Canary Wharf’s restaurant scene is growing rapidly, with the area evolving beyond its reputation as a business district to become a destination for Londoners seeking exciting and diverse dining experiences.
It’s not the same deserted Canary Wharf I remember from 15 years ago. I once had to change to the DLR after walking out of the Jubilee line station on a Saturday afternoon. It felt almost eerie. I genuinely thought London had experienced a zombie apocalypse while I was underground.
But no, that was simply the vibe of Canary Wharf on a weekend back then. Now, the only familiar features from the 2011 picture are the skyscrapers, still proudly bearing the names of major banks.
Everything else has transformed into a lively, bustling destination, with Londoners flocking to Canary Wharf at weekends for a night out or a day out. There are so many restaurants and shops to choose from, not to mention plenty of entertainment.
Here are some of the good ones worth checking out:
Mama Li
Hong Kong’s much-loved Cantonese roast meat restaurant, Mama Li, opened its third location in Wood Wharf, Canary Wharf earlier this year. Review here.
Founded by Catherine Hua and her mother, the restaurant was born from a desire to recreate the authentic Siu Mei they grew up eating, using treasured family recipes and traditional Cantonese roasting techniques.
At the heart of the menu are four signature roasts – crispy pork, BBQ pork, soy chicken and roasted duck – all served with rice and seasonal vegetables.
While new additions exclusive to Canary Wharf include comforting soup noodles alongside nostalgic cha chaan teng classics.
Isso Prawn Crazy
A Sri Lankan Isso Prawn Crazy has also opened its doors in Canary Wharf this year, marking the brand’s first international location and introducing Londoners to the bold flavours and a unique prawn focused concept.
Named after the Sinhala word for ‘prawn’, Isso places Sri Lanka’s seafood at the centre of every dish.
The restaurant works directly with fishing communities in northern Sri Lanka to source its prawns, guaranteeing a taste, size and texture, both wild and farmed.
Guests build their own dish by choosing a prawn base, sauce and side. The base or ‘protein’ includes options of Black Tiger Prawns, Flower Prawns, Giant Freshwater Prawns or Colossal Fresh Water Prawns.
This is then paired with one of Isso’s distinctive sauces, from the Kithul infused with Garlic & Chilli and Hot Butter to fragrant Sri Lankan Turmeric Coconut Curry, Jaffna Curry and Negombo Curry.
The final component is a ‘carrier’ or side, of Ghee rice, Curry Leaf and Garlic Rice or Parotta.
Their cocktails are not to be missed and made specially to pair with the dishes. Read more here.
Bamboo Mat
Following the success of its East London Stratford restaurant, Japanese X Peruvian restaurant Bamboo Mat opened a second larger site in a stunning new location at Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf this September.
The interiors have been uniquely designed to take guests on an immersive journey inspired by the dialogue between Japanese precision and Peruvian energy.
Rich textures, natural wood, cement, warm lighting and unique hand carved wooden stools. Review here.
Guests can expect premium sushi and twists on Japanese classics such as teriyaki, ceviche and tiradito matched with an Asian and Peruvian leaning cocktail list.