If you’re a food lover like me, and have travelled to London before, then chances are you’ve been to Camden. Finding the best places to eat in Camden can be tricky though. It’s one of the most unique areas to visit in the city, and although some of the best places to eat in London can be found here, there are a lot of tourist traps that should be avoided.
Camden is well known for its artistic culture, and is the perfect place to catch a live gig. Artists such as Amy Winehouse (who lived in Camden), Dua Lipa, and The Killers are just a few of the many celebrities who have been spotted on the streets. Camden Town even features as the home of the gang leader Alfie Solomans in season two of Peaky Blinders. All of these fun facts aside, we came here to find the top places to eat in Camden Town, and we didn’t leave disappointed.
Camden Town’s street food is world famous, so it comes as no surprise that Camden ranks among the top places to visit in London. Camden Lock Market is perhaps the most well known of the markets in Camden, and it’s where we spent most of our time. If you have more than a day to spend in Camden, I would recommend visiting the other markets in Camden too.
While there are plenty of things to do in Camden Town, like treasure hunting among the market stalls, nothing quite beats sampling the different cuisines on display here. Every time we visit London we make a point of visiting Camden for the food. Here are my recommendations for the top places to eat in Camden.
Places to eat in Camden
Pizza & Dumplings
One of the most unique places to eat in Camden is Pizza & Dumplings. They’re located just outside of Camden Market and are a bit of a hidden gem in London. As the name suggests, their menu is centred around pizza and dumplings. They have a great variety of freshly made pizzas on offer, but one that I would really recommend is their pepperoni one. You can’t go wrong with any of their handmade dumplings either – they even have options for vegetarians!
Oli Baba’s
You can find a lot of delicious halal food in Camden Market. One of the first food stalls in Camden Lock that we came across was Oli Baba’s. They claim to be the original creators of halloumi fries, and there’s always a crowd at their stall. You really can’t say no to halloumi fries when you see them being freshly prepared. The tasty pomegranate seeds on top don’t hurt either.
Their Middle Eastern inspired menu draws on the flavours of the Levantine cuisine, and you can expect nothing but the freshest ingredients every day. If you love fried cheese, then it’s one of the best places to eat in Camden for you.
The Mac Factory
The Mac Factory is one of the best places to eat in Camden Market if you love the ooey, gooey goodness that comes with mac n’ cheese. Comfort food in London doesn’t come much better than this. There are 6 options on the menu but we went for the Super Mario bowl with a blend of sauteed mushrooms, garlic, and white truffle oil. Their bowls are made to order so you’ll probably need to wait longer than usual.
Harvest Garden
As you’re walking around Camden Lock, you’ll come across quite a few Asian food stalls that are more or less selling the same food. We chose Harvest Garden because they had a rice bowl offer which saved us a bit of money. What’s great about this food stall in Camden Market is that you can mix and match the sides and mains, as well as choose the portion size. We went with their crispy salt and pepper chicken on a bed of fried rice. Spring rolls aren’t usually included in the price but they were nice enough to give one to us, free of charge.
Highlander Game
Sitting next to Harvest Garden is Highlander Game. This Polish food stall serves 1 metre long sausages in a baguette. Of course, you can get a normal sized Polish sausage if you want as well. We opted for their vegetarian perogies instead, which were made of potatoes and cheese. I’d highly recommend getting the perogies if you don’t want a big meal. Highlander Game was one of my favourite places to eat in Camden.
Magic Juice
If all of that food is making you crave something a bit healthier, I’d recommend grabbing a freshly prepared fruit smoothie from Magic Juice. They have quite a big selection of juices and smoothies to choose from, and if you’re in the mood for a healthy soup they have that as well. Magic Juice and Magic Falafel (located next to each other) are both great options if you’re on the hunt for vegan food in Camden Town.
Purezza
Speaking of vegan food, if you haven’t visited Purezza then you’re really missing out. It’s one of the best restaurants near Camden Market, even if you aren’t vegan. Purezza is the UK’s first vegan pizzeria, with a purely plant-based menu. You wouldn’t be able to tell by just looking at their Neapolitan pizzas though.
They want everyone to be able to eat here, regardless of dietary restrictions, which is why their menu is also 95% gluten free. Make sure you grab some dough balls before digging into your pizza, and don’t forget about dessert either. Purezza is a very popular vegan restaurant in London and is well worth adding to your itinerary.
Where to stay in Camden
Holiday Inn Camden Lock
If you’re thinking of staying in Camden, you might as well treat yourself to the Penthouse Suite at the Holiday Inn Camden Lock. The views of the market below are unmatched. The suite comes fully equipped with Camden beers, water bottles, snacks, and toiletries. And there’s plenty of space to move around the room.
In the bathroom you have a choice between using the bathtub or the walk-in shower. The large panoramic window opens up onto a private balcony where you can enjoy the views of Camden, even in the rainy weather. It’s the perfect room to base yourself from if you want to enjoy all that Camden has to offer.
There’s a great selection of continental and hot food to choose from in the buffet, so you can definitely get your fill before you head out to explore Camden Town. The hotel also offers all day dining, which is a good option if you’re too tired to leave the hotel after a busy day of walking. Holiday Inn Camden Lock has to be the best place to stay in Camden Town, if not for the location then certainly for the comfort and style of their rooms.
>> Click here for the most up to date prices at Holiday Inn Camden Lock <<
During our recent trip to London, we spent a while exploring Camden before moving on to Whitechapel, Bermondsey, and Euston Square. Camden is always evolving, so even if you’ve been here on a previous trip to London, I guarantee that there will be plenty of new shops and stalls to visit. We can’t wait to come back and add even more places to eat in Camden to this list.
Have you been to Camden before? If you have any recommendations about where to eat in Camden, either in the market or elsewhere, let me know in the comment section below. And don’t forget to follow my travels on Instagram too!
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