The Best Gastropubs in London

The function of the public house in London has adapted and evolved over the centuries to suit the city they so wonderfully support. What were once inns for travellers making their way to the capital or around its growing neighbourhoods, steadily changed into extensions of the workplaces that appeared there. They became vital anchors for communities, acting as a hub for the majority of leisure time and entertainment for the working people. As the 20th century advanced, a select few were transformed into exciting music and arts venues offering something entirely different and creating new scenes and sub-communities of their own.

Over the last few decades however, a lot more has been asked of the humble London pub. They needed to cater to evolving tastes and accommodate families and a younger generation in a much more engaging way. The Eagle in Farringdon sparked a revolution of gastropubs across the city in 1991 that sought to serve restaurant-quality food with warmth and attraction but without any fuss.

Our guide to the best gastropubs in London profiles the very best examples that are continuing this excellent tradition in the city for 2026.

The Harwood Arms
Fulham

The Harwood Arms is the ultimate proof that a London pub in the 21st century has become something that really matters for the food and drink scene. Its location on a quiet residential street, far away from the food districts and footfall of a recognised foodie neighbourhood, is testament to its ethos as a local pub in the oldest tradition. However, it just happens to hold the prestigious status of being the only Michelin-star awarded pub in the whole city too.

For over 15 years, this incredible place of low ceilings and dark wood has demonstrated exactly how a gastropub can align the discipline of exquisite cuisine with the charm of a local pub in the very best sense. This fine balance is also evident in the menu and works across every wonderful dish with signature standouts such as the Venison Scotch Egg that propels an accepted pub staple to dizzying new heights. The game-led options that are seasonally available, such as pheasant or rabbit, also speak to an often forgotten London history of rural lifestyles and rustic cooking that is making a welcome comeback city-wide. The clientele here ranges from those who have made a pilgrimage from all over the country to locals who are simply enjoying an evening drink, and the atmosphere is unique and welcoming as a result. All gastropubs in London keep a keen eye on The Harwood Arms for tips on how to get this kind of experience just right.

The Devonshire
Soho

Fulfilling the brief for the perfect gastropub often means dedicating two spaces to hold different energies. This can be a difficult challenge to navigate for pubs in a city like London, where there is much happening at any given point and accommodations have to be made. The Devonshire in Soho manages this problem in serious style, with the ground floor maintaining the ad-hoc engagement of a city pub while the first floor welcomes diners into an excellent grill-focused restaurant without pretension and with a slightly more muted buzz about it.

Its location on Denham Street makes it a favourite for visitors to the capital’s theatre district, for enjoying a brief drink. However, the in-house butcher and bakery ensure that there is food to take seriously too. Menus here remain seasonally alive with core dishes that represent a true celebration of classic gastropub ingredients. The Iberico Pork Ribs and Scallops with Bacon and Malt Vinegar are an excellent introduction to the food here. And with scallops sourced from Devon and langoustines all the way from Oban, it does feel like the chefs have scoured the country to guarantee only the finest produce is at work in the kitchen. The Devonshire is a show-stopper of a gastropub on the famous Soho streets.

The Camberwell Arms
Camberwell

From the street, The Camberwell Arms looks like the classic version of a Victorian public house that has been made famous in literature and movies. Its red brick and green accent exterior portray an authenticity and honesty that continues as you enter, with some credible and unfussed gastropub menu options. Everything feels grounded here with a chalkboard menu broadcasting the day’s dishes in an elegantly understated way. Beer onions on toast with aged Gruyere show how depth and sweetness are favoured here, with striking innovations like their crispy fried pig’s head with piccalilli adding confidence for a nose-to-tail philosophy.

Locals will happily tell you how The Camberwell Arms has become a fascinating local institution that many treat as an extension to their homes. The informality and lack of fanfare, combined with top-tier culinary finesse, mean that this place has faces at the bar and feet at its tables every night of the week. Warm, welcoming and with an air of familiarity at all times, this is a 21st-century pub that understands its strengths and maintains them consistently well.

The Anchor & Hope
Waterloo

The Anchor & Hope near Waterloo in Central London is amongst what can be considered as the first generation of London’s gastropub revolution. The fact that, over twenty years later, it remains a relevant and well-regarded part of a scene that has been through such constant development is testament to its confidence and quality.

The kitchen at The Anchor & Hope has always been a fiercely ingredient-led affair that largely ignores the surrounding trends and concepts for a seasonal menu that sits comfortably between British and European Bistro. A suet-crusted steak pie or the grilled kippers let one know that they are in for a hearty affair, as befits the oldest of pub food traditions. However with such depth, balance and care in the cooking, it feels generous as opposed to overwhelming with a careful balance applied. Perhaps the greatest representation of informality here is through the wine servings that famously arrive with tumblers to drink from, whatever the bottle chosen. This was a deliberate choice to remove the restaurant ceremony in a bid to provide quality with comfort and familiarity at the heart of the pub. The Anchor & Hope also serves as a reminder of precisely what a good gastropub should do and how it should make one feel: welcome, entertained and satisfied.

The influence of these London gastropubs, and others of their calibre, has had a transformative effect on the entire London dining scene. They show how the highest quality does not always have to be accompanied by the strictest formality and the city’s residents and visitors continue to be thankful for it.