Rochelle Canteen London

Creative Cuisine in East London

Ramona from London

"It's always been magical to press the discreet buzzer and walk into the quiet brick-walled garden of Rochelle Canteen, leaving gritty East London behind."

Rochelle Canteen started life as a lunchtime restaurant for the designers and artists who worked in the collective former school just off Brick Lane. In its early years, it was a haunt for off-duty chefs and art students who would cram into the small space to enjoy creative cuisine and one of the first "chef secret" insider restaurants. It's always been magical to press the discreet buzzer and walk into the quiet brick-walled garden, leaving gritty East London behind.

While it's now grown up a bit (like some of the artists it serves) and is open for dinner and lunch, and with a larger outdoor seasonal area, it still retains some rebel spirit. Like Leila's Shop on nearby Calvert Avenue, it's a fusion of stubborn high quality and 'if you know, you know' defiance of the old spirit of Shoreditch's early years.

And the food is still very good: a "best of British" produce by way of modern Europe. It's not especially affordable, but it's good value, worth visiting for a special lunch or a date night. There's an adventurous wine list and some seriously good desserts, and vegetarians are well catered for (even if the salad is basically four lettuce leaves in a bowl). Booking is essential.

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London Spotter Ramona

Hello! I'm a born New Yorker, adopted Londoner, and occasional Berliner. I've been in London on and off since 1995, and every time I move back to the city, it has changed yet again. Neighbourhoods transform, green spaces and cycling become more available, and entrepreneurs set up businesses that improve and diversify the food and coffee scene. It's always vibrant and always changing. My work includes running a new publishing start-up, working on better politics and local energy initiatives, and supporting impact founders, among other things! I go everywhere on my bike, which me...

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Dec 4, 2025

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