Whether you’ve just moved into a workspace in King’s Cross or you’re a regular to the area, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to lunch. King’s Cross is a busy place. It has outdoor markets, green terraces, gourmet bistros, and fine dining. Professionals have many options to eat and socialise after work.
When business calls, it can be all too tempting to fall into the habit of grabbing the same sandwich from the nearest spot every day. And, with nearly 50% of workers skipping lunch at least once a week, according to a recent study, it’s safe to say that the beloved lunch break is under threat.
But what if you could make your lunch break something to look forward to? At MYO, we understand the importance of proper rest breaks and good food for employee well-being. So, we’ve scouted out the best food spots for workers to make the most of that precious midday hour without straying too far from our brand-new MYO King’s Cross.
From charming cafes for informal meetings to lavish lunch places to wow clients, let this list be your inspiration to shake up your routine. Who says lunch breaks can’t be a little extraordinary?
Lina Stores Stable Street
20 Stable St, N1C 4DR
For more of a casual — but equally delicious — bite to eat, Lina Stores is the perfect place to refuel at lunch. Located just behind Granary Square in King’s Cross’ last remaining heritage building, Stable Street brings together the convenience of a café and the authenticity of a traditional Italian delicatessen.
Serving up well-established Italian snacks — from antipasti and pasta to formaggi and salumi-filled paninis — Lina Stores is just a 9-minute walk away from our King’s Cross offices. With its charming mint-green interiors and joyful, colourful food, Lina Stores offers workers the perfect, delicious antidote to rainy, grey Mondays.
The best part? With plenty of takeaway options and tempting morsels at their delicatessen counter, you can make your lunch break stretch even further by bringing your favourites back to the office with you.
Dishoom
5 Stable Street, N1C 4AB
Up next, we simply had to include Dishoom, a world-famous Indian restaurant, just a 9-minute walk from our King’s Cross offices.
Located in what used to be a Victorian railway transit shed, Dishoom has a hip and happening atmosphere that attracts diners from all over the city — not to mention a history that is the stuff of legends. Dating back to 1928, Dishoom’s origins all began in this shed where, for over 100 years, goods were transported from Britain around the globe.
Now, the shed still houses a microcosm of goods in taste. With an award-winning menu, Dishoom is the ultimate lunch spot and serves up delicacies such as Dishoom chicken tikka, gunpowder potatoes, and the iconic dish, bun maska chai.
German Gymnasium
1 King’s Blvd, N1C 4BU
The German Gymnasium is a charming restaurant in a historic building, sitting proudly at the entrance of King’s Cross.
Just an 8-minute walk from MYO King’s Cross, German Gymnasium’s coveted heated terrace offers the perfect al fresco dining solution for office workers in need of some fresh air after a morning of meetings — even in cold weather. Voted the ‘Most Beautiful Restaurant in the World’ in 2016 (Evening Standard), this is the perfect spot to bring clients and stakeholders together in style.
‘Essen’ and ‘trinken’ in the traditional German style from their Grand Café menu with delicious dishes including Westfälische Kartoffelsuppe (rustic potato soup), Hähnchen Schnitzel, and Beefsteak Tartare. German Gymnasium also has an impressive selection of vegan and vegetarian options, like the vegan currywurst, so everyone in your party can enjoy this authentic cuisine for lunch.
The Lighterman
3 Granary Square, N1C 4BH
For a lunch of traditional pub food with an excellent view of Regent’s Canal, try The Lighterman. Just a 7-minute walk from MYO King’s Cross, this contemporary pub and dining room in Granary Square offers three floors of terraces and eating areas perfect for casual dining.
From starters and salads to mains and flatbreads, The Lighterman offers an impressive variety of dishes to suit all tastes (including a broad array of vegetarian and vegan options). As part of the Open House group, The Lighterman is one of many restaurants creating social spaces in some of London’s most progressive neighbourhoods. Their philosophy? ‘Our House Is Your House’, expressed through delicious food and a warm welcome.
The Booking Office 1869
Euston Road, NW1 2AR
If you’re taking someone out to lunch who’s new to London, Booking Office 1869 is the place to go. Offering diners a quintessentially British dining experience, this restaurant stands as a reimagining of King’s Cross station’s original Victorian ticket hall, with authentic architecture and 19th-century-style design.
Emulating the charms of a King’s Cross gone by, Booking Office 1869 offers an impressive array of dishes on its lunch menu — from whipped smoked cod roe to their Booking Office cheeseburger with ‘St Pancras sauce’ — all within a 9-minute walk from our King’s Cross offices.
Lower Stable Street Market
Lower Stable Street, N1C 4LW
For a completely different dining experience, why not try the variety of food stalls at Lower Stable Street Market on Thursdays and Fridays? Just an 11-minute walk from our offices, this cluster of market stalls in the lower part of Coal Drops Yard opens up a new avenue of possibilities for lunchtime meals.
Not only is this market BCorp certified, it offers an impressive selection of international food, alongside other wares. Make the most out of your lunch hour and get lost in the market stalls before grabbing a bite to eat for the short journey back to the office.
Arabica
7 Lewis Cubitt Walk, N1C 4DT
Changing cuisine again, next on our list is Arabica, a tasteful Middle Eastern restaurant on the ground floor of the Aga Khan Centre on Lewis Cubitt Walk. If you’re looking to add a little spice to your day, Arabica’s selection of Middle Eastern-inspired mezze will certainly deliver.
Serving up classic dishes like grilled halloumi and hot falafel (alongside some more adventurous options like grilled octopus with capers), Arabica allows you to dine on communal tables for team lunches or comfortable booths for smaller-scale groups. Just a stone’s throw from Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square, Arabica is a 9-minute walk from Myo King’s Cross.
Parillan Coal Drops Yard
Unit 102, Coal Drops Yard, N1C 4DQ
“What about the small plates?” we hear you ask. Not to worry, Parillan’s modern Spanish tapas has you covered. Located in Coal Drops Yard, just a 10-minute walk from our King’s Cross offices, Parillan Coal Drops Yard makes for a close, convenient, and quality lunch.
With an open kitchen and marble-topped bar, you can watch the chefs prepare your tapas-style plates before digging into dishes like Spanish para picar, arroces, soups, and stews. The catch? For city workers hoping to eat their fill of Marcona almonds and marinated olives, Parillan’s only weekday lunch is on Fridays (between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm) which feels fitting for an end of week treat of sorts.
Granary Square Brasserie
1 Granary Square, N1C 4AA
Whether we’re talking elevenses or a late lunch after back-to-back meetings, Granary Square Brasserie offers an all-day dining haven. Located right in the heart of lively King’s Cross, diners can expect a number of hearty British classics alongside international cuisine and delicious vegetarian and vegan options.
Just an 8-minute walk from our offices, Granary Square Brasserie is the perfect spot to spend an hour refuelling. If you’re taking a working lunch, they have free WiFi, and if it’s a team lunch or client lunch, they have bookable spaces like The Stirling Room too.
Prefer to eat al fresco? Their heated terrace (complete with plump cushions and lush greenery) is rivalled only by that of German Gymnasium’s.
Refuel in style at King’s Cross
Whether it’s a team lunch or an important meeting with a client, cuisines from across the globe converge here, and working in King’s Cross offers an unrivalled selection of places to refuel.
If you’d like to work in a place with hundreds of culinary delights on its doorstep, why not have a look at our King’s Cross brochure or email our friendly team at [email protected] to book a tour of our workplace? In the meantime, keep up with the MYO blog for the latest on working in quality rented office space in London.
