Meat Liquor

Is Meat Liquor worth booking for lunch or a weekend visit in London?

Yes, with clear expectations. Meat Liquor at 37-38 Margaret Street is one of the few burger spots in London to earn consistent recognition from Opinionated About Dining's Cheap Eats in Europe list; ranked #100 in 2023, #112 in 2024, #140 in 2025. That trajectory tells you something useful: the competition at the affordable end of London dining has intensified, but Meat Liquor remains a credible choice when you want a serious burger without a tasting-menu budget. The question is whether it fits your particular visit.

The Space

The Margaret Street site is a basement room with a darkened, graffiti-heavy aesthetic that makes more sense in the evening than at noon. The layout is designed for groups and counter seating, with booths and standing areas that fill quickly on Friday and Saturday nights. For a weekend lunch, the atmosphere is noticeably lower-key than after dark; which is either a feature or a drawback depending on whether you want the full noise-and-neon experience or a more relaxed midday meal. If the space's energy is part of your reason for going, a Saturday evening visit will deliver more of it than a Sunday lunch.

What to Eat

Meat Liquor's menu centres on burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, with a drinks list that includes cocktails and a beer selection. The venue has built its reputation on the Dead Hippie burger, a double patty with mustard, pickles, a proprietary sauce, which has been the reference point for London's better-burger conversation since the brand launched. Beyond that, the chilli fries and hot wings are frequently cited as the supporting orders that make the meal. This is not a place for dietary flexibility; the menu is designed around meat, most dishes are fried or griddled. If you're visiting as a group with mixed dietary needs, check current menu options before you go.

The Weekend and Daytime Case

Meat Liquor opens at 11:30 am every day of the week, which makes it one of the earlier-opening dedicated burger venues in central London. There is no separate brunch menu, you're ordering from the same core list regardless of when you arrive. This is actually an argument in its favour for a late-morning or midday visit: no performance, no brunch upsells, just the food the kitchen does well. Lunch here runs consistently from opening until the evening service picks up, the kitchen is the same regardless of time slot. For a no-fuss Saturday lunch before a West End afternoon, the Margaret Street location is geographically well-placed and easy to walk in and out of without a long reservation lead time.

Booking and Access

Booking difficulty is low. Meat Liquor takes walk-ins, for most daytime slots you should be able to arrive without a reservation and find a seat, particularly Monday through Thursday. Weekend evenings are busier and booking ahead is sensible, though this is not a venue where you'll be locked out a month in advance. Hours run until 11 pm Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday, useful if you want a late meal after something else in the West End.

Practical Details

How It Compares: London's Broader Restaurant Scene

Comparing Meat Liquor to CORE by Clare Smyth, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library, or any other ££££ destination in London is not a useful exercise, these are entirely different decisions. What Meat Liquor competes with is the city's growing field of serious casual venues: Bleecker Burger for a cleaner, less theatrical burger experience, Flesh & Buns if you want something with more menu range and a sit-down format. Against Bleecker, Meat Liquor wins on atmosphere and late-night availability; Bleecker wins on purity of product and a less overwhelming room. For groups who want a lively, affordable meal that doesn't require planning weeks ahead, Meat Liquor is the stronger pick.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I order at Meat Liquor?

• The Dead Hippie burger is the order the venue built its reputation on, a double patty with mustard, pickles, sauce. Add chilli fries and hot wings as sides and you have the full Meat Liquor experience. Beyond that, the menu is intentionally short, so decision fatigue is not a problem here.

Is Meat Liquor good for a special occasion?

• Not in the traditional sense. The room is loud, the format is casual, there is no tasting menu or considered service experience. If your occasion calls for that kind of setting, CORE by Clare Smyth or Sketch are better fits. Meat Liquor works well for a birthday group that wants a fun, low-stress meal at a price point that doesn't require a shared bill conversation.

Can I eat at the bar at Meat Liquor?

• The venue has counter and bar seating alongside booths. Walk-in bar seating is generally available during daytime hours and on weekday evenings. Weekend nights fill faster, arrive early or book if you want a specific spot.

How far ahead should I book Meat Liquor?

• For most daytime slots and weekday evenings, you don't need to book at all. For Friday and Saturday evenings, a same-week reservation is sensible but rarely needs to be arranged more than a few days ahead. This is one of the more accessible venues in central London at this quality level.

Is lunch or dinner better at Meat Liquor?

• Lunch is the lower-effort, lower-noise option, the kitchen delivers the same food and the room is calmer. Dinner, particularly Friday and Saturday, gives you the atmosphere the venue was designed for. If you're coming specifically for the Dead Hippie and want to eat and move on, lunch is the more practical choice. If atmosphere is part of the point, go evenings.

What are alternatives to Meat Liquor in London?

• Bleecker Burger is the closest peer, less theatre, arguably tighter burger execution. Flesh & Buns offers a broader menu in a sit-down format if you want more than burgers. For the full London restaurant picture, see our London restaurants guide.