The best restaurants near the Barbican Centre

The original St. John restaurant near the Barbican Centre is an enduring bastion of British cuisine and a pioneering force in nose-to-tail dining. Celebrated globally, not just locally, the restaurant has held a Michelin star for more than 15 years yet continues striving to outdo itself. The menu changes day to day but usually highlights classic British dishes like bread pudding or faggots and mash, accompanied by one of the best wine selections around.

When visiting the Barbican Centre, you can't beat its on-site restaurant Barbican Kitchen for convenience. This family-friendly canteen is modern and features both indoor and outdoor seats where you can enjoy globally-inspired food throughout the day. The menu ranges from classic café options to evening small plates to be enjoyed with a glass of wine. Families will be happy to know kids under 10 can dine for free here with every adult meal purchased.

Club Gascon, a Michelin-starred restaurant close to the Barbican and set in a former tea house, blends rustic South West French charm with refined haute cuisine. Guests can choose between elegant fine dining in the restaurant or a more relaxed experience in the wine bar, with options ranging from a three-course midweek menu to elaborate multiple-course tastings. Expect inventive seasonal dishes, vegetarian options, and expertly paired wines that showcase the rich flavours of Gascony.

About halfway between Liverpool Street Station and the Barbican you'll find Daffodil Mulligan, a lively Irish restaurant that puts its charcoal grill to good use. Barbecuing everything from lamb sweetbreads and pig cheeks to purple sprouting broccoli, the contemporary restaurant is suitable for all sorts of dietary preferences. When it comes to drinks, Guinness takes centre stage, whether as a standalone pint or in cocktails like the Black Velvet.

If you're looking for a calm place to enjoy a quiet meal, Brutto probably isn't going to be to your liking, but if you don't mind a casual, high-spirited setting where the eclectic tunes blasting out of the speakers are part of the charm, you've come to the right place. This high-spirited restaurant near the Barbican Centre focuses on Tuscan-style Italian cuisine, with options including everything from pasta and salads to the signature Florentine T-bone steak.

Hidden within the historic setting of Smithfield Market and offering views of the cloisters of London's oldest church, Restaurant St. Barts presents carefully curated tasting menus at both lunch and dinner. The Michelin-starred restaurant celebrates exceptional British produce in a procession of finely crafted plates. The interiors mirror the restaurant's sustainable ethos, featuring natural materials like stone and wood.

Set as it is within a Grade II-listed building on Cloth Fair, this Barbican restaurant is a great choice for any architecture buffs on the prowl, while its expansive wine list is sure to appeal to oenophiles. Cloth's refined menus highlight seasonal British ingredients, with standout dishes such as brown crab and Berkswell tagliarini or hogget sausage with chickpeas. Despite what could easily end up a highfalutin affair, the restaurant is warm and relaxed.

Named after a classic game dish, this is a welcoming British gastropub where the menu revolves around meaty dishes, game in particular – including the titular jugged hare, of course. Plenty of other seasonal choices round out the menu, though vegetarians probably won't feel the most welcome here, with even the decor featuring stuffed animals. Needless to say, The Jugged Hare is one of the best places for Sunday roast near the Barbican.

The Hawksmoor restaurant group has branches all over London, so it comes as no surprise there's one within walking distance of the Barbican. Despite their ubiquity, this is no middle-of-the-road franchise chain – Hawksmoor is considered one of the finest steakhouses in all of Europe. Serving prime cuts and seafood, the Guildhall location is located within an atmospheric basement space where it's easy to lose track of the outside world over succulent dishes and potent cocktails. PS - don't sleep on the spinach!

Housed across four floors of a Grade II-listed building near the Barbican Centre, Smiths of Smithfield is a go-to spot for modern British dining. The multifaceted venue features a lively grill restaurant that makes the most of its location beside Smithfield Market to source quality meats, a relaxed bar ideal for casual lunches or remote working, and the No.3 Rooftop Restaurant offering refined open-air dining with views of the City of London.

Dans Le Noir? offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience where guests eat in total darkness, guided by blind servers who expertly navigate the space. With no set menu, diners choose a mystery option based on meat, fish, or vegan ingredients, heightening the focus on flavour, aroma, and texture. The immersive concept encourages open conversation, playful guessing, and ends with the big reveal of what was actually served, making it one of the world's most unique restaurants.