Latest reviews for Bars & Pubs in Farringdon, London, United Kingdom

Dovetail - Favorite Pub in the Universe by jlevine13

jlevine13 — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:15:29 +0000

Review by jlevine13

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7490 7321

Website: http://www.belgianbars.com

Tags: excellent pub food, relaxed, food

A homey Belgian bar with a funky gothic-like interior. This was a fav of the folks after work to hang out a nice cold Leffe beer and fries with mayo- and bitch about the owners. They have a pretty good selection of Belgian beers plus it has a really good menu of authentic Belgian dishes to boot.A homey Belgian bar with a funky gothic-like interior. This was a fav of the folks after work to hang out a nice cold Leffe beer and fries with mayo- and bitch about the owners. They have a pretty good selection of Belgian beers plus it has a really good menu of authentic Belgian dishes to boot.

The Eagle - More steaks by acrobat

acrobat — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:17:44 +0000

Review by acrobat

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7837 1353

Tags: cosy, food, lively

The eagle is great, an instituion in fact - but you need to get there early before their signature dish - the steak sandwich - is all gone.The eagle is great, an instituion in fact - but you need to get there early before their signature dish - the steak sandwich - is all gone.

The Plumtree - A good value friendly bar/food place by Brodule

Brodule — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:31:50 +0000

Review by Brodule

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7353 8404

Tags: relaxed, independent pub, friendly

An interesting looking bar in a listed building. Has 3 areas and is well suited to parties/functions.
Very friendly staff, above average food and wine, with the winelist being much more interesting than expected and modestly priced.

Free WiFi & were happy to serve a coffee while someone surfed away.An interesting looking bar in a listed building. Has 3 areas and is well suited to parties/functions.
Very friendly staff, above average food and wine, with the winelist being much more interesting than expected and modestly priced.

Free WiFi & were happy to serve a coffee while someone surfed away.

Dion - The All Stars on Wednesday's - fabulous by oogywawa

oogywawa — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:59:58 +0000

Review by oogywawa

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7248 8880

Website: http://www.dionlondon.co.uk/

Tags: live music, relaxed, cool

For anyone wanting a seriously good time watching / dancing to the best session band in the business then Wednesday's at Dion is the place to go.

The music is sublime and a great atmosphere ensures that you'll have great fun and go home with a smile on your face. Great location too - at the back of St Pauls.

Good drinks menu and good snacky bites to eat make the evening go along swimmingly...For anyone wanting a seriously good time watching / dancing to the best session band in the business then Wednesday's at Dion is the place to go.

The music is sublime and a great atmosphere ensures that you'll have great fun and go home with a smile on your face. Great location too - at the back of St Pauls.

Good drinks menu and good snacky bites to eat make the evening go along swimmingly...

Alibi - Alibi by dartwolf

dartwolf — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:29:02 +0000

Review by dartwolf

Rating: 1.00

Phone: 020 7842 0620

Website: http://www.alibi-bar.co.uk

Tags: toptable

Overpriced, Over rated two things that sum up Alibi.

If you're looking for a place that is full of obnoxious essex boys with cheap suits, daft haircuts then this is the place for you.

Pretty much a clone of any other city centre bar you care to name.
Nothing special.Overpriced, Over rated two things that sum up Alibi.

If you're looking for a place that is full of obnoxious essex boys with cheap suits, daft haircuts then this is the place for you.

Pretty much a clone of any other city centre bar you care to name.
Nothing special.

Clerkenwell House - Clerkenwell House by nyreejones

nyreejones — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:40:41 +0000

Review by nyreejones

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7404 1113

Website: http://www.clerkenwellhouse.com/

Tags: cool, friendly, food

If you like cool interiors then this is the bar for you, it is small but funky beautifully decorated. The upstairs bar is nice for a quiet drink with friends with a DJ playing chilled out music and downstairs is the same but a bit more intimate.

If you like cool interiors then this is the bar for you, it is small but funky beautifully decorated. The upstairs bar is nice for a quiet drink with friends with a DJ playing chilled out music and downstairs is the same but a bit more intimate.

Ortega - Olé... by manute10

manute10 — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:35:39 +0000

Review by manute10

Rating: 4.00

Website: http://www.ortegatapas.co.uk/

Tags: relaxed, friendly, spanish

Advisable place: good ambience, many delicious alternatives in food and drink, fantastic music... and Jelena, surely the nicest waitress in all the city of London.Advisable place: good ambience, many delicious alternatives in food and drink, fantastic music... and Jelena, surely the nicest waitress in all the city of London.

Ye Olde Mitre - Great Cider, Great Olives, Great Pickled Eggs! by squirrel

squirrel — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 10:41:36 +0000

Review by squirrel

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7405 4751

Tags: old, cozy, inexpensive

The other reviews say almost everything I wanted to say, but I thought I'd also add this:

The pub does become very full, mostly full of men of the "I am not moving aside for anyone, especially a girl", variety, but you can book the little alcove sitting room on the ground floor and there you can be blissfully undisturbed yet close to the bar.

The olives are great, as are the pickled eggs, if pickled eggs are your thing.

The cider is nice and murky, the decor is well and truly old pub style/

The men behind the bar are lovely.

Let's hope the publican doesn't succumb to the alarming Time To Yuppify This Pub (throw in a few chandeliers, huge mirrors, wooden floors) trend and keeps Ye Old Mitre just as it is. The other reviews say almost everything I wanted to say, but I thought I'd also add this:

The pub does become very full, mostly full of men of the "I am not moving aside for anyone, especially a girl", variety, but you can book the little alcove sitting room on the ground floor and there you can be blissfully undisturbed yet close to the bar.

The olives are great, as are the pickled eggs, if pickled eggs are your thing.

The cider is nice and murky, the decor is well and truly old pub style/

The men behind the bar are lovely.

Let's hope the publican doesn't succumb to the alarming Time To Yuppify This Pub (throw in a few chandeliers, huge mirrors, wooden floors) trend and keeps Ye Old Mitre just as it is.

Ember - After work fave by QueenB

QueenB — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:45:53 +0000

Review by QueenB

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7490 3985

Website: http://www.faucetinn.com

Tags: cool, relaxed, cozy

This is mine and my work mates after work, lets have a drink bar! Great selection of people, all different genres of work, you have your media crowd, financial, PR, all spliced iwth the clubbers heading to Fabric and Turnmills due to it being a stonethrow from the tube station.

You can either chill on a sofa and head home or get ready and have a dance to the DJs and just start your night at Ember.

Staff are nice, helpful and friendly.

Just a shame its Farringdon ;) This is mine and my work mates after work, lets have a drink bar! Great selection of people, all different genres of work, you have your media crowd, financial, PR, all spliced iwth the clubbers heading to Fabric and Turnmills due to it being a stonethrow from the tube station.

You can either chill on a sofa and head home or get ready and have a dance to the DJs and just start your night at Ember.

Staff are nice, helpful and friendly.

Just a shame its Farringdon ;)

Cafe Kick - Fun lively bar by lenalouise

lenalouise — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:17:23 +0000

Review by lenalouise

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7837 8077

Website: http://www.cafekick.co.uk

Tags: friendly, relaxed, cool

The only thing I want to add is that the caipirinhas are really tasty aswell! I actually preferred them to the mojitos I think.The only thing I want to add is that the caipirinhas are really tasty aswell! I actually preferred them to the mojitos I think.

The Coach & Horses - Great gastropub by lenalouise

lenalouise — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:10:21 +0000

Review by lenalouise

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7837 1336

Website: http://www.thecoachandhorses.com/

Tags: british, good food, food

Wondering around Farringdon after a meeting at Trusted Places, I remembered about this friendly, laid-back gastro and decided to go there for dinner. They have great food here so it can get quite busy during peak times but it's possible to ring ahead and book. It's also one of those places where the staff are very knowledgable with the food and don't have to run off to ask the kitchen when you want to know something :D

We had game terrine with chutney and toast and mussels with chorizo to start. This was followed by steak and guinness stew with mashed potato for sam and mackerel with wild mushrooms, confit of turnip and bearnaise sauce.

The game terrine was very well made and looked beautiful on the plate with uniform pieces of various types of game and colourful flecks of carrot. There was also a light coating of truffle oil. It was truly delicious, combining all the different game flavours in one mouthful but the chutney was slightly sweet for me.

The mussels with chorizo was full of flavour as they were pretty generous with the chorizo. The mussels were pretty good quality aswell, hardly any that hadn't opened and they were big, juicy and fleshy.

Both the mains were a really generous size - the waitress was actually surprised we finished everything on our plates! They gave 2 mackerel fillets which were really moist and tender and cooked perfectly. They weren't too oily either. Not entirely convinced with the confit of turnip but it was perfectly edible. The steak and guinness stew was lovely, a smooth luxurious sauce accompanied with creamy mashed potato.

To go with our meal, we had a basket of bread, I had a truffle and we ended up drinking 3 pints and a double bushmills. It all came to Â£62 which is pretty good for the quality. Oh, I have to mention the bread...it is SOOO GOOOOD!! They used to make their own bread fresh every day (according to my chef sources), not sure if they still do. They've recently changed their head chef. The new guy, Nick Leonard has been there just over a month now but it seems like he's doing well for himself if our meal is anything to go by.

Definately give this place a go if you're close :)

Wondering around Farringdon after a meeting at Trusted Places, I remembered about this friendly, laid-back gastro and decided to go there for dinner. They have great food here so it can get quite busy during peak times but it's possible to ring ahead and book. It's also one of those places where the staff are very knowledgable with the food and don't have to run off to ask the kitchen when you want to know something :D

We had game terrine with chutney and toast and mussels with chorizo to start. This was followed by steak and guinness stew with mashed potato for sam and mackerel with wild mushrooms, confit of turnip and bearnaise sauce.

The game terrine was very well made and looked beautiful on the plate with uniform pieces of various types of game and colourful flecks of carrot. There was also a light coating of truffle oil. It was truly delicious, combining all the different game flavours in one mouthful but the chutney was slightly sweet for me.

The mussels with chorizo was full of flavour as they were pretty generous with the chorizo. The mussels were pretty good quality aswell, hardly any that hadn't opened and they were big, juicy and fleshy.

Both the mains were a really generous size - the waitress was actually surprised we finished everything on our plates! They gave 2 mackerel fillets which were really moist and tender and cooked perfectly. They weren't too oily either. Not entirely convinced with the confit of turnip but it was perfectly edible. The steak and guinness stew was lovely, a smooth luxurious sauce accompanied with creamy mashed potato.

To go with our meal, we had a basket of bread, I had a truffle and we ended up drinking 3 pints and a double bushmills. It all came to Â£62 which is pretty good for the quality. Oh, I have to mention the bread...it is SOOO GOOOOD!! They used to make their own bread fresh every day (according to my chef sources), not sure if they still do. They've recently changed their head chef. The new guy, Nick Leonard has been there just over a month now but it seems like he's doing well for himself if our meal is anything to go by.

Definately give this place a go if you're close :)

The Jerusalem Tavern - Best Pub in London? by ONscotland

ONscotland — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:16:52 +0000

Review by ONscotland

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7490 4281

Tags: food, traditional pub, independent pub

This is probably the best pub in London.
It's small, it's busy, it's closed at weekends. So what makes is so special?
For a start, it's owned by an independent brewer, St. Peters, who are based in Suffolk.
So if you want Stella or Strongbow or any of those other well known brands, look elsewhere. (And thankfully, fans of the aforementioned do).
The building dates from 1720, and inside you'll find a welcoming coal fire, which make the wooden chairs and benches slightly more comfortable!
All the beers and ales are naturally from the St Peters brewery, and the wooden pumps are built into the wall behind the bar. Bottled beers are also served, in beautiful oval bottles, and the service is friendly.
There's also a food menu, however I haven't sampled that yet.
The pub can be extremely busy, especially when the Clerkenwell and City set leave work, but if you can avoid the very busiest times, you'll find a charming venue to wile away the hours.This is probably the best pub in London.
It's small, it's busy, it's closed at weekends. So what makes is so special?
For a start, it's owned by an independent brewer, St. Peters, who are based in Suffolk.
So if you want Stella or Strongbow or any of those other well known brands, look elsewhere. (And thankfully, fans of the aforementioned do).
The building dates from 1720, and inside you'll find a welcoming coal fire, which make the wooden chairs and benches slightly more comfortable!
All the beers and ales are naturally from the St Peters brewery, and the wooden pumps are built into the wall behind the bar. Bottled beers are also served, in beautiful oval bottles, and the service is friendly.
There's also a food menu, however I haven't sampled that yet.
The pub can be extremely busy, especially when the Clerkenwell and City set leave work, but if you can avoid the very busiest times, you'll find a charming venue to wile away the hours.

Ye Olde Watling - Lovely olde worlde pubbe in the cittie of Londonee by janie_lou

janie_lou — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:25:18 +0000

Review by janie_lou

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7653 9971

Tags: food, good value, friendly

Sorry, got a bit carried away there! This is a gem of pub on a little cobbled alleyway, the sort which would make you feel like you lived in Dickensian times if it wasn't for all the typical high street food and clothes stores which line this street.

So amongst all these its a nice surprise to find this quaint old pub, with lots of original features including exposed beams which date back to the 17th century (I think, if not they are nonetheless very old indeed). The floors are wonky and the staircases steep and scary. Exactly the sort of character that a building this old should deliver.*

The bar is ideal for people-watching and is usually quite busy. Men who like to drink pints whilst standing up favour this part of the pub. I like the back room, which has mixed level (and mixed comfort) seating, and is much cosier with its soft lighting and candles.

On my first visit was I surprised to notice that this was actually a chain pub - a Nicholson's - as it retains so much charm! The hallmarks of its ownership are only evident really in its uniformed staff, the food menus and those chalk boards with food and drink specials.

This has been my favourite pub for post-work drinks for a good while now but as we've just recently booked this venue for our work christmas party we thought we'd drop by for lunch today to 'officially' check out the food. Work refused to pick up the tab, sadly. The upstairs dining area (also the function room) was open so we ate up there. The waiting staff were friendly and efficient, if perhaps a little too efficient - asking me whether I was ready to order my food and I'd not even had chance to look at a menu! Sausages are meant to be the speciality at this place, so it would've been rude not to order the toad in the hole. It didn't disappoint - an enormous crispy yorkshire pudding was filled to the brim with steaming hot buttery mash, two great big fat meaty sausages, perfectly cooked veggies - all smothered in gravy. Oooh, I could eat it all over again!

I did my usual trick of ignoring my dining companions for a while to nose around at other people's food and everything looked well tasty. All portions were massive, all prices were reasonable, all people looked very happy! Especially that couple sat at the next table who shared a huge slab of gooey looking chocolate cake served with a big dollop of ice-cream. Mmmm.

To sum up the food - its very good value, very tasty, and upstairs at Ye Olde Watling it is served with the efficiency and care you'd get at a restaurant but at a fraction of the cost. I'm sure the service downstairs is pretty decent though.

The pub itself is consistently good, no complaints from me.

* Just had a thought - it does have a disabled toilet and wide doorways so whilst it is quirky and wobbly and olde worlde, it is accessible to all.

Sorry, got a bit carried away there! This is a gem of pub on a little cobbled alleyway, the sort which would make you feel like you lived in Dickensian times if it wasn't for all the typical high street food and clothes stores which line this street.

So amongst all these its a nice surprise to find this quaint old pub, with lots of original features including exposed beams which date back to the 17th century (I think, if not they are nonetheless very old indeed). The floors are wonky and the staircases steep and scary. Exactly the sort of character that a building this old should deliver.*

The bar is ideal for people-watching and is usually quite busy. Men who like to drink pints whilst standing up favour this part of the pub. I like the back room, which has mixed level (and mixed comfort) seating, and is much cosier with its soft lighting and candles.

On my first visit was I surprised to notice that this was actually a chain pub - a Nicholson's - as it retains so much charm! The hallmarks of its ownership are only evident really in its uniformed staff, the food menus and those chalk boards with food and drink specials.

This has been my favourite pub for post-work drinks for a good while now but as we've just recently booked this venue for our work christmas party we thought we'd drop by for lunch today to 'officially' check out the food. Work refused to pick up the tab, sadly. The upstairs dining area (also the function room) was open so we ate up there. The waiting staff were friendly and efficient, if perhaps a little too efficient - asking me whether I was ready to order my food and I'd not even had chance to look at a menu! Sausages are meant to be the speciality at this place, so it would've been rude not to order the toad in the hole. It didn't disappoint - an enormous crispy yorkshire pudding was filled to the brim with steaming hot buttery mash, two great big fat meaty sausages, perfectly cooked veggies - all smothered in gravy. Oooh, I could eat it all over again!

I did my usual trick of ignoring my dining companions for a while to nose around at other people's food and everything looked well tasty. All portions were massive, all prices were reasonable, all people looked very happy! Especially that couple sat at the next table who shared a huge slab of gooey looking chocolate cake served with a big dollop of ice-cream. Mmmm.

To sum up the food - its very good value, very tasty, and upstairs at Ye Olde Watling it is served with the efficiency and care you'd get at a restaurant but at a fraction of the cost. I'm sure the service downstairs is pretty decent though.

The pub itself is consistently good, no complaints from me.

* Just had a thought - it does have a disabled toilet and wide doorways so whilst it is quirky and wobbly and olde worlde, it is accessible to all.

The Old Bank Of England - a popular city pub with good beers by t0m

t0m — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 23:08:36 +0000

Review by t0m

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7430 2255

Website: http://www.fullers.co.uk

Tags: food, traditional english, real ale

This one comes recommended! An incredible building (which you wouldn't suspect of being a pub from the outside), it is roomy and has a great atmosphere. Some good beers on tap make for an excellent city drinking hole.

But be warned, it's a big hit with city folk and is often rammed at 5pm. This one comes recommended! An incredible building (which you wouldn't suspect of being a pub from the outside), it is roomy and has a great atmosphere. Some good beers on tap make for an excellent city drinking hole.

But be warned, it's a big hit with city folk and is often rammed at 5pm.

King Of Diamonds - My local by AndyGibson

AndyGibson — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:40:47 +0000

Review by AndyGibson

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7405 0999

Tags: pool, excellent pub food, modern pub

I love this pub. There's nowhere else quite like it. Punk legends on the walls, Joy Division on the jukebox, utterly bonkers decor, good beer, friendly prices and furniture that I am *determined* to steal for my flat. What's not to love? Smokers have a nice terrace to chuff away on, while I can have a nice pint and a burger downstairs. Pool in the basement too. Could do with a few less suits though.I love this pub. There's nowhere else quite like it. Punk legends on the walls, Joy Division on the jukebox, utterly bonkers decor, good beer, friendly prices and furniture that I am *determined* to steal for my flat. What's not to love? Smokers have a nice terrace to chuff away on, while I can have a nice pint and a burger downstairs. Pool in the basement too. Could do with a few less suits though.

The Three Kings - by MichalD

MichalD — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:27:31 +0000

Review by MichalD

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7253 0483

Tags: food, dj, jukebox

There's even a The Three Kings Pub appreciation Society Group on Facebook - that should tell you a lot.

I like the upstairs bit, in fact, the whole place is great.There's even a The Three Kings Pub appreciation Society Group on Facebook - that should tell you a lot.

I like the upstairs bit, in fact, the whole place is great.

The Viaduct Tavern - by qwghlm

qwghlm — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:59:57 +0000

Review by qwghlm

Rating: 3.00

Phone: 020 7600 1863

Tags: food, after work crowd, good beer

Fairly decent pub for the area. Crawling with lawyer and banker-types on most weekday nights but a lovely interior and a decent selection of beers make it a good stopping off point near Old Bailey.Fairly decent pub for the area. Crawling with lawyer and banker-types on most weekday nights but a lovely interior and a decent selection of beers make it a good stopping off point near Old Bailey.

The Sir John Oldcastle - Good stuff by keynesian330

keynesian330 — Wed, 09 May 2007 19:40:44 +0000

Review by keynesian330

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 020 7242 1013

Website: http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Tags: food, good value, real ale

Usual sort of Wetherspoons pub, great beer selection (especially generous guest lager selection too) and solid nosh. You'll not be disappointed... unless you smoke that is; this is one of those entirely non-smoking Wetherspoons you hear so much about but never actually find.Usual sort of Wetherspoons pub, great beer selection (especially generous guest lager selection too) and solid nosh. You'll not be disappointed... unless you smoke that is; this is one of those entirely non-smoking Wetherspoons you hear so much about but never actually find.

The Hope - The simple, the better by roicinho

roicinho — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:21:31 +0000

Review by roicinho

Rating: 5.00

Phone: 020 7250 1442

Tags: food, excellent pub food, traditional pub

Enter the downstairs pub and there is little you can order. This direct menu is a metaphor of its food: simple and direct.

Roast gammon, roast beef or roast pork; white or brown bread; apple sauce, mustard or horsadish. Combine them as you like wash them down with a pint of ale. What else would you need to be happy being so close to Smithfields?

There is also a restaurant upstairs; everybody says how great their breakfasts are. But book in advanced... otherwise you will end up like myself, running for an hour at 5:30 in the morning to get hungry for breakfast just to find out there is room. Enter the downstairs pub and there is little you can order. This direct menu is a metaphor of its food: simple and direct.

Roast gammon, roast beef or roast pork; white or brown bread; apple sauce, mustard or horsadish. Combine them as you like wash them down with a pint of ale. What else would you need to be happy being so close to Smithfields?

There is also a restaurant upstairs; everybody says how great their breakfasts are. But book in advanced... otherwise you will end up like myself, running for an hour at 5:30 in the morning to get hungry for breakfast just to find out there is room.

Heads and Tails - Heads and Tails by martinhakel

martinhakel — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:36:43 +0000

Review by martinhakel

Rating: 4.00

Phone: 02076000700

Tags: cool, friendly, cozy

Heads and Tails is a bar that has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. A great place to eat as they buy their meat daily from Smithfield market.It's real cooking using real ingredients.

It's a perfect party venue with a wonderful mezzanine bar and balcony over-looking a 250 capacity ground floor bar. The team specialises in organising events - wedding receptions and birthday parties. Slovak Centre in the UK (SKC-UK) already organised two very successful parties over there. I would really recommend it to everybody who would love to organise their own parties. Heads and Tails is a bar that has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. A great place to eat as they buy their meat daily from Smithfield market.It's real cooking using real ingredients.

It's a perfect party venue with a wonderful mezzanine bar and balcony over-looking a 250 capacity ground floor bar. The team specialises in organising events - wedding receptions and birthday parties. Slovak Centre in the UK (SKC-UK) already organised two very successful parties over there. I would really recommend it to everybody who would love to organise their own parties.