spirit, and an eternally growing number of outdoor markets, bars with bites, and exclusive fine dining locations contributing to its zeitgeist, competition is fierce. That means that seasonal ingredients and inventive plate presentations are no longer enough for foodie hotspots to make the cut: instead, it is a balanced, imaginative combination of innovative cuisine, a powerful narrative, and memorable restaurant design that allows them to win.
