There are more than 15,000 restaurants in London, meaning you certainly won’t be short of options for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
But getting a table at some of the hottest spots the city has to offer is often easier said than done, with many places booking up months in advance, and queues stretching down the street.
However, it turns out there’s a clever way to find and book superb restaurants – and it’ll also help you nab free food, limited-edition dishes, and other exclusive perks.
Here’s everything you need to know…
How to get free food in London restaurants
It’s all thanks to a little-known app called Appetite, which first launched in November 2023 and is essentially an all-in-one destination for all your foodie needs.
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The free app allows you to put all of your must-visit restaurant lists and recommendations in one place, search for exactly the kind of place you want to visit (be it a romantic date night spot, or somewhere buzzier), and book yourself a table if there’s one available.
You can share memories from your meal, make plans with friends and follow other foodies to discover where Londonders are really eating. But perhaps the best part is a brand new feature known as ‘Treats’.
Every month users of the app will be eligible for a number of treats at the best London restaurants, which includes everything from free food, to complimentary cocktails, and secret off-menu dishes you wouldn’t otherwise be able to try.
If this weren’t enough, there will also be access to exclusive events and invitations to soft launches for new restaurants.
These treats, and the restaurants they are available at, will change every month, so you can keep eating at new and different places.
Current examples of available treats include a complimentary Pork Chicharron starter at Crudo Cevicheria in Covent Garden, complimentary Churros Con Chocolate at Broken Eggs in Fitzrovia, complimentary World Famous Cauliflower at Miznon in Notting Hill, and complimentary champagne or a cocktail at Cornus in Belgravia.
You’ll only be able to use each treat once, but there’s no limit on the number of different treats you can try from your list of available offers.
The treats available to you will vary depending on your location, and it’s worth noting that there is a little bit of a catch. With treats such as the famous cauliflower at Miznon, there are a couple of stipulations you have to follow to claim the dish. In this instance, the offer is to share between two people, but you have to spend a minimum of £30 to get it.
After downloading and joining the app for the first time there were seven different ‘treats’ available that Metro could see for January 2025. But the co-founders of the app, Toby and James Green, claim they are working towards more of a ‘reward’ system – the more people use Appetite, the more treats they’ll receive.
Toby Green, co-founder, Appetite said: ‘Whether it’s a glass of Champagne to toast a new job, or a slice of cake to celebrate a birthday, the small gesture of a treat on-the-house has always been an essential part of the dining experience – turning an ordinary meal into a memorable one.
‘With the launch of Appetite Treats, we’ve just updated it for the digital age. So, now you don’t have to wait for a special occasion – you can treat yourself and your friends every time you eat out.’
As well as London, the Appetite app has also launched in Manchester, and the team are looking to expand it out across England in the future.
In the mean time, if you’re looking for more delicious cafes, bars and restaurants to try in London, Metro recently shared a look back at some of the best eats of 2024.
And a number of fabulous foodie places were also recently added to the Michelin Guide for 2025, including a restaurant that ‘feels very 90s’ and has a special link to Princess Diana.
Those keen for other London freebies might also be keen to discover more about the ‘secret’ way to bag free theatre and concert tickets.
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Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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