Best Pubs in London
Published 02 November 2025

‘A centre point and leader in the Camberwell neighbourhood,’ this popular hostelry doubles as a local drop-in boozer and a reasonably priced restaurant. 'Compelling, simple, seasonal' food is served in a series of relaxed, pared-back spaces where the bones of the old pub remain (note the stripped floors, fireplaces and high Victorian ceilings). A hatch window out front means that drinks can be passed to drinkers on the pavement, and there's also a private dining room with its own bar. A fiery snack of 'Scotch bonnet pork fat on toast' throws down the gauntlet, ahead of a tempting selection of sharing plates ranging from onion squash fritti with pickled chilli and Kentish honey to Newlyn bluefin tuna tartare with bottarga. For something more substantial, look to the grilled fish, Saddleback pork belly with kalibos cabbage or a sharing dish of ‘farmer Tom Jones’ bratwurst with sauerkraut. To finish, the honeycomb ice-cream sundae is a current favourite. Sunday lunches catch the eye, and drinking options include ‘excellent pints’, cocktails and ‘interesting but accessible wines’.

Since opening its doors back in 2003, the laid-back Anchor & Hope has maintained strong pub credentials, making it a great, buzzy bolthole for drinkers and diners alike  – and offering something completely different to the chain restaurants in the immediate area. Indeed, when it comes to food, 'it's definitely still the place to go post-Old/Young Vic if you can get in’, advises a reporter, adding ‘it would always be my choice in the area.’

Comfort levels are basic, but diversion comes in the form of views into the busy kitchen, where seasonal ingredients feature heavily on the short daily menu. It’s a zesty assortment of dishes, the tone set immediately by the likes of a couple of hand-dived Brixham scallops teamed with green tangerine, capers and mint, or a three-cheese and hazelnut soufflé with winter chanterelles and radicchio.

Braised wild venison Provençal with spätzle and Parmesan, or seven-hour lamb shoulder with preserved lemon, cumin, tomatoes and gratin dauphinois (for two), are just a couple of comfort-zone main courses the kitchen does well, followed perhaps by quince and almond tart with clotted cream. There’s a worker’s lunch, too, starting at £11 for one course, and a reasonably priced European wine list with a good choice by the glass or carafe.

One of London's first 'dining pubs' in the 1990s, the Anglesea Arms may have a lower profile these days, but we were heartened by the fact that little appears to have changed – a mix of locals, their friends, children and dogs all contributing to the relaxed neighbourhood vibe. And there’s no doubt that it remains a proper local boozer where you can happily pop in for drinks. It’s quite a rustic retreat, too, with wooden floors, chunky furnishings and a dedicated 'long brick wall' hung with an ever-changing exhibition of photographs and paintings by local artists. 

The menu has a Mediterranean streak running through it, so expect the likes of ham croquetas alongside pappardelle with beef ragù. A generously portioned fritto misto with spiced aïoli was a simple but satisfying start, although the battered seafood (prawns, squid, sea bass and whitebait) could have done with a wee-bit less time in the fryer. But we had no misgivings about a brightly coloured dish of gilled sea bream fillet teamed with new potatoes, sweet datterini tomatoes and thinly shaved courgettes, all lifted by a zesty sauce of white wine, olive oil and lemon. To finish, a panna cotta with poached rhubarb in a light rhubarb syrup sent us away on a happy note. 

Service is generally reckoned to be 'warm and friendly’, while the drinks list spans everything from bottled beers, ciders and monthly changing real ales from the likes of Fuller's to a tight and well-edited wine list with fair prices and more than 20 selections by the glass. 

For anyone with misgivings about pubs with restaurant inclinations, this ‘characterful’ urban hostelry should set you straight. As befits a sibling of Southwark’s Anchor & Hope and others, the Canton Arms is fully committed to its role as an old-fashioned city boozer. ‘Buzzy and unpretentious’, there’s pretty much a 50/50 split between drinkers knocking back pints of real ale and nibbling toasties in the front bar, and those who come for the consistently delicious food served in the dining area at the back. Ingredients are seasonally spot-on, while the daily changing menu ‘makes you want to come back and try something else’ – perhaps celeriac and potato pithivier ahead of East Coast skate grenobloise or slow-cooked Provençal-style lamb shank with white beans and parsley. After that, you might fancy steamed blackberry jam sponge pudding or a little custard pot with raspberry compôte. It’s all considered good value – and that includes a line-up of drinks ranging from a terrific selection of regularly rotated real ales and an impressive selection of classic cocktails to a perfectly judged European wine list.

Are Oisín Rogers, Charlie Carroll and chef Ashley Palmer-Watts champions of a new era in pubs? The Devonshire is certainly one of the most enjoyable places to eat in the capital (if you can get in) and looks set to become an institution. Ingredients are impeccable and the strong meat-focused menu delivers hugely appealing dishes in the lively environment of a central London watering hole. If you’re after value as well as quality, look for no further than the fixed-price lunch, which delivers prawn and langoustine cocktail, skirt steak with duck-fat chips and béarnaise sauce, plus luscious sticky toffee pudding – all for £29. Otherwise, flames are at the heart of things, with wood-fired Ibérico pork chops, lamb cutlets, steaks and lobsters keeping company with the likes of lamb hotpot or ‘a pile of langoustines’ on the hand-scrawled menu. On Sundays, roast ribs of beef carved from a silver-domed trolley have helped to restore the tradition in this part of town. Guinness is the tipple of choice in the permanently rammed bar, but you can also drink well from the mainly European wine list. The pub has a rooftop terrace for fine-weather dining, too.

Generally regarded as triggering the phenomenon that was the ‘gastropub’, the Eagle landed on Farringdon Road in 1991 and has resisted all forms of gentrification over the years. Ever-lively and ever-popular, it parades its pubby credentials with ‘free eating’ at small tables and bar stools around the perimeter – although you can book. Order at the bar: choose one of the beers from the row of taps and pick your food from the day’s menu scrawled on the board over the stove. Edward Mottershaw cooks gutsy, country food from across Europe, but mostly from Italy and the Iberian Peninsula. The ‘bife ana’ rump steak sandwich has been on the menu since day one and still reigns supreme – although others prefer the heartier seasonally adapted dishes, perhaps smoked mackerel niçoise or grilled Napoli sausages with lentil salad, followed by panna cotta with raspberries or the near-ubiquitous burnt Basque cheesecake. Spain dominates the cracking list of quaffable and affordable wines, or you could plump for a well-mixed cocktail. ‘No fuss, no frills, and everything is done with a lot of love.’

Sibling to the Baring in Hoxton, this tastefully restored Victorian pub is already a hit with Camberwell locals. Stripped-back interiors, Art Deco-style lighting and neutral colours could be the template for a new-wave urban pub, but the quality of the food and unstuffy atmosphere raise this place above the crowd, while outdoor seating is a bonus in this neck of the woods. Jay Styler’s cooking is clever and confident, plays to its strengths and knows its limits, with seasonal British produce in the box seat. The menu is short and deceptively simple, bursting with big flavours that hit the spot. Halibut pastrami with buttermilk dressing and house pickles is a zesty starter, while desserts include a must-have fruit-topped doughnut oozing camomile custard. In between, there are grilled bacon chops, slabs of Highland sirloin to share, and seafood such as Peterhead cod with Jerusalem artichoke, spinach, and hazelnut sauce. With ‘incredible lunch deals’, real ales on tap, some terrific wines by the glass or carafe, and a rosehip spritz on the aperitif list, it’s the sort of pub you’d be happy to call your local.

A stellar blueprint for the Public House Group, this strikingly converted Notting Hill hostelry has lost none of its appeal as an exceptional neighbourhood hangout. Good vibes and great service are a given and the place has a terrific community spirit, with lots of entertainment including perudo nights, ma jong and seasonal game dinners. The owners are also serious about provenance and biodiversity: vegetables are sourced from the group’s own market garden in Oxfordshire, and they cooperate with farmers who are championing regenerative methods. Regulars reckon there isn’t a dud on the menu, although dish descriptions are pared back to the bare necessities (‘trout, cucumber’; ‘pork collar, cabbage’). Whether you’re inclined towards something veggie (onion tart with watercress) or fancy a meaty fix (raw beef with runner beans), there’s always something tasty on offer. If you’re holed up in the bar, you can snack on cod cheeks with curry sauce or mince on toast while supping one of the superbly kept beers from London breweries and elsewhere (Portobello Pils, Dalston Sunrise IPA). There’s a carefully curated wine list too.

Taking its name from the warship HMS Surprise, this neighbourhood pub has stood on a quiet spot, a short walk from the King's Road, since 1853. In keeping with its neighbourhood vibe, green leather banquettes, a fireplace and peach-painted walls create a vintage/cosy feel. Indeed, the inviting ambience and good-natured staff are enough to encourage those popping in for a drink to linger and perhaps explore bar snacks such as seafood croquettes or Wiltshire cocktail sausages with mustard and honey dip. 

The straightforward menu runs from fish and chips to Somerset pork tomahawk and Sunday roasts (including a veggie option of pearl barley, celeriac and wild mushroom Wellington). We started with cured sea trout paired with thick-cut fennel finished off with apple slices and a lemony crème fraîche and dill, followed by a juicy Creedy Carver duck breast teamed with bubble and squeak, savoy cabbage and a topping of thyme crumble and blackberries. A seasonal dessert of English plums and Bramley apples with a light dusting of crumble and Cornish clotted cream made a pleasant way to finish. 

The drinks list leads off with cocktails, followed by craft beers, whiskies, and some delightful wines (especially if your tipple is Burgundy or Bordeaux), ranging from £34 right up to a Château Lafite Rothschild from the sensational 2003 vintage, at a whopping £950.

‘Great food, superb beer and good hospitality… in a charming street near the canal,’ is one reporter's verdict on this sibling of the Tamil Prince in Barnsbury, which is run along similar lines to its predecessor. What was the old Charles Lamb pub on Elia Street has been spruced up with a first-floor dining room specialising in South Indian food and a ground-floor bar, complete with a cosy fireplace, candles and a sofa – ideal if you fancy a pint and a quick bite. Snacks such as okra fries and lime-leaf roasted chicken with pineapple regularly get the thumbs-up, but also consider the grills and regional curries – perhaps mango sambar or Chettinad lamb. The coconut pilau rice is ‘excellent’, as are the flaky roti breads. To finish, the preferred option is refreshing mango lassi. Also check out the unusual Sunday menu, with its masala-roasted chickens and lamb shanks, plus Indian accompaniments including mixed vegetable avial, stir-fried cabbage, mango pickle and poppadoms. Draught beers from Cornwall’s Harbour Brewing Co feature at the bar, and there’s a short list of interesting wines too. 

‘A warm welcome, unmatchable vibes, incredible views and outstanding hospitality’ are just some of the attributes of this revamped riverside hostelry, which now sets out its stall as a neighbourhood pub-cum-restaurant, complete with a balcony for gazing over the river. The kitchen is headed by Sam Andrews (ex-Camberwell Arms and Soho's Ducksoup), who has created a concise, Med-accented seasonal menu with daily specials chalked up on a board – market fish with wild oregano and chilli or steak with beef lardons, for example. The cooking is direct, and the kitchen teases out maximum flavour with the minimum of fuss – as in potato fritters with beef ragù and pecorino, mussels with cavolo nero and San Marzano tomatoes or aubergine and scamorza lasagne. Weekday lunches on Thursdays and Fridays are great value, and Sunday brings a choice of roasts in addition to the usual repertoire (perhaps spit-roast piri-piri chicken or porchetta with fennel relish). Service is everything you could wish for, and like everything here, the drinks selection has been put together with care and proper attention to detail.