Best restaurants in Farringdon

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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?

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.