My daughter and I were staying nearby to Blixen in the Shoreditch area of London and stumbled on this gem of a restaurant. The moment you walk in, you see the amazing plants that grace the ceilings, walls and just about everywhere. In one room (where we sat), there was a sheer roof and it gave off this luxurious tropical rainforest vibe. While not much is available for kids menu-wise, my daughter did manage to find something she liked (the delicious pancakes) and I, the Double Rosti with Potatoes which was delicious. The service was fantastic and the whole place was amazing. I only wish they had a Blixen in my home city of Boston, as I'd be there all the time with friends! read more

Blixen - The view from the entrance - Diners Near Me - London, XGL

Well shucks it's already been a year since my last review. Time flies when you eat good food ammiright??? Anyway, I've been back to Blixen a fair few times for brunch and lunch and I can still say that everything I've eaten here has been delightful. Even those itty bitty fishies nicely lined up on that plate (if you happen to look at my pics). To be honest that's not a terribly common thing to see back in the states, but no matter, they were still delicious. Still very good service, food, and atmosphere. Strangely enough every time I've come here they've sat me in the same place... and that's been 5 times now! Weird. And it's always been with more than 4 people! That means I've got a lot of friends! Wow! This review just keeps getting better. read more

See all

I went to Blixen for our NYE dinner. Overall, it was a very good experience, with a caveat. They had a reasonably priced 5 course menu - £45 per person. It started with a cauliflower puree soup, served in a small glass milk bottle with a straw. It was delicious and I was able to get it through the straw. For my entrée, they were very flexible as I am allergic to fish and they were out of the non-fish / non-vegetarian options. They substituted a delicious sirloin for me. Very nice of them. The food throughout the dinner was very good. They also had burlesque dancers that came out and danced every 20 minutes or so throughout the evening. We ordered cocktails and wine as well, all were reasonably priced. The service throughout the meal was very good, too. We were well taken care of. The aforementioned caveat and complaint is that the staff did a staff-only champagne toast at midnight. It made us feel unwelcome as they all huddled around the bar before and after, neglecting us. Sort of like, there was a party and we were not invited. It is too bad, as otherwise it was an excellent experience severely diminished by some poor decision making. read more

Came here for drinks with a large group and sat at the large open space down stairs. They make good drinks and a great spread for a group. The fried calamari, mushroom burgers, steak and bone marrow stood out. Service was just ok but it's a nice space for a drink and some food. read more

Blixen - Diners Near Me - London, XGL

Amazing brunch day with the flat - such good food (try the Rösti with Salt Beef) for little more than 10£, with amazing cocktails and smoothies to go with it (the Michelada is a nice "toned down" Bloody Mary). By far the best thing about it is the winter garden in the back - well worth the wait if you can get a table here :) read more

See all

Blixen is a great place for a good wine with some tasty food. It's definitely a place I will keep in mind when in the area. Located at Old Spitalfields Market, Blixen is a beautiful restaurant with a friendly, upmarket touch. I especially liked the wood-panelled ceiling, as it somewhat contrasts the shiny design with a bit of rustic-looking wood. All staff, from the door to all other people who came past my table, were overly friendly and professional - it was a joy to eat there. When browsing through the menu, I found it difficult to choose. Not so much because I wanted to eat everthing, more because I am a bit picky sometimes and most dishes did not really appeal to me. On the other hand, the wine list is great with a few options I would like to try. After making up my mind, I ordered an Austrian 2013 Grüner Veltliner, Huber, Traisental - a very refreshing and tasty white wine with a good balance between light and fruity. The wine worked well alone, but also with a little bit salty food or a fruity dessert. I decided to go with the crispy pork belly, spaetzle, kale & quince as main. The plate looked nice and the skin was indeed very crispy. The finely salted pork was great together with the sweet quince. I was excited to taste the spaetzle - and they disappointed me and also made me happy. As someone who knows how do prepare proper spaetzle by hand, they simply did not look right. They were more like knoepfle than spaetzle. Spaetzle should usually be a bit bigger, longer. Also, they were very crispy, all of them, which is not quite what I had expected. But that said, these little things added a nice texture and spaetzle flavour to the dish. I could have done with a bit more sauce, but altogether, the dish was accomplished and very tasty. The side of cheese and chive mash did not convince me. It is something different, yes, but I thought it was a bit too bland. Nice together with the salty pork, but simply a bit boring on its own. When I go again, I will definitely check out the chips. To conclude my early dinner, before dashing off to a concert, I opted for the passion fruit tart with raspberry sorbet as recommended by my very helpful and nice waitress. I was not entirely sure about this dish, because passion fruit and raspberry are both acidic - I should not have worried, it was simply a very refreshing summer dessert. Not sweet at all, but two strong fruits and just a beautiful combination. I wondered a little bit that they did not serve some bread to start with. By the end of my meal, I was full, no bread needed, still this was a small let down for me. Blixen is a stunning restaurant with well-prepared food, a great wine list and very friendly, helpful staff. Definitely a place I am happy to visit again. read more

I have been to Blixen a number of times now and always enjoyed the experience. Two of us have sat in the dining area, the garden and the kitchen counter, and can say that each of these areas has been rather enjoyable. If you like seeing the kitchen in action, the middle of the kitchen counter is particularly recommended. As another Yelper has mentioned, you do tend to get seated at the counter on weekends if you haven't made a booking, even if there are a number of open tables around. I've enjoyed the food. The brunch menu is good - not just the same dishes that every other upmarket diner has. I've had the baked eggs and the potato rosti, and they were both delicious. Portions look small, but are actually just sufficiently filling. Service - and this is where I'm taking one star away - is very enthusiastic. On our most recent visit, we were served by four different people, which led to repeated enquiries as to whether we wished to order and how we were finding the food. It was all very American and there's a limit to the number of times my meal can be interrupted without my being annoyed. The toilets are nice. They smell nice and the ongoing art exhibition make visiting the restrooms rather pleasant really. read more

Quite simply, YES to Blixen. Especially for lunch/brunch. The decor is gorgeous and the menu had me hemming and hawing over what to have (which isn't ever a bad thing). Eventually, I settled for the burger - with raclette. Basically the most epic cheeseburger I've ever had. Loved the crunchy pickle it came with, plus the crispy fries. It's the place to take friends/family you want to impress, and the prices aren't that bad either. Coffees looked great (though I didn't have any, my dining companions ordered refills). read more

Blixen - Mouth-wateringly tasty burger at Blixen. Just look at that pickle. A DREAM. - Diners Near Me - London, XGL

Great breakfast right in Old Spitalfields market off Commercial. The "Everything Breakfast" is well done - and definitely get the eggs poached not scrambled. Coffee was very good - both the latte and Americano had a good flavor and balance. Rosti with spinach was tasty and one was enough for a good breakfast. Kids had pancakes (surprise) with blueberry and marscapone - nice touch. All I all a great stop for an East London weekend visit! read more

Mediocre food and very slow service. Somewhat overpriced. Great decor and ambiance though, and excellent location in spitalfields. read more

The newest family member to the Clive Watson group of Riding House Cafe, Village East & Garrison fame- Blixen has a similar feel but with a unique Spitalfields makeover. It's not a terribly huge venue but it feels spacious; the tables are well-spaced, the ceilings are high and it feels like a slower pace than the immediate market outside. Perhaps that's due to a fully-booked first-weekend seating but I like to think it couldn't possibly be annoyingly rammed. If you come in the future and that's the case, then I'm sorry! The brunch menu was simple but has just about something for anyone from the dish-of-the-moment avocado on toast with smoked trout to pancakes and potato hash with salt beef. I had read a couple of sneak-peek reviews of the dinner menu and have to say I'd be a bit more interested in coming back for mains as I think that's where they'll really shine but the easy breezy atmosphere makes it a place that you could really kill some time at any time of day... Or less than two hours as the booking times dictate, but you know what I mean. I went with the croque madame with duck egg as my first choice was sold out and smoothie to match. For those who love the details, we took a liking to the glassware that was really well-coordinated. Great stemware, rocks glasses, etc. apparently there's a basement bar in the works as well that wasn't yet open... again, if you're reading this in the future, I'm sorry for the lack of insight into this or if it turns out I'm lying to you altogether. Go check it out. To be honest... and maybe because I'm used to their other venues, I'm a little surprised about the location of this one (do you know what I mean without spelling it out?)... but it's a bright and airy stop filled with the stylish people of Spitalfields. Really, everyone in here when we went had their eyewear game on-point. Fellow yelper Emma C was a little jealous. read more

Old Spitalfields Market never ceases to amaze me. As soon as you think you have it all sussed out, you discover something that you have walked past and never noticed previously. One sunny Saturday late morning, we craved some brunch. As Valentina was in the area visiting Benefit for some beauty treats, it made sense to eat local. Blixen is really welcoming. A gorgeous open and light interior with a garden terrace to die for. You can sit at the tables, or circling the kitchen, there is a bar top where you can have a clear view of kitchen prep. The menu is simple and on one page which makes it easier to order from what is a great selection of goodness. They have some house sodas which are refreshing. We ordered a cranberry & vanilla, as well as Lemon, raspberry & dill. The flavours shine through the lightly carbonated drinks. For food, I opted for the potato rosti piled with poached eggs, salt beef and mustard hollandaise. This was set off with a side of avocado. My girl had potato rosti with spinach, poached eggs and parmesan and extra bacon on the side. Everything tasted lush. Big portions for a big appetite, certain perfect to set you up for the rest of your day. Price wise, it is reasonable with nothing much over £10 for brunch. Blixen is brought to you by Clive Watson, co-founder of The Garrison, Village East and Riding House Cafe. So he is no stranger to simple and tasty food. It fits in nicely at Old Spitalfields Market with their fair share of chainy type food outlets. It is always nice to have some individuality as a choice. read more

I've wandered past this place a few times recently when in Spitalfields and thought 1, menu looked good, 2, decor looked great so added it to my list of must try's! After stupidly early morning yesterday with long work hours, bf and I had s lovely lie in then decided to get a late breakfast Spitalfields way before getting a train to his parents. I was umming and ahhing about where to go as I really fancied granola, fruit and yog then remembered this place. We rocked up just before 12 and I was hoping they still had their full breakfast menu on however this is only served until 11.30 They did have their brunch on and had a table in their 'garden' area which is where I wanted to sit so we sat down and ordered 2 coffees - flat white and latte (both good). Seating area was lovely and light, with lots of trees, fairy lights and comfy cushions. Overall a really relaxed vibe. Brunch menu looks pretty good so I had picked between the pancakes or the croque madam however when the waiter came I asked if by any chance id be able to have the granola yog and fruit. She asked the kitchen (they were pretty busy) and low and behold they said yes! Morning (midday) made! Bf ordered baked eggs and Boston beans. Food came in 10/ 15 mins, not rushed but not waiting and it looked good! Massive bowl of granola with berries banana and rhubarb on top and a big pot of Greek yoghurt. Bf had two big slices of sour dough toast and a casserole dish full of beans, confit duck, lardons and a baked eggs on top. Massive (and tasted good too). My granola was so good - nice and sweet with plenty of crunch and stuffed with nuts! In all with tip just over the £20 mark at £22.50. We both came away absolutely stuffed and satisfied. Will be trying the dinner menu soon! Overall lovely brunch, good service and relaxed atmosphere. Recommend! read more

See all

Came here for a weekend brunch (make sure to book in advance as it fills up) - loved the green and leafy interiors. Food was quite healthy and filling - I got the potato rosti with spinach and my friend got the smoked trout. We shared the butternut squash and lentil salad -overall this place feels right out of sex and the city ladies who brunch staple restaurant - I'm glad I came and will definitely be back to try more of the mains read more

Blixen - Potato rosti, poached eggs, spinach and Parmesan - Diners Near Me - London, XGL

Their pancakes are top notch and their smoothies are as fresh as it gets, but what's really striking about this place is its lovely back garden. Great place for brunch! read more

Blixen - Berry and cream pancakes - Diners Near Me - London, XGL

See all

The restaurant is beautiful and has a really good vibe to it. However, the food was disappointing. I had the ravioli and it was tasteless. It was the similar case with the rest of the orders (salmon and gnocchi). The waiter was oddly rude to us for no reason which made the dinner awkward for the whole night. I dont know why it has a Michelin star because the food was not good at all. read more

Really great place. Beautiful dining and patio area. The host was most accommodating with us arriving with no reservation. Wonderful food and our waiter Lucas was really brilliant. I really couldn't ask for more. Highly recommend read more

I had the lamb plate and it was really good ! Dishes are sophisticated. Little overpriced but again it's good, ideal for brunch!

Highly overpriced and mediocre at best. I got terrible indigestion from the entire thing, and I have a resilient stomach. The cocktail list is somewhat bizarre and a bit too inventive, choosing something is hard. I randomly went with the Ocho sour which had an aftertaste of vomit. Yeah the whole sensation of vomiting. Having been seated the staff was lovely, however that can't make up for the wine being waaay to warm... when they say room temperature for red wine they mean temperatures in old French castles not in a room with a running oven somewhere close to the Ecuador. The food in itself was tasty but quite mediocre overall, definitely not worth the price tag. The atmosphere and decor is actually quite nice, but it's a restaurant and a bar, which should come first. read more

Passed by and went in on a whim, and boy, are we glad we did! We ordered the scallops and chips/fries to start, then the red snapper, lamb, and crispy pasta for the main. Our favorite was the red snapper, but all their dishes come perfectly seasoned with delicious sides. Highly recommend their desserts, too, especially the pear and pistachio tiramisu, a very delightful yet unexpected combo. I ordered the affogato, which was also amazing. Very impressed by the quality of food, especially for the price! Can't recommend enough. read more

Met a long lost friend here for dinner late on a Friday night. Being two touring Americans, we took her suggestion in hopes of finding a fun, trendy local place away from the camera toting crowds. This place did not disappoint. Had to ask her what a few things on the menu meant, but after trying three appetizers (all amazing) and the chicken I was amazed. The use of unique ingredients (beet hummus!?) and cool atmosphere made this an amazing treat for us. Had the Adubato for dessert - small but SO good. read more

Blixen is a must go!! The entire experience was fantastic. The decor is so fun that I just wanted to keep looking around to take it all in. The noise level keeps it lively but still easy to have a conversation. The food was DELICIOUS. I had the aubergine entree and I'm already craving to have it again. We had the poached pears for dessert (wonderful!)and topped it off with an Expresso Martini (MUST TRY!). The service was fantastic and the manager was especially friendly and wonderful. Wish we were staying longer to go back again for brunch!!! Oh.....and very reasonably priced on top of it all! read more

We had a really good meal here. The martini was stirred not shaken (a much more visual experience) and a labor of love by the barkeep. Pork belly was sublime, just a notch below was a simple but elegant pasta dish and the braised lamb. Attentive service too. read more

Nope! Food is just not good, had crab pasta: overcooked, minimal crab, so heavy on the butter it upset my stomach. read more

Love the vibe of this restaurant, especially the outdoor garden area. Great service & food!

went here with my family when the visited me 2 weeks ago. Great food! the service was also really good to! recommend the pork belly for a main. read more

We just stumbled upon this place while walking around Shoreditch area looking for a place to eat. The exterior looked snazzy enough so we decided to pop in. Overall I enjoyed our time at Blixen. The service was super attentive - we had a very chatty and funny Irish server. I have mixed feelings about the food, because I think I liked my husband's meal more than my own (isn't that always the case?!). I had the squid, chorizo and chickpea starter, which was reaaalllllllyyyy good and I basically was three seconds from licking the bowl, but I wasn't too enthused by my salmon main or its presentation. My husband had a courgette and goats cheese fritter which I stole a little bit of and a really juicy steak. His steak was on point and the tiny sliver he shared with me melted in my mouth. The wine list is pretty vast and prices are overall reasonable based on the food quality. I would definitely recommend! read more

Beautiful (and innovative) smoothies and juices. Scrambled eggs on sourdough with either the mushroom and truffle ragu or the smoked trout absolutely divine. Pancakes with blueberries were light yet decadently piled high. Lovely space to scoff it all in. Best brunch with a mate in the longest time. read more

Great for kids! Yelp info says Blixen is not good for kids, but it definitely is! Our party of eight had a 14-month-old and when I called for a reservation, they were super accommodating, offering a high chair. This is also a very hip restaurant w excellent craft and vintage cocktails and bartenders who know what they're doing. Place has a Berlin / retro-modernist feel--warm and polished at the same time. Excellent service, and hostesses who doted on the kid. They even have coloring sets for kids. Excellent food ranging from classic bistro (steak and frites) to more adventurous. And quite affordable--dinner for my party of three adults and one toddler, including a decent bottle of wine and a cocktail--came to about £90 ($110 at the time). Highly recommended. read more