The Best Gastropubs in London – Excellent Food, Wine and Ale

For the perfect combination of good food and an excellent selection of ales and wines, read our guide to the best gastropubs in London.

From old pub classics to more refined pubs with great food, read our guide to the best gastropubs in London.

The Harwood Arms, Fulham

With real pedigree in the kitchen, The Harwood Arms was always destined for great things, becoming the first London pub to achieve a Michelin Star in the 2010 guide (it remains the only one currently).

The interiors are simple and rustic, but the distinctly British cooking, including favourites such as venison scotch egg, is at the top of its game, making it one of the best gastropubs in London.

The Drapers Arms, Islington

One of the finest gastropubs in London where service is wonderful and you feel at home.

Eat in the upstairs dining room or downstairs in the pub that’s bustling and welcoming. The Drapers Arms was awarded a Bib Gourmand in the 2010 Michelin Guide, which it has retained since.

The Coach, Clerkenwell 

The Coach in Clerkenwell gets the balance of proper pub and great food just right.

Drinkable ales and draught lagers from craft breweries like Timothy Taylor, Portobello Brewery, Thornbridge and Stiegl from Austria are available at the bar as well as a list of wines from familiar Old World names and some new and interesting producers.

Keep reading our guide to the best gastropubs in London…

The Cleveland Arms

A charming pub near Paddington, The Cleveland Arms is housed in a beautiful Grade-II listed building.

Recently re-opened after a refurbishment with a new chef, the food in the downstairs dining room is excellent.

Choose from a lunch special menu, an all-day modern European menu, Saturday brunch and a Sunday roast which mixes British pub classics with a more refined restaurant touch.

The Princess of Shoreditch, Shoreditch

The Princess has established itself as a top dining experience in Shoreditch, combining a gastropub, serving classic pub dishes, in the downstairs bar area, with more of a fine dining experience in the upstairs dining room.

Book ahead for the fine dining, or turn up early for the walk in downstairs. The Princess has a lengthy wine list, with many by the glass and carafe options.

Read our guide to the best restaurants in Shoreditch.

The Duke of Wellington, Marylebone

The Duke W1 is one of Marylebone’s best-kept secrets and one of The Best Gastropubs in London.

The bar and upstairs dining room are intimate, if a little cramped, with a cosy and friendly atmosphere.

Read our guide to the best restaurants in Marylebone.

The Gun, Docklands

With a beautiful riverside setting and a large decked terrace to embrace the British summer, The Gun is one of the best dining experience in the Docklands offering a great British pub menu.

In the summer, be sure to visit A Grelha at The Gun, an al fresco Portuguese BBQ of fresh fish and meats on the decked terrace.

The Eagle, Clerkenwell

The Eagle is attributed with being the pioneer of the gastropub movement in the early 90s and it remains at the top of its field with a daily changing, if somewhat limited, menu with Spanish influences.

Due to its popularity, it can become too loud and crowded, but The Eagle strikes the right balance between a pub and a restaurant

The Ship, Wandsworth

Housed on the banks of the Thames by Wandsworth Bridge since 1786, with a quiet and relaxing front bar, a large conservatory and an excellent garden overlooking Wandsworth Bridge, The Ship is a lively and sociable spot for summer drinking.

The Ship is such a popular spot in the summer, and deservedly so!

The Bon Vivant Journal

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