“I Think I’ve Found The City’s Best Summer Lunch Spot”
When people think about eating in the City, they tend to think of hurried Pret lunches and expense-account dinners. Rarely do they think about lingering. But tucked between Bank and St Paul’s, Bloomberg Arcade feels like one of London’s best-kept secrets. Nine independent restaurants sit beneath Bloomberg’s European headquarters, spilling out onto an architecturally striking pedestrian arcade that somehow manages to feel calm in the middle of the Square Mile. Whether you’re escaping the office for an hour or making a day of it, here’s where I’d go.
In Partnership With Bloomberg Arcade
If you’re craving pasta
Lina Stores
This iconic Italian deli has become one of London’s most dependable pasta spots, and the Bloomberg Arcade outpost is no exception. Fresh pasta, generous antipasti and pistachio-green interiors make it feel like a little corner of Milan tucked into the City.
On a sunny afternoon, this is exactly where I’d order a spritz and pretend I didn’t have anywhere else to be.
If you want London’s best burger
Bleecker Burger
Bleecker has spent years earning its reputation as one of London’s best burger spots, and thankfully it hasn’t complicated the formula. The beef is sourced from small English farms, dry-aged for 50 days and served exactly how you’d hope: soft bun, excellent cheese, crisp fries and nothing unnecessary getting in the way.
It’s the sort of place you head when you don’t want to overthink lunch, just eat a genuinely brilliant burger.
If you’re planning a proper dinner
Brigadiers
Brigadiers is where I’d book when the table is full. Inspired by the military mess bars of India, everything is designed to be shared. Smoky kebabs come straight from the grill, rich curries are made for passing around, and the signature butter chicken wings have developed something of a cult following for good reason. The menu encourages you to order generously, adding dishes as you go rather than planning everything from the start.
In summer, the terrace makes it even better. Gather a few friends, order a round of cocktails and let the food arrive as it pleases. Nobody leaves Brigadiers wishing they’d ordered less.
Brigadiers absolutely blew me away — I had no idea there was such an amazing restaurant in the heart of the city. The lamb chops might just be the best in London…
Mallory, Junior Food & Drink Editor
For when coffee turns into cocktails
Caravan
Caravan somehow manages to suit every point of the day. It starts with some of London’s best house-roasted coffee, moves effortlessly into brunch and lunch, before becoming a place where somebody inevitably suggests staying for “just one drink”. The menu takes inspiration from flavours collected through travel, while the terrace is one of the nicest spots in Bloomberg Arcade once the sun appears.
For pizza lovers
Homeslice
There are days when only pizza will do, and Homeslice has built a loyal following by keeping things reassuringly simple.
The famous 20-inch pizzas arrive ready for the middle of the table, whether you stick with a classic margherita or venture into combinations like courgette, goat’s cheese and chilli, or salami with kale and parmesan. It’s generous, relaxed and exactly the kind of meal that works with a group, where everyone insists on trying a slice of everyone else’s.
Grab a table outside and you’ve got one of Bloomberg Arcade’s best summer lunches, especially when the sun starts to hit the terrace.
For something a bit lighter
Poké House
When it’s properly warm outside, Poké House makes perfect sense.
Fresh fish is prepared daily before being layered with rice, vegetables and seasonal toppings that make for a colourful, seasonal bowl. Sustainability sits at the centre of the menu, but it never feels worthy or restrictive; just fresh, balanced food that leaves you feeling ready for the rest of the day and the perfect mid-day lunch to eat in the sun… al fresco!
For Japanese food
Koya
Ask almost anyone for the best udon in London and Koya’s name will come up in the debate.
Everything revolves around handmade noodles, served either in comforting broths or cold during the warmer months. The menu is refreshingly simple, letting the quality of the ingredients do the talking rather than relying on unnecessary flourishes. Plus, the dessert is a hidden gem in the arcade.
If wine is an essential
Vinoteca
If you’re chasing the kind of lunch that ends with another bottle being opened, Vinoteca is where I’d head.
The terrace comes into its own in summer, tucked into Bloomberg Arcade but just removed enough from the rush of the City that you can forget you’re in the Square Mile altogether. The wine list champions independent producers, so there’s plenty to discover whether you’re after something crisp and mineral or a fuller-bodied red, while Mediterranean plates — burrata, charcuterie, grilled vegetables — are made to share between glasses.
Vinoteca is the perfect spot for a glass of wine and nibbles with friends, such a lovely terrace to relax and enjoy the sun, too.
Sophia, Digital Content Creator
For those who love to share
BAO City
BAO City is where I’d book when dinner is as much about the evening as it is the food.
The signature pillowy bao buns are all here, but the City restaurant goes much further, with larger sharing dishes, Taiwanese fried chicken, xiao chi and cocktails that deserve just as much attention as the food.
And if dinner turns into a celebration, you’re in luck. Head upstairs and you’ll find private karaoke rooms hidden away, making BAO City one of the few places in the Square Mile where the night doesn’t have to end when you’ve finished eating.
Stay a little longer
One of the nicest things about Bloomberg Arcade is that lunch doesn’t have to be the end of your visit.
Just a few steps away sits London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE, where you can explore the remains of the Roman Temple of Mithras beneath the City before wandering back into the arcade for another drink. Public art, cultural programming and independent restaurants give the space a rhythm that feels very different from the rest of the Square Mile.
It’s somewhere you can spend a whole foodie, sunny, culture-filled afternoon without really meaning to. And in summer, it’s one of the best recommendations I can give.
