Best Pub Food in London

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By Marcus Sanigar Food, Drink & Events Copywriter, DesignMyNight 10-year hospitality, travel and events expert, writing for Expedia, Trainline and more. Last updated on 14th February 2026

Where once 'pub grub' was literally a soggy pie and an unhappy pint has now become one of the most delicious staples of British food. Gastropubs are king in the capital, offering up everything from the finest cuts of steak to mouth-watering roast dinners that even your mum can't live up to. So whether you have a hangover to cure, a rainy day to run out or want a feast in a beer garden, make sure you head to these boozers for the best pub food in London.




The Admiral Codrington

Sophisticated gastropub The Admiral Codrington knows a thing or two about great food, with cosy interiors that feature quirky wallpaper, comfy booth seating and dark wooden paneling. Situated in Chelsea, this relaxed space serves up delicious dishes like Aberdeen Angus steaks, aubergine and chickpea curry or a rotating pie of the week, washed down with premium spirits and ever-changing guest ales.

Lots Road

Get your pub food fix at this gastropub in Chelsea, where an ingredient-led menu takes centre stage. Promising only the finest and freshest seasonal dishes from the kitchen, Lots Road takes classic favourites and British staples to new heights. 

The Devonshire

You might know The Devonshire for its perfect pints of Guinness but it also happens to offer some of the best gastro pub food this city has to offer. Standing tall just off of Piccadilly Circus with its glossy green tiles and clusters of thirsty punters surrounding its outsides, this hot pub is the brainchild of a group of famous publicans and restauranteurs. Oisin Rogers, Charlie Carroll and Shaley Palmer-Watts came together to create two floors of elegance and fine nosh. Among smart white tablecloths and rustic brickwork, you'll find moreish plates of hand-divided scallops with bacon and malt vinegar, langoustines, lamb cutlets and duck fat chips.

The Victoria

The Victoria is a pillar of the Dalston community famed for its live music and equally great burgers. The venue has been hosting live music for years, and serves a wide variety of locally brewed beers, continental wines and classic cocktails. But stay for their range of burgers, from steak to beef, that are all ethically sourced.

The Duke of Sussex, Waterloo

A charming pub in the heart of Waterloo, The Duke of Sussex is just the place to be for fine British fare in cosy surrounds. Expect traditional wooden interiors and leather booth seating, with a spacious beer garden to boot.

Their hearty menu features the likes of smoky bacon cheeseburgers, seared seabream with crushed new potatoes or a five-bean chilli, with plenty of refreshing pints to wash it all down.

The King's Arms

Just a few minutes from London Bridge and Tower Bridge, The King's Arms is a hidden gem in the heart of the city. With all kinds of cosy crannies, there's a spot for you whether you're looking for a light bite or a hearty feast.

Over on the menu, there's all kinds to whet your appetite. We're talking BBQ sauce-drenched ribs and chicken wings to sirloin steaks and sensational small plates of pork belly, calamari and aubergine parmigiana.

The Last Judgment

Slap bang in the middle of Holborn and housed in a former bank building, The Last Judgement is a grand pub fronting opulent decor: think towering, golden ceilings and dazzling chandeliers. It fronts an impressive wine collection, craft beers and spirits alongside a droolworthy British menu. Look forward to tucking into beer-battered cod served with chips, chicken pie or sausage and mash. 

Prince Arthur Belgravia

Prince Arthur is certainly a pub that serves food – but this is not your standard pub grub. Its Basque dishes are cooked on a custom-built grill imported from Spain.

Expect exceptional cuts like Galician Blond beef, alongside standout fish like wild turbot and bluefin tuna - all grilled over open flame. If you want a more refined setting, book into the elegant upstairs private dining room.

William IV

The William IV may look like a traditional London pub, but it's got a menu worthy of the city's finest restaurants. Pull up a bar stool downstairs and you can grab rock oysters, rarebit crumpets or a dry aged cheeseburger to pair with your pint.

Upstairs is even more extravagant. The seasonal dining room menu regularly packs in the likes of whipped bone marrow, hogget chops, roasted pheasant, venison haunch and chalk stream rainbow trout.

The Elmhurst

In a neighbourhood known for its strong community spirit, The Elmhurst has quietly become a destination for genuinely great pub food. With chef Andrew Swann now at the helm of the Elmhurst Food Kitchen, and fresh from winning the Trencherman's Award for Best Chef 2023, the menu has been refined with classic dishes executed to the highest standards and made from the finest produce.

The real highlight is the pub's newly launched Sunday roast offering, which has quickly become a local favourite thanks to its generous portions and carefully considered flavours. 

People's Park Tavern

BIRTHDAY PROSECCO

If you're feeling a bit homesick for your local but want the top quality London pub food you've come to expect, pop down to The People's Park Tavern. They offer traditional food, including a lovely Sunday roast, and offer a wide range of beers to wash it all down. They also have one of the best beer gardens in the capital, perfect for relaxing (and for the kids to let some steam off in) as you tuck into their delicious food.

The Marquis of Westminster

The Marquis of Westminster is a love letter to pub food done properly. Every dish, from its Turner & George steak sandwich to its ultimate cheese toastie and frites, is made fresh each day, balancing nostalgia with a modern edge.

Expect crowd-pleasers like beer-battered fish finger sandwiches, brisket bagels with English mustard, and excellent veggie and vegan options that feel just as hearty.

The Lansdowne

Father's Day Meal and 2 other offers

Located close to Primrose Hill, The Lansdowne is a charming gastropub that's been serving up delicious dishes since 1992. Take a seat on one of their wooden tables and relax in their laidback surrounds, sipping on draught beer or one of the many gins available from the bar. As for the menu? Not only are their pizzas known for being some of the best in the area, but you can also nab sumptuous Sunday roasts and small plates like three cheese macaroni or cumin hummus with flatbread.

The Black Eel

25% off bottles of wine every Thursday and 2 other offers

Resident chefs and local legends, Riley's, serve up sensational Mediterranean small plates, mega mains and decadent desserts at the Black Eel. Take your pick from cured meats and cheeses, steamed mussels, burgers, fish buns, ribs and plenty more delicious dishes.

With leather-bound booths, stained glass and warm wood finishes, the cosy bar is perfect for a casual bite to eat, date night dinner or long and leisurely lunch. The drinks menu is just as impressive, bringing you all the beers, wines, cocktails and spirits you'd expect from an East London boozer.  

Crudough

Crudough serves up pub food turned up to the max. We're talking freshly made sourdough, baked to perfection and topped with only the finest ingredients. Take your pick from pepperoni, goats cheese, tuna, nduja, figs and plenty more.

This drinks list has just as much to get excited about. We're talking craft beers, fine wines, bubbles and all kinds of cocktails.

The White Bear

The White Bear is one of the oldest pubs in South London, so you can bet they know how to cook you up some food. While their recent refurbishment has added some more contemporary touches, the venue retains a rustic feel, creating the perfect pub atmosphere. As for food, the order of the day is all about big plates of gastro food.

The Rugby Tavern

Looking for classic pub fare with an elegant French twist? Then you'll love The Rugby Tavern in Bloomsbury. This charming venue features leather booth seating, a well-stocked central bar and even a stylish bistro upstairs, with a pretty, plant-filled terrace outside. As for the menu, expect everything from chickpea falafel burgers to moules mariniere and breaded chicken schnitzel.

Grand Junction Arms

If you're craving good ol' pub grub, then Grand Junction Arms has got you covered. Boasting a range of pub classics from burgers to fish and chips, and refined dishes, such as their grilled salmon supreme with creamed leeks, broccoli and lemon butter sauce. 

The Jugged Hare

Express Lunch

With a place like The Jugged Hare, it's all about the experience with the food. They might offer some of the best gastropub food in London, but this is all made that much better by being situated in the Grade II listed Whitbread Brewery. Inside, taxidermy lines the walls and the open kitchen where customers can watch the food being prepared on their eight-spit rotisserie and charcoal grill adds a bit of theatre to the food.

The Black Lion

Pub grub doesn't get any better than The Black Lion on Kilburn High Road. This fabulous boozer is whipping up a mouthwatering selection of Indian plates and lip-smacking bevvies. Think tandoori chicken wings with pineapple chutney or double-cut lamb chops. Need we say more?

The Island

Situated on a sun-soaked corner in the heart of Kensal Rise, The Island NW10 is a lively local hangout that's all about serving up yummy eats, top-notch service, and good vibes. This swanky British gastropub dishes out plates made with fresh, locally sourced British ingredients, ensuring there's always something to tickle your tastebuds, whether you're a veggie, vegan, or meat lover. We're talking goodies like beer battered line caught haddock and potato gnocchi.

The Selkirk

When looking for the best pubs in London, there's only two things that really matter: great food and great drinks. The Selkirk offers both of them, as well as vintage furnishings and a fun pub vibe. Set in a beautiful Victorian building, they manage to offer tonnes of character while still delivering on British classics like Shepherd's Pie, roast chicken and more.

The Mitre

Just a stone's throw away from Fulham Broadway and Stamford Bridge, you'll find The Mitre, a cosy, family-owned gastropub with a mix of classic and modern vibes. Their menu focuses on the best of local British ingredients, so you can dig into goodies like beer battered line caught haddock, Cotswold chicken caesar salad, and West Country lamb chop with crispy potato terrine. And to wash it all down, they've got an array of tipples from around the world.

The Thieves

Two for One Cocktails

The Thieves doubles as both an incredibly fun night out packed with entertainment and a wonderful pub boasting delicious food. They offer traditional pub food in London with a modern twist, courtesy of kitchen residents Balans - think everything from flatbreads and sharing plates to hearty roasts on Sundays.

This can be enjoyed either in the cosy, multi-level or in their plant-filled beer garden. This adult playground has got plenty to keep you entertained after your meal too, including retro arcade games, pool tables, dartboards and RC racing - as well as all sorts of events.

The Mayflower

Inspired by the ship that first carried English pilgrims to the New World, the Mayflower is one of the most authentic English pubs in South London that offers its guests delicious gastropub dishes, locally sourced ales and stunning views of the Thames. From hearty cuts of British meat to belly-warming pies, you'll be spoiled for choice by the diverse menu.

The Brown Cow

Hop off the tube at Parsons Green to find some of the most delicious pub food this side of the city. The Brown Cow is a cosy haunt fronting wooden benches topped with individual candles and modern lighting, as well as a cracking menu. Swing by for a couple of small bites, like a chorizo scotch egg served with smoked tomato aioli, or tuck into large plates of buttermilk-fried free-range chicken burgers and Butcombe Gold beer-battered haddock, alongside thick-cut chips.

Pacific Tavern

Using cooking methods and flavours inspired by the Pacific Rim, it's no wonder that the cosy and quirky Pacific Tavern, nestled between Canada Water and Surrey Quays, had an outstanding menu. Swing by this haunt to devour the likes of seabream crudo with coconut, corn and lime, plus grilled chicken, miso and mole rojo.

The Victory

Perched above Waterloo's busy concord, The Victory is dishing up some of the best pub food in London. This bright and modern pub's menu includes a range of elevated small plates like halloumi friends with tahini, double fried chicken alongside siracha ketchup and larger dishes like roast lamb rump.

The Crooked Billet E5

You can trust this atmospheric pub in Clapton to dish up some seriously good food. The Crooked Billet E5 is popular with locals and newcomers alike, partly because of its enormous beer garden. On the menu, there are hearty roasts, sausage with mash and marmalade onion gravy plus plenty of bar snacks if you settle down for a tipple or two.

World's End

Whether you're in the mood for a light snack or a full meal, The World's End has something for everyone. Enjoy crispy mozzarella sticks, smoked sausage samplers, and a variety of BBQ meats. Plus, with Red Dog Saloon's residency, you can indulge in smoked pork shoulder, St Louis cut ribs, and more, all served with a side of hearty pub vibes.

The Harwood Arms

The gastropub baby of Brett Graham of the famed Ledbury restaurant, Mike Robinson of the acclaimed Pot Kiln pub in rural Berkshire and Edwin Vaux from the famous Vaux brewery, The Harwood Arms serves up anything but pub grub.

Expect hearty seasonal dishes, from grilled Cornish monkfish and Dorset sika deer to venison pate en croute and Iberian pork. The drinks list is just as high class, with all kinds of guest ales and 30 different types of worldly wine.

The Tamil Crown

From a beautifully converted boozer on Elia Street, The Tamil Crown brings sensational South Indian dishes to the streets of Islington. Standard pub grub this is not. 

With chef Prince Durairaj, of Roti King and Tamil Prince fame, in the kitchen, its signature dishes are bold and packed with flavour, from the beef masala uthappam to the Chettinad lamb curry. One taste and it's clear why this place won its spot at the Top 50 Gastropub Awards.