Recommend a place to eat near the Barbican in London.

February 24, 2009 7:07 AM

Can anyone recommend a gastropub or similar near the Barbican in London for a celebratory meal on a weekday lunchtime? Possible problem - we may have a 6 month old baby with us.

My sister is graduating, and I want to take her somewhere really nice but not hyper expensive....

posted by handee to food & drink (6 comments total)

The Fox and Anchor is not bad, and it's just round the corner from Barbican tube. Quite small though, so I'd recommend booking a table.
posted by permafrost at 7:24 AM on February 24

My favorite place around there is Comptoir Gascon, a small very authentic French bistro.
posted by vacapinta at 7:50 AM on February 24

You'll probably need to book wherever you go - I work just around the corner from Barbican and the pubs always look very busy. You have plenty of choice though - almost every third shopfront serves food at lunchtime.

I like the Smithfield Tavern (formerly the Wicked Wolf, formerly the Smithfield Tavern again) - they've just finished renovating and re-opened their kitchens. Their menu looks pretty good, although I haven't eaten a lunch there recently.

The Dovetail is a very nice Belgian pub - literally hundreds of continental beers and very good food. Just a few minutes' walk, though you'll definitely need to book. This is probably my favourite pub nearby.

The Barbican Centre has a reputedly-nice cafe and restaurant, although I've never used either.

The Butcher's Hook and Cleaver -- the other side of the meat market, immediately next to the hospital -- is quite big and has a nice atmosphere if you don't mind the risk of hearing doctors talk shop over lunch. The food they do in the evenings is pretty good, so I assume the lunch is OK too.

If you don't have your heart set on british pub food, Pham Sushi on Whitcross Street is great, just a few minutes down the road. It does get quite crowded at lunchtimes though, so you might end up sharing a long table/bench with other people. Best sushi I've had in London, though.

If you walk toward Farringdon for a minute or two, you'll find stuff like Pizza Express and Slug an Lettuce if you prefer chain establishments.

Personally I'd vote for the Dovetail - good-looking traditional pub, nice atmosphere, good food and a huge choice of interesting beers, ciders and wines.
posted by metaBugs at 8:00 AM on February 24

I heartily recommend The Peasant, realistically a 15-20 minute walk from the Barbican.
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 8:14 AM on February 24

The Peasant is a great idea.

Depending on which side of the Barbican you are, you could get over to the Fox Dining Room or the Princess, both on Paul Street, in 15mins. Both are highly recommended.
posted by patricio at 8:30 AM on February 24

The Coach and Horses is a bit further than somewhere like the Fox and Anchor or the Dovetail but it is more spacious and more family friendly.
posted by ninebelow at 4:26 AM on February 25