London's best delis and grocers, from Terroni to Panzer's
Where once supermarkets reigned supreme, speciality food stores are now everywhere in town. They represent independent producers, and the best of these importers are bywords for community, accessibility and inspiration. You should be able to head into any deli worth its salt and discover a range of produce hitherto unknown; a cornucopia of ingredient-led inspiration to upgrade your home cooking.
London’s top chefs have already shared where they shop for their restaurants, but add to your list with our pick of London’s best delis and groceries, below, offering everything from daily essentials to pantry items to one-off special purchases. Here’s where to find them.
Central
L Terroni & Sons
Terroni lays claim to the oldest deli in London, making it a good place to start. Entering the double fronted space which has served London’s Italian community since the late 1800s, you’ll see walls lined with every shape of De Cecco pasta under the sun, alongside a few less familiar Italian pantry staples, all sourced directly from Italy. This isn’t an especially fancy joint, but it’s one of the most useful on the list.
138 Clerkenwell Road, EC1R 5DL, terroni.co.uk
I Camisa & Son
’s I Camisa is legendary. Practically everyone with an from Camisa at some point, followed by an espresso at the Algerian Coffee Stores across the road, but the deli deserves as much attention as the lunchtime rush gets. The finest sold in London (Mulino Bianco’s Abbracci, no discussion please) are stocked alongside a purposeful selection of cheeses, pasta, dried goods and preserves. Not exactly a cornucopia, but having survived for 60 odd years, and beating the threat of closure, this is a highly worthy spot to travel to.
