Good bars and pubs in London – Part 2

I lived in London for about twelve years, and although I live now in Spain, I travel to London once a month for business and when I’m not working I try to go out and find some area perhaps overlooked by others in terms of good bars and pubs.

The initiator of this thread suggested going to the west end, which I can only say is fine if you are a first time visitor or you specifically want to be in a crowded touristy area. It’s like going to Times Square in New York – loud, bawdy, various people walking slowly on the sidewalk, jaws agape, arms swinging, drooling.

Try something off the beaten track. I think the Farringdon area, near Smithfield’s Market is great. It’s hip and fun and home to some interesting media agencies and professional art shops. So there’s a cool mix of people. SMITHS restaurant, across the street from the market, is an old abattoir and now fittingly it has been turned into a steakhouse. The upstairs restaurant is more formal but the ground floor is a casual bar and lighter fare area, bursting with a vibrant after work drink scene. Nearby on St. John street is VINOTECA, a great wine bar/restaurant with a very eclectic crowd, a large and incredible if a bit pricey wine by the glass selection and a really superb menu. This place is busy day and night but once you are in and sitting down it’s hard to get up and to leave, (and not just because of the amount of wine consumed). The place is THAT inviting.

The area has some typical pubs and a myriad of other small restaurants and bars that are worth exploring if what I have suggested doesn’t appeal to you. I’m almost loathe to say any more lest I create a stampede to the area!