London is a city which offers everything - especially for food lovers. Fornum & Mason is the original fine food emporium but thanks to the city's multi-culturalism, there are more and more specialist food shops opening all the time. These stores bring wares from such exotic destinations as Lebanon and Thailand and add to the vibrancy of London as a whole. The following list gives you a taste of what delicacies London has to offer.
Fortnum & Mason
A list of food stores in London would be incomplete without a mention of this landmark. Fornum & Mason has stood in its spot in Piccadilly for nearly 300 years and is a must-see on your visit to London. Spoil yourself with a high tea here before you browse the shelves looking at all the high quality products.
Address: 181 PiccadillyGennaro Delicatessen
Italian cuisine rates as one of the most popular in the world, but as we all know, many establishments can get it wrong. This delicatessen is as Italian as manicotti. The deli is a pleasure to peruse, with lovely scents from the products adding to the experience. The coffee here is some of the best you'll taste and the owners are as lovely and warm as their store.
Address:23 Lewis Grove, SE13 6BGTalad Thai
There is a restaurant next door which is run by the same people who own the store. Authentic Thai ingredients are the order of the day here with beautiful fresh fruits and veggies imported from Thailand. For those who like their curry as hot as can be, there are many curry pastes on offer here and the owners are happy to give sound advice to budding cooks on how to use the products.
Address: 326 Upper Richmond Road, SW15 6TLAndreas Michli & Son
This has to be one of the top food stores in London. The Cypriot proprietor, Mr. Michli, grows a lot of the products on his own farm, and what isn't grown is imported from Cyprus. There are always fresh fruits and vegetables to be bought and the juicy olives surely must be how gold would taste if you could eat it.
Address: 405-411 St Ann's Road, N15 3JLBlue Mountain Peak
This store sells Afro-Caribbean staples. There are flours, fruit and vegetables and many fruit syrups. For chefs, both wannabe and real, the sauces and herb spices are heavenly. This shop is a pleasure to walk around and you'll want to taste many of the products on the shelves.
Address: 2A-8 Craven Park Road, NW10 4ABPhoenica Mediterranean Food Hall
In Kentish Town you will find this monument to all foods Mediterranean. Products are imported from four different countries, them being Italy, Greece, Turkey and Lebanon. An added bonus that is really the jewel in this food store's crown is the halal butcher which makes the best sausages you will ever taste.
Address: 186-188 Kentish Town, NW5 2AEVB & Sons
If you like pickles, make sure you head here. In the middle of the shop is the pickle cart, with the most delicious pickles sold by weight. This store is a smorgasbord of delights and gives you an excellent feel of the Gujarati region where the produce comes from.
Address: 147 Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 4BUPolsmak
This very neat deli is a treat due to the helpful staff and wonderful products packed on the shelves. From pickles to meats to breads this Polish deli is a top food store. Their pastries are must-haves and once you eat one, you'll be going back for more.
Address: 39 Balls Pond Road, N1 4BWTaj Stores
A food store with a great sense of place and time is the Taj Stores establishment in Brick Lane. This Bangladeshi grocer has been here since 1936 and sells fruit and vegetables, meat (halal), herbs and best of all, Bangladeshi fish. Taj Stores also sells utensils needed for Indian and Bangladeshi cooking.
Address: 112-114a Brick Lane, E1 6RLR Garcia and Sons
Very central in zone 1 of London is this Spanish food store. The delicatessen sells some of the best charcuterie in the city and the cheese selection is top class too. There is also an exquisite range of sherries available here.
Address: 248-250 Portobello Road, W11 1LL
