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London food writer and critic Sejal Sukhadwala writes for Time Out and national titles including The Guardian, The Times and the BBC food website. No one knows the London food scene better. For foodies in a hurry, these are her top spots Click to view Top 5 London Food Destinations.
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Best Food Emporium (Harrods) |
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 If you think of this world-famous store as nothing more than a tourist trap where people go to buy souvenir tea caddies, you’ve obviously never set foot inside Harrods. Even sceptics are won over by the famous food halls. |
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| Set up in 1849 by Charles Henry Harrod as a small grocery store, this seven-storey building was bought by Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed in 1985. It boasts 300 departments, illuminated by 11,500 light bulbs each night. The store operates a strict dress code, which includes no rucksacks or ripped jeans. |
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| Sweets and treats |
 Decked out with brightly coloured painted tiles, sumptuous chandeliers, and monochrome marble floors, the five rooms that make up the food halls sparkle with fairytale magic. The central room houses a fresh fish and crustacea counter, a deli counter, a meat and game counter (with a webcam showing hens in their natural habitat), and a Caviar House outlet that sells the sort of caviar, smoked salmon, vodka and blinis that would make an oligarch weep. There’s also Oyster Bar, Sea Grill, and Rotisserie if you’re after a quick lunch.
This room leads to one that sells spankingly fresh vegetables, nuts and fruit – including many little-seen tropical varieties. There’s a good selection of teas, chocolates, puddings and biscuits, and a notable Lebanese confectionery counter. A wonderful florist and a coffee bar set on a raised level complete the picture.
The next room is designed to appeal to children and the sweet-toothed, with a Jelly Belly confectionery outlet, a Krispy Kreme doughnut outlet (the first one to open outside the US), a pizzeria, and a bakery. There’s also Morelli’s gelato counter, which sells real Italian ice creams and enough sundaes, frappes, and floats to make you feel like you’re in a 1950s movie. The elegant French patisserie Laduree, which has three differently designed seating areas, is famous for jewel-coloured macaroons that will please everyone from your granny to your fashionista friend.
Another room sells charcuterie, traiteur dishes, cheeses and dairy products, and houses Indian and Middle Eastern food counters, a sushi bar, and cheese and charcuterie bars. Finally, there’s a dark and decadent room filled with picture-perfect patisserie and mouthwatering designer chocolates.
Harrods food halls host tastings, festivals, and food events throughout the year, and attract affluent visitors and celebrities from around the world. Service from stylish staff is – as long as you follow the dress code – impeccably professional and cosseting.
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| Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL. Tel: 020 7730 1234. www.harrods.com. Knightsbridge Tube. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 12 noon-6pm |
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