IKEA finally opens first standalone restaurant in UK

Brilliant news for meatball lovers

Although the Swedish furniture retailer is known for its affordable flat-pack homewares and trustworthy designs, the brand’s in-store restaurant, which sells its iconic meatballs, has become the highlight of every Ikea trip for many.

The first Ikea restaurant will open in Hammersmith, west London, next to its recently revamped local branch.

The store was formerly home to a wasabi restaurant but it has been fitted out to seat 75 diners, and will serve a wider range of iconic Swedish dishes,  including 8 meatballs served with mashed potatoes, a battered cod and chips, a children’s pasta with tomato sauce, and 8 plant balls served with mashed potatoes, cream sauce, peas and lingonberry jam for £4.95.

There will also be a bargain breakfast option that includes bacon, sausage, a hash brown, omelette, baked beans and tomato for £2.75.

The regular nine-piece breakfast which includes two slices of bacon, two sausages, two hash browns, omelette, baked beans and a tomato is priced at £3.75.

Matthew Gould, Market Manager at IKEA London City said: “We know how much our customers love the Ikea restaurant and we’re excited to celebrate the opening of our very first high street restaurant.

“Fans of our delicious dishes can recharge during their shopping trip with our famous Swedish meatballs, pop in for a traditional Swedish ‘fika’ break for coffee and a sweet treat, or find an affordable meal for the kids right on the high street.”

Meanwhile, the opening of Ikea’s Oxford Street store has faced delays due to leaks in the building’s basement.

Ingka Investment, the investment arm of the retail group, bought the Grade II listed building at 214 Oxford Street after Topshop owner Arcadia fell into administration.

Ikea warned customers that the shop will not open in Spring 2025, as originally planned, due to the complex nature of the renovation.

It said work across all seven floors of the building has seen “significant progress” but it had faced “unexpected conditions” during the process.