St John's Wood's chic townhouses, whitewashed walls and black doors are an enduring picture of affluent London living. This aspirational north London area is also home to a few notable landmarks and iconic moments, not least Abbey Road Studios where the Beatles famously recorded numerous albums (and took a rather famous picture on the crossing outside). In the summer, cricket fans from all over the world descend on St John's Wood to visit Lord's Cricket Ground, and fill in crossword puzzles to a soundtrack of leather on willow.
For those who are lucky enough to live in this verdant pocket of London, there are also a number of excellent bars and restaurants in St John's Wood. The area has a genuinely neighbourhood vibe about it - restaurants and pubs around here are designed to cater to locals rather than tourists, so you can expect friendly, genuine cooking and service. As well as beloved independents, you'll also find some more reliable, mainstream choices among the restaurants on St John's Wood high street, as well as bakeries and coffee shops, clothing boutiques, and neighbourhood suppliers like butchers and delicatessens (Panzers Deli is St John's Wood royalty, having traded here for over 75 years).
The beauty of life in St John's Wood is that you're also just a stone's throw from some of London's most picturesque areas. Follow the edge of Regent's Park to the east and you'll find yourself climbing Primrose Hill, which itself has a lovely independent restaurant scene. In the opposite direction you'll find the Lebanese restaurants and shisha cafes of Edgware Road, and beyond that, Baker Street and Marylebone.
We've picked out a few restaurants worth knowing about if you're in the St John's Wood area, so scroll down and take a look. Remember, too, that you can book directly from the restaurant page by clicking through to read the full revew.