Dining
The 5 Best Pubs in Shoreditch
From Victorian corner boozers to craft-beer favourites: the best pubs in Shoreditch.
In short: our top picks are The Old Fountain, The Water Poet and The Owl and Pussycat. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
For all its cocktail bars, Shoreditch still keeps some of the best pubs in east London: proper Victorian corner boozers, craft-beer favourites and a few that do food worth the trip. These are the ones worth ducking into when you want a pint over a production.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| The Old Fountain | ££ | |
| The Water Poet | Spitalfields | ££ |
| The Owl and Pussycat | Shoreditch | ££ |
| The Marksman | Bethnal Green | £££ |
| The Owl & Pussycat | Shoreditch | ££ |
-
Editor’s choice
The Old Fountain
Why we pick itA family-run free house with a rooftop and a deep cask range; a proper old-school beer pub.
-
The Water Poet
Why we pick itA rambling Spitalfields pub with a garden; good for a long afternoon and a big group.
-
The Owl and Pussycat
Why we pick itA handsome corner pub off the main drag; calmer than its neighbours, with a decent kitchen.
-
The Marksman
Why we pick itA Victorian boozer with serious cooking upstairs; the brown butter buns are a destination.
-
The Owl & Pussycat
Why we pick itA handsome, characterful Shoreditch pub.
Before you book
The food pubs are worth booking, especially for a weekend roast; the drinking pubs just need you to turn up. Ask what is on cask, and go earlier in the week for a calmer room. And treat them as the start of a Shoreditch night rather than the whole of it.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
The Old Fountain is our editor's choice: A family-run free house with a rooftop and a deep cask range; a proper old-school beer pub. The Old Fountain, The Water Poet and The Owl and Pussycat lead the guide, with 5 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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