Archipelago in Camden

Great and interesting food, really nice staff and nice ambiance.

Exciting food, a different experience. Young guys knowing how to surprise who’s dining

Outstanding experience with unique food, thank you!

We were sitting in a pub not far away on a Saturday night rifling through restaurants on our phones in search of something a bit different (and crucially with a table) when this popped up. Sometimes difference is what you want but it isn’t always better. This place would certainly benefit from a bit more structure and conformity. The decor and the meats on the menu are quite literally from all over the place. The cooking is all over the place. The starters were ok: pork belly with a sweet, sticky glaze and the world’s saltiest crocodile. They were washed down with the cheapest bottle of plonk on the menu, which should have been a lot cheaper. This is a quirky, meats from all over, gimmick restaurant and we went with no expectation that it would be anything else. What turns it from average to poor though was the experience with the mains. My partner ordered swordfish, which was fine enough but dry as a bone. It desperately needed some kind of sauce, anything. I ordered jerked buffalo. It was presented to me as buffalo. It was billed on the receipt as buffalo… but it was not buffalo. A few mouthfuls in I remembered what it reminded me of …time spent in Scandinavia eating reindeer… what they had served me was clearly not buffalo which I’ve eaten before. My partner said the same as soon as she tasted it. It was fine enough and having by this point eaten about a quarter of it, I was loathed to have to send it back, cause a scene arguing over the origins of the meat on my plate and wait for another meal… so I didn’t complain. What I did do though was to look at the menu on my phone and suddenly it all made sense. This wasn’t just a case of mistakenly serving me a plate of their elk main. What I had been served appeared to have elements of both dishes, this was deliberate deception. Fair enough if you have run out of buffalo but at least have the courtesy to inform your diners. Given that the menus were printouts anyway, it wouldn’t have been hard to print off an updated version. What I suspect here though is that they assumed the punters would know no better, that they could mug us off… which I suppose they succeeded at as we paid the bill and fled the scene of the crime but alas, the Tripadvisor review is the last refuge of the scorned punters and malcontents, so this is my revenge.

lovely quirky restaurant. Great atmosphere. Staff friendly. Food nice and well presented but portion size a little small for price paid. pleased I visited but probably wouldn't rush back.

This was my third visit here and it is as memorable as ever. Incredible service, quirky furniture, highly unusual ingredients, and well presented. Definitely a place to come to impress!

It’s was a good experience 3.5 starts is accurate. Fat to expensive. For me

We were a table of six and booked this restaurant for a taste and experience of something a little different. We were not disappointed. We all chose different dishes and they were elegantly presented on the plate, delicious to eat and it was a very pleasant evening all round. My only suggestion to the restaurant is to have hot plates for hot food . I would recommend this restaurant - it is cosy, a little eccentric, but all the better for it. Great service too.

Un super restaurant où sont servis des mets plus qu’exotiques. Du kangourou, du crocodile, de l’espadon fumé… Le cadre est tres kitch comme il se doit. Les cocktails sont pas mal. On y passe un bon moment avec des serveurs aimables.

We arrived at 6.30 and didn’t receive any food until 8.30! We were a group of 26 where 6 people unfortunately dropped out so we expected the restaurant to be ready for the amount of people. We were told we couldn’t order until we’d finished our first round of drinks. The service was just too slow. The decor was flamboyant and very clean. The food was interesting but not as exciting as I’d hoped. I ordered a bug salad and never received that. It was disappointing unfortunately.

I was interested in some exotic meats but was a bit shocked at the haphazard service. There was no allergy menu and every waiter that served me was a different person which meant they couldn’t remember what I wanted and brought me the wrong drink initially. I then went on to enjoy the nicest food which was priced at an acceptable rate for what it was. I wouldn’t say it was value for money but you did get what you paid for in terms or quality. I think this review is honest as it can be as I had some average and some very good experiences on the day but nothing very negative to report. I also liked their lounge music which was some of my favourite pop songs but in a bossa nova style.

The service was super; the food was obviously a bit gimmicky, but cooked really well. The crocodile curry, for example, wasn't served in a spirit of "HA! A crocodile curry!" It was actually really thought through. The staff were really helpful; attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. My only Jay Rayner-style gripe was that was wines started at £35. Still, I wasn't paying this time, and really liked my crickets and swordfish. The furnishings are amazing as well, Recommended.

A wonderful find of a restaurant. Food was incredible and the service was great. Can't fault it. Will definitely return.

My friends and l had decided to meet up here to experience something new and try the specialty meats on offer. When we entered we were presented with a bowl, hot water and one of those dehydrated flannels that expands when wet. Nice in theory but in practice a bit of a nuisance and actually a bit anticlimactic for all the theatre - a theme at Archipelago. The menu is an eclectic mix with a variety of global cuisine influences. The four of us were largely content with what we ordered in that it was passable, but none of it was particularly great; my buffalo was not jerk as titled was mild and just tasted of cinnamon, and the buttermilk jelly side was just odd and unnecessary. The food is definitely style over substance. The service is 50/50 depending on who you get. The male server was great, keen to chat about the menu and engaging; the female servers were slow and unfriendly. We ordered drinks as we sat down, one of those drinks didn’t turn up until mid way through mains (and we had starters!) despite us chasing 3 times. All in all the experience was very disappointing; Archipelago relies too heavily on the novelty factor and doesn’t back it up with great food despite charging prices reflective of the location. If you are looking for novel, creative and delicious food I would recommend going to one of the many independent restaurants throughout soho, and don’t get sucked in by the gimmick of locusts in a salad.

Se andate a Londra e volete regalarvi un'esperienza culinaria tutta da scoprire allora vi consiglio Archipelago. Eistorante con cucina Esotica decisamente fuori dal comune. Potete trovare piatti che vanno dalla Zebra al cammello ai grilli e chi più ne ha più ne metta. Il locale è fantastico caratterizzato perfettamente. Il servizio è perfetto e vi metterano a vostro agio. Il Menù è da spacca mascella per la varietà di opzioni presenti. Il cibo è fantastico un mox di sapori nuovi accompagnati da una stupenda presentazione visiva. Insomma un'esperienza tutta nuova da provare a Londra.

The food was really good, definitely not like any restaurant I've ever been too. The service though, was probably the best I've ever had in a restaurant. They were attentive, knowledgeable and also amusing. Would definitely recommend!

We were looking for something different to eat in London, so I googled 'Exotic Meat Restaurant in London' and Archipelago came up top of the list. Looked very interesting so thought why not! When we arrived we were greeted in very warm and friendly manner, sat at our table and given a refresher towel. Perusing through the menu were all kinds of delights (if you like your exotic meats that is) from Buffalo to Kangeroo and Crocodile etc.....to Bug Salad! :) I've eaten in many Michelin Restaurants through work, but this place is certainly up there! The food was absolutely amazing! Everything was served with an explanation of what it was, the extras etc...so you knew exactly what you were eating. My absolute favorite was the pudding and the 'Curry Ice Cream' it was Devine! The whole meal was amazing and I couldn't fault it or the staff at all! I would definitely visit again and probably try something a bit more adventurous than I did :) Yes it is quite pricey, however you get what you pay for and it was worth every penny!

Visiting London with friends for a few days we decided to try and find a restaurant that was a little different. As luck had it we came across Archipelago, fantastic restaurant, welcoming and knowledgeable staff and the food... wow! Exotic meats cooked to perfection! The person who put the menu together has an brilliant pallete and understands flavour combinations. Who knew curry ice cream with olive cream and cardamon chocolate sponge would work, or that crispy fried bugs in a "love bug salad" could be so tasty. I'm not the most adventurous with my food choices and this was a little out of my perceived comfort zone but really cannot recommend this restaurant enough. We will definitely revisit next time we are in London 😃

Lovely lovely place. I was very happy to find this place after sea to for something different. The manager is such a lovely person, his knowledge of the world foods was amazing. I would highly recommend this to anyone. We had the crocodile and pork belly for a starter and it was delicious, the crocodile had a lovely kick to it and wasn’t spicy, the pork belly with the 3 different apples.. 🤤. Then we had the elk and kangaroo, both amazing dishes and the sauces and side combinations were spot on. What a lovely place. ❤️❤️

This was my 2nd time to Archipelago and it was amazing! The food is exotic and fun and delicious, the owner’s conversation is fun and insightful and the atmosphere transports you to a different place! A real gem of a restaurant and will definitely be going back again soon!

Great out of the way place for exotic food and experience. Friendly staff and great ambiance!

Seasoning of food tasteless, helpings very small. Nothing extraordinary, just the price that was outstandingly high, even the bottle of water was super expensive. Don’t waste money or energy there. I’m just wondering if all the positive comments are paid.

A lot of unusual ingredients but all were prepared beautifully. Highlights were crocodile starter and kangaroo main. But the star was Carson on sponge with dark chocolate and curry ice cream which is 10x better than it sounds. Service was friendly and well informed.

100% recommend. A restaurant with a desire to be unique, a dedication to taking your palette on a world tour and a passion for cooking/flavour. Even if you are nervous about eating "something weird", you should step out of your comfort zone here. Nothing short of fantastic. Thank you Archipelago.

The food was beautifully presented and was very tasty. Great atmosphere and great service! They even let us have our own cake for dessert! Lovely experience and would definitely return again.

The food was amazing, the waiter seemed angered all evening

What a fabulous experience, exceeded our expectations. The exotic food was beautiful presented and prepared. We had so much fun eating the most bizarre foods. The music is interesting, the decor is interesting. There really is no other place like it. Highly recommend. The service was excellent and they threw in little surprises along the way which was really lovely.

Went here to try something a bit different and it definitely did not disappoint. The Portuguese manager (didn’t catch his name) was very helpful and engaging while offering good service. The Zebra jerky was nice but the Kangaroo skewers were the star. Would recommend to anyone willing to try something unique.

We had an amazing time. The food was delicious and we where served by a lovely gentleman, that made us feel very welcome from start to finish. We will definitely be booking again when we are next in the area.

Lovely restaurant, starter portions a little small, all food was lovely.

Great little place with a unique vibe and food!

We were taken here by a family member who insisted we had to try this restaurant.. we were slightly sceptical with it having such an ‘out there’ menu, but it exceeded our expectations!! Don’t let the exoticness of the menu deter you - the food is absolutely amazing, service is spot on and the decor is really interesting and quirky. Our favourite dishes were the kangaroo, crocodile, zebra & camel! All brilliantly cooked and super tasty. Worth a visit to try something new and you won’t forget it! We’ll definitely be back.

This place is fantastic, serving unusual dishes which are very tasty and cooked to perfection. From the minute you set foot through the door you are mesmerised. The place is interesting and quirky in every aspect. The staff are very friendly and helpful so if you want to impress someone with a different dining experience then head straight to ARCHIPELAGO. You won't be disappointed.

The food and service was perfect!

A hidden gem. From the moment you walk through the door this place is so interesting and quirky. The food is unusual but delicious with excellent service and a relaxing atmosphere. Pay this restaurant a visit and i guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Fabulous lunch . Absolutely delicious. The owner looked after us so well , explained every dish . Definitely will return.

Amazing food, amazing decor, amazing service! 1 year anniversary with my girlfriend, and the staff at Archipelago made it very special for us! The food was incredible. The zebra jerky was so tasty. For mains we ordered ostrich steak which was unreal, and crocodile curry (If you like spicy food this is the one for you!). For years I’ve been wanting to try different cuisines and this place has a handful of things you’ve never tried before. Can’t wait to go back and order something different! Big thank you to all at Archipelago, Marco.

Took my 13 year old son here for a treat. We were visiting London after he missed out on a family ski trip as he wasn’t double vaccined!! This was the ultimate treat!! We decided to order x5 starters as main course as we fancied...

Amazing service, attention to detail and great (unique & tasty) food. It was my second time here and I’ll definitely go back soon. We loved everything we ordered and really had a memorable time. There is no place like this anywhere else, I went back...

Interesting restaurant with unusual food, which is well cooked and presented.

Amazing does not begin to describe this small yet charismatic place. Exotic food I have never seen offered anywhere else, courteous and very attentive staff made the whole experience even better! A+ Highly recommended!

Enjoyed a wonderful meal celebrating a family birthday. The food was not only unusual it was also very tasty and well cooked with a lovely infusion of interesting flavours. I would especially recommend the Zebra and the Elk. Save room for dessert though as they...

Fantastic experience - my brother was delighted with everything. Not only did the novelty delight him, but the flavours, ambience, service and small touches were all top notch. In fact, this is such a hidden gem of a restaurant that my brother (who has lived just a 20 minute walk away for 30+ years) was incredibly surprised he hadn’t heard of it. Do yourself and the restaurant team a favour and book yourself a table. As long as you know that there is more unconventional than standard meat on the menu, you won’t regret it!

I went to Archipelago many years ago before it moved to its current location and remember not just the quality of the (very unusual) food but also how much fun the whole experience was. I booked again for a friend's birthday and it was exactly...

Always a great experience! Tasty food and lovely staff ♡

Very tasty food and very good service. Everything was delicious.

We’d read so many good reviews and we were not disappointed. The whole experience was perfect! Passwords, exciting food, amazing service, unusual decor made a perfect dining experience.

Omg this was amazing, definitely try the kangaroo kebabs and the crocodile!!

Excellent experience. Good food and outstanding service.

Dinner with my boyfriend! Was super excited and it did not disappoint. Restaurant was quiet, service was prompt and friendly! We preferred the starters but not to say the mains weren’t great. Will definitely return and have desserts next time! Love the frog legs and crocodile. Can’t wait to return and bring my family to try! Seats were super comfortable!

A cosy taste of the exotic. Good food as before, however, the service has slipped - we waited a long time to order food and for our plates to be cleared and there was nowhere to hang our coats even though they have a downstairs which wasn't being used, so our coats were on the back of our chairs and got in the way.

Very friendly staff and interesting food. I would recommend for a special occasion.

I've been to many London restaurants over the years, many are nice but forgettable. Archipelago was one I will remember for a long time, not only for its creative decor and imaginative menu but also the staff who had plenty of time to chat and...

Fantastic experience. The staff were so helpful with the menu. Charming funny professional. I would definitely go again. Without a doubt one of the best restaurants I have been to

Fantastic food, great service, i feel like i traveled around the world!

Went at a quiet time for lunch, and manager was very friendly and patient explaining the dishes. Food was good, and great opportunity to try something new. Recommend.

I loved the experience 🤩 I tried lots of unique food. Very nice decor in the restaurant. Love the way how the drinks and food menu are presented.

Great exotic food. Friendly service. Lovely ambience and decor.

Amazing experience from start to finish - thank you

Booked a table for a birthday dinner and then called to say we would be running late as there were delays with the tube. We ended up arriving 30 minutes late and they only hold the table for 15 minutes (which is why I called twice). When I called the second time when I way a few minutes away, the person on the phone was very rude and told me "what if I had given your table to someone else?" when I was asking him if we could still come. He then said there was a free table. What was the point of saying this just to make a point? This was my third time at Archipelago so I do enjoy the exotic food and the setting but even during dinner the waiters were rude and were asking us to move our plates and everything around so that they could bring the dishes over. The person from the phone was also one of the person serving us and he was also being rude, almost patronising. Disappointing really, especially because I hyped this place up so much for my friends.

Wonderful experience with wonderful hosts, can't wait to return

Incredible experience! Would recommend to anyone who wants to try something different. Every dish you order is described to you. Fantastic service, relaxing atmosphere. Delicately exquisite food.

Excellent food and excellent service it’s our second time here and we love it! We shall be returning.

Great menu and service, staff were really friendly.

Loved our time at Archipelago. The food was delicious and we tried so many different and exciting things. Can’t wait to come back to sample the rest of the menu.

Not too expensive and a great place to try out new and unusual food.

Brilliant experience all round. Great decor and ambience. Lovely, friendly, helpful service from staff. Super yummy, interesting food and cocktails. We tried crocodile, camel, ostrich, kangaroo and bugs! (There are some more mainstream and veggie options as well for the less adventurous.) Don't regret a penny of cost. Well worth it. Will be back.

Went for a date night and had a fabulous time. The food was delicious and the host was so kind and attentive!

Lovely service, the waiters were attentive and very knowledgeable regarding the menu. The food was tasty!

Very tasty exotic food. Great service. Not cheap but a meal to remember!

Amazing! If you’re looking for something different then definitely somewhere to try! We chose 4 starters to share so that we could experience some of the quirkier items on the menu. Everything we ate was well prepared and tasted great! The place was very clean...

Waste of time restaurant try to sell you an amazing experience but way overpriced for what it is cocktails not what expected just in a normal poxy glass

I love that place! The best food I ever eaten. The food presentation it’s outstanding so the taste!It’s an infusion of flavours. I highly recommend the crocodile, zebra, alpaca, kangaroo, ostrich and the 24k Gold leaf curry ice cream. Delicious!!!

Very good service, food was quirky and surprisingly yummy- unique experience. Would not recommend a visit from the doctor!!

Service was extremely slow, even if the food was worth the wait.

I really loved this place. This is a 5* experience rather than a 5* restaurant but well worth the money. Decor was very quirky, waiter and waitress both went above and beyond and described the dishes as they arrived. Starters quite small. Main meal crocodile...

We had this table booked before covid and were lucky it reopened because the food was wonderful, service great and the host took care to make sure all covid guidelines were followed. We were the only 2 in the restaurant but that didnt spoil it...

I've known about the Archipelago for a few years and have wanted to go ever since hearing about it. I was not disappointed and will not leave it so long before coming back again! It's a bit off the beaten track near Soho and is...

We were greeted into the restaurant by very friendly staff and spent the first few minutes just looking around. The decor is very unusual and there are a lot of interesting things to look at. The food was unusual, reasonably priced, well presented and most...

Nous avons passé un très bon moment et découvert de nouvelles saveurs surprenantes et délicieuses.

Really interesting and tasty food. The Zebra starter was out of this world and the jerked Alpaca was really nicely spiced. Very quirky setting with very personable waiting staff. Well worth a visit!

The food is tasty and well presented. There is a sense on novelty throughout which with the right state of mind can be a lot of fun, and great to share. Limited wine list and ends up being a bit on the expensive side.

We were intrigued by the menu and booked a table as recommended. Place wasn´t filled that night so maybe we would have gotten away without booking. Staff was lovely and helpful unfortunately did the food not life up to the hype. Kangaroo was very tough...

A truly special, quirky and delicious restaurant. Full of personality and a great ambiance, Highly recommended!

It was a very interesting experience. The whole dinner was lovely. Definitely recommend.

Fantistic experience to taste exotic and totally unconventional food. Besides special meats I've already tried in the past, I had the chance to try other kind of never found anywhere else. I don't wanna ruin the surprise of the menu in this evaluation, but I...

We arrived and I told them I had a table booked. They looked and said, “no!’ Do you have a password? We did, we were given it earlier. Giving them the password we were shown to our table. Menus are on scrolls. Lovely staff, happy and polite. Great fun. Lots of interesting wall art and furniture. Food was great. I’d go again and have already recommended the restaurant to friends. Definitely will return.!

Cibo e carni esotiche davvero molto buone. Abbiamo provato varie carni di diversa provenienza (oltre ad insetti) ed erano tutte squisite. La pecca, per cui non ho dato 5 stelle, è che non ci è stato neanche chiesto se volessimo desserts caffe o amari perchè il locale ormai doveva chiudere (erano quasi le 14,30). Peccato!

Always a treat and a great experience!

Definitely a must once in a lifetime, but probably worth it to go back. The setting is quite small but with a considerate number of tables, adorned with a cornucopia of paraphernalia with an exotic theme and lots of warm colours. Nice and thoughtful touches...

Ci presentiamo alle h 20 in 3 ci sono solo altri tre tavoli occupati, entriamo il proprietario o chi per esso non ci viene neanche ad accogliere dopo 5 minuti arriva e ci dice che ha un problema con la cucina e che quindi farà finire solo i tavoli già occupati. Al mio disappunto risponde maleducatamente che dovevamo chiamare e prenotare perché se il ristorante fosse stato tutto pieno anche se venivamo dall’altra parte di Londra non avremmo potuto mangiare. Si certo questo è sicuro peccato che il ristorante non era tutto pieno e che come faceva a finire di servire 3 tavoli se aveva avuto un problema con la cucina mezz’ora prima??? E in ogni caso anche se avessimo prenotato e ci avesse avvisato noi mezz’ora prima eravamo già in viaggio per raggiungere il ristorante. DAVVERO MOLTO MALEDUCATO E POCO PROFESSIONALE IL PROPRIETARIO E LA CUCINA.

Chose this restaurant for a celebratory dinner based on the reviews but were so disappointed. The food is average at best - quirky ingredients yes but the ones we tried (crocodile, alpaca, kangaroo) were overcooked and oversalted. Terrible value for money too - a starter...

My wife and I visited here for a meal on a visit to London, we wanted something that was different the options round our way and were encouraged by the reviews.The restaurant is small and cosy with a very eclectic design. There's an element of fun too right down to the delivery of the menus and the hand towels (think Melissa McCarthy in Spy).In simple terms the meal was fantastic and couldn't be faulted. We shared a cobra salad to start before mains of an ostrich curry and alpaca for mains. All of it was delicious as was my wife's desert too.Service was friendly and prompt throughout - I could fault absolutely nothing about the meal whatsoever. Will definitely be coming back

Strange, but very good. Kangoroo and alpaca are delicious

Tasty restaurant in menu and decor, such an original culinary experience wether you want to impress your other half or entertain a crowd. Lovely intimate atmosphere with an exceptional menu, well thought and executed. Will definitely go back.

En un viaje de un día en Londres con mi hija y ella quería probar el variado menú. El restaurante es pequeño pero cómodo y el propietario nos hizo sentir muy a gusto.

Hemos estado aquí un par de veces, pero esta fue la primera vez que regresamos en unos 2 años y no me decepcionó.

Exotic restaurant, with a very nice atmosphere. We enjoyed to try different specialities, such as insects, zebra, crocodile and the python carpaccio which was amazing! Service in line with the general level of the restaurant, very good! Very nice experience!

Wonderful service, attentive server and host, yummy cocktails, delicious food. The alpaca and ostrich were our favorites.

La comida era increíble, y las raciones tampoco eran pequeñas. Teníamos el cocodrilo y la cebra para empezar, brochetas de filete de avestruz y canguro como platos principales con un lado de hormigas, y de postre, ¡langostas cubiertas de chocolate! El personal fue atento y explicó cada plato con pasión, todo estaba perfectamente preparado, y los cócteles y el café lo remataron todo.