London Restaurants within a 5 minute walk of Barbican Station | Ratings, Reviews & Maps

We had a lovely stay at Malmaison London. The hotel has a great atmosphere, stylish decor, and a welcoming feel. A special thank you to Victor for his unique and thoughtful attention throughout our stay. He went above and beyond to make us feel valued and looked after, and his kindness truly made our experience extra special. The only small downside was that the rooms were a bit hot, which made it slightly less comfortable at times. Aside from that, everything else was wonderful, and we genuinely appreciated the excellent service. We would happily stay here again.
Keren Gur-Lavi - 3 months ago

I was rather disappointed. My room was small and had no windows. When I arrived the room was freezing cold, because the AC was set to 15 degrees. The breakfast buffet was very simple, but the breakfast is in the basement (again no windows). I wanted to use the (tiny) gym (again in the basement), but I couldn't because someone who would only come at 8am still had to log into the bicycle trainer... Overall not a good experience. I will not come again. The staff was very friendly though.
Daniel Wagner - 3 months ago

We spent here one night, but the hotel overcame our expectations! Victor at the reception was the most helpful and kind - he gave us a lot of advice, as we were attending a concert in Wembley, so we really appreciated that! Room was really clean and comfortable with spacious bathroom with all necessary amenities, like hairdryer, shampoos, etc. We especially appreciated very nice notes everywhere, like Strike a pose, you are on camera or Too hot to handle in the bathroom shower😄. Bed was really comfortable, we slept really well, it was very quiet during the night. Overall, great value for money, great experience and atmosphere, with walking distance to St.Paul's cathedral and a minute to metro station. We'll definitely come back!
Eva Lichnerová - 2 months ago

Lovely, modern hotel. We went on a really hot (+30C) bank holiday weekend and our 2 rooms had AC so we stayed comfortable all night. Nice rooms. Nothing to complain about. Our second time using this hotel and would use again. Some/limited (cheap not free) on site parking which is a bonus in London. Tube station within short walking distance. Plenty of cafes (I would recommend Roni's for breakfast) and coffee shops close by (also some restaurants too.
J Dhillon - 4 months ago

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This is one of the ‘head to toe’ pioneering restaurants in London that needs no introduction. I was there a few times including the main restaurant as well as the bar / cafe area in front. The main restaurant has everything I like about an authentic good restaurant which stamps its own mark in the culinary world - their choice of ingredients, their take to cooking as well as their own interpretation of what’s best. Last time we went we had their bone marrow, grilled Jerusalem artichoke, quail, crispy pig’s cheek & ginger loaf. Having tried a number of highly popular restaurants in the city, I have to say St. John is still one of my absolute favourites. The dishes seem to appear effortlessly, in their best state & tastes, but without appearing too earnest. It is, no doubt, really English cuisine at its best. Deco is minimalist but tables lined with white linen. The par down atmosphere goes well with the original bacon smoked house architecture which we adore.
Lorna W - a month ago

St. John is a restaurant for those that really enjoy food and understand what they represent and what Henderson has done as a pioneer of nose to tail cooking. A real food nerd's destination and an open mind is needed to be able to order and experience the offal and off cuts that reclaim some English, classic dishes. It's important to do a little research because the dishes served are not things often seen on menus, especially American menus. The bone marrow and welsh rarebit are classics and a must. The crab on toast is another menu mainstay; the whole brown crab is the alternative for those willing to put more work in. The green sauce is also ever present with the a daily fish. Our table went offal with the gizzard salad (wow, so tender and the dressing had good zing), rissole (mince meat croquet that packed intense meat flavor), roasted heart special (the cut was packed with umami and had a nice balance of toothsome and tenderness), and the cockles bacon and samphire (wonderfully smoke from the bacon and grass and salt in the sea beans). Service was pleasant and straightforward, but it was the food that really shined for us. A wonderful meal with the madelines being a nice finishing touch.
Vinh N. - 2 months ago

A legendary London restaurant I’ve long wanted to visit: St. John. Located right next to London’s largest meat wholesale market, it’s famous for its exceptional offal dishes and lesser-known cuts, especially its iconic beef offal. Today’s daily special was ox heart, and it was absolutely stunning—so delicious and perfectly executed. The bone marrow was also fantastic and well worth trying. The whole atmosphere is wonderfully comfortable, and the staff are excellent and incredibly welcoming, taking the time to explain so many dishes to us. We had a truly lovely lunch. Highly recommended.
Golucci - 4 months ago

Delicious, really well portioned and decently priced food with very interesting ingredients. The atmosphere and the decor is very minimalistic and simple, which I found very pleasant. The parchment paper covering the tables could be skipped though. The service was pretty good, although could have been a bit more welcoming. All together really something different, definitely worth a visit.
dorian96 - 2 months ago

Visiting from Canada, been to London several times. This was a bucket list place for us after seeing Anthony Bourdain here. We also have a huge respect for the 'snout to tail' concept of cuisine. Our server, Ash, was exceptional. Great sense of humour, knowledge of the menu and he even surprised us with a birthday candle on our dessert. We were a party of 4, and we shared our meals. Loved the ox tongue and bath chaps. Go for the food and the experience. Worth it! Thank you so much.
Derek Nickles - 3 months ago

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I would definitely recommend this spot. The food was fresh, served warm, generously portioned, and full of flavour. It offers a great atmosphere, whether you're looking for an intimate meal or a place to meet with friends and larger groups. There was a slight hiccup with my order, but the server apologised promptly and handled the situation professionally. It's also conveniently located directly opposite Farringdon Underground station, making it easy to find and access.
Marvin Grinion - 3 months ago

The Old Red Cow is situated directly opposite Farringdon Station. This independent pub has 13 beers on tap and a further two on cask. The service is friendly and attentive. In the cosy bar on the upper floor, I enjoy excellent ‘fish and chips (beer-battered cod fillet with chunky chips, tartar sauce and a choice of mushy peas)’ and a decent ‘Old Red Cow Lager’. Atmosphere: 5 stars Service: 5 stars Food: 5 stars Value for money: 5 stars Return visit factor: 5 stars
Nikolaus Herbert - 2 months ago

I love this place, I had a lovely Sunday roast on Easter Sunday. The food was great, plentiful, lot of veg, which I love. Maybe I would like a better roast on the potatos, but still, amazing. The waiter was super kind and helpful. Don't hesitate to ask for a box for your leftovers. Ambiance of this pub was super cool, amazing music too (like Led Zeppelin etc.).
Ivana Babić - 6 months ago

Came here for a Sunday roast dinner and a pint. We arrived before 5:30 and they had run out of the chicken and lamb, so we ended up getting the beef and mushroom Wellington. The portion of food was great, and it really hit the spot. Service was fantastic!
Gloria Jin - 7 months ago

What an amazing place, excellent food. Huge portions, amazing staff, especially the Spanish waitress, she never stopped, on the go all the time. Kept everything moving smoothly
Helen Marriott - 3 months ago

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A good pub close to Barbican, with plenty of tables to sit down. I really liked the “Shakes Alphabet” — fun and clever, and it adds a nice touch to the place.
K Migs - 5 months ago

🚇 Barbican 🍺 £6.70 Moretti ❤️ A brutalist Barbican boozer. The Shakespeare sits on a corner of a crescent of shops and flats at the front end of the Golden Lane Estate EC1. The nearest Tube is Barbican which is only a two minute walk. The Shakespeare was built in 1964 and is Grade II listed. The name is inspired by the Bard himself, who lived some hundred metres away throughout his time in London. The is a one bar pub with a comedy club in the basement. The bar is set out in almost a “H” shape with the servery on the left hand side as you walk in. Even though this pub is traditionally decorated, due to the architecture of the building it does feel modern in here. The seating is a mix of elongated leatherette banquettes, a few poser tables and traditional tables and chairs. Around the walls are gold framed Elizabethan era repro portraits, mirrors and chalkboards with promotions. The beer choice was a straightforward selection of keg beers and ciders. I opted for a Moretti, decent enough pint but a bit pricey for this lager. There is a simple eclectic food menu comprising of Burgers, pasta and Toasties, a Ham & Cheese Toastie cost £5.95. I arrived around 4.30pm on a sunny Friday afternoon in July. The pub was fairly quiet as Fridays in the city are not as busy as they once was. There were a few punters sat inside, the majority were sat outside enjoying the summer sun and watching the world go by. The service here was excellent, the Guvnor is a bit of a character, he was jovial and set an upbeat tone. @theshakespearebarbican is not the most handsome of boozers you’ll come across and almost has an estate pub feel. I enjoyed my visit here primarily due to the pub’s location and sitting outside watching the comings and goings around the Barbican. This pub is worth a look of you’re in the area. ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 07.07.23
London Pub Map - 3 years ago

A great pub with great atmosphere, comfy sofa/chairs, a piano, a resident cat- and most importantly has a few boardgames. So essentially you can always come here with your friends and play (for free might I add- unlike those commercial and expensive boardgame pubs)
Sazid Ahmad - 3 years ago

The barmen were friendly. Happy hour cocktails (5-7pm) are valid when ordering the same drink. The food menu was quite limited but from the options available, we chose tortellini and a beef burger - both were delicious. Toilet facilities could be better.
Edward Rayner - 4 years ago

The bartender was very knowledgeable and helpful. There wasnt a lot of options but maybe thats typical for a pub? We loved the resident cat!!
Amy Swickard - 3 months ago

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bumped here by chance for a Saturday lunch in late Feb. food was done with great care. my photo doesn't show its taste well. I couldn't try their vast wine menu at that time. should visit for a dinner.
mikyung jang - 5 months ago

The food was excellent. I had to remind the waiter that I had ordered a spinach side dish... it arrived some 10 minutes into the meal. Same waiter, struggling to take the capsule (foil) off the £80 bottle, made us wonder if we had purchased a shake-before-use wine. Thankfully a wine without sediment. On two occasions Staff arrived at our table with a view to removing plates/cutlery when we had not finished. Bit disappointing that...
Han van de Braak - 3 months ago

Bavette is back!! Have been coming here for 20 years and it was always the bavette that brought us back. Was sad to see it go and rushed to visit when we saw it was back on the menu. It did not disappoint. Beautifully done as medium rare and with a fabulous green salsa. The chip sides are fab alongside it. Might just be better than before. Great shop price wine list too keeps the bill incredibly reasonable for the quality of food. Lovely service and atmosphere.
Siobhan Woodrow - a month ago

This was our choice of a dinner venue after visiting The Piano works. It is a small intimate restaurant and wine bar which was busy, but still had a nice relaxed feel about it. We enjoyed an excellent bottle of Rose wine and several dishes from the very interesting menu. The food lends itself to being enjoyed as a sharing type meal similar to tapas. The Venison meatballs were outstanding. My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed everything we ate. A little gem of a wine bar.
Ralphie - 11 months ago

We booked the private dining room downstairs for my partner’s 50th and it was excellent. The food was delicious and all served together which was impressive. We were hosted by Francis and Ofo who were so accommodating and efficient. Nothing was too much trouble and the whole evening went smoothly. Thanks so much!
Natalie - 4 months ago

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Such a unique experience and definitely something worth trying at least once! Dining in complete darkness completely changes the way you experience food. Without being distracted by your phone, the surroundings or even the presentation, you naturally focus much more on the flavours, textures and aromas. A special thank you to Michael, who guided us throughout the evening. He was warm, patient and made us feel completely comfortable from the moment we entered the dark dining room. This was much more than just a meal. It was a memorable and thought-provoking experience, and one I would happily recommend to anyone looking for something genuinely different in London.
hare super - 2 months ago

The staff is amazing! Especial mention to Simone as she allowed me to live and enjoy the experience according my personal needs. She helped me massively! Thanks again lovely! -otherwise I would have missed the experience. Food was really good and from what my tummy reckons the portions are good too! My admiration and empathy to impaired community is even bigger now, definitely. If I could suggest something this would be to strongly advice people not to be loud as this can negatively impact the atmosphere.
Esperanza758 Narvarte - 4 months ago

Absolutly pitch black! Very entertaining start to the experiance making your way into the room, finding the table and pouring a glass of water but the quality of the food was terrible. Was expecting a flavourful, fine dining experiance and got a budget meal that I would even be questioning at weatherspoons. Not worth the price tag. A positive was our waitress Manel who was really lovely.
Abe Heaton - 2 months ago

A phenomenal and unique experience that everyone should try - unless, of course, you are afraid of the dark! The food was better than I'd expected from reading through people's reviews, and the experience of navigating in the dark, using cutlery, and guessing what food we were eating was very enjoyable. All my senses felt amplified with the loss of my sight, and even though we only spent about an hour in the blacked out room, it was probably one of the most memorable hours of my life. Special thanks to our guide Michael, who helped us find our bearings in the dark and reassured us all the way.
Athena Liu - 3 months ago

An Absolutly amazing experience - A little unsettling at first as you are aware it’s going to be dark but wow to lose all sight was a strange feeling. Micheal our waiter was lovely. Felt confident being guided by him and he was always there when we called. The food was amazing- we both agreed if we had seen it on a menu we wouldn’t have made the choice to have those dishes - but how wrong we would have been. They were so tasty, fresh and exciting to eat because we didn’t know. Trying to guess the ingredients and yes we got a lot wrong but that didn’t take anything away from the experience it Added to it.
Lauren Rowbottom - a month ago

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I’m writing this review with mixed feelings for a different reasons, The first is that years ago I used to come here and love the meat and this is why I’ve brought a customer to this restaurant again and one main element was a miss The service was spectacular especially when it came to the sommelier, I’m a bit picky about my wines and she was spot on - I’ll come back just for her I’ll group the starters and the sides and give them a high score, they were special, well prepared, seasoned perfectly and very pleasing Where the restaurant fell short is on its main ingredient, the steak, we took one of the sharing dishes and for a medium rare meat it was very chewy- I make my own meat and I can tell you that this was not good - not only this, the cut we got had too much fact on it. In hindsight, I should have returned it and if we weren’t already well into our drinks I may have done that The cocktails were quite good especially the spicy cocktail with Tabasco which definitely carried a punch but we loved it So, there are plenty of reasons to come back and one of them is to remember again how a properly cooked steak can be prepared by them
RnnB - 4 months ago

Exceptional dinner at Smith's a few months ago. The food was out of this world both in presentation and flavour! We were so well looked after by the staff and I would be back again in a heartbeat. The Grill is the perfect location for a special dinner. I'll be back as soon as I'm next in London.
Claire Dibben - 6 months ago

Had a lovely experience yesterday. We tried the chefs choice menu. Very good value for the price. Service by Kashayla was amazing she was absolutely lovely. Perfect spot for summer nights
ternus jessie - 5 months ago

Smiths of Smithfield had good food, but poor service and a busy atmosphere. Upon arrival, we were seated and waited 15+ minutes for a server to come to us to order drinks or food. When we were first approached, we asked for a specific bottle of wine and were told we could not order the bottle through the waitress but had to wait for the sommelier (despite knowing what we wanted). We waited another 5-10 minutes until she came and we were able to order. Then a few more minutes for the server to come take our order. We were seated at least 20 minutes total before we were helped with anything. The starters were good - the steak tartare, oysters, and scallops were all tasty.We ordered the t-bone and chateaubriand both medium rare, but I much preferred the t-bone, though it was cut with so much meat left on the bone. The ox cheek mash was the highlight of the meal. Overall, the service was unfortunately what left me wanting more. Between the long waits & asking the waitress for more water twice (and never receiving it), we were disappointed. The place was very noisy, which I am not accustomed to for a “steakhouse”. At the end, after ordering over 600 pounds worth of food, we went to order dessert and they were out of what we wanted. When we asked to modify the ice cream flavor on a second dessert, the waitress said it was just “too busy to ask the servers to change something”. After paying so much, I would really have appreciated simply changing out an ice cream flavor, but that wasn’t provided.
Sabs A - 9 months ago

This place is very popular but I found it to be mediocre in terms of the quantity and quality of the food for the money they charge. Worth dining once but there are plenty of other options in the neighborhood that are much more reasonably priced and offer better food.
Ashish Gupta - 4 months ago

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Floor is bigger in my caravan, obviously just for an afternoon drink,rather than a dance venue, music ok.Maybe they should put how big the venues are?¿and specify, what kind of event .Card only also, good job I had mine with me, because I don't always,,Cash is still king in my opinion,use it or lose it 😉you live and learn.
Edward Jackson - 4 months ago

The pizza was very good, except if you get the vodka pepperoni with 'double pepperoni', it was not double pepperoni. I would consider the amount provided not even a single pepperoni portion wise. Do not get your hopes up regarding the quantity of red meat slices. Other than that, it was very good.
Cian McMullen - a month ago

Amazing cozy pub serving crispy base pizza and good house pours 🍻🍻. We ordered one of everything for pizza. Great place for team drinks+food on a budget 😊
Chloe Chan - a year ago

Works drinks for a colleague who was sadly leaving. Fantastic food. Lovely to have have our own area downstairs that felt safe to put bags down and wonderful to have a bar downstairs that can cater for most desires. I suspect we'll be back!
Julian Rose - 4 months ago

What a cool place! Stopped for drinks on a Saturday afternoon. Female DJ spinning soul on vinyl, super friendly barman, and groups of mods and Northern Soul enthusiasts digging the tunes. Didn't try the pizza this time but they looked fab. Immaculately clean throughout. Will definitely return.
Fee 1 - 11 months ago

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A French foodie colleague recommended this place for some authentic, homey French food. Indeed it was! Loved every moment. All dishes were tasty, I’d say the flavours are quite mild overall. Was impressed with the lamb - huge portions and it was surprisingly soft and juicy but had no smell! I came here for my birthday and so did many other tables. Had the luxury of hearing the happy birthday song live several times! They also give you an extra dessert (on the restaurant). Such a lovely place, go visit if you’re around.
애옹애옹 - 4 months ago

We made a last minute booking on a Tuesday and visited this French restaurant hidden in an alleyway of my neighbourhood. We were led to a table which was kind of small though. The all-men wait staff team was attentive and friendly. The live piano music came softly and unnoticeably. We had a few dishes to share and they were all good. We asked to take away the leftover steak and the nice server who wrapped it artistically and humorously. The prices of their food and drink were quite reasonable. We had a very enjoyable evening there.
PAUL G - 2 months ago

This is a really excellent restaurant. The setting and live music give the place a really special feel, and the food is very well done - but still has a home cooked vibe to it that makes it absolutely delicious. Would really recommend for a special occasion.
Alistair D - 4 months ago

The food was nice enough but the menu was a bit limited for my liking and the starters especially were a bit challenging for a fussy eater like me. The star of the show was the steak & chips… really yummy! I also tried some of the potato dauphinois which was great. I had the pate to start and it wasn’t great if honest. Would return here but only for a business lunch.
Dave R - 3 months ago

My beloved readers… today I’m taking you to a French restaurant in the middle of London.. We came here on a Friday evening, so of course we booked in advance. In the reservation comments I specifically asked for a quiet table by the window for four people… and I was actually SO happy they really listened to our request 🕯️ The restaurant was quite busy, there was live music - a pianist playing classical music throughout dinner 🎹 and it added so much atmosphere.. Although I will say… it was definitely loud- even though we were seated in the furthest corner from the piano, sometimes hearing each other was still a little difficult. Now let me tell you where this restaurant is located… It’s hidden in this tiny little alleyway, which felt really special and reminded of Parisian narrow roads👀 I came here with my dad, my boyfriend, and our family friend. Since my dad came to visit me in London, he REALLY wanted us to go somewhere beautiful and elegant... The interior was gorgeous - brick walls, little framed artworks, dark wooden ceilings, white tablecloths… the entire place felt INCREDIBLY warm and intimate 🕯️Special little thing that I loved - every table had its own candle.. perfect .. The restroom was downstairs in this beautifully arranged basement area, and when I was walking through the corridor I could literally smell wet brick, stones after rain… 🌧️ it genuinely smelled like Paris.. I don’t know how else to explain it… I became emotionally attached to the corridor.. Now about the food 🍷 Our friend ordered the Scottish salmon with lentils and said the salmon itself was cooked absolutely perfectly- soft and really tender, but unfortunately she didn’t really enjoy the lentils, so her dish gets an 8/10. My boyfriend ordered the bavette steak with cabbage and cauliflower mash. The meat was AMAZING. Very tender and perfectly cooked… BUT… the sweet sauce on top slightly overpowered the actual flavor of the meat and the mash. Still… definitely a 9/10. As for me… my dear readers… I had a little crisis choosing what to order because I was also looking into either the salmon or the steak. But since I obviously needed to provide a broader review for YOU… I sacrificed myself for journalism and chose a third option.. sea bass with ratatouille and French beans 🐟 The sea bass itself was BEAUTIFUL. Very soft, delicate and not dry at all. The ratatouille was super tender and comforting… but those long green beans honestly felt a little random on the plate.. in my opinion they didn’t go good with the rest of the dish.. Still… I was starving and cleaned the entire plate. So overall I’d also give it a solid 9/10. My dad only ordered fish soup because he wasn’t super hungry. He actually didn’t finish it because it was too spicy for him but he still rated it 9/10 because he said the flavor itself was excellent. Also… they brought fries in these adorable little wooden bowls and I NEED to mention them because they were unlike any fries I’ve had before - tiny, thin and super soft inside… really good. Now desserts… My boyfriend and our friend ordered vanilla and chocolate ice cream, my dad ordered a mousse… and everyone was very happy with their choices, especially ice cream with some chocolate sticks! DELI 🍨 Meanwhile I experienced heartbreak 💔 Before coming here I had seen photos in reviews of these BEAUTIFUL fruit tartlets - sometimes strawberry, sometimes cherry… so I assumed the menu changes, so when I saw a pear tart on the menu and thought it would be the same tartlet but with pear. My dear readers… it was NOT the same tartlet.. it was a completely different dessert And honestly… I was so emotionally committed to the fantasy version that I didn’t even want to try it anymore. And honestly… I felt so bad in front of the waiter.. But thankfully the restaurant handled it very kindly and removed the dessert from the bill, which I really appreciate❤️ I truly recommend this place.. Beautiful atmosphere, delicious food, elegant interior, lovely candlelight, live music and an amazing service…🌝
Darina Valieva - 4 months ago

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Great restaurant. We had the bruschetta, spicy pizza, truffle pizza and tiramisu. The bruschetta came with nice Italian bread, grilled and topped generously with cherry tomatoes, parmesan shavings, anchovies, and a side of mozzarella cream - delicious. The house red wine was very nice and slightly sweet. The truffle pizza was outstanding. The spicy salami pizza used Italian-style salami, not pepperoni, which makes it more authentic, although slightly thicker. The pizza dough is very thin. The tiramisu was authentic, creamy and delicious. The atmosphere was really pleasant, and service was outstanding. The food and drinks were served quickly. For an authentic Italian experience, this is the place.
Christian Speck - 4 weeks ago

Great food, I had the seafood pasta and a small pizza. Both very good. Expresso to complete a very relaxing lunch. One good thing of note, and always a good measure of a great restaurant is that the waiter will check your wine glass for cleanliness before pouring. Also, if you have a refill of a glass of wine (house wine) the waiter will provide a new clean glass. Fantastic! I will definitely come again.
Hugo Phan - 10 months ago

To start off with, excellent service and top quality food 👌. Really felt authentic and real as if I was in Italy. Finally, the interior was so nice and fancy. I appreciated that they accommodated us on a busy night and made us welcome. We had the olives,buratta and 2 pizzas. Highly recommend and I will go there again.
Kuldip Mann - 4 months ago

First of all, they were all booked, but they found us a table anyway. The ambience was just wonderful, beautiful design! The food itself was absolutely splendid, I didn’t even take good photos, because I couldn’t stop myself from eating. And the service was so good too: we asked the waiter for wine recommendations, and he was spot on, he was always just charming and very nice to us, and he understood that we were rushing to the show afterwards, so he made sure our food and bill arrived in good time. Absolutely satisfied, and will be coming back!
Asya Sosis - 5 months ago

Good Italian in this part of London. This Italian restaurant stands out because some of its staff are Italian. The menu is varied, including appetizers and main courses of pizza, meat, fish, and pasta. The pizzas are truly substantial.
Diego Alen - 3 months ago

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