London is home to some brilliant Black-owned restaurants, hotels and independent businesses, each bringing their own ideas, influences and identity to the city. This Black History Month, we’ve picked out five that are well worth adding to your London list, with plenty of great food, fresh ideas and creative inspiration to take in along the way.
- Bingham Riverhouse
Best for: Escaping the city for a different take on boutique hospitality
Sitting right on the Thames in Richmond, Bingham Riverhouse is a boutique hotel, restaurant, members’ club and wellbeing space rolled into one. It’s also a family business with more than 40 years of history.
Owner Sama Trinder’s parents bought the trio of townhouses in 1984, initially turning it into a family home and B&B. Today, Bingham describes itself as one of the UK’s only Black-female-owned hotel and members’ club. The setting is a big part of its appeal, with gardens overlooking the river, stylish interiors and a strong focus on food and wellbeing. For creatives, it’s also an interesting example of how design and atmosphere intersect to give a place its identity.
- Chishuru
Best for: Experiencing Michelin-starred West African food
Chef Adejoké ‘Joké’ Bakare started out with a restaurant residency in Brixton Village before opening Chishuru’s permanent home on Great Titchfield Street in Fitzrovia. In 2024, the restaurant received a Michelin star, making Bakare the first Black female Michelin-starred chef in the UK.
The menu is shaped by Bakare’s Nigerian heritage and West African food traditions, and that same thinking carries through to the interiors. Working with interior designer Sasha Filskow, Bakare chose authentic materials including rough plaster and natural wood, alongside rich colours and bold graphics. Furnishings by British-Nigerian designer Eva Sonaike and a statement light feature by South African designer Mash.T reflect the authentic roots of Chishuru’s menu and give the restaurant a strong sense of identity.
- Jam Delish
Best for: Caribbean classics with a plant-based twist
Caribbean food, cocktails and a completely plant-based menu: that’s the idea behind Jam Delish in Angel.
Siblings Jordan and Chyna launched the business in 2020, inspired by their grandparents’ traditional Caribbean recipes and the plant-based food they grew up eating. Their restaurant takes those influences and gives them a modern spin, without losing sight of the flavours and heritage behind them.
It looks the part, too. The colourful interiors and playful branding give Jam Delish a personality that goes well beyond what’s on the plate. If you’re into branding, interiors and food, put this one on your list.
- The Flygerians
Best for: Nigerian comfort food and community
For Nigerian food with plenty of personality, head to The Flygerians at Peckham Palms in south London.
Sisters Jess and Jo built up a following through pop-ups before opening their permanent kitchen in Peckham. Since then, they’ve released a cookbook, and even picked up a fan in London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has named The Flygerians among his favourite restaurants.
The menu is rooted in Nigerian comfort food, with jollof rice and plantain alongside their own twists, including Nigerian-style fish and chips. The atmosphere really brings everything together: music, cocktails, bold branding and the energy of Peckham Palms make it feel as much like a celebration of Nigerian culture and south London creativity as a place to grab a bite.
- Black Eats LDN
Best for: Discovering Black-owned food spots across London
The UK’s first Black-owned restaurant directory, Black Eats LDN makes finding your next food spot a whole lot easier.
Launched in 2020, the platform was created after founder Jackson Mclarty noticed how difficult it could be to find Black-owned restaurants through mainstream food platforms. Today, its directory brings 400+ Black-owned restaurants, cafés, bars, caterers and other food businesses together in one place, making it easy to discover somewhere new across London and beyond.
In 2024, Black Eats LDN took things offline with the launch of Black Eats Fest. Its flagship food and culture event brings together Black-owned food and retail businesses alongside music, art and entertainment.
Try somewhere new this Black History Month
You don’t have to look far for creative inspiration in London. Sometimes it’s in the branding of your new favourite restaurant, an interior you can’t stop taking pictures of or a dish that approaches something familiar in a completely different way.
This Black History Month, add a few new Black-owned businesses to your usual London rotation – and see what ideas, influences or inspiration you might take back into your own creative ventures.