Beer (and food) in the evening (in London).

July 18, 2017 5:39 AM

I'm catching up with a couple of friends in London on Wednesday evening. (The friends are NZers living in Australia / UK) Its been literally years since I've lived / been there, so what are your ideas for low key eating / drinking places? Probably more west/central than east.
posted by Kiwi to Food & Drink (12 answers total)

There are a few brewdog pubs in London, including soho. They have a great range of beers and reasonable food. May well be busy immediately after work though, probably fairly quiet later on as midweek.
posted by JonB at 5:57 AM on July 18, 2017

I've had some nice times at the Bree Louise, just by Euston. Not sure what the food's like, but good seating/drinking/traditional pub atmosphere.
posted by spielzebub at 6:29 AM on July 18, 2017

(In terms of food nearby, the last time we went there we walked five minutes to Mestizo, which is a great Mexican restaurant towards Warren Street - I can also recommend Chutneys, which is even closer, and does excellent vegetarian Indian food.)
posted by spielzebub at 6:34 AM on July 18, 2017

Dishoom, just behind King's Cross, does fantastic Indian tapas-style food, though the drinks menu is more cocktail-oriented than beer-based. It's a mile's walk from there to the Euston Tap, which has a great beer/cider selection.
posted by terretu at 7:10 AM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

The Bree Louise is a good pub for real ale fans, but it gets standing-room-only jammed in the evenings and in this weather, without aircon, that may not be comfortable.
posted by Major Clanger at 10:11 AM on July 18, 2017

Response by poster: Yes, hot muggy weather + jam packed = not great.

Any more suggestions?
posted by Kiwi at 10:19 AM on July 18, 2017

The Saint over by Saint Paul's is a nice setting, menu is ok and not too crowded. Was there just last week.
posted by BAKERSFIELD! at 11:59 AM on July 18, 2017

You can (and should) stand outside both the Bree and the Euston Tap. I prefer the latter, but they're conveniently close by. You could head from the Tap to Franco Manca on Tottenham Court Road for decent pizza, or from there to Charlotte Street (where all the restaurants are good, but will be busy). For a more chilled vibe head into Bloomsbury: The Marquis Cornwallis is nice; or perhaps (still further south) the Holborn Whippet or Princess Louise. Fine pubs.

For food from there, head respectively to Marchmont St. (Chinese? Chillicool), Lamb's Conduit Street (Italian? Ciao Bella), or Red Lion Street (steak? Bountiful Cow).

Those roads have many, many options and you're unlikely to go wrong.
posted by Quagkapi at 12:23 PM on July 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

The Swan across the road from Hyde Park (Bayswater Road) might be a good option with it's plentiful outlook seating, nice setting beside the park and close proximity to central London but away from the hordes.

OP, it might help if you gave a more specific area of London.
posted by jacobean at 2:12 PM on July 18, 2017

Response by poster: jacobean, apparently its likely to be Notting Hill / Portobello Rd.
posted by Kiwi at 1:46 AM on July 19, 2017

Response by poster: Or Paddington.
posted by Kiwi at 6:12 AM on July 19, 2017

The Swan is around a 15 minute walk from Paddington Station. Anyway, enjoy your meetup tonight!
posted by jacobean at 8:08 AM on July 19, 2017