"The Devonshire is the kind of place we could spend a whole afternoon, perusing a handwritten menu of lamb hotpot, creamed leeks, and sticky toffee pudding. Come for one of London’s best pints of Guinness, some of the city’s best British food, and to mop up leftover gravy with duck fat chips. If the dining room is fully booked, know the rooftop is open for walk-ins. The downstairs bar also serves snacks like sausage on a stick and toasties. Bookings are released at 10:30am on Thursdays for the following three weeks. Embrace a very early dinner or late lunch: these are the last tables to go, and messing with your body clock is worth it. There’s a roof terrace for walk-ins on warmer days—ask nicely, and you could be sharing a pile of langoustines alfresco. We’ve also noticed last-minute reservations become available throughout the week." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, sinead cranna