Farringdon and Clerkenwell is the area between Smithfield and Exmouth markets, and it’s a place jam-packed with amazing restaurants.
With so many to choose from, you need a good guide to help pick out which eatery is best for you. From Spanish and Italian cuisine to romantic French bistros and down-to-earth gastropubs, you’ll find what you’re looking for in Farringdon and Clerkenwell.
Best Restaurants in Farringdon and Clerkenwell
Anglo
- Location: 30 St Cross Street, London EC1N 8UH
- KnownFor: Fine Dining, Seasonal Produce, Tasting Menu
If you’re into simple, refined dishes in a modern setting, Anglo is for you. They use seasonally foraged British ingredients and responsibly farmed produce to make artistic, wholesome dishes.
Don’t expect lengthy descriptions – the menu is to the point, just like the food which is simple, but stylish, and packing a punch with flavour. It’s a tasting menu only, so save this one for a special occasion where you get fine dining without the fuss.
Moro
- Location: 34 – 36 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QE
- KnownFor: Moorish food, Authentic Dishes, Meat
Do you like a bustling restaurant with a popular vibe? Time Out named Moro as 1997’s best new restaurant and in 1998 it won the BBC Good Food Best Restaurant Award.
Bright, attractive dishes with colourful ingredients showcase flavours of the Southern Mediterranean. Fresh, succulent, zingy dishes jump out from the menu – it’s hard to know what to pick. The vegetable mezze is a great choice for a little taste of everything.
One of the most popular restaurants in the Farringdon and Clerkenwell area, you might struggle to get a table. Treat your olfactory senses with the aromas of baking bread and sizzling meat.
Morito
- Location: 32 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QL
- KnownFor: Tapas, Mezze
Next door to Moro (and run by the same people), Morito is a foodie favourite, serving small plates for sharing and indulging. A cosy space, twos are asked to sit at the bar with tables left for larger parties, and you might have to queue for a table.
It’s a good thing the plates are small, as you can try more of the delicious dishes on offer. If you’re handy in the kitchen, purchase Morito’s cookbook to recreate favourite dishes at home from this modest Spanish restaurant.
Caravan
- Location: 11-13 Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 4QD
- KnownFor: Breakfast, Brunch, Coffee, Casual Dining
At Caravan you can sit on the terrace or inside where it’s bright and airy. Freshly roasted coffee from the Caravan Roastery is their speciality and the tempting aroma will meet and welcome you before you’ve found your seat.
Whether you want a fat fry-up or something a bit healthier, the menu has options galore. Did you know you can order coffee from their roastery straight to your door?
Luca
- Location: 88 St John Street, London EC1M 4EH
- Known For: British Produce, Italian Cuisine, Fresh Pasta, Seafood
Catering both for fine dining (at the back) and a more casual arrangement (at the front), Luca is suitable for any occasion. The terrace is an exceptional location for private dining alongside lush foliage and bathed in dappled sunlight, or sitting inside, you can book The Pasta Room or The Garden Room for more intimate groupings in a relaxed atmosphere.
British produce is used to create stunning Italian dishes that emphasise traditional classics with a modern twist. A dazzling wine list is full of options to accompany your dishes.
Breddos
- Location: 82 Goswell Rd, London EC1V 7DB
- KnownFor: Mexican, Tacos, Cocktails
From taco shack and pop-ups to bustling Clerkenwell restaurant, Breddos has a firm fan club that comes for tacos, cocktails, and cool vibes. From tacos and tostadas to tlayudas and mezcal, Breddos will satisfy your Mexican hunger.
An extensive range of tequila on offer can wash down any meal. Chill out in this diner and let the exotic flavours whisk you away to another world.
Le Cafe du Marche
- Location: 22 Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6DX
- Known For: Traditional French Cuisine, Seasonal Dishes, Live Music
With Live piano in the evenings and typical French charm throughout the day, Le Café du Marche oozes continental character. Tuck up to a pretty little table with potted flowers and a white tablecloth in your rattan chair and you can pretend you’ve just stepped in from the Champs-Élysées.
The menu changes regularly and highlights seasonal produces with a provincial French accent. You’ll find the best of old-school French cuisine with influences from across Europe, giving it a modern continental vibe.
The Green
- Location: 29 Clerkenwell Green, Farringdon, London EC1R 0DU
- Known For: Modern British Cuisine, Sunday Roast, Beef Wellington, Grazing Plates
Sparsely decorated, The Green has a bright and airy upstairs has a cosy front room feel and is perfect for private bookings. There’s something Scandi about the clean white walls, unmatched wooden furniture, shelves of Swiss cheese plants, and big windows for that fresh hygge vibe.
Downstairs, the pub serves small plates and a variety of drinks. Excellent beer, cocktails and wine draw locals and tourists to this spot, walk-in only.
The Eagle
- Location: 159 Farringdon Rd, Farringdon, London EC1R 3AL
- Known For: Gastropub, Mediterranean Cuisine, Pub Grub, Great Drinks, Steak Sandwich
‘On holiday all around the Mediterranean’ is how they describe their food. The Eagle is a traditional down-to-earth pub with proper good grub at great value for money.
Lunch and dinner menus are chalked up daily from the tiny kitchen which accommodates two chefs only, who work together to bring out the best dishes. Drinks are just as important as the food at this eatery – “Never forget, it’s a pub!”
Sessions Art Club
- Location: 24 Clerkenwell Green, Farringdon, London EC1R 0NA
- Known For: Art Vibe, French Cuisine, Italian Cuisine, Good Value
Sessions Art Club is a Grade II listed courthouse with an evocative dining room, surrounded by three terraces with fireplaces, a rooftop bar, and a garden. The purpose of the space shifts throughout the year, with plenty of artistic events on its schedule.
The menu is unfussy, with dishes ranging from great value to more extravagant options. The extensive wine list includes back-vintages for the connoisseurs to explore.
SMITHS
- Location: 67-77 Charterhouse St, London, EC1M 6HJ
- Known For:Large Space, Open All Day, Events
With four floors of exquisite dining experiences, SMITHS caters for any occasion. Breakfast at the bar, a workspace, a fine dining restaurant and SMITHS Rooftop Bar is the place for stunning views with cocktails, champagne and more… and bottomless brunch on Saturdays.
From casual coffee and working lunches to special events with friends and family, SMITHS can offer what you need. Private bookings are popular.
Quality Chop House
- Location: 92–94 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3EA
- Known For: Meat, Wine, Sunday Roast, Great Value
With both QCH-owned butchers and a wine bar next door, it’s no wonder that the emphasis is on superb cuts of meat paired with excellent wines. Meat lovers: this is one for you, as meat has been at the heart of this restaurant’s 150-year history.
The weekday Lunch Set Menu is excellent value (3 courses for £25). Updated daily, the A La Carte Menu is stuffed full of options (very few of them vegetarian). Don’t forget the popular Sunday roast. Portions are generous and we recommend arriving hungry.
St John
- Location: 26 St John Street, London EC1M 4AY
- Known For: Meat, Michelin Star, Whole Roast Pig
‘Waste not, want not’ at this former smokehouse St John where it’s ‘nose to tail’ eating. You’ll find exciting and innovative dishes on the menu that leave nothing wasted at this vintage eatery.
Lunch, Supper, and Bar menus offer a variety of dishes to enjoy as a small group. For larger parties and special occasions, book ahead one week in advance for the irresistible whole roast pig and other bespoke feasting options.
Tigre Tacos
- Location: 13 Eyre St Hill, London EC1R 5ET
- Known For: Tacos, Tostadas, Good Value
From London Bridge food truck to a popular eatery operating out of three locations. Tigre Tacos brings punchy flavours at a price that won’t hit you hard in the wallet.
The menu isn’t extensive, but it offers something for everyone with several vegetarian options. A popular place for sharing, these are feel-good plates perfect for a bite before you head out for the evening.
Apulia
- Location: 50 Long Ln, London EC1A 9EJ
- Known For: Italian Cuisine, Pizza, Pasta
You’d better browse Apulia’s menu beforehand – it’s extensive and with so many mouth-watering options, it will be hard to choose. Handcrafted pizzas vie for attention up against fresh pasta dishes and rich risottos.
Don’t be put off by the website and Insta pages – they’re dated, because Apulia is too busy creating amazing food to keep their platforms up to date!
Ibérica
- Location: 89 Turnmill St, London EC1M 5QU
- Known For: Spanish Cuisine, Tapas, Jamón Ibérico, Paella
At Ibérica you’ll find the splendour of Old Spain in the evocative dark wood and Spanish tiles. “A true Spanish meal is nothing without drinks”, so make sure you check out the extensive list.
For lunch, pick a tapas plate from each section of the menu for a cost of £20 per person. For dinner, the speciality dish Jamón Ibérico, from 100% pure‑breed, black Iberian pig, is not to be missed.
The Easton
- Location: 22 Easton Street, London, WC1X 0DS
- Known For: Gin, Bottomless Brunch, Good Value
The extensive menu at this down-to-earth gastropub can be hard to navigate, with separate menus for GF and vegan diners. Check out the ‘offers’ section of The Easton’s website for current deals and discounts to get even more for your money.
For £30pp you can choose a brunch option and enjoy bottomless drinks for 2 hours (up to noon). Bottomless Brunch must be booked 48 hours in advance.
The Bleeding Heart
- Location: 1 Bleeding Heart Yard, London EC1N 8SJ
- Known For: French Food, Bistro
Named as one of the best venues in Britain for private dining, The Bleeding Heart can cater for up to 120 guests. Also known as the best French Bistro in London and the most romantic restaurant in London, these are just some of the reasons why you should visit this popular French restaurant.
The summer set menu includes three courses, as well as an amuse bouche and a glass of wine, for £37.50. A la Carte, prices aren’t cheap but worth every penny. There are 450 wines by the bottle to choose from for the perfect accompaniment to a sumptuous meal.
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