Caravel

Caravel is one of the most magical and distinctive restaurant experiences in London -- an intimate candlelit restaurant housed inside a converted Dutch barge moored on the Regent's Canal at Shepherdess Walk, between Old Street and Angel. Opened in March 2022 by brothers Fin Spiteri (front of house and drinks) and Lorcan Spiteri (kitchen), the sons of St John founding partner Jon Spiteri and Rochelle Canteen co-founder Melanie Arnold, Caravel has been embraced by every major London food guide. The Infatuation calls it "a candlelit barge permanently moored between Old Street and Angel" with "excellently cooked bistro-ish food" ranging from "thickly stuffed prawn toast to chicken liver pâté so smooth that an influencer would be forgiven for trying to contour with it." They have also called it "intimate, cool, and on a boat" and "our favourite floating restaurant in London."

The regularly changing menu draws on British, French and Italian influences: snacks of potato rösti with sour cream and caviar; sesame prawn toast with spiced tartare; confit duck rissoles; white crab tagliatelle with fennel and garlic; crispy pork belly with green beans and anchoïade; roast hake with confit potatoes and curry sauce. Jelly and cream for pudding. A carefully chosen natural wine list and cocktail selection. Next door on the pontoon is Bruno's, a separate cocktail barge from the same team. Booking essential -- the intimate dining room has limited covers. Website: caravelrestaurant.com.