The Best American Food Joints In London

From calorie-laden burgers to New York-style pizza and southern soul food, our pick of the best American food joints in London.

As if anyone really needs an excuse to indulge in gourmet fast food, the UK celebrates National Burger Day on the last Thursday of August each year: look out for discounts on burgers as well as limited edition recipes (burger flavoured ice-cream anyone?) in restaurants across the country.

In honour of this icon of American cuisine, here’s our pick of the best American food joints in London.

NY FOLD

Bringing New York to the streets of London comes easy to Annabel and Michael Wheeler and as New York natives, it’s certainly no surprise.

Residing in one of the chic streets of Soho in London’s West End, this gourmet and trendy pizzeria encourages you to fold your pizza for the ultimate double-dose-of-pizza-goodness.

If you like your pizza that little bit fancy, try the Montauk; with tuna, olives, 100 per cent aged mozzarella, onion, olive tapenade and boiled egg. If you’re a fan of simplicity try the Grandma’s Pie; a combination of mozzarella and pecorino cheese, garlic oil, tomato, parsley and oregano. Either way, Bob’s your uncle! You’ve got yourself on the guest list for pizza heaven that’s open till late with a killer DJ. NY Fold’s sister eatery, Fold, opened in trendy London Fields earlier this year.

DIRTY BONES

What do you get when two mates eat and travel their way through New York? They bring a piece of the Big Apple back home with them.

The Mac and Cheese burger from Dirty Bones, London.

American-style food that is home-made with a whole lotta love, the guys behind Dirty Bones know how to impress the hungry locals. Boasting bottomless brunch cocktails, Brooklyn-inspired beats and naughty-but-nice American food including tasty vegan-friendly tacos and burgers, it’s certainly no surprise that they’ve expanded, with locations spanning Kensington, Soho, Shoreditch, Carnaby and Oxford.

Succulent glazed wings from Dirty Bones, London.

If the word ‘diet’ is a forbidden word in your vocabulary, then you’re going to love its cheesy truffle fries and crispy fried chicken with freshly baked waffles and maple syrup. After something a little more sweet? Try their homemade cinnamon sugared donut paired with the coffee gelato. On a diet? Don’t worry, you won’t be after you’ve dined here.

Sumptuous delights from Dirty Bones, London.

THE DINER

If you’re after the good ol’ traditional American Diner, like your pancakes large and your burgers even larger, you’re going to love these diet-busting joint.

Located in various locations across town including Carnaby Street, Dalston and Camden, The Diner, as its name suggests, has a casual and relaxed vibe, perfect for over-indulgence and eating a day’s worth of calories in one sitting. If you didn’t come hungry, that’s OK. There’s salad. But who goes to a diner to eat salad? The three-stack banana pancakes with butterscotch sauce might change your mind. If that won’t do it, then the strawberry and chocolate pancakes certainly will. Oh yes, these little babies are drenched in chocolate with strawberries – you know, just in case you need to kid yourself you’re eating something remotely healthy.

Travelling on the savoury side? Don’t go past their finger-lickin’ good ‘Diner Dirty Double Cheeseburger,’ paired with two beef patties, US cheese, pickles and Diner burger sauce. Wash it down with the Creamy Nut Hard shake; a combination of Bailey’s Irish cream, hazelnut and pistachio ice cream. Vegan? No problem! The Big V Dog with French mustard; a vegan twist on the traditional American hot dog, is also a crowd pleaser.

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STAX

Fancy taking a trip down to the American South? If you thought you knew what cheat day was, then you haven’t dined in at Carnaby’s STAX Diner. Taking feed your soul to an entirely new level, this comfy and modest space has a wonderfully tasty not-so-modest menu; and that’s exactly why you should go there.

If you want to get straight into the southern specialties, you can’t go past the Stax Po Boy; Cajun spiced popcorn shrimp on an organic buttery soft bun with spice comeback sauce, lettuce and tomato. If you fancy yourself some traditional southern fried chicken, then the Spicy Hot Chickadee burger is the way to go, with its buttermilk marinated fried chicken breast, American cheese, onion rings and ranch dressing.

If you’re after something small, try the Classic Buffalo Hot Wings with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks or the fried green tomatoes. Feeling super hungry? Then why not enter the Ultimate Stax Challenge to see if you can finish a five-beef-patty Stax cheeseburger, basket of Cajun Boardwalk fries and a super-sized milkshake in under 15 minutes.

National Burger Day takes place in the UK annually, around August or September.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The four best American food joints in London

From calorie-laden burgers to New York-style pizza and southern soul food, our pick of the best American food joints in London.

NY FOLD

DIRTY BONES

THE DINER

STAX

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