Top Chefs Share Their Favourite London Delis
@ThePieManChelseaGreen
Nuno Mendes
“I love La Bouche at Broadway Market. This rustic French deli and café has a mix of continental and British classics, and the friendly service is excellent. I love it because I can always find everything I need, and it’s perfect for a breakfast pitstop thanks to its pastries and excellent coffee. The best items are the fresh seasonal vegetables, cheeses and freshly baked bread, which form the basis for many of my home-cooked dishes. I always pick up a bottle of beaujolais nouveau, a red wine made from Gamay grapes that pairs perfectly with charcuterie and cheeses. As for splurging, I often indulge in speciality vegetables like white asparagus or mushrooms such as girolles and ceps, depending on the season.”
Tom Aikens
Muse by Tom Aikens
“I have three local delis that I frequent, each offering something unique. The Pie Man on Chelsea Green, which has been around for nearly 40 years, is a staple for its delicious homemade pies – like chicken, mushroom, and tarragon – as well as its range of sandwiches, fresh salads and cakes. Its sausage rolls, barbecued chicken drumsticks, and daily hot pots make it perfect for a hearty, filling lunch during the week. Then there's Luigi's on Fulham Road, known for its overflowing shelves of olive oils, vinegars, Italian cheeses, fresh pasta, and a great selection of wines. Although it might not be the cheapest, the quality of produce – including homemade sauces, cured meats, and salamis – is exceptional. I often get pasta and homemade sauces like pesto or bolognese for my kids. Lastly, Bayley & Sage has two locations near me: one in Battersea for quick pick-ups during the school run and another in Belgravia for speciality items. They excel in sustainable and ethical sourcing, with a vast selection of fresh produce, salads, herbs, baked goods, British and continental cheeses, charcuterie, olives, antipasti, and fresh baked breads, from Scandinavian sourdoughs to classic English tins. It’s a definitive one-stop shop, especially if you’re in the mood for something special.”
Eran Tibi
Kapara & Bala Baya
“I love the De Beauvoir Deli, an amazing spot that has grown over the last few years from a simple deli to include a coffee shop and a restaurant across the road. It offers authentic, hand-picked produce, including wines, cheeses, cured meats and fish, all of excellent quality. The service is exceptional, with knowledgeable staff who understand exactly where the produce comes from and how it's made. The best items to find there include grains like farro, cured sardines, anchovies, Monmouth coffee and pastries – enough to stock up for a whole dinner party. The wine selection is particularly impressive, featuring numerous bottles from micro-wineries. The anchovies are pricey but worth every penny, and the pistachio croissant is a must-try.”
Elliott Grover
45 Park Lane
“I’m a regular at Superette Store in Islington. I love everything, from the fresh coffee in the morning to its toasted focaccias from The Dusty Knuckle bakery, dripping in olive oil. I see this place as a real treat. The best items include the tinned fish, particularly the Minerva sardines in tomato sauce, which I enjoy straight from the tin or on grilled sourdough rubbed with fresh garlic and extra virgin olive oil. Although I try to limit my alcohol intake to stay fresh in the mornings, I like to indulge in a natural wine like Mas Theo Ginger. And when I really want to splurge, a top-of-the-range olive oil or balsamic vinegar does the trick.”
@Salvino_Deli
superette.london
Theo Randall
Theo Randall at The InterContinental
“My favourite deli in London is Primo Italian Provisions on Regent’s Park Road. They have a great selection of everything needed to cook amazing Italian food. The owners, Natale and Natasha, are friendly and super knowledgeable. The wines are fantastic, with reasonably priced selections of tignanello, barolo, chianti classico and franciacorta. It's also a great place to buy aperitivos, including my favourite Crodino. I always buy prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella, which is beautifully sliced, and my greedy labrador Maude always gets a slice. They also sell a good selection of pecorinos and paneforte at Christmas. The best items include salumi, olive oil, cheeses, wines, dried mushrooms, and anchovies, as well as the selection of dried pasta and pulses. Natale makes an excellent tiramisu on special order and a perfect melanzane parmigiana.”
Sebby Holmes
Farang
“La Fromagerie in Highbury is a short walk from my restaurant and features a remarkable cheese room that's worth a visit. I don’t get to eat cheese much at work, given the focus on Thai food, so I love to stock up on cheeses to snaffle at home. Its selection is exceptional, and my favourites include pecorino ambrato for pasta and the Fougerus aux Truffes to enjoy with fresh bread and salad. For drinks, I always recommend their ‘Natur’ Riesling Bio, Kirmann. If you can't tell from my answers already, cheese is the one deli item I'll happily splurge on, given it's the cornerstone of any family meal for us, thanks to my French uncle and Italian stepfather.”
Tom Vincent
Vincenzo's
“I rate Salvino on Camden’s Brecknock Road. It's a family run place, and the same family supplies all the Italian produce we use in our restaurant. The fresh ravioli is perfect for midweek cooking when you're pressed for time. It also offers plenty of good Italian wines, and you can't go wrong with anything from Cantina Giardino. One deli item I will happily splurge on is good olive oil – always buy the best you can.”
José Pizarro
“Oli Food Centre on Walworth Road offers unique products like lamb heads and intestines, which are hard to find elsewhere. The variety of tinned goods, spices, sweets, and olives is impressive; it has everything you could possibly need. I particularly appreciate the extensive range of spices, like black, white and pink pepper, which are essential in my cooking. Although they stock a great selection of wines and beers, I often get so absorbed in the other areas of the deli that I don’t spend much time in the drink aisles. For me, it’s worth splurging on everyday products like spices and tinned goods that elevate simple dishes at home.”
Nicolas Rouzaud
The Connaught
“I live in north London so I’m spoiled for choice. One of my favourite delis is Fridge of Plenty in Crouch End, an ‘urban farm shop’ which sells local, sustainable and seasonal produce. I usually buy organic fruit and vegetable here, as well as meat and fish because they only stock fresh-from-the-field produce alongside sustainably caught fish and grass-fed, high-welfare meat. Plus, the shop runs on 100% green energy and the owners donate all unsold food to local people in need.
“As a pastry chef, I work long hours so when I get home, especially towards the end of the week, I like to unwind with a dish that's quick and easy but big on flavour. I recently discovered the Gymkhana cooking sauces which are amazing with fresh fish. The deli also has a great selection of cheeses, including Baron Bigod which is a truffled brie from Bungay in Suffolk – it's heaven spread over freshly baked bread. Drinks-wise, I like to stock up on wines by Renegade Urban Winery, fizz from Gusbourne and Whitebox’s pocket negronis.
Visit TheConnaught.co.uk
@General_Store
Dean Parker
Celentano’s
“My go-to is General Store in Peckham, where the team serves perfect coffee and pastries. I used to live around the corner, and it was a staple for my home cooking. It stocks delicious wines, fresh fruit and vegetables (sourced from Natoora) and a great selection of cheeses. I would often buy all my picnic essentials from here as the quality was excellent. I was also partial to a bottle or two of natural wine, especially a red frizzante, as well as a quince paste. Plus, if you’re visiting, don’t miss the chance to pick up some delicious, freshly baked pastel de natas.”
Aman Lakhiani
Junsei
“My favourite deli is the Notting Hill Fish & Meat Shop. It’s just a short bike ride from Junsei and offers some of the highest-quality fish and meat in all of London, along with excellent produce, wines and cheeses. When I'm feeling lazy, I grab some picked white and brown crab meat for an easy salad or fresh crab pasta – my go-to cooking shortcut. The wine selection is always changing, but I make sure to leave with a red recommended by the expert staff, who haven’t steered me wrong yet. For a splurge, I indulge in ’nduja. It’s always worth buying the best you can as the quality stuff can take a dish from zero to hero.”
Jonny Lake
Trivet
“My favourite deli is The Ealing Grocer. I met Andy Harris quite a long time ago through his other business, Vinegar Shed. He opened Ealing Grocer during the pandemic and it really epitomises everything he believes in: the best ingredients sourced from years of travelling through Greece, Italy, France and Spain. You’ll also find seasonal fruit and veg, baked breads and pastries, and the best selection of vinegars and spices. I love the mandarin vinegar he makes, as well as the entire range of ‘La Guinelle’ vinegars that he imports from a small French producer. The spices from ‘Épices de Cru’ in Montreal that he introduced me to are the best I have ever used. The deli also stocks some amazing lemonades and juices, as well as Andy’s incredible homemade soft-serve ice-creams which he makes at the weekend.”
Visit TrivetRestaurant.co.uk
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at [email protected].
