The ultimate London guide to the May Bank Holiday

Every guide deserves an Italian option, and Marcella lives up to our expectations. Described as “Deptford’s favourite neighbourhood Italian restaurant”, Marcella isn’t one you should miss. They describe their recipe style as “The Art of Simplicity” and specialise in Italian and British dishes, which are complemented by an all-Italian wine list.
Marcella has a sample menu that changes every week to reflect the best fresh produce available at the time, so you will have to check online the day of your visit if you don’t want to be surprised. However, to give you an idea of what you can expect, our picks from the most recent menu are the tagliatelle, pheasant, wild mushroom and tarragon pasta option or the ox cheek, polenta and savoy cabbage. To complement this from the dessert menu, we love the olive oil cake with crème fraiche, so if you see this on the menu – don’t think twice!

Le Marmiton is a French bistro located on Wanstead high street. The open hours change throughout the week; it’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, Le Marmiton is open from 5pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays it’s open from 12pm.
Depending on the day and time you visit, you will get to choose a meal from the a la carte, set or Sunday lunch menu. We recommend the 35-day aged steak, cheeseburger and fries or smocked mackerel plate. If you are a certified carnivore, you will love a visit here, but if you need more persuading, there’s also a fantastic drink and cocktail list with classic options like an Old Fashioned or a Mai Tai.

Nippon Izakaya specialises in Izakaya style cooking. Izakaya is a type of Japanese cuisine that originates from informal bars and serves snack-style foods. Any sushi lovers reading this should book a reservation as soon as possible because the founder has extensive experience in sushi creation, and the menu has 13 sashimi options alongside 15 special maki options!
Nippon doesn’t just serve sushi; its menu also has bento boxes, soups, and yakimono. Pay special attention to the gyoza selection (who doesn’t love gyoza after all?), the sushi platters and the ramen dishes.

Tagine specialises in great Moroccan cuisine and features an open plan kitchen so you can see the chefs in action. The Balham-based restaurant deserves extra points for its authenticity; it strives to create a unique ambience through its lighting, Moroccan interior décor theme and use of relaxing traditional music. We’re most excited by the Zizou grill here, which would be a great option for meat lovers with a taste for Moroccan food. It really covers all bases with lamb, beef and chicken, which is served with a selection of salads. The fish tagine is a great seafood option too; a slow-cooked fish selection with potato and Moroccan tomato sauce. Delicious.

Archie’s is great for a coffee, brunch, or lunch, and it’s open seven days a week! This place absolutely nails the neighbourhood café vibe by using plant-filled interiors and excellent playlists. The menu includes delicious brunch dishes like avocado toast, eggs on toast and pumpkin seed granola with Greek yoghurt, which should be a must-try for any foodie. If you fancy catching up with a good book over a meal in a relaxed environment, then a visit to Archies could be just what you need this May Bank Holiday.