The best bars & restaurants in London's King's Cross for designjunction 2019

Covering 67 acres and incorporating 50 new buildings, 20 new streets, and 10 new parks and squares, the ￡3 billion redevelopment of King’s Cross is one of the largest redevelopment projects in London, successfully transforming the area into one of the capital’s most exciting neighbourhoods. It’s, therefore, only appropriate that this year will see the area become a London Design Festival Design District for the very first time and play host to the cutting-edge show, designjunction. With 30,000 design professionals descending on King’s Cross for the event, we’ve detailed the best bars and restaurants in the area, many of which have opened within the brand-new public squares and spaces. 

If you’re attending designjunction 2019, which takes place throughout King’s Cross from 19th-22nd September, you can access the official hotel deals from HotelMap? here. 

by Steven Potter & Vicki Forde

Granary Square

The Art Deco interiors at Granary Square Brasserie provide an impressive backdrop for casual dining

The Lighterman is a trendy three-storey restaurant offering seasonal British dishes and panoramic views

Born out of the significant regeneration of the area, Granary Square sits at the heart of King’s Cross and today forms a popular meeting place thanks to its choreographed individually lit fountains, sweeping canal-facing steps and an exceptional line-up of bars and restaurants. The historic Grade II listed Granary Building – once used as a wheat storage facility for London’s bakers – now houses the increasingly-popular Caravan and the eye-catching Granary Square Brasserie. Renowned for its own-brand artisan coffee and all-day dining, Caravan was the first restaurant to open within the development and today its outdoor terrace remains one of the best dining spots in the area. A new restaurant from the people behind The Ivy Collection, Granary Square Brasserie also boasts a terrace overlooking the square while the Art Deco interiors – made up of pendant chandeliers, velvet curtains and silk furnishings – provide an impressive backdrop for casual dining. The latest addition to the square, The Lighterman is a trendy three-storey restaurant offering seasonal British dishes and panoramic views over Granary Square and Regent’s Canal. Around the corner, Dishoom King’s Cross is the third and largest restaurant in the popular Bombay cafe-style chain. Contemporary Indian dishes such as bacon naan rolls and masala prawns are served within a former stable block featuring the original vaulted brick arches and lofty trusses. 

Coal Drops Yard

Barrafina serves authentic Spanish dishes to diners perched at the beautiful marble-topped counter

Parrillan is an attractive indoor/outdoor restaurant within Coal Drops Yard?

One of the most exciting recent additions to King’s Cross, Coal Drops Yard brings more than 50 stores, cafes, bars and restaurants to a former 1850s coal distribution site. Open since 2018, it’s seen some of the capital’s best-loved brands move into its Victorian brick arches. Popular tapas restaurant Barrafina opened its fourth and biggest restaurant to date within the site, serving authentic Spanish dishes to diners perched at the beautiful marble-topped counter. Run by the same team, Parrillan is an attractive indoor/outdoor restaurant that invites guests to grill their own meat and vegetables directly at the table while The Drop serves carefully sourced wines alongside a seasonal British food menu. Further eateries within Coal Drops Yard include Hicce, the first stand-alone restaurant from former Murano chef Pip Lacey; Coal Office, a collaboration between The Palomar co-owner Assaf Granit and designer Tom Dixon; and Morty & Bob’s, a hip venue serving towering cheese toasties, speciality coffee and London beers against a backdrop of exposed brick walls and potted plants.

Pancras Square

Granger & Co serves classic brunch dishes and flavoursome Asian plates

The expansive German Gymnasium is styled to reflect the grand cafes and brasseries of Europe

Sitting to the south of Regent’s Canal, between King’s Cross and St Pancras railway stations, Pancras Square is another new public space that’s home to several destination dining spots. The third addition to Bill Granger’s popular mini-chain, Granger & Co brings a taste of Australia to north London with classic brunch dishes like the brand’s signature ricotta hotcakes. The Aussie chef is also renowned for his Asian fusion food – he has four restaurants in Japan – and the restaurant offers a flavoursome menu of small Asian plates, poke bowls and spicy BBQ dishes. Finding its home in the building that once housed the first purpose-built gymnasium in England, the German Gymnasium is styled to reflect the grand cafes and brasseries of Europe and comprises a ground floor cafe, an outdoor terrace, a first-floor dining room and two bars. Many of the building’s original features remain, including the vast timber roof trusses and cast iron hooks from which the gymnasts swung, while the newly added marble floors, backlit drinks cabinets and huge floral installations complete the spectacular interiors. Over at Maple & King’s, diners can enjoy a nutritional and well-balanced lunch box made up of ingredients like kimchee chickpeas, pesto chicken, zaatar spiced brown rice and coconut tahini dressing. The healthy eatery is also open for breakfast with apple chai porridge, turmeric overnight oats and granola parfait among the options. 

The Standard, London

Double Standard is a late-night bar serving traditional pub classics and NYC dive bar food

All-day restaurant Isla takes its name and inspiration from Britain’s island geography

Having opened its doors just last month, brand-new boutique hotel The Standard, London has brought an exciting array of restaurants and bars to the King’s Cross neighbourhood. Former Pachamama chef Adam Rawson, who previously worked at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s and trained under Chiltern Firehouse’s Nuno Mendes, has taken over the entire ground floor with his all-day restaurant Isla and late-night bar Double Standard. Isla takes its name and inspiration from Britain’s island geography with a menu of small plates from the sea, soil and land. Tuck into Iberico pork with chimichurri, potatoes with smoked garlic miso and salmon with beets and horseradish while admiring the intriguing interiors made up of fluffy walls, contrasting patterns and indoor foliage. The quirky aesthetics continue at Double Standard with TfL-inspired upholstery, a retro felt ceiling and pastel-tiled floors – a fun setting to tuck into traditional pub classics and NYC dive bar food. October will see the opening of a new rooftop restaurant from two-Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias.

St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

Hansom Bar is the latest opening within the grand St Pancras Renaissance Hotel

The Booking Office sits within the former St Pancras station ticket hall

As well as 245 lavishly decorated guest rooms, a Victorian tiled spa and a grand spiral staircase – made famous by the Spice Girls Wannabe music video – Sir George Gilbert Scott’s spectacular St Pancras Renaissance Hotel houses some of London’s most characterful restaurants and bars. The Booking Office sits within the former St Pancras Station ticket hall and serves cocktails, craft beer and British plates in a Gothic cathedral-like room; The Gilbert Scott is overseen by Michelin-starred chef Marcus Wareing and presents fine British cuisine in an opulent 19th-century dining room; and MI + ME offers a more casual dining experience with a menu of burgers and milkshakes. The latest addition to the hotel, The Hansom Bar, opened just this summer and provides an atmospheric setting for cocktails with Victorian lampposts, high vaulted ceilings and blue ironwork. Close to the hotel, within the St Pancras International station, St Pancras by Searcys boasts Europe’s longest champagne bar and a Martin Brudnizki-designed brasserie.

Great Northern Hotel

Sophisticated martini lounge Anthracite is named after the variety of coal that used to fuel the trains travelling in and out of St Pancras station

A shimmering backlit bar and eye-catching spherical light installations make Anthracite a stylish spot to enjoy a bespoke martini or two

Offering spectacular views of the St Pancras clock tower, the newly opened Anthracite martini lounge can be found within the Great Northern Hotel. Named after the variety of coal that used to fuel the trains travelling in and out of St Pancras station, the sophisticated bar has been designed with the material’s unique colour and properties in mind. Its blue flame is represented by the bar’s electric blue accents while the charcoal colour dresses the furnishes. Retro flooring, a shimmering backlit bar and eye-catching spherical light installations make it a stylish spot to enjoy a bespoke martini or two, which are created using a selection of vodkas, gins and vermouths. All-day British restaurant Plum & Spilt Milk is also located within the Lewis Cubitt-designed hotel, serving simple classic dishes made using seasonal produce. 

Further reading for designjunction 2019

If you're attending designjunction 2019, be sure to also check out HotelMap?'s pick of the best new hotels in London. From the brand-new Standard, London to the striking Bankside Hotel, all of them are design-led properties within easy reach of King's Cross, making them perfect for the 30,000 design professionals attending the event.

BOOK NOW

A number of special hotel deals have been arranged for registered visitors and exhibitors for this year's designjunction: Check out the hotel deals for designjunction 2019.

CONTACT THE DESIGNJUNCTION CONCIERGE TEAM

If you are attending designjunction you can access the official hotel deals from HotelMap? here.

Alternatively, email: [email protected]

Telephone: +44 20 7292 2320. Get your local number.