London's cheesiest dishes, from mac and cheese to fondue and raclette

If cheese makes you feel all gooey inside, you’re in good company in London, with foodie hotspots from street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants ready to show you a gouda time.

From raclette to burrata, pasta to literal chunks of deep-fried halloumi, these are the most un-brie-lievable cheese dishes in London.

Raclette Savoyarde at Alpes

Nevermind perfecting your parallel turns, we all know the best thing about skiing is the melted cheese. The team behind street food sensation Raclette Brothers now run this permanent spot in Brixton serving up its Alpine signature, which sees Savoyarde cheese melted at the table, and scraped onto potatoes, pickles and pancetta.

49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ, alpes.london

Pici cacio e pepe at Padella

Pasta perfector Padella still courts queues outside its tiny London Bridge spot, and its largely the fault of this simple but sublime dish. A traditional Italian classic, the name literally means “cheese and pepper”, and that’s pretty much what it is: hand-rolled pici pasta wriggles through a sauce made largely with parmesan cheese, black pepper and butter, with a little garlic and oregano. Bellissima.

6 Southwark Street, SE1 1TQ, padella.co

Halloumi fries at Oli Baba’s

Oli Baba’s don’t sell cheese fries in the way you know them – here the cheese becomes the fries. A Middle Eastern take on the chip shop staple, Oli Baba’s deep fries strips of halloumi and drizzles them with pomegranate molasses, za’atar yoghurt and chilli honey, adding sprinkles of sumac, mint and pomegranate seeds – 10 out of 10 for invention on this dish.

NW1, E8, olibabas.com

Toastie at Kappacasein Dairy

Not only does Kappacasein Dairy make one of the best toasties in the city, but it makes the cheese for it too. Owner William Oglethorpe has designed his very own Ogleshield cheese to be the perfect candidate for a flavour-packed melt. At their Borough Market stall, it comes mixed with Montgomery cheddar from Somerset, melted with leeks, garlic and onion, all served between two slices of Poilâne.

1 Stoney Street, SE1 9AA, kappacasein.com

Crab mac and cheese at Claw

If you thought the combination of macaroni and cheese couldn’t be improved, seafood restaurant Claw might just have nailed it. Served bubbling in a blistering hot skillet, this carb-tastic offering is packed with both London raclette and the aforementioned Ogleshield cheese, laced with IPA for beer-battered oomph and riddled with salty tidbits of Salcombe brown crab.

21 Kingly Street, W1B 5QA, claw.co.uk

Fondue at The Cheese Bar

From mozzarella stick to Cropwell Bishop toasties, this Camden bar is dedicated to all thing cheese. The daily menu features a four cheese fondue pot, made with a heady mix of Coolea, Ogleshield, Doddington and Mayfield with rosemary potatoes, bread pickles, and the option to add garlicky pork meatballs too. Thursday nights until February 28 will see the bar host a fondue party, featuring multiple fondues from Young Buck Blue to a smoked edition. Just don’t double dip, please.

Unit 93-94 Camden Stables, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH, thecheesebar.co

Burrata at Nopi

Mozzarella is great, but burrata is even better. The luxurious lactose-filled treat is so rich and tasty, the Italians' literally named it “buttered”. While the traditional tomato and basil accompaniment is hard to rival, Yotam Ottolenghi’s Soho restaurant Nopi turns up some inspired alternatives. It’s currently on the menu with clementine, coriander and lavender honey, while former editions have seen it paired with onion squash and grapefruit, or apricots and verjus.

21-22 Warwick Street, W1B 5NE, ottolenghi.co.uk

Bucatini at The Cheese Wheel

For pure theatre, few London cheese dishes beat The Cheese Wheel at Camden Market. The hand rolled bucatini pasta here is only half the story: the threads are then swirled in melting, colossal wheel of Grana Padano parmesan, coating the oiled pasta in a glaze of the rich Italian cheese. Toppings include the likes of pancetta, beef ragi and truffle puree.

West Yard, Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF, cheesewheellondon.com

Cheeseboard at Chez Bruce

If you like your cheese straight-up, a cheeseboard is the purest form of appreciation. While there are many carefully crafted plates on offer at Michelin-starred restaurant Chez Bruce, it’s legendary cheeseboard is one of the unmistakable stars of the show. The cheeses on offer daily number in the double figures easily, with the range expertly chosen by suppliers La Fromagerie, Paxton & Whitfield and Buchanans. Examples arriving in Wandsworth from around the UK and Europe, and make for a pretty perfect way to end a supper.

2 Bellevue Road, SW17 7EG, chezbruce.co.uk