The best restaurants in Farringdon, Clerkenwell and Exmouth Market
One of the coolest streets in London, Exmouth Market, in Farringdon, is stuffed to bursting with all manner of independent businesses, from a charming florist and contemporary jewellers, to quirky gift shops. Luxury kitchen company deVOL even have a smart little showroom at one end. Crucially, though, Exmouth Market is a brilliant place to go to eat. The sheer number and variety of restaurants is what gives the small street its unique character today. Seating spills out on to the pavement, creating a quasi-European vibe when the sun's out, but the cuisines on offer travel much further; as well as Italian and French food, there are Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, North African and Middle Eastern eateries. On weekdays you'll find street food vendors where lengthy queues form during lunchtimes (the lamb flatbread at the Moro stall is an all-timer). Old school pubs, cool bars and a very hip Spanish deli complete the epicurean bingo card.
While Exmouth Market is a hotspot of the neighbourhood, there are serious gastronomic gems to be found all around Farringdon, from legendary stalwarts of the London restaurant scene, to more casual, lesser-known eateries serving authentic, affordable food. There are so many big hitters in such a small area. Below, you'll find our list of tried and tested recommendations that showcase the very best of this historic London district.
Where to eat in Farringdon, Clerkenwell and Exmouth Market
1/11Vesper
The latest project from chef Jackson Boxer, Vesper builds upon the success of the buzzy Dove, in Notting Hill (and it's much-hyped, and very-much-worth-it burger). The menu is similar to its west London sibling in that it does comfort food with an elevated edge, and doesn't tie itself to any specific cuisine, primarily oscillating between British and European influence and ingredients. Spring onion pancake topped with raw tuna and anchovy is a one bite wonder, and the watermelon sgroppino is the perfect summer aperitif. There are twists on some of the hit dishes found at Dove - Vesper's fried potato pizzette comes with stracciatella, mortadella and a spiced pineapple relish, and there is another limited, off-menu burger available to those who ask, and arrive early enough to score one. There is also the same proclivity towards using, and changing the perception of, certain cuts of meat - the intensely flavourful chuck eye steak, served with maitake mushrooms, is rich and intense in a Tudor banquet sort of way. Pair it with the crispy baked saffron and crab fat rice, a moreish hero of a side dish. White crockery and tablecloths keep things spartan yet smart in terms of decor, while there's also counter seating at the striking industrial, riveted metal bar in the centre of the space. - Tilly Wheeler
8-10 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QA
vesper.restaurant
2/11Morchella
Based in an historic bank on a corner of Rosebery Avenue, there's a certain grandeur to an evening at Morchella; vast arched windows, high ceilings, ornate pillars and parquet flooring surround the open kitchen at the centre. This is where the team put together an appealing menu of British and European-influenced dishes, at times light and delicate - scallop pil pil, sea bream crudo - at others hearty, homely, yet still elevated. An example of the latter is the Herdwick lamb main with marinated beans and vegetables, a dish where several different cuts of the meat are inventively served in different ways, on the same plate. Some of the simplest things are the most memorable, like the bread and oil - doorstep slices of perfectly soft, crispy, salty focaccia, with lusciously peppery, verdant olive oil. The Greek salad is another humble hero and a twist on a classic, with ribbons of cucumber, fragrant tomatoes, plenty of feta, and hunks of white peach cutting through with a welcome sweetness. The large private dining room downstairs would be the perfect spot for a celebratory meal with friends or family, while the existence of the cosy wine bar next door (also available for private hires), means there's an impressive list available, by the glass or bottle, in the restaurant.
86 Rosebery Ave, London EC1R 4QY
morchelladining.co.uk
Susan Bell3/11Moro
Moro takes its inspiration from the exotic and vibrant dishes of southern Spain and North Africa. It was one of London’s first kitchens to cook over fire, and to produce home-made sourdough cooked in the wood-burning oven. Husband-and-wife team Sam and Samantha Clark have introduced London to the flavours of rose water, cardamom, fragrant herbs and pistachio sauces at their Clerkenwell restaurant for over 20 years and it still remains as good as when it opened. - Blanche Vaughan
34-36 Exmouth Market, Farringdon, London EC1R 4QE
moro.co.uk
4/11Sessions Arts Club
After you're buzzed through the red door of Sessions Arts Club, it feels as though you've stepped into a secret. Taking the old-school lift up to the fourth floor of the vast, Grade II-listed building, the crumbling grandeur of the dining room opens out before you. The space was previously the judges' dining room of what was, in the late 1700s, the UK's largest courthouse and it's not surprising that it's on our list of the restaurants with the most beautiful interiors: peeling paint and exposed plaster form a backdrop for ever-changing pieces of contemporary art to gaze at while you eat – when we visited, a vibrant textile painting by Mark Corfield-Moore (whose work was recently features in H&G) caught the eye. Try and book a balcony table for the best views of the space. The Sunday roast is an indulgent way to spend an afternoon; a banquet of dishes arrives to the table designed for sharing. There is one meat option and accompaniments available on any given week, as well as a selection of starters. It feels like a fresh twist on a classic roast, without trying to reinvent the wheel. The traditional dessert trolley that is wheeled table-side before a waiter ceremoniously serves a mountainous wodge of tiramisu, or a delicate little cake, is the cherry on top of the experience. - Tilly Wheeler
24 Clerkenwell Grn, London EC1R 0NA
sessionsartsclub.com
5/11Shawarma Bar
For pillowy pitta, proper Iraqi hummus and perfectly smoked grilled meats, fish and veggies alongside a spread of vibrant mezze, grill house Shawarma Bar is one of the best lunch options on Exmouth Market. From the folks behind Berber & Q, this smaller offshoot of the Haggerston favourite has stood the test of time on this popular stretch of Clerkenwell for good reason.
46 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QE
shawarmabar.co.uk
6/11Luca
On one relatively quiet street in EC1, you'll find two of the best restaurants in London just a few doors from each other. Luca is neighbours with St John, and while it also puts British produce front and centre, it does it with a very Italian sensibility. The interiors are sleek and warm, making it a wonderfully romantic restaurant, the wine list is a tour de force of Italian greats and the food is outstanding. Opt for the chef's menu and let them choose your courses for you – you won't regret it and are in extremely safe hands. – Charlotte McCaughan-Hawes
7/11St John
St John serves the superb and deceptively simple dishes that made it the holy grail of good English food. There’s devilled crab, game birds (in season), braised rabbit and a new version of anchovies on toast - fillets of salted anchovy served in a tangle of parsley and shallot on crisp croutons. Chopped beetroot salad is dressed with pickled walnuts, a seldom used great British accompaniment and their new deep fried Welsh Rarebit has sent restaurant critics into paroxysms of pleasure. Desserts are hearty or light, depending on your appetite, rice pudding comes with rum soaked raisins, Madeleines are cooked to order or have their famous combination of Eccles cakes with a wedge of crumbly Lancashire cheese.
26 St. John Street, London, EC1M 4AY
stjohnrestaurant.com
Kay Zieba Photography8/11Machan Kitchen
Machan Kitchen is the kind of place that makes you feel like home the moment you sit down. From the first spicy and zingy bite of a mutton roll to the slow, creamy comfort of coconut milk-based curries, this is Sri Lankan food for the soul. The interiors channel the laid-back island spirit with an East London edge. Think: exposed brick, bamboo touches, masks on the walls and trailing plants. Expect punchy and gently spiced curries – jackfruit cutlets, aubergine dishes and cashew nut curries, hearty parippu dhal all plates simply but with flair. Wear stretchy trousers as portion sizes are more than generous and made for sharing. - Angela Hui
71 Farringdon Rd, London EC1R 3AL
machankitchen.co.uk
9/11Brutto
Inspired by the Florentine trattorias, this cosy spot close to Farringdon station has been a hit since it opened in 2021. Casual, fun and full of atmosphere, this is where to go for anything from a negroni and a plate of crostini with chicken livers, to a full feast of penne con vodka, bistecca alla Fiorentina and finishing with decadent tiramisu. With Brutto, the late, great Russell Norman has channelled everything we love about Florentine dishes and delivered it to us in London.
35-37 Greenhill Rents, London, EC1M 6BN
opentable.co.uk
10/11Sushi Tetsu
This seven-seater on a Clerkenwell side street arguably serves the best sushi in town. Run by husband-and-wife team Harumi and Toru Takahashi, it is almost impossible to book. But when guests arrive at this shrine to sushi, they will find Toru expertly slivering and slicing smackingly fresh fish, visible from a counter-style bar. For the best experience, leave the menu behind and ask for omakase - chef’s choice. You’re in safe hands. - Blanche Vaughan
12 Jerusalem Passage, Farringdon, EC1V 4JP
sevenrooms.com/reservations/sushitetsu
11/11Bouchon Racine
Inspired by the ‘bouchons’ (a hearty, family-run restaurant) of Lyon and the bistros of Paris, Bouchon Racine serves classic bistro fare in a warm, lively setting above the Three Compasses pub in the heart of Farringdon. Chef Henry Harris, renowned for his culinary prowess on the London food scene, has crafted a menu that is both an homage to the classics and a testament to his sense of the zeitgeist (nose-to-tail eating really is back). The chalkboard menu is full of an unending rotation of seasonal food, best enjoyed on a bracing winter's evening with a glass of robust red wine. - Evie Delaney
66 Cowcross St, London EC1M 6BP
bouchonracine.com
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