Many Londoners tend to avoid Oxford Street like the plague.
It’s the most popular shopping street in the capital — its pavements overflow with bag-clutching pedestrians and hurried office workers, creating an impenetrable human traffic jam that, quite frankly, isn’t worth all the stress.
Or perhaps it is. Despite the unavoidable crowds, there are actually a fair few hidden gems, secluded on the various side streets that branch out from Oxford Street. From a Michelin-starred restaurant to a specialist coffee house and a legendary music venue, there are some spots well worth wading through the crowds to find.
This is the GO London guide to Oxford Street.
Restaurants
Hakkasan is the area’s Michelin-starred highlight, serving up glamorously sophisticated Cantonese food in luxurious surroundings. The menu is awash with opulence — think prawn toast served with foie gras, or Peking duck topped with caviar. Hakkasan takes the food seriously, of course, but this is an overridingly fun menu, joyfully full of excess. Just be prepared to fork deep into the wallet to pay for it.
It’s a similarly elegant affair over at Berners Tavern, although the sleek modernity of Hakkasan is swapped here for classic charm. Founded by the ever-prolific Jason Atherton in 2013 and designed by Ian Schrager, this place is a high-ceilinged beauty, with walls covered in eclectic artwork and an alluring chandelier in the middle of it all. The food is British and contemporary, taking diners from breakfast through to supper. The high-grade seafood option on the a la carte menu is the star of the show, although the roast at weekends is not to be missed.
The pride and glory at Malaysian spot Laksamania is — you guessed it — laksa. There are six regional variations of the spicy noodle soup dish on offer, with all manner of meats, fish and vegetables submerged in a delightfully flavoursome broth. The London laksa, which features sweet blue mussels gathered from the British coastline, is an intriguing twist on the classic dish. Check out the lengthy menu for a delicious array of other Malay favourites.
Very few Indian restaurants focus on the biryani, but that’s exactly what happens at Dum Biryani. The aptly-named spot offers up three varieties of the hearty dish — chicken, lamb and seasonal veg — all served with a generous helping of steaming, superbly scented rice. Papadums, okra yoghurt, pickles and an aubergine and peanut curry all come by way of accompaniment, with a cold beer always on hand to wash it down with. The wholly satisfying snacks — ranging from kebabs to king prawns — are well worth checking out if you can squeeze anymore food in.
More Indian goodness comes courtesy of Roti Chai. The restaurant is split into two spaces. On the ground floor is the Street Kitchen, ideal for speedy lunchtime refuelling. It serves up a colourful array of wholesome small plates, which range from vegetable samosas and cashew nuts to fish curries and chilli chicken buns. After dark, head down into the basement Dining Room and settle in for the evening. Dishes in there are self-described comfort food: chicken thigh tikka, spiced prawns, spiced chickpeas and the like.
Golden Union is a good old fashioned chippie. It’s been doing its thing for more than 150 years, and certainly knows its way around a fryer. The sustainably sourced fish is cooked using a special blend of oils to make sure it’s done to perfection, while the chips are fantastically fluffy. Enjoy it either sat in the traditionally tiled restaurant, or grab a takeaway if you’ve got somewhere to be.
The Kati Roll Company, a street food sensation in New York has travelled across the Atlantic to serve up its glorious Indian flat bread wraps, stuffed full of succulent meat, crispy vegetables and a whole lot of spice. There are few tables inside its first London restaurant, but these rolls are made for chowing on the go. Grab a bottle of the homemade lassi before you head off.
Mexican comfort food — and plenty of it — is the name of the game at Corazón. It’s nothing fancy, but that’s not why you visit a place like this. Rather, you go for the wholehearted tacos, with a range of fillings to suit every taste, from slow-cooked pork belly and 12-hour braised ox tongue to chillies, garlic, cream and Mexican cheese. Try the oysters for starters, too.
It’s all about mezze dining at Beirut-inspired street food spot Yalla Yalla — and that’s a good thing too, because you’ll probably be tempted into trying everything on the menu, from the humble falafel to the mouthwatering sujuk and fattoush. For those who want their food all to themselves, there are plenty of alluring mains to choose from. The grilled meat platters are superb, but the shawarma is a real winner, as is the lamb kibbeh shakshuka.
Pubs and bars
Believe it or not, these days there is actually only one pub still standing on Oxford Street. The Flying Horse — known as the Tottenham up until 2015 — has been a fixture in the area since the the late 18th century and, owing to its prime location, gets packed out on a regular basis. Don’t let that put you off though, because this pub boasts ornate interiors and some well kept real ales.
Bradley’s Spanish Bar is one of the best pubs in London — in fact, we reckon there are only 16 better boozers in the entire city. Despite its somewhat misleading name, this is very much a pub — and a lively one at that. It’s had a devoted following since it opened its doors back in the 60s, with regular punters drawn to the basement, with a few Spanish beers available. Upstairs, it’s a much tighter space but the jukebox still gets people moving once the evening progresses.
Another of the oldest pubs in the area, the Lamb and Flag is a listed Georgian building that dates back to 1813. We can’t vouch for its popularity back then, but it’s certainly a favourite now, with drinkers spilling out onto the pavement at peak times. If you get down there early enough to secure a table, try some of the classic pub grub on the menu — if not, enjoy one of the excellent cask ales.
Rumours abound about the Argyll Arms. Spend some time drinking there and chances are you’ll overhear someone talking about the secret tunnel that runs from the pub to the Duke of Argyll’s home, which once stood where the Palladium is now. Is it true? Does it still exist? Who knows, but it’s fun to speculate while settling into the pub’s pleasant Victorian interiors, pint in-hand.
The Spread Eagle — not to be confused with the 100 per cent vegan pub of the same name over in Homerton — is popular with tourists and shoppers, but does a decent job of providing boozy refuge for anyone that needs it. There aren’t many thrills to be had here, with a standard range of ales and lagers on tap, but it’s a solid boozer that’s worth a visit if you’re passing.
For craft beers, BrewDog’s Soho branch is the place to go. The world-conquering brewery has broad range of its own beers on tap, from its popular Punk IPA, to low-alcohol favourite Nanny State. There are always a number of intriguing guest beers available, as well as the odd cider if you’re lucky.
For lovers of all things gin, there’s only one place for it: The London Gin Club. There aren’t many bars in the capital that claim to have quite so much adoration for the spirit, with a huge number of options available, alongside various tasting menus. The gin and tonics here, of which there are many varieties, taste pretty fantastic — obviously.
Dirty Harry’s is somewhere for a boisterous night out, to blow off some steam and have a grand old time. It’s the kind of place you’ll end up staying late in, kept first by the extensive beer list, then the cocktails, and finally by the rambunctious atmosphere of it all, with a live band belting out the music and plenty of not-so-brilliant dancing to either admire or get involved with.
Coffee shops and cafes
Workshop Coffee, just a couple of minutes’ walk from Bond Street station, has a basic, stripped-back feel to it, with chipboard counters and tables. The coffee is done superbly, especially the espresso. Be sure to indulge yourself in the various pastries on offer, too.
Coffee fashionistas should head to Omotesando Koffee, the cult Japanese outfit that has just opened its first London branch. It started life as a bold coffee concept in Tokyo, with one barista serving each customer individually, inspired by the country’s famous tea ceremonies. At this London outpost, pay for your chosen coffee and then wander over to the barista to order — they’ll chat to you about your caffeinated likes and dislikes, which makes for a personal experience quite unlike any other in the capital.
For tea lovers, Yumchaa is the place to be. There are more than 40 blends available, meaning no-one should be left wanting, while there are also iced teas and so-called “tea shakes” — tea-flavoured milkshakes, basically. For that stronger caffeine hit, there’s a decent range of coffee on offer too. The shop itself feels more like a countryside retreat than somewhere just off Oxford Street, with big, airy windows and mismatched wooden seating.
TAP Coffee is another popular spot, pulling in nearby office workers looking for a quick boost, as well as those who like to settle in and really enjoy their drinks. It serves up some of the best coffee in the area, with delicately flavoured creations across the menu. The nearest shop to Oxford Street is the one on Wardour Street, though there is another one on the nearby Rathbone Place, as well as further north on Tottenham Court Road.
For the best espresso within a stone’s throw of Oxford Street, head to the Coffeeworks Project on Great Titchfield Street. The tiny cups of goodness are made of up single origin coffee, and bursts with flavour. The shop itself is pretty small and gets busy, but it’s well worth making to the trip to.
Music and nightlife
For more than 75 years, the 100 Club has stood proud on Oxford Street and remains one of the city’s finest live music venues. It started life as a jazz club and later became known as a hub of London’s booming punk scene, hosting first the Sex Pistols, the Clash and Siouxsie and the Banshees, later welcoming the best of the hardcore punk explosion, such as Black Flag and Crass. These days, it’s still an independent champion of live music, regularly hosting gigs from some of the best up-and-coming bands around.
Apart from that, there isn’t a great deal going on by way of nightlife on Oxford Street. Head down into Soho for the good stuff.
Arts
The best art in the area is found by venturing deeper into Mayfair or Soho, but there is one spot within a stone’s throw of Oxford Street. The Photographers’ Gallery has been displaying the best of the art form since the 1970s, first in Covent Garden and now in its current location on Ramillies Street. Exhibitions range from clear-eyed depictions of war-torn countries to beautifully staged portraits.
Most Instagrammable spots
The buses on Oxford Street
The London Gin Club
The 100 Club
And one more thing...
Swingers is quite a few things rolled into one — street food, cocktails, music and, of course, mini golf — which means it didn’t quite fit into any of our categories above. Still, it’s well worth checking out. Taking in a round of the fiendishly difficult golf course will bring out your inner child, and the free shots handed out after a hole-in-one will make you all the giddier. Refuel afterwards with a drink from the bar, or food from the likes of Patty and Bun, Made of Dough and Breddos Tacos.
How to get there
Tube: Marble Arch (Central line), Bond Street (Central, Jubilee), Oxford Circus (Central, Victoria, Bakerloo), Tottenham Court Road (Central, Northern)
