Absolute Melts: The Best Posh Toasties In London
We’re not talking plastic cheese and anaemic looking ham sandwiched between two slices of Kingsmill. These are London’s poshest toasties. The humble snack has been pimped up by London’s restaurant scene, adding unique flavours, artisan ingredients and heaps of sourdough to create the elite of grilled cheese sandwiches.
From the posh pub serving up the gooiest, three cheese toastie to Dishoom’s spicy, Bombay-inspired bloomer and ‘The Scottish one” packed with peppery haggis, cheddar and caramelised onion, make way for these absolute melts.
The Wigmore
Posh Central London pub The Wigmore is famous for its posh cheese toastie – the XXL Stovetop Three Cheese & Mustard Toastie. Perfectly browned and oozing out the sides with gloriously gooey cheese, you’d be hard pushed to find a more comforting dish in W1.
The Wigmore, 15 Langham Pl, Marylebone, London W1B 3DE
www.the-wigmore.co.uk
The Cheese Bar
Dedicated to celebrating all things cheese, Camden’s Cheese Bar makes a mean toastie – they’ve got a whole section of the menu dedicated to the things. Choose from the West Country brie with rocket and chilli jam, the goat’s cheese with honey, walnut and rosemary butter, or go rogue with the regularly changing seasonal special.
If Camden’s not your neck of the woods, the Cheese Truck (basically the restaurant but on wheels) pulls up every weekend at Maltby Street Market, which, if you’re a food fan, is well worth a visit.
The Cheese Bar, Unit 93-94 Camden Stables, Camden Town, London NW1 8AH
www.thecheesebar.com
Pick & Cheese
Not content with one restaurant and a truck full of cheese? The Cheese Bar opened Pick & Cheese in 2019 – the world’s first cheese conveyor belt restaurant is a turophile’s (that’s a cheese lover) dream.
Pick up dozens of cheeses sushi-style but don’t forget to order ‘off belt’ and delve into the four cheese grilled sandwich (cheddar, gouda, mozzarella, stilton – oomph!).
Pick & Cheese, Seven Dials Market, Short’s Gardens, London WC2H 9AT
www.thecheesebar.com
Dishoom
Bombay-inspired restaurants Dishoom know how to pimp a cheese toastie, with their chilli cheese delight. The bloomer bread is topped with glistening melted cheese and loaded with lip-smacking green chilli.
Our top tip? Book in for breakfast and order the Kejriwal – basically the chilli cheese toastie with the addition of two fried eggs.
Kensington, Shoreditch, Kind’s Cross, Carnaby and Covent Garden locations.
www.dishoom.com
Sager + Wilde Wine Bar
A wine bar with a cracking cheese toastie – what’s not to love? This east London wine bar serves theirs up on sourdough (it’s Hackney after all) with a choice of cheddar and spring onion; goat’s cheese, thyme and apricot; or cheddar, jalapeno and speck. Bliss.
193 Hackney Road, London E2 8JL and 250 Paradise Row, London E2 9LE
www.sagerandwilde.com
Deeney’s
Without a doubt one of the best cheese toasties you’ll find in London. The Scottish cheese grillers can be found in Leyton and at Broadway Market every Saturday, serving up their now infamous Macbeth Toastie – haggis, cheddar, rocket, caramelised onions and mustard.
Not a haggis fan? There are plenty more options on the menu, from a vegan haggis packed one to a combination of cheesy leeks, spinach and mustard.
330, High Road Leyton and Broadway Market
www.deeneys.com
Kappacasein Dairy
This Bermondsey based dairy take their cheese melting skills and fromage knowhow to Borough Market, Monday through to Saturday. The loaded toasties are packed full of a range of cheese as well as garlic, leeks and onions, but squished down to perfection to ensure optimal cheese gooiness.
Word of warning: there’s always a queue but it’s always worth it.
Kappacasein Dairy, 1 Stoney St, London SE1 9AA
www.kappacasein.com
Cora Pearl
Is this the poshest looking toastie you’ve ever seen? While we’re pretty happy with some cheddar and Lea & Perrins on a slice of white, there’s no denying Cora Pearl’s take on the toastie is nothing but dreamy.
The whole menu is a complex take on comfort food – the toastie is made with ham hock, cheese ganache, and we imagine, a shed load of fried butter. Healthy? No. Delicious? Absolutely.
Cora Pearl, 30 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8NA
www.corapearl.co.uk