The best pubs in Covent Garden: from the Harp to the Porterhouse

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Harry Fletcher3 May 2019

With a host of great drinking spots on offer around every corner, Covent Garden is just about as good as it gets for London pub fans.

Whether you’re a tourist, a worker enjoying a pint after leaving the office or just someone seeking a relaxing drink in the middle of town, the area has something to offer everyone.

From the Harp to the Porterhouse, these are our pick of the best pubs in the area.

The Harp

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This characterful old pub a stone’s throw from Charing Cross station offers a rotating selection of 20 or so brews, main focusing on real ales. And as a regular CAMRA award winner, you can rest assured they’re in good condition.

The much-loved pub is a favourite drinking spot among many London drinkers. Nicely tucked away round the corner from Covent Garden and Leicester Square, The Harp is the pub of choice for beer connoisseurs due to the fact it offers an unrivalled selection of draught ales in the area.

The stained glass windows and portraits on the walls make it a beautiful setting for a drink, and it’s good value for money too: It’s no wonder so many Londoners are fond of this Chandos Place drinking spot. It gets absolutely rammed at peak times, but it's well worth tackling the crowds for.

Make sure to read out love letter to the Harp in our 50 Best Pubs piece, too.

47 Chandos Place, WC2N 4HS, harpcoventgarden.com

The Lamb & Flag

The Lamb & Flag. Credit Sky Moore-Clube
Sky Moore-Clube

The Lamb and Flag pub has been on Rose Street since way back in the 17th century.

The pub, which was popular with Charles Dickens and some of the city’s greatest literary figures back in the day, is steeped in history. A lot of the pub’s original features have been maintained, and the smart wooden panels covering much of the main room make it an inviting space for a drink. Good luck getting a seat though; the pub gets very busy after work hours, but it’s well worth a visit.

33 Rose Street, WC2E 9EB, lambandflagcoventgarden.co.uk

The Garrick Arms

A popular spot with theatre goers, the Garrick Arms is located right next to the Garrick Theatre in one of the busiest parts of town.

Punters can expect six draft beer options, plus three on tap, as well as a fairly comprehensive wine list. The bright decor, as well as the regular cocktail and prosecco deals, helps the Garrick Arms stand out from your typical Greene King boozer. The pub is a lively place for a drink before catching a show, and it’s certainly one of the best spots you’ll find on the fringes of Leicester Square.

8-10 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HG, greeneking-pubs.co.uk

Marquess of Anglesey

This Bow Street pub was rebuilt after suffering a heavy bombing in the Blitz and it’s been providing Covent Garden’s punters with a comfortable spot for a drink ever since.

A range of Young’s bitters and ales are available on draft and the upstairs dining room is also a good place to enjoy a solid pub food menu, including a selection of pies and their signature fish and chips.

39 Bow Street, WC2E 7AU, themarquess.co.uk

The Chandos

Philafrenzy/Creative Commons

If Sam Smiths pubs are your thing, you’ll do well to find a better example in London than The Chandos.

Downstairs is always a lively place to grab a drink but it’s the upstairs area that sets it apart. Lovely big sofas and seating space in this endearingly old fashioned boozer make it a more relaxed place for a drink, while the kitchen also serves good pub grub. One to check out if you’re trying to escape the crowds.

29 Saint Martin's Lane, WC2N 4ER

Mr Fogg's Tavern

This quirky hangout is themed around explorer Phileas Fogg and every inch of the downstairs area is packed with nick-nacks from around the world.

Even better though, head upstairs and you’ll find a stylish and well-stocked gin parlour, serving up a great selection of cocktails that Fogg himself would have been proud of. These days, you might be able to get around the world in much less than 80 days, but this Covent Garden venue is a great spot for any weary traveller.

58 St Martin's Ln, WC2N 4EA, mr-foggs.com

The Cross Keys

Sky Moore-Clube

If you’re after a busy Covent Garden boozer with the feel of a local village pub, then this Endell Street drinking haunt is the place for you.

Copper pans hang from the ceiling and oddities adorn the walls in this cosy setting, which has personality to burn. As well as offering all the usual lagers you’d find in your standard boozer, the pub has five or six real-ale taps set back into the bar, making this an intriguing option for discerning beer fans in the capital.

31 Endell Street, WC2H 9BA, crosskeyscoventgarden.com

The Porterhouse

London institution The Porterhouse is a huge three-floor space on Maiden Lane, and represents the largest pub in the city.

Run by Irish brewers Porterhouse Brewing Co. the pub offers a huge range of ales and also brews its own stouts, ales and lagers, which are well worth a try. Its sheer size means it’s not the easiest venue to navigate, and after a few drinks you may find yourself getting a little lost in here.

Thankfully though, the unconventional decor makes it a nice space to walk around. If you haven’t enjoyed a few pints in this Covent Garden pub, put it on your to-do list.

21-22 Maiden Ln, WC2E 7NA, theporterhouse.ie

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