Bars
The 6 Best Pubs in Farringdon
Six Farringdon pubs where the beams are real, the ale is properly kept and the ghosts of Smithfield market still linger.
In short: our top picks are The Eagle, Ye Olde Mitre and Fox and Anchor. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Farringdon drinks better than almost anywhere in central London, and it has earned the right. This is the old ground of Smithfield meat market and the Clerkenwell watchmakers, so the pubs here carry genuine history rather than a reclaimed-wood approximation of it. You can walk from Britain’s first gastropub to a tavern founded in 1546, hidden down an alley, in under ten minutes. The only skill required is knowing which door to push.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Eagle | Clerkenwell | ££ |
| Ye Olde Mitre | Hatton Garden | ££ |
| Fox and Anchor | Farringdon | ££ |
| The Holy Tavern | Farringdon | ££ |
| Old Red Cow | Smithfield, Farringdon | ££ |
| The Sekforde | Clerkenwell, Farringdon | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
The Eagle
Why we pick itBritain's first gastropub opened here in 1991; order the bavette steak sandwich from the open kitchen, chalked up daily on the blackboard.
gastropub
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Ye Olde Mitre
Why we pick itHidden down Ely Court since 1546, with a preserved cherry tree trunk in the corner, low beams and Fuller's cask ale in a tiny courtyard.
historic tavern
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Fox and Anchor
Why we pick itBehind a restored Art Nouveau frontage sit pewter tankards, snug booths, the famous City Boy Breakfast and Smithfield steaks pulled alongside changing guest ales.
traditional pub
-
The Holy Tavern
Why we pick itThe tiny former Jerusalem Tavern fills a 1720 townhouse with bare boards, bench seating and candlelight; cask ales from small independent breweries flow from behind the counter.
historic corner pub
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Old Red Cow
Why we pick itA single-bar independent opposite Smithfield market, pouring two cask and thirteen keg lines of local beer alongside proper pies and Sunday roasts.
craft beer pub
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The Sekforde
Why we pick itA restored 1829 corner local on a quiet Clerkenwell street, with open fires, sage-green tiling and a seasonal British menu and smart wine list.
restored gastropub
Before you book
Farringdon station (Elizabeth line, Thameslink and Circle) puts you within a few minutes of everything listed here. Book ahead for Sunday lunch at the Sekforde or a steak dinner at the Fox and Anchor; the Eagle and the Holy Tavern take no reservations, so arrive before 6pm to beat the after-work crowd. Ye Olde Mitre traditionally shuts at weekends, so save that one for a weekday.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
The Eagle is our editor's choice: Britain's first gastropub opened here in 1991; order the bavette steak sandwich from the open kitchen, chalked up daily on the blackboard. The Eagle, Ye Olde Mitre and Fox and Anchor lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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