Dining
The 5 Best Restaurants in Clerkenwell
The best restaurants in Clerkenwell: where to eat well, chosen on merit.
In short: our top picks are St. John, The Quality Chop House and Moro. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Clerkenwell is where modern British cooking was reinvented, and it remains one of the city’s most serious eating quarters. These are the best restaurants in Clerkenwell.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| St. John | Smithfield | £££ |
| The Quality Chop House | Farringdon | £££ |
| Moro | Clerkenwell | £££ |
| Luca | Clerkenwell | £££ |
| The Eagle | Clerkenwell | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
St. John
Why we pick itFergus Henderson's nose-to-tail temple; the most influential British restaurant of its era.
Worth knowingSkip it if offal is genuinely not for you, though the menu is broader than its reputation
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The Quality Chop House
Why we pick itA Victorian dining room serving superb British cooking on its famous bentwood benches.
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Moro
Why we pick itThe pioneering Moorish restaurant on Exmouth Market; still wonderful after decades.
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Luca
Why we pick itA glamorous British-Italian from the Clove Club team; handsome and accomplished.
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The Eagle
Why we pick itBritain's original gastropub on Farringdon Road; the Portuguese steak sandwich is a London institution.
Before you book
Exmouth Market and St John Street hold the best of it; book ahead for the destination rooms.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
St. John is our editor's choice: Fergus Henderson's nose-to-tail temple; the most influential British restaurant of its era. St. John, The Quality Chop House and Moro 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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