In no particular order, recommendations for top London eateries near Kings Cross were;
Dishoom, Bombay Café – 22 Kingly Street – serving interesting Indian tapas!
If you fancy Asian food with a French twist, a waterfall in the restaurant then go to Port Des Indies off Oxford Street in Bryanston Street…it is fantastic….and certainly quirky…
Top recommendation for somewhere really stylish and out of the ordinary, try Sketch: 9 Conduit St, W1S 2XG.
If you like steak, what about Goodman: 24-26 Maddox Street, W1S 1QH 020 7499 3776 or (little further away) NOPI (Ottolenghi restaurant) at 21-22 Warwick Street, W1B 5NE.
If you counted Kensington Church Street as Off Off Off Oxford Street then try Sally Clarke's restaurant Clarke's at 124 Kensington Church Street.
Hush Restaurant in a mews behind Victoria's Secret Bond Steet – access is in Davies street. Started by Roger Moore's son in 1999, this is an award winning restaurant offering stylish easy going good service. It has an outdoor covered area and the food is delicious.
Antidote, off Carnaby Street, would be perfect for a most delicious lunch in a relaxed upstairs dining room with a Continental feel. See Fay Maschler's review below. Everyone taken here has loved it, from an Oxford professor to Neil Diamond's music director.
The bit of Newburgh Street where the restaurant is located is pedestrianised, so look at a map before you set off. You will need to walk the last three or four blocks and if you don't have an image in your head of where you are headed, it's easy to get lost within 200 yards of the restaurant.
And for somewhere really quirky, hip and with a FANTASTIC view of the river snaking through London, try the Duck and Waffle at 110 Moorgate. Up to the 40th floor in a glass lift, there is a cocktail bar and through to the main restaurant with 360 degree views. Menu is unusual – but lovely food.
Recommendations for nice cafes near to the British Library London included:
St Pancras Renaissance Hotel which is right next door situated in the fantastic St Pancras station building – very fancy but they have a cover charge of £15 per head
What about the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel – almost next door in the wonderful old St Pancras Building? Much much grander than the British Library, and worth a look around anyway as the restoration is pretty good.
There are also lots of cafes in St Pancras International itself, but they do get busy although the cafes on the top floor near the John Betjeman statue are often much quieter, such as the Benugo (which would be cheaper than the Renaissance). I prefer to go to St Pancras International for snacks/coffee/lunch rather than the BL cafes when going to the BL.
St Pancras Station has a gamut of coffee houses – eg Quotidian
Next door to the British Library is the St Pancras Hotel – it's posher than the British Library cafe and a bit quieter…They've got a few different restaurants / tea places or you could stay in the lounge which is the poshest of them all.
The cafe at the Wellcome Centre just along the road opposite Euston is nice.
The Wellcome Collection cafe across the road is a favourite of mine, I’ve done coffee meetings there. Sets the intellectual tone too 😉 You can still catch the States of Mind exhibition while you’re there (I popped in for a look last time I was over that way, all free) –https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/states-mind-tracing-edges-consciousness
My husband always uses Café Caritas just opposite Euston Station on corner of Cardington St and Euston Road for meetings business associates etc. Apparently very good (haven’t been yet myself but let me know if OK.)
Also near Euston is the cafe in the Friends Meeting House. Usually quite quiet and offers a good range of cakes, snacks and lunches including vegan and gluten-free options which can be hard to find elsewhere.
Great eateries for client meetings and interactions near the Southbank included:
Skylon was recommended by two people, as was the South Bank Centre
Also:
• The National Theatre: The House, The Terrace or the Green Room. https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/food-and-drink
• The Auberge (https://www.auberge-restaurant.co.uk/)
• Bfi bar (main entrance rather than on the river)
• Marriott County Hall hotel although can get a little busy so maybe wise to reserve a table.
• Ping Pong restaurant? I think that there is a bar area on top of the restaurant….https://www.pingpongdimsum.com/restaurants/southbank-london
• Benugo at the BFI is nice
Please let us know any more recommendations and we will add them to the list.