Best restaurants in Farringdon

Looking for a place to eat in Farringdon? We’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to, and compiled a handy list of the best restaurants in Farringdon. Whatever your budget or taste, SquareMeal is here to help with a selection of fantastic spots for every occasion.

Updated on 06 June 2024

Named after Farringdon station, this small but mighty district in Central London is home to a plethora of impressive restaurants, bars, pubs and cafes. Sandwiched between Clerkenwell, Barbican, Holborn and the City, it's still very much a part of London's financial district, while also being a thriving hub for history, culture and food and drink. Naturally, we're most interested in the latter. So, whether you’re after the perfect spot for an all-out celebratory meal, or on the hunt for a trendy new neighbourhood eatery, you're sure to find something you like in this list of Farringdon's best restaurants. 

You'll find many of London’s most iconic gastronomic institutions are located in this area, such as St John’s near Smithfield market, which has been delighting diners with its simple but revolutionary British dishes for years. The district also offers up local favourites, rustic gastropubs and tapas joints, perfect for socialising with colleagues after work, or enjoying a relaxed dinner with friends. So, whether you fancy an elegant evening of elevated pub grub, or a family-style feast with your nearest and dearest, there's plenty here to fit the bill.

Farringdon is also home to some of the coolest restaurants in London, from charming wine bars to an inspired take on a rustic Italian trattoria. Many of Farringdon's restaurants are award-winning too, and serve some of the best food and drink in the capital. Feeling hungry? Have a scroll to discover Farringdon's best and brightest restaurants, then hit 'book now' to reserve a spot.

St John

St John

26 St John Street, Farringdon, London, EC1M 4AY

St John’s, famed for it's simplicity was revolutionary back in the day, and is impressively still relevant in the gastronomic scene. The menu reads like a foodie’s dream, perfect to pair with the exclusively French wine list.

£30 - £49
British
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Club Gascon

Club Gascon

57 West Smithfield, Barbican, London, EC1A 9DS

Famous as one of the best places to eat foie gras since opening in 1998, Club Gascon is still serving up it's classic duck dishes, along with a new veg-focused 'Garden' menu. Eye-opening wine matching remains a strength, so head here for an evening of indulgence. 

 

£50 - £79
Modern European
French
One Michelin star
Morchella

Morchella

84-86 Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 4QY

A second restaurant from Perilla pair Ben Marks and Matt Emmerson, Morchella serves up more of the same superb Mediterranean-inspired fare, this time inside a grand old bank on Exmouth Market. Bold flavours come with Marks' signature creative twists, and an excellent wine list completes an all-round superb experience.

£50 - £79
Modern European
Mediterranean
The Eagle - Farringdon Road

The Eagle - Farringdon Road

159 Farringdon Road, Farringdon, London, EC1R 3AL

One of the first of its kind, The Eagle has maintained a reputation for gastropub food of the best sort. The daily Mediterranean-based menu is scrawled on blackboards, the decor is “unreconstructed corner pub” and there’s an impressive range of beers, while the intelligent wine list offers everything by the glass.

£30 - £49
Gastropub
£50 - £79
The Quality Chop House

The Quality Chop House

88-94 Farringdon Road, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 3EA

The Quality Chop House is one of the few grade II-listed dining rooms in London but remains a thoroughly modern enterprise, with a second dining room, private facilities and an adjoining butcher’s/food store. The daily menu displays a touch of wanderlust, serving up elegant yet hearty dishes. 

£50 - £79
British
Wine Bars
SquareMeal London Top 100
Morito Exmouth Market

Morito Exmouth Market

32 Exmouth Market, Farringdon, London, EC1R 4QE

This immensely stylish little joint serves up decidedly rustic Spanish tapas such as salt cod croquetas, Padrón peppers and jamón Ibérico, but keep an eye out for the enticing specials too. Pair these with the all-Iberian wine list, which also features some splendid sherries, for a classic evening.

£30 - £49
Tapas
Spanish
Anglo

Anglo

30 St Cross Street, Farringdon, London, EC1N 8UH

Anglo, Farringdon newcomer, is a pocket-sized, pared-back British bistro serving high-end food in simple surrounds at £85 for a no-choice, seven-course dinner (lunch is à la carte). To drink, nearly everything on the snappy European wine list costs less than £40 and is mostly available by the glass.

£50 - £79
British
Brutto

Brutto

35-37 Greenhill Rents, Farringdon, London, EC1M 6BN

Crossing through the doorway at Brutto is a farewell to Farringdon and bonjourno to 1950s Florence. This rustic restaurant boasts retro Italian interiors, from red gingham table cloths to sage green walls. Book early to secure a portion of the bistecca alla Florentina before it sells out. 

£30 - £49
Italian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Moro

Moro

34-36 Exmouth Market, London, London, EC1R 4QE

Two decades on, the Clarks' ground-breaking eatery is still impressing diners with its pavement tables, wood-fired oven and compelling Spanish/North African cuisine. Expect heady spicing and subtly matched flavours from the dinner menu, or opt for small plates and wines at the zinc-topped bar. 

£30 - £49
North African
Tapas
Spanish
Quality Wines

Quality Wines

88 Farringdon Road, Farringdon, London, EC1R 3EA

Quality Wines offers a weekly-changing Italian-inspired menu in an intimate setting, with a £25 a head Saturday lunch menu. The perfect date spot to enjoy simple tasty food plus copious amounts of wine – of course.

£30 - £49
Modern European
Mediterranean
SquareMeal London Top 100
Origin City

Origin City

12 West Smithfield, Farringdon, London, EC1A 9JR

Superb ingredient sourcing and old school cooking over fire makes Origin City stand out from the rest, not to mention a nice relaxed spot on the edge of Smithfield Market. The cocktail programme is worth checking out too, as is the superb (and generous) Sunday roast.

£30 - £49
Modern European
Scottish
Vegetarian
British
Fish
Restaurant St Barts

Restaurant St Barts

63 Bartholomew Close, Barbican, London, EC1A 7BF

Tables hand-carved from London’s fallen trees and ceramics made in-house contribute to the uber-relaxed feel of this Nordic-style offering. Quality and sustainability filter down to the food too, which guests can experience through its impressive Michelin starred 15-course menu.

Over £80
British
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Cloth

Cloth

44 Cloth Fair, Farringdon, London, EC1A 7JQ

A wine-led bistro from two wine importers and a head chef who's worked at Brawn, Levan and Lasdun, to name a few. Nestled inside a historic grade II-listed building, this atmospheric restaurant offers high quality cooking, an expertly curated wine list and zero pretension whatsoever.

£50 - £79
Modern European
British
French
Luca

Luca

88 St John Street, Farringdon, London, EC1M 4EH

Luca, they say, is a ‘Britalian’ restaurant, quintessential Italian cooking recast with British ingredients. The stylish 1950s Italian design is seamlessly meshed with current London restaurant trends, the star of the show being a pasta-making room that transforms into a private dining space. 

Over £80
Italian
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Sushi Tetsu

Sushi Tetsu

12 Jerusalem Passage, Farringdon, London, EC1V 4JP

From chef Toru Takahashi and spouse Harumi comes Sushi Tetsu, an immaculate sushi experience, from the rice to the saké, everything is impeccable. Why not opt for the ‘omakase’ menu for a truly bespoke evening?

Over £80
Sushi
Japanese

Planning a special meal and need somewhere to impress? Discover a wealth of rooftop restaurants near Farringdon where you can enjoy dinner with a view. Or, check out all the restaurants with Michelin stars in Farringdon, where top-notch food and drink is always guaranteed. 

Hungry for more? You can always broaden your search and check out the neighbouring area to find more fabulous eateries. Our list of the best restaurants in Clerkenwell, for example, includes a wealth of impeccable restaurants that are sure to go down a treat.

Join SquareMeal Rewards

Collect points, worth at least £1, every time you book online and dine at a participating restaurant.

Start Collecting Points

Already a member? Sign in