Best Restaurants in Islington (2026): The Ones Locals Keep Quiet About

Islington is good for gastropubs, curry and the length of Upper Street, and the restaurants people save most are Bistro Sable, Canal and Delhi Grill. Ranked from 37 places we track here, creator picks first.

Restaurants in Islington

Updated · 37 places we track in Islington, all first recorded in March 2026

Islington's best-saved place is a pub that serves Tamil food, which tells you how the area works now. The Tamil Prince and Delhi Grill do the heavy lifting, Pophams handles breakfast, and Katsute 100 pours matcha in a back garden nobody finds by accident. Upper Street is the spine. The good stuff is usually one street off it.

How we chose

We track 37 places in Islington filed under restaurants. Some of them turned up in creator videos we pulled apart. Places with a creator mention, a member save or a member gem rank first, and mentions weigh most. The rest runs on a broader popularity signal from our wider place index, so the tail of this list moves less than the top does. Last added to in March 2026.

Ranked restaurants in Islington

Bistro Sable, Islington, restaurant

Bistro Sable

Restaurant · Islington

Cozy London spot serving global barbecue with a relaxed pub atmosphere and outdoor seating.

1 creator video · 1 member save

Canal, Islington, restaurant

Canal

Restaurant · Islington

Perfect spot along the water for a relaxing walk or morning jog through London.

1 creator video · 1 member save

Delhi Grill, Islington, restaurant

Delhi Grill

Restaurant · Islington

Casual Indian spot in London where you get proper street food and dhaba vibes.

The Tamil Crown, Islington, restaurant

The Tamil Crown

Restaurant · Islington

Sunday roasts meet curry spices at this energetic Indian-British fusion restaurant in London.

Tofu Vegan Islington, Islington, restaurant

Tofu Vegan Islington

Restaurant · Islington

Northern Chinese vegan dim sum restaurant tucked into Islington's dining scene.

The Pig and Butcher, Islington, restaurant

The Pig and Butcher

Restaurant · Islington

Solid neighbourhood restaurant where you can grab proper roasts and interesting craft beers.

The Albion, Islington, restaurant

The Albion

Restaurant · Islington

Georgian pub serving solid modern British dishes in a relaxed setting with a lovely garden to relax in.

TANAKATSU, Islington, restaurant

TANAKATSU

Restaurant · Islington

Tanakatsu serves Japanese classics and fresh sushi in a clean, understated setting.

Masigo, Islington, restaurant

Masigo

Restaurant · Islington

Korean comfort food and inventive small plates in a welcoming neighbourhood setting.

SASA, Islington, restaurant

SASA

Restaurant · Islington

Fresh sushi and sashimi served in a laid-back, intimate setting in London.

Sushi Show, Islington, restaurant

Sushi Show

Restaurant · Islington

Casual Japanese spot where they make fresh sushi right in front of you in London.

Afghan Kitchen, Islington, restaurant

Afghan Kitchen

Restaurant · Islington

Homemade Afghan bread and warming stews in a cozy London restaurant.

Brother Marcus Angel, Islington, restaurant

Brother Marcus Angel

Restaurant · Islington

Mediterranean dishes served in a cozy, laid-back setting tucked away on a quiet London street.

The Alpaca, Islington, restaurant

The Alpaca

Restaurant · Islington

Friendly gastropub serving excellent Sunday roast in a relaxed setting with outdoor seating.

Hanwoo Village - Authentic Korean BBQ, Islington, restaurant

Hanwoo Village - Authentic Korean BBQ

Restaurant · Islington

Perfect spot for genuine Korean barbecue cooked right at your table with traditional flavors.

Compton Arms, Islington, restaurant

Compton Arms

Restaurant · Islington

Nem Nem, Islington, restaurant

Nem Nem

Restaurant · Islington

Intimate Vietnamese restaurant serving authentic pho and thoughtful vegan dishes.

Santa Maria Pizzeria Islington, Islington, restaurant

Santa Maria Pizzeria Islington

Restaurant · Islington

Craving authentic Neapolitan pizza in Islington, you'll find seriously impressive wood-fired pies here.

The Island Queen, Islington, restaurant

The Island Queen

Restaurant · Islington

Warm gastropub tucked away with soaring ceilings and inviting dark wood throughout.

12:51 By Chef James Cochran, Islington, restaurant

12:51 By Chef James Cochran

Restaurant · Islington

Chef James Cochran serves creative small plates that challenge your palate in the best way.

69 Colebrooke Row

Restaurant · Islington

Kanada-Ya 金田家, Islington, restaurant

Kanada-Ya 金田家

Restaurant · Islington

Come here for genuine Japanese ramen that hits the spot on a chilly day.

Bellanger, Islington, restaurant

Bellanger

Restaurant · Islington

Cosy French bistro where you can enjoy seasonal cooking and proper cocktails, with a lovely outdoor terrace.

The Screen on the Green, Islington, restaurant

The Screen on the Green

Restaurant · Islington

Tierra Peru, Islington, restaurant

Tierra Peru

Restaurant · Islington

Peruvian restaurant serving traditional dishes in a vibrant, welcoming setting.

Zen Mondo, Islington, restaurant

Zen Mondo

Restaurant · Islington

Japanese comfort food gets a fresh update in an intimate, welcoming setting.

Chapel Market, Islington, restaurant

Chapel Market

Restaurant · Islington

La Farola Cafe &Bistro, Islington, restaurant

La Farola Cafe &Bistro

Restaurant · Islington

Cozy Spanish tapas restaurant serving organic dishes and sangria throughout the day.

Angel, Islington, restaurant

Angel

Restaurant · Islington

Underground station featuring striking artwork and the world's longest escalator.

Gallipoli Restaurant, Islington, restaurant

Gallipoli Restaurant

Restaurant · Islington

Warm Turkish restaurant serving fantastic mezze in a charming setting that feels intimate and inviting.

More in Islington

Where this data comes from

Spillist pulls places out of TikToks and Reels and keeps track of what people save. The counts on this page cover the 37 places we hold in the Islington neighbourhood. Spot something wrong or closed? Tell us.

All Islington guides