Fox and Anchor
Farringdon, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Market-Hours Hospitality
Dress
Casual
Why go
Fox and Anchor is a practical yes when you need an easy Barbican or Smithfield-area pub stop rather than a destination restaurant. Book it for convenience, long daily hours, casual bar-style pacing; choose St John or Brutto instead if the meal needs a clearer culinary point of view.
About Fox and Anchor
Fox and Anchor is a London venue with long daily opening hours and a casual dress code. Without a specific cuisine, chef, price band, signature dishes, awards, or service format, it is best framed as a practical London option rather than a destination built around a specific culinary claim.
Plan around the basics
Timing is a key feature. Fox and Anchor opens from the morning and runs into the evening every day, with weekday hours from 7 AM to 11 PM, Saturday hours from 8:30 AM to 11 PM, Sunday hours from 8:30 AM to 10 PM. That makes it useful when the plan depends on a broad time window rather than a narrowly defined sitting.
Because it does not feature a specific cuisine, chef, price band, or signature dishes, treat the choice as a practical London decision rather than a hunt for a named plate. If the plan needs a clearer restaurant identity, compare against St John or Brutto when a more defined dining plan matters more than simple convenience.
Who should choose it over other London options
Choose Fox and Anchor for a casual London plan built around flexible hours. It is less compelling for visitors who want awards, named chef credentials, a published price structure, or a specific menu format. In short, this is a practical choice based on its hours and dress code, not a recommendation based on culinary accolades.
For wider London planning, use Our full London restaurants guide if this feels too casual, or cross-check general ideas in Our full London bars guide. Travellers building a fuller stay can pair the search with Our full London hotels guide.
If the decision is between known London options, keep the alternatives tight: St John, Brutto, Smith's of Smithfield, Foxlow, Origin City are the named comparison points to consider, depending on what kind of London plan you are trying to make.
Know Before You Go
- Location: London.
- Dress code: Casual.
- Timing: Mon–Fri 7 AM–11 PM; Sat 8:30 AM–11 PM; Sun 8:30 AM–10 PM.
- Fit: Better for casual plans than for visitors seeking awards, a named chef, or a specific dining format.
Planning details
- Location
- 115 Charterhouse St, Barbican, London EC1M 6AA, United Kingdom
- Website
- foxandanchor.com
- Phone
- +44 20 7250 1300
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Fox and Anchor leans on a tangible sense of history: the late‑Victorian building, original tiling, carved woodwork and surviving snob screens make the interior feel authentically preserved rather than reconstructed. Its identity is bound to Smithfield’s market rhythm, a pub that historically opens early to serve market workers and still carries that daytime energy. Sitting between Farringdon and the Barbican, it reads as an old‑world market pub that rewards quieter morning and midday visits more than late‑evening ones, offering a relaxed, charming counterpoint to the busier surrounding dining corridors.
Best For
This is a place for the early riser and the midday crowd: City Breakfast and the pub’s market‑driven hours make it particularly well suited to breakfast and brunch. Midday trade works well here, whether for a business lunch or a casual catch‑up, while the classic pub mains—rib eye steak, lamb shank pie and a traditional Sunday roast—anchor it for heartier lunch and dinner visits. The preserved historic interior also makes it a fitting stop for visitors tracing Smithfield’s drinking and dining history rather than a late‑night scene.
Ordering Tips
Come in the morning for the City Breakfast to experience the venue’s market‑pub heritage; mid‑morning or midday visits capture the pub at its most authentic. On weekends, the Sunday roast is a local touchstone; for a substantial dinner, the rib eye steak or the lamb shank pie are safe bets, and the beef burger covers the more casual appetite. The piece also highlights the cellar and drinks programme, so pair your meal with something from the bar and expect a traditional pub drinks selection rather than a specialist wine list.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm, traditional pub atmosphere with historic character, art-deco design elements, cosy dining rooms with private booths, and period charm throughout.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Rib eye steak
- Sunday roast
- City Breakfast
- Lamb shank pie
- Beef burger
Planning details
Location
115 Charterhouse St, Barbican, London EC1M 6AA, United Kingdom · Directions
Restaurant context
How it compares in London
St John is the stronger choice for diners prioritising British cooking with a defined restaurant identity, its £££ positioning makes it the more deliberate spend. Fox and Anchor is easier to justify when location, timing, a casual bar-led feel matter more than a destination meal.
Brutto is the better fit for Italian food and a livelier restaurant plan at ££, while Smith's of Smithfield keeps the comparison close to the same market-area logic with a British brief. If the occasion is a relaxed catch-up, Fox and Anchor has the lower-friction appeal; if food style is the main decision point, Brutto or St John gives the booking more shape.
Origin City and Foxlow are worth cross-shopping when availability or group preference pushes the plan away from a pub setting. The simple rule: pick Fox and Anchor for ease near Barbican and Smithfield, pick the peers when the meal needs a clearer cuisine, spend level, or dining-room purpose.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Fox and Anchor guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Fox and Anchor
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox and Anchor | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| St John | London | British, Traditional British | £££ | 2026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100 · #962026 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #132Star Wine Lists 2026Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 National Restaurant Awards Top 100 · #99The Good Food Guide 20252025 Michelin 1 Star2024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #3042024 Michelin 1 Star |
| Origin City | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Brutto | London | Italian | ££ | 2025 Good Food Guide 100 Best Local Restaurants · 2026Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2026The Good Food Guide 20252025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand |
| Foxlow | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Smith’s of Smithfield | London | British | ; | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended2024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #522 |
How Fox and Anchor London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Fox and Anchor?
Signature dishes, cuisine details, or menu format details are not specified. Plan the visit around the basics: Fox and Anchor is in London, has long daily opening hours, has a casual dress code.
What should I wear to Fox and Anchor?
Keep it casual. The dress code for Fox and Anchor is casual, so there is no need to plan for formal dining wear.
How far ahead should I book Fox and Anchor?
Booking-difficulty guidance is not available. If timing matters, note the hours: Monday to Friday 7 AM–11 PM, Saturday 8:30 AM–11 PM, Sunday 8:30 AM–10 PM.
What are alternatives to Fox and Anchor in London?
For other London dining plans, consider St John, Smith's of Smithfield, Brutto, Foxlow, or Origin City, depending on the kind of plan you want.
Is lunch or dinner better at Fox and Anchor?
Long opening hours are a feature, but a specific lunch or dinner format is not highlighted. Fox and Anchor is open from 7 AM to 11 PM Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 11 PM on Saturday, 8:30 AM to 10 PM on Sunday.
Is Fox and Anchor good for a special occasion?
Fox and Anchor is best framed as a casual London option based on its dress code and hours. For a more formal or highly specific occasion, choose a venue with clearer details on cuisine, format, chef, or accolades.
