Specialized Groceries in London
Because London is such a cosmopolitan place, it would be surprising if there was something from your home country which you could not get somewhere in the capital. We have listed the best known shops selling foreign products followed by a few specialty stores. However, this list is far from being comprehensive and from Scandinavian to South African products there will be without a shadow of doubt a shop in London catering for your needs.
Selfridges Food Hall: http://www.selfridges.com; 400 Oxford Street
Selfridges isn’t just a shop for designer clothes! The Food Hall carries local and international specialties and wines from around the world. Simple American foods you didn’t think you could find in England can be found here–think boxed Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Very fancy foods are also found at Selfridges. Hundreds of different cheeses grace the cheese counter. Thai, Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Greek, and British foods are just a few of the thousands of varieties represented at the many counters of the Selfridges Food Hall. The Salt Beef counter is also not to be missed if you’re a proud carnivore, but be prepared to wait in line. Selfridges is a block away from Bond Street tube. The shop closes at 9pm Mon – Sat and 6pm on Sunday.
Harrod’s Food Hall: Knightsbridge: http://www.harrods.com 87–135 Brompton Road Knightsbridge London, SW1X 7XL
Started as a modest grocery store, Harrod’s is now famous world-wide for its food department and 20 in-house restaurants.
Fortnum & Mason Food Hall: Picadilly http://www.fortnumandmason.com 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER
Provider to the Palace, this is the ultimate grocery store.
Giacobazzi’s Delicatessen: http://www.giacobazzis.co.uk; 150 Fleet Road; NW3 2QX; +44 (0) 207 267 7222
‘The Finest Italian Foods’ can be found here. Prices at Giacobazzi’s are high and the quality equally high. Pane Carasau, extra virgin olive oils, panettone, and fresh antipasti are a few of the delectables available at this local shop. The shop delivers and orders over £60 will be delivered for free. Giacobazzi’s carries Italian foods from Naples to Sicily to Sardinia and everywhere in between.
SeeWoo Oriental Food Specialists: http://www.seewoo.com; 18 – 20 Lisle Street; WC2H 7 BE; +44 (0) 207 439 8325
SeeWoo carries foods from China, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Asian beers are also available. The main Chinatown location is open 7 days a week from 10am till 8pm.
La Fromagerie: http://www.lafromagerie.co.uk
La Fromagerie has two locations in London – one in Highbury and another in Marylebone. This fancy cheese shop prides itself on carrying top quality cheeses from France, Austria, England, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and many other countries! Needless to say, the selection is huge, and one can find buffalo, cow, sheep, and goat cheese varieties. Prices are high but you can taste a few cheeses before purchasing.
Partridges Stores: http://www.partridges.co.uk/ has a good variety of American food products, if you can’t find what you want, ask the store managers who will get it for you.
Centre Point Food Store 20-21 St. Giles High Street London WC2H 8LN for everyday Japanese & Korean staples. If you don’t find what you need, try the near by Japan Centre: http://www.japancentre.com/
Anglo-Australian Trading: Covent Garden, 27 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7JS.
AngloAustralianTrading.com is home to the specialty foods of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Wines, clothing and beauty products of these countries are also offered for UK delivery.
Scandinavian Kitchen: 61 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PP.
Restaurant which also stocks Scandinavian delicacies, such as bread, flour and cakes, pickled beetroot, smoked and cured salmon, seafood goods, cooked meats and cheeses.
St Marcus:At 1-3 Rockinham Close, Priory Road (off Upper Richmond Road), Roehampton, London, SW15 5RW. Also an online shop. South African foods and specialty butchers; ribs, flaties, droewors, biltong, stokkies, sosaties and ostrich, kudu and springbok steaks.
Speciality stores
Frank Godfrey Butcher: http://www.fgodfrey.co.uk; 7 Highbury Park; N5 1QJ; +44 (0) 207 226 9904
This North London establishment is a family-run business and has been for four generations. It is known for its emphasis on free-range products and avoidance of additives and antibiotics. Purebred Aberdeen Angus beef can be purchased here. Arrive early on Saturday if you want to avoid queues! Frank Godfrey is closed Sundays.
Konditor & Cook: This small chain of patisseries offers fresh and hand-made cakes, and is a one-stop shop for sheer indulgence. All products are made with the finest ingredients. Konditor & Cook also provides a bespoke cake service and is known to sell on to some of the finest restaurants in the city, brilliant for birthday parties and somewhat affordable.
Neal’s Yard Dairy: This excellent cheese emporium is well worth a visit. Buying only from small producers and farms, Neal’s Yard Dairy has been tracking down Britain’s most delicious cheeses for well over 20 years.
Rococo Chocolates: http://www.rococochocolates.com Rococo is a chocoholic’s heaven, selling an amazing selection of organic chocolates, truffles and gift boxes. These are the chocolates that British Airways hands out to its first-class passengers. Chantal Goady, the founder of Rococo chocolates was approached by the ex-PM’s wife, Sarah Brown, to provide the chocolates for G20 the visiting world leaders.
Rhodes: Possibly one of the nicest bakery in London located in Greenwich and Islington http://www.rhodeslondon.co.uk
And don’t forget to visit farmers’ markets and your local market, very often if there is a expatriates community in the area and the markets will reflect that (see “Open-air Markets).
