The Best Pubs in London for Food Lovers

Like so many of the best British pubs, The Bull & Last has rustic charm, a friendly team and hearty cooking. The dishes are generous on both quantity and flavour, with one of their North Essex Shorthorn steaks with triple-cooked chips particularly hard to resist, and there's a terrific atmosphere in the ground-floor room. Dogs are welcomed heartily, often coming in from a walk on Hampstead Heath, while seven elegantly furnished bedrooms and a proper cooked breakfast are mightily appealing if you’ve travelled far.

One of two MICHELIN-Starred pubs in London, this is the perfect place to see what top-drawer pub cooking looks like. Straightforward, generous and ingredient-led dishes are the order of the day, with the cuisine’s lack of overt complexity belying the supreme skill and judgement involved in it. Chef Jay Styler and his team use impressive technique and well-balanced accompaniments to get the best out of first-rate ingredients such as Salt Marsh lamb and Rhug Estate venison. Its Camberwell location, away from the city centre, lends the pub an appealing neighbourhood feel.

The first-floor roof terrace is a huge draw at this traditional neighbourhood pub; there are few places better in which to relax with a drink on a sunny summer’s day. The owners are alumni of the famous St. JOHN, and they share that restaurant's principle of no-nonsense, wholesome British cooking that doesn’t skimp on flavour. If you fancy a small party, the cellar room – a collaboration with Italian designer Martino Gamper – is available for hire, with the chefs serving dishes themselves.

Looking every inch a ‘proper’ pub, this classic corner spot could just as easily feel at home in the British countryside. It started life in the mid-19th century, serving refreshment to the cattle drovers taking their livestock to Smithfield Market. As one would expect from the name, the in-house butchered meats are of the highest provenance; there’s variety to the menu however, with roasted fish among the dishes on offer. The only downside is how deservedly popular it is – so make sure to plan ahead and book a table in advance.

Run by the same team as The Kerfield Arms, The Baring retains the welcoming appearance and atmosphere of a traditional public house, whilst quickly making it clear that the cooking is a notch above your usual pub grub. The menu takes on influences from across Europe and dishes maintain a focus on quality over quantity, with fine ingredients used to produce no small amount of flavour. The Sunday roast menu includes options like Swaledale pork belly or Highland beef sirloin for two.

Since it opened in 2020, The Clarence Tavern has established itself as a real fixture of the Stoke Newington neighbourhood in North London. With the feel of a proper London boozer, it’s a place which doesn’t take itself too seriously – while still being committed to serving proper, quality cooking. Dishes are honest, hearty and packed with flavour, while service comes from a sweet, well-organised young team.

There was no shortage of buzz when The Devonshire opened its doors in late 2023. Both as a watering hole specialising in well-poured pints of Guinness and as a no-frills restaurant, it has proven to be an immensely popular spot from day one. Part of that is down to co-landlord Oisín Rogers, an experienced Irishman with all the gregariousness needed for the profession. The cooking, for its part, is simple, honest and predominantly grill-based – expect the likes of lamb cutlets, pork chops and multiple cuts of beef.

While the cooking is highly accomplished at this MICHELIN-Starred pub, in some ways the most admirable quality about The Harwood Arms is that it never forgets it’s a pub. There are no half measures when it comes to flavour and the menu has a strong traditional basis, with subtle nods to the contemporary coming through in the presentation. The spotlight remains firmly on the principal component of the dish, with game being a particular highlight. Their Sunday selection is a mouth-watering prospect too.

The operators of this smartly restored watering hole certainly are heroes to the residents of Maida Vale in West London. Locals flood through its doors for both drinks and dining, enticed by the ‘proper pub’ atmosphere and menu of well-priced, hearty dishes from the traditional pub recipe book. Start off with the likes of fish finger rolls and pork pies, before more substantial fare such as chicken and tarragon pie or pork chop with mustard. The same team are behind The Pelican in Notting Hill.

Chef Max de Nahlik spent time working in several London pub kitchens before taking over the establishment formerly known as The Princess Victoria and firmly putting his stamp on things, including bestowing it with a brand new name. The Holland, as it is today, is a warm, inviting place with a proper bar area and an unfussy approach. Produce leads the way on the short, appealing menu – and it’s worth booking a table at lunchtime to make the most of their fixed-price selection that offers superb value for money.

Smart neighbourhoods often breed strong pubs, which is certainly the case for The Victoria, tucked away among the leafy streets of East Sheen in the southwest of the city. Chef Paul Merrett cooked in some of London’s top kitchens before heading here, where he oversees a menu filled with pubby classics like haddock and chips. They serve a traditional roast on Sundays, of course, and there are six bedrooms available if you’re on an overnight visit.