This modern gastropub boasts a prime location between Farringdon and Barbican tubes. The two-floor site features a buzzy downstairs bar which has old-world charm in spades and suits the cool young crowd – think sanded-down wooden tables and plenty of craft beers and organic wines. Upstairs, the dining room is a more subdued affair, with large windows allowing for plenty of natural light, and mismatched tables and chairs in keeping with the ad-hoc aesthetic. The menu blends traditional British with modern European influences, so that a starter of warm octopus pepped up with oregano and parsley might be followed by wonderfully rich tagliatelle dotted with morsels of creamy ricotta, sliced aubergine and charred tomato. There’s a decent cheeseboard for pud, but we went instead for a sherry-soaked strawberry trifle topped with lashings of fresh cream and a sprinkling of sugared almonds. The downstairs bar might have more atmosphere, but The Green’s dining room is a solid choice for a pub meal that’s a cut-above the standard offering and backed up by charming service.