As any Londoner will know, the local pub food is excellent - so if you’re new to the city, you’re in for a treat. And West London is no different! It’s home to some world-class gastropubs that feature diverse menus, seasonal British produce and some of the city’s top chefs. But where can you find the best pub food in West London?
Whether it’s a tasty bite after work or a lazy Sunday lunch, here’s our guide to six gastropubs within easy reach of our Wembley Park apartments.
The 6 Best Gastropubs in West London
1) The White Horse Pub, Wembley Park
For some great pub grub and an unbeatable Sunday roast, head to The White Horse, which offers all-day dining and delicious, freshly-cooked food made from seasonal ingredients. As you’d expect from a Fuller’s pub, the menu is packed with classics that have been refined by chef Suraj Thapa Magar and his team, and given a refined, gastropub edge.
Favourites include the crispy pork with bean shoots and roasted pepper, the Chalcroft Farm beef burger and Fuller’s Frontier battered haddock and chips. And, of course, you’ll want to wash it all down with a pint of London Pride or a glass of wine. Best of all is the location - The White Horse is just a short walk from our Scandi-chic apartment Alameda, so some of the best pub food in West London is right on our residents’ doorsteps.
Where is it? 4 Wembley Park Boulevard, HA9 0HP
2) The George, Marylebone
The excellent transport links in Wembley Park mean that many of West London’s best gastropubs are just a short tube or bus ride away. The George on Great Portland Street is one such example. Just hop on the Metropolitan line for three stops, stroll for five minutes down Great Portland Street and you’ll find yourself at one of the best food pubs in the West End.
The downstairs is a lively boozer serving craft beers and seasonal cocktails as well as traditional pub fare such as Scotch eggs, Ploughmans and burgers with chips. However, it’s Upstairs at The George where the magic really happens. Here, you can enjoy a menu filled with British comfort food, from a luxurious lamb hotpot and beautiful beef tartare to deep-fried langoustines in their shells and devilled kidneys on toast. There’s also an unrivalled range of English wines to choose from, with sparkling wines such as Squerryes and Rathfinny alongside big-hitting reds to see you through your mains.
Where is it? 55 Great Portland Street, W1W 7LQ
3) The Cleveland Arms, Paddington
Just two stops on the Metropolitan line and a one-minute walk down Chilworth Street is a Paddington local that has been open since 1852. But as well as a rich past, The Cleveland Arms also has an exciting future, with Maria Tamander - producer of the Spice Girls’ music video Wannabe - now at the helm. She has given the pub a welcome makeover, with cosy corners and warm fires now gracing the impressive Grade II listed building.
The menu features firm favourites for your main such as roasted Skrei cod and Bavette steak served with a side of chips. There are also delicious light accompaniments, like Padron peppers and grilled Domat olives, if you fancy something smaller to nibble. If you’re looking for one of the best Sunday roasts in West London, the Suffolk chicken, beef topside or roasted cauliflower will not disappoint, and you can wash it all down with a great selection of beers and wines.
Where is it? 28 Chilworth Street, W2 6DT
4) Bokor, Kilburn
This restaurant-come-gastropub — previously The Betsy Smith — is named after a Haitian voodoo sorcerer and has the mission of serving ‘good food and evil spirits’. And, to be fair, it does just that. The menu is as eclectic as the decor, with English pub grub staples such as fish and chips sitting alongside duck breast with dauphinoise, a selection of pizzas and plenty of pasta and risotto dishes.
The all-day menu is accompanied by an excellent range of drinks, including plenty of the aforementioned ‘evil spirits’. The cocktail menu is moderately priced and includes standout tipples, like the Old Fashioned made with Glenlivet whisky, honey, rosemary and ginger, and the intriguing vodka-based rhubarb and custard cocktail - served hot.
Where is it? 77 Kilburn High Road, NW6 6HY
5) Alice House, West Hampstead
Alice House is a modern gastro bar with a relaxed and homely feel. Its menu features weekend brunches, light bites, hearty classics and Sunday roasts as well as plenty of innovative cocktails, craft beers and natural wines. The food is unfussy but deftly executed, with traditional favourites cooked to perfection. This simple formula has made Alice House one of the go-to spots in West Hampstead. That, coupled with its relatively small size, means you'd be wise to book in advance, particularly for the ever-popular Sunday roast.
Just a 10-minute tube ride from our apartments, Alice House is just the sort of trusty local you need, with excellent food throughout the day and more of a bar-like feel at night. It’s also just a short walk from the Camden Art Centre, where you can further nourish yourself with a little culture.
Where is it? 283-285 West End Lane, NW6 1RD
6) The Guinea Grill, Mayfair
Just 30 minutes away from our apartments is the last pub on our list: The Guinea Grill, which is simply one of the best gastropubs in West London — or anywhere in London for that matter. Quite simply, the food is very, very good.
The steaks are to die for, the oysters are among the best you’ll ever taste and the lamb chops melt in the mouth. And don’t think this fashionable Mayfair haunt is too upmarket to deliver a great Sunday roast. Yes, it is quite expensive, but this gastronomic institution, which has stood in the same spot for nearly 600 years, is something every Londoner should experience at least once in their lives.
Where is it? 30 Bruton Place, W1J 6NL
Drink. Eat. Repeat.
With some of the best pub food in West London just a short stroll or tube ride from our apartments, you’re never going to go hungry. There are also plenty of great brunch spots, Sunday roasts and pubs and bars to explore in the area.
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