Discover the best spots to enjoy on your lunch break
King’s Cross has a great lunchtime scene, with an array of choices so that you can switch it up and enjoy a delicious lunch every day of the week. From sit down meals in one of our wonderful restaurants to grab and go bites that can be enjoyed in the leafy parks and squares dotted around the neighbourhood. Check out the list of spots offering a weekday set menu or a lunchtime meal deal.
BAO King’s Cross
Be transported halfway across the world on your lunch break. Walking into BAO King’s Cross is like stepping into a reimagined take on nostalgic Taiwan. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and beautiful setting. Choose from tea snacks, rice plates and the delicious handmade fluffy white buns, from which BAO takes its name.
There is a £15 set menu on weekdays from 12 – 6.30pm, that includes a bao, a side and a rice bowl. You can also add a Taiwanese beer or house wine for a little bit extra. And why not move your meeting to BAO instead of staying in the office? Hire out their fully-equipped private dining room that can seat between 6-14 people.
Coal Office
During the week, Coal Office is open Wednesday to Friday from 12-3pm, with their special worker’s lunch set menu. A meal at Coal Office tends to be a memorable experience, perfectly savoured at the end of a long week. Designed by Tom Dixon and with famed Israeli restaurateur Assaf Granit at the helm, this spot is a must-visit. Sit back and relax in the calming space filled with stainless steel, natural marble and pale tiling, lit by Tom Dixon’s iconic glowing Melt pendants – and be ready for a Middle-Eastern feast for the senses.
The food is fresh, creative and experimental, taking inspiration from flavours, spices and textures of dishes stretching along the Mediterranean. Enjoy three courses including breads, salads and meat for £37. Delicious!
Granary Square Brasserie
From 11.30am every day of the week you can treat yourself to a set menu within the plush, jewel-coloured setting of Granary Square Brasserie. A beautifully designed Grade II-listed space, with an eclectic mix of modern British comfort food and international dishes, this makes for the ideal lunch spot for those days when you want something that little bit special. The lounge area is perfect for lunch or informal meetings, while the pretty terrace outside is a must on a sunny day.
The set menu offers two courses for £18.95 and three courses for £23.95. Choose from classics, such as poached egg and hollandaise or white onion soup to start. Followed by the likes of steak and chips or seafood risotto for your main course. There are also plenty of sides to top up your meal, and don’t miss out on one of the delicious desserts, like strawberry ice cream or lemon posset.
Granger & Co
Serving lunch every day of the week from 12-5pm, there is no need to book. Just swing by and the friendly staff at Granger & Co. will take care of you. The menu features Australian chef Bill Granger’s healthy-ish dishes with brunch classics, zingy salads, poke bowls and hearty burgers on offer. All set within an easy-going atmosphere.
With large windows overlooking Pancras Square this spot is a real suntrap, adding to the good-time Aussie vibes. Choose a table by the window or grab a counter stool at the central bar. If it’s warm, head to the terrace and savour the day at one of the outside tables.
Hiden
You can’t go wrong with a katsu curry, especially when it is served up by chef Hideaki Yoshiyama, who prepares every batch from scratch, using the freshest ingredients. There are only three dishes on the menu at Hiden, making it the perfect spot for a quick lunch. Choose from beef, chicken or vegan, all served with sticky rice and an in-house fermented garnish.
Open every day from 11.30am, inspired by the traditional Japanese hole-in-the-wall shops. this bright yellow pop-up is primarily for take-away but there are a handful of seats inside too. It is all beautifully simple, but you will find yourself going back for more, over and over again.
Lina Stores
With it’s pretty mint green decor and al fresco terrace, Lina Stores is an aesthetically pleasing lunch option, and the food is equally lovely. The restaurant serves a sumptuous handmade pasta dishes like pappardelle with pecorino and slow cooked lamb shoulder ragu and stracciatella ravioli with pine nuts, plus delicious plant-based options like buckwheat taglioni with vegan truffle butter, and a mouthwatering selection of ice creams and deserts.
If you don’t have time to linger over a long lunch, Lina Stores Deli serves some of the same antipasti and freshly cooked pasta as the restaurant, alongside a daily selection of fresh and fabulous salads. Think sumptuous combinations like roasted broccoli with chilli and sunflower seeds; tuna with green beans, Tropea onion and egg; or Datterini tomato, bocconcini and basil – to stay or to go.
Sons + Daughters
These gourmet sandwiches make for the perfect lunch. Delicious combinations of ingredients laid heavily on white bloomer, granary or focaccia bread propel these sarnies into another culinary realm. They take classics, like an egg salad sandwich, add miso mayo and truffle crisps and create a taste explosion. Add a side and soft drink or beer to make it a meal deal. Top it all off with a soft serve ice-cream for the perfect lunch. Open every day from 10am-6pm.
You’ll find Sons + Daughters on Lower Stable Street at Coal Drops Yard, just off Granary Square. If you are in a hurry head to their GO van that serves sandwiches and coffee to take-away from midday. On the roof of the shop, enjoy the terrace with plenty of seating and great views.
Okan
The home cooking of Osaka has been brought to London by Okan. Taste their simple menu of Okonomiyaki, noodle dishes and Japanese tapas. All perfect options for lunch.
Grab a bite to eat from their take-away truck on Lower Stable Street and enjoy at one of the many outdoor spaces. Open every day from 11am-5pm.
BEER + BURGER STORE
Head down to BEER + BURGER Store for exactly what it says on the tin. Serving up four mouth-watering burgers alongside some excellent sides, such as chicken wings, mac balls and of course fries – served in all sorts of ways. Each of the burgers are matched with their vegan counterpart as well. There are 20 craft beers on tap and much more in the fridge, perfect for a longer lunch.
With a central location on York Way, this is the ideal spot to grab a quick bite at one of the counter top tables or sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the atmosphere. Open for lunch every day of the week.
Caravan
Caravan is a classic and must-visit, being the very first restaurant to open in King’s Cross. Grab a seat in the striped-back, industrial style dining room or soak up the sun on their terrace overlooking the buzzy Granary Square.
An eclectic all-day menu brings you an array of vibrant and tasty options, from small plates and healthy bowls full of grains, to sourdough pizzas and large plates, that will satisfy all appetites. The best way to finish off lunch and fire you up for the afternoon is to sample one of their specialty coffees, with beans that are roasted by Caravan in London.
Morty & Bob’s
Morty & Bob’s serves up the mother of all grilled cheese sandwiches. Open every day from 10am, satisfy your craving at any time. However this is not your average toastie, served on crunchy artisan sourdough with a blend of fancy cheeses and a top-secret signature cheese sauce, Morty & Bob’s takes it to another level. Keep it classic with mixed onions or push the boat out and add roasted mushrooms and truffle, or nduja and roasted red pepper. There are also small and big plates that you can pair with your grilled cheese, or for if you fancy something a bit different.
This laid-back spot under the arches is a great find. Perch at one of the bar stools or sink into an armchair. You can of course grab a sandwich to go and enjoy seating on Lower Stable Street.