Great Gastropubs: Michelin Lists London's Best Food Pubs

Ben O' Norum
By Ben O' Norum Last edited 119 months ago

Last Updated 03 November 2014

Great Gastropubs: Michelin Lists London's Best Food Pubs

Smokehouse in Islington: among the best

Hot on the heels of announcing the latest batch of London restaurants to be awarded Michelin stars a little over a month ago, Michelin has revealed the winners in its pub category.

The guide recommends nearly 600 pubs around the country and, as the emphasis is on eating rather drinking, it’s gastropubs all the way.

While this year’s contested Pub of the Year title went to The Wild Rabbit in Kingham, Oxfordshire, London hasn’t had a bad innings with 56 pubs making the cut.

This London list includes seven new entries. We’ve previously reviewed Russell Norman’s Ape & Bird on Shaftesbury Avenue, Parlour in Kensal Rise, Islington’s Smokehouse and The Truscott Arms in Maida Vale, which all made the cut.  The Camberwell Arms, Twickenham’s The Crown and The Earl Spencer in Southfields also featured.

A few of our favourites of the other pubs which made the grade are The Admiral Codrington in Chelsea, The Anchor & Hope near Waterloo, The Bull & Last in Highgate, Canton Arms near Stockwell, The Draper’s Arms in Islington, The Empress near Victoria Park, The Gun in the Docklands, and Newman Street Tavern in Fitzrovia. You can see the full list in PDF form here.

As has been the case since the guide started, it's west London which continues to rule the roost. There are six pubs featured from both Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, and another four from Richmond upon Thames while the Mayfair, Belgravia and Knightsbridge areas also had good showings. A total of just five pubs across Hackney and Tower Hamlets are left to represent east London, with The Jugged Hare on Chiswell Street being the only pub in the City to make the grade. This is presumably because most of the Square Mile’s venues are more concerned with cramming in post-work pint drinkers than laying on great grub.

Let us know your opinions on the winning pubs, and suggestions for others which you think should be included, in the comments below.

For more top-notch food pubs see our selection of London’s best Sunday roasts, and for brilliant boozers from a less foodie perspective take a look at our top 10 craft beer pubs or our extensive area-by-area guide to London’s best pubs.