If you fancy pushing the boat out a bit (and eat meat) St. John is only a short walk from the Barbican
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For eating:
St John’s Smithfield, very non-flashy nose to tail restaurant, next to the meat market
St Barts, my new favourite fine dining place, you start in the bar with cocktails and snacks, before being led into the dining room for an unforgettable experience
Luca, longstanding classy Italian restaurant, run by the same people who do The Clove Club. They have a chef’s menu, but I usually just pick and choose from the a la carte. If you’re in a hurry you can eat in the bar area, where they have reduced selection, but just as good.
For drinking:
Old Red Cow, if you like craft beer. Downstairs is a bit cramped, but they do decent pub food too
The Chocolate Cocktail Club, the name says it all, a tiny bar doing very special drinks. Both St John’s and Luca are a few steps away.
Two Brewers, the favourite pub of the London Symphony Orchestra, aka the Barbican house band. Decent beer, no food and only 2 mins away from the venue.
Let me know if you prefer more budget options for dining near the Barbican, there are loads of other excellent spots within walking distance
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The TV and I are creatures of habit so always go to the same spots when we visit Barbican…
For food:
For drinks (also does pub food):
Both good options 
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I wouldn’t recommend the Whitecross Tap, but I’m a complete snob when it comes to pubs
I find ALL of the other pubs around there rubbish tbf 
Give Brutto a go. Walkable from Barbican. One of the nicest, and most fun, restaurants I’ve been to in ages. Great food, massive portions, £5 Negronis, reasonably priced carafes of wine.
Pubs - depends what you like really. I always go to either Sutton Arms or Holy Tavern when I’m up that way. Maybe Ye Olde Mitre too although that’s a bit of a walk.
From Stansted I always used to get the ‘normal’ train to Tottenham Hale and get the Victoria Line to save a few quid but not sure you can do that anymore?
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That’s one of my favourite areas in London for pubs! If you don’t mind a little bit of walking.
Think it’s probably because I’ve worked around there for so long that it’s lost a lot of its charm. Which are your picks?
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If we’re going to the Barbican, we tend to go to the Korean BBQ place on Whitecross Street as it’s cheap, quick, tasty, and does great veggie/vegan options.
If you want something a bit fancier, then the restaurants closer to Smithfields (eg St John’s listed above) or Farringdon (Brutto, Sessions Arts Club) are all walkable.
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Thinking about it I’m probably pushing it here as some of these are about a 10-minute walk, but Sutton Arms, Holy Tavern, Old Fountain, Fountain Tap, Dove Tail.
I know what you mean though. I’ve worked around Farringdon and Chancery Lane for donkeys too and there are a lot of crap pubs round here.
The Whitecross Tap does do excellent pints of Stella, and you don’t have to worry about not getting a table
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Fair choices tbf
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Let us know where you end up!
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The Sutton Arms (not the Fuller’s one) and Old Fountain are right there man!!@
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Theres also Daffodil Mulligan which is very highly rated Irish restaurant with an equally brilliant Irish speakeasy type bar in the basement called Gibneys
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Any good street food type places around Shoreditch to pick up a lunch from?
Spitalfields market has loads of street food options
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Thanks, that location seems ideal actually so could just take a wander along there
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Petticoat lane market between Aldgate East and Spitalfields has an amazing falafel wrap spot - £4 for a huge wrap with all the fillings.
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