The best pubs in London for food range from storied Victorian establishments to sleek, refurbished hideouts along the capital's suburban fringes. In some, candles illuminate glistening steaks and crispy oil-doused salads, while others serve small plates beside fireplaces under age-old light fittings that've seen thousands of foodies come and go over the centuries. Whether you're in the market for a family-friendly supper over heady Guinnesses or an intimate Sunday roast spot for swirling full-bodied reds and sampling the city's best roasties, this is the best pub food in London right now.
1. The Princess of Shoreditch, Old Street
Tucked away on a quiet street moments away from the chaos of the Old Street roundabout, The Princess of Shoreditch is a haven for foodie pub fans. The space is flooded with light, with huge Crittall windows spanning the corner building and traditional pub features stripped back to austere, contemporary elegance. But head up an original iron staircase to discover a cosier setting, a candlelit dining room which feels more like a refined country home. The à la carte menu is adorned with hearty meaty mains such as Cornish pollock with borlotti beans, chorizo and red pepper and salt-aged lamb rump with English peas and confit garlic – save room for puddings like zingy glazed lemon tart or the burnt honey Basque cheesecake.
Address: 76-78 Paul St, London EC2A 4NE
Website: theprincessofshoreditch.com
2. The Cadogan Arms, Chelsea
It takes a special kind of menu to cause even the ritziest of Chelsea dwellers to abandon all airs as they pack their way into the crowded corners of The Cadogan Arms. With panelled wood, twinkling chandeliers and marble tabletops, SW3’s most sought-after pub blends classic dishes with elevated, modern twists. Start with ye olde pub faithfuls like black pudding scotch eggs and tangy Jersey rock oysters doused in tabasco, lemon and shallots before classic mains – think ham, egg and chips and slow roasted chicken pie beside a pile of creamy mashed potato.
Address: 298 King's Rd, London SW3 5UG
Website: thecadoganarms.london
3. Marksman, Hackney
This Victorian pub has been given a makeover befitting London’s most design-savvy postcode, yet still has some of the sticky-floored charms of a proper boozer. Downstairs, it’s all green banquettes and polished mahogany; upstairs, the Martino Gamper-designed dining room will ensure you never look at lino in the same way again. Chef proprietors Tom Harris and Jon Rotheram – both alumni of St John – draw on their love of bold flavours and simple techniques to create weekly changing menus inspired by London’s history. Menus alter seasonally, of course, although you can guarantee there'll be freshly-shucked oysters to start, followed by hearty pies, tangy terrines and hand-cut chips ready to be smothered in your condiment of choice.
Address: 254 Hackney Rd, London E2 7SJ
Website: marksmanpublichouse.com
4. The French House, Soho
Few things are more Soho than a long lunch in The French; if you happen to have a deadline looming, all the better. Countless writers have found it hard to resist a bottle or two here during work hours – legend has it that Dylan Thomas left an early manuscript of Under Milk Wood under his chair. Unlike many Soho landmarks, it has managed to retain its air of slightly bohemian bonhomie, thanks largely to landlord Lesley Lewis, a former cabaret dancer. Menus are modern British with the odd Gallic note – the name hails from Victor Berlemont, who became the landlord in 1914 (even though he was Belgian). Perhaps the most quintessentially French aspect of it is the abundance of meat on offer: steak tartare doused in Tabasco, blushing lamb navarin, and pâté studded with cubes of crispy bacon. Vegetarians should expect a mostly liquid lunch, but with a choice of 30 wines and Champagnes by the glass, they won’t be short of options.
Address: 49 Dean St, London W1D 5BG
Website: frenchhousesoho.com
5. The Camberwell Arms, Camberwell
This South London stalwart is more restaurant than pub, although there are often a few scruffy-haired students from the local art school perched outside. Inside, expect cream paintwork, fireplaces filled with jugs of dried flowers and artfully distressed floorboards. Frank Boxer and chef Michael Davies are the team behind buzzy rooftop bar Frank’s, and whatever they touch turns to gold. Freshly scrawled chalkboards announce a globally inspired menu. Order cocktails and snacks – highlights include scotch bonnet pork fat on toast and Hereford rump to share, doused in cep and garlic butter.
Address: Studio 4, 65 Camberwell Church Street, London SE5 8TR
Website: thecamberwellarms.co.uk
6. The Duke of Cambridge, Islington
When Britain’s first fully organic pub opened in 1998, eyes were rolled, and pithy articles were written asking how Islington could become even more smug. How times change. Now, however, the Duke of Cambridge is recognised as a pillar of London’s sustainable dining scene. This 19th-century building on a leafy backstreet is a haven of genteel cheer. The sound of well-heeled, arty types clinking glasses of wine echoes around the back dining room, a conservatory filled with plants, while daily-changing menus offer small plates with a twist, such as creel-caught langoustines, spiced brown crab on toast, and hearty soups.
Address: 30 St Peter's Street, London N1 8JT
Website: dukeorganic.co.uk
7. The Harwood Arms, Fulham
This haven of countryside chic hidden among Fulham’s polite residential streets can claim the accolade of being London’s first and, to this day, only Michelin-starred gastropub, and it regularly tops ‘best pub food in the capital’ lists. Flavours are more British than Churchill and the Changing of the Guard combined. Co-owners Brett Graham, of two-Michelin-starred Notting Hill legend The Ledbury, and Mike Robinson are evangelical about provenance and seasonality. As many vegetables as possible are grown on the roof, while game mostly comes from Graham’s land. Menus read like a romp through the home counties in the 1930s: expect faggots, grilled sardines and chocolate malt cake all ensure you leave with your belt one hole looser; with this level of precision, it’s 100 per cent worth it.
Address: Walham Grove, London SW6 1QP
Website: harwoodarms.com
8. Evelyn’s Table at The Blue Posts, Soho
When it comes to the ratio of chefs to diners, it’s hard to beat Evelyn’s Table, an intimate counter concept hidden in the dimly lit guts of one of Soho’s best-known drinking dens. There are only 12 seats, where discerning diners enjoy an elegant five-course tasting menu twice daily. Head chef Seamus Sam is at the helm, bringing his experience from celebrated Michelin-starred restaurants, including The Clove Club and Muse by Tom Aikens. Arrive 15 minutes before your reservation, and expect service to start promptly. Make a night of it with pre- or post-supper sipping in the pub or at The Mulwray wine bar.
Address: The Blue Posts, Cellar, 28 Rupert Street, London W1D 6DJ
Website: theblueposts.co.uk
9. Lore of the Land, Fitzrovia
Lore of the Land is a slightly kitsch sliver of Victoriana that somehow works. The building has been a pub since 1829, although it has just undergone a shabby-yet-chic million-pound makeover by new owners Guy Ritchie and David Beckham. Downstairs in the wood-panelled pub, regulars wearing designer baker-boy caps sip beers from Gritchie Brewing Company and nibble snacks such as crusty sourdough with walnut, treacle and Marmite butter, which tastes even more decadent than it sounds. Follow the smell of meat from Ritchie’s Ashcombe Estate sizzling on a custom-built grill to the upstairs dining room, where every inch of wall space is covered in art from his private collection. Menus change weekly but favour fresh flavour profiles such as miso-poached skate wing and foraged herb salads.
Address: 4 Conway St, London W1T 6BB
Website: gritchiepubs.com
10. The Guinea Grill, Mayfair
This venerable restaurant is living proof that staying the same for long enough will eventually lead to a swing back in fashion. A pub has stood on the site since 1423 – before most of Mayfair was even built – and the current landlords, Young’s, have been steering the ship since 1888. Inside, old boys put away red meat and heavy claret as if they had never heard of gout, while patterned carpets and a collection of caricatures make it feel as if it has tumbled out of a Fifties time capsule. This is a restaurant that’s serious about steak: not only is it a founding member of the Scotch Beef Club, but its steak pie is also regularly voted the best in the UK.
Address: 30 Bruton Pl, London W1J 6NL
Website: theguinea.co.uk
11. The Plimsoll, Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park is fast becoming a dining destination. First, there was Top Cuvée with its excellent small plates and natural wines: now the talented lads from Four Legs (previously in residence at The Compton Arms in Islington) have opened their first pub around the corner in a quiet backstreet nearby, and it doesn’t disappoint. Although it feels very much like a classic Victorian corner boozer, far from everything you’d think of as a gastropub, the food here is the main draw: seasonal plates of deliciousness such as grilled whole Dover sole, freshly made pasta and their legendary Dexter cheeseburger. Go hungry – except on Arsenal match days when the kitchen closes, and keep an eye on their Instagram for fun kitchen takeovers from other London food cool kids, including Willy’s Pies and Mystic Borek.
Address: 52 St Thomas's Road, Finsbury Park, London N4 2QW
Website: theplimsoll.com
12. The Tamil Prince, Islington
Delicious fragrant curries with a refreshing cold pint? Don’t mind if we do. The Tamil Prince is the dream combination of an Indian restaurant and a cosy pub. Since opening in June 2022, word has quickly spread about the impressive cooking at ex-Roti King duo Prince Durairaj and Glen Leeson’s Islington pub. The menu is ideal for sharing, featuring dishes such as crispy okra fries and chicken lollipops, fragrant grilled tiger prawns, and spiced lamb chops, as well as channa bhatura chickpea curry served with a puffball of fried bread. You’ll want to try it all. Leave space for the sticky, syrupy gulab jamun to finish off the meal or order a nightcap from the serious cocktail menu, courtesy of Simone Pugi, formerly of Soho’s Bar Termini.
Address: 115 Hemingford Road, London N1 1BZ
Website: thetamilprince.com
13. The Baring, Islington
Just off Regent’s Canal on an Islington backstreet, you’ll find one of London’s freshest gastropubs. Making waves since its opening in July 2022, this simple neighbourhood pub is serving up superior seasonal dishes that are worth travelling for. This isn’t your usual pub fare – although you can still get a plate of chips, albeit with punchy aioli. Instead, chef Rob Tecwyn, formerly of Dabbous, is creating innovative modern European dishes: order a selection of small plates such as pig cheek, smoked eel and crisp daikon and quail shish with garlic yoghurt or go straight for one of the satisfying mains like ricotta gnudi with pumpkin buttermilk and girolles or steamed sea bream, clams with pink fir potatoes and a chive butter sauce.
Address: The Baring, 55 Baring Street, London N1 3DS
Website: thebaring.co.uk
14. Compton Arms, Highbury
Regulars hunch over bowls of beer-battered cockles and devilled duck hearts in this cosy Highbury establishment. Menus are small and ever-changing, with a disclaimer on the website explaining that dishes may vary from those shown. However, whatever’s rolling out of the kitchen warrants a visit, whether it’s on a drizzly day in the snug or a gloriously sunny summer’s afternoon on the terrace. Cake hunks of bread in whipped butter, crunch through juicy salads, and expect a handful of fishy favourites come rain or shine. It’s best for an intimate pub gathering, with groups capped at six diners.
Address: The Compton Arms, Compton Arms, 4 Compton Avenue, London N1 2XD
Website: comptonarms.co.uk
15. The Waterman's Arms, Barnes
You’ll find The Waterman’s Arms in one of London's quaintest corners, overlooking the River Thames as it flows beside the slow amblings of Barnes’ residents. This is a neighbourhood favoured by famous faces thanks to the tranquil, mind-your-own-business-but-in-a-nice-way vibe it gives off, so don’t be surprised if a TV presenter or Hollywood actor’s feasting on a Sunday roast beside you. The main menu offers a mix of small plates and heartier mains, from satisfying yet straightforward bites like mozzarella drizzled in olive oil and achill oysters with blood orange mignonette to spit-roast chicken with wild garlic to share. Most importantly, Sundays are done properly, with sharing plates of meat surrounded by all the trimmings.
Address: The Waterman’s Arms, 375 Lonsdale Road, London SW13 9PY
Website: watermansarms.co.uk
16. The Hero, Maida Vale
Phil Winser and James Gummer opened The Hero in Maida Vale to much acclaim in 2024. The opening’s popularity should’ve come as no surprise, considering the duo’s previous work on Notting Hill’s The Pelican and The Bull Charlbury. The pub is a cosy haven, with interiors that are somewhere between a Victorian tavern and a contemporary drinking den, featuring sleek lines and earthy tones against a fireplace and candlelit tables. The Hero is all about pub grub done exceptionally well, so expect to pay a premium for your bangers and mash and steak and chips. Things get even fancier in the first-floor Grill Room, with cocktails shaken and stirred in The Library above that.
Address: The Hero - Maida Vale, 55 Shirland Road, London W9 2JD
Website: theherow9.com
17. The Gatehouse, Highgate
Highgate Village’s buzziest pub has the feel of a country inn, albeit with elevated fare and a cultural draw far-flung drinking dens could only dream of in the form of a fringe theatre space. There’s more than enough choice across the various menus, from dry-aged Hereford burgers and Chalkstream trout on the à la carte menu to salt cod fritters and slivers of jamón wrapped around crunchy breadsticks on the tapas set menu. The tapas menu offers fabulous value for large groups, available only for groups of 10 or more.
Address: The Gatehouse, 1 North Road, Highgate Village, London N6 4BD
Website: urbanpubsandbars.com
18. Knave of Clubs, Shoreditch
James Dye (Bambi, Franks) and Benjy Leibowitz (The NoMad) opened the Knave of Clubs in February 2024, and East London’s beer-sloshing foodies forgot about their regular haunts in a flash. Chef Patrick Powell leads the historic Grade II-listed Shoreditch pub’s kitchen, sending morish snacks like fish cakes with lemon aioli, venison sausage rolls and prawn scotch eggs through the pass. Looking for something more substantial? It’s all about the rotisserie chicken – a half or whole portion served with chicken fat potatoes, a crunchy salad, a baguette, and aioli. Rotisserie porchetta with salsa verde and roasted cauliflower, seasoned with vadouvan spices, is also available.
Address: The Knave of Clubs, 25 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6HT
Website: theknaveofclubs.co.uk
19. The Eagle, Farringdon
The Eagle is truly the original classic gastropub. Manager Michael Belben and chef David Eyre originally wanted a restaurant but couldn’t afford it, so in 1991 they opened The Eagle, which is still known as one of the best pubs with food in London. Just around the corner from Exmouth Market, it might not be initially obvious that this relaxed, well-worn public house is a foodie’s dream until you spot the buzzing open kitchen along one side. Then there’s the simple, scrawled, minimal menu that changes twice daily and goes up five minutes before the kitchen opens. Food is fresh, seasonal, hearty and delicious: swordfish steaks with aubergine caponata, stuffed braised squid with saffron rice and whole grilled sea bass, all great with a bottle of wine and the Sunday papers.
Address: The Eagle, 159 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3AL
Website: theeaglefarringdon.co.uk
20. The Telegraph, Putney
Look no further than The Telegraph for a country-style pub just outside the hustle and bustle of the capital. The residents of Putney Village may gasp at our refusal to gatekeep this charming gem, now under the management of the Brunning & Price pub group – but we simply feel obliged to share the news. Wander through the tranquil expanses of Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath before settling in for a feast in the dog-friendly pub, choosing from tapas-style plates of halloumi fries, king prawns in garlic butter and pulled beef brisket croquettes. Finish with scoops of creamy Cheshire Farm ice cream; there is no shortage of flavours to choose from, from cookie dough to raspberry ripple via Salted Caramel.
Address: The Telegraph, Putney Heath, London SW15 3TU
Website: brunningandprice.co.uk