The Refinery Citypoint
Barbican, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
For the current London weekday season, The Refinery Citypoint is a practical City choice for drinks-led meetups, work celebrations, low-friction group plans. It is less compelling as a destination meal, so compare it with Bread Street Kitchen for Modern British familiarity or Angler for a higher-spend seafood occasion.
About The Refinery Citypoint
The Refinery Citypoint is a London venue with a smart casual dress code and a weekday schedule. Current hours list Monday closed, Tuesday and Wednesday 9 AM–11 PM, Thursday and Friday 9 AM–12 AM, Saturday and Sunday closed.
Assess it practically rather than as a culinary destination. Use the hours and dress code to decide whether it fits your plans, avoid assuming a specific dining style.
Use it for London convenience
For a London plan, The Refinery Citypoint is easiest to judge on timing. It is open Tuesday through Friday, with later closing on Thursday and Friday, closed Saturday through Monday. If the occasion needs more points of comparison, consider Bread Street Kitchen or Angler.
Readers planning across London should compare venues by the details that matter most for the occasion, such as awards, chef, cuisine, price band.
Better judged by hours and dress code
The Refinery Citypoint is most clearly defined by its schedule: closed Monday, Saturday, Sunday; open Tuesday and Wednesday until 11 PM; and open Thursday and Friday until midnight. For other London comparisons, consider 3 South Place, Bluebird City, The Heron, or the other options already noted above.
Bottom line: choose it only if the London location, weekday opening pattern, smart casual dress code fit your plans. For a meal that needs stronger culinary proof, cross-shop first.
Planning details
- Location
- 1 Ropemaker St, London EC2Y 9HT, United Kingdom
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- drakeandmorgan.co.uk
- Phone
- +442073820606
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Refinery Citypoint presents a practical, unfussy hospitality approach calibrated to the rhythms of the City. It leans into accessibility rather than tasting-menu ceremony: continuous service, flexible timings and a bar-restaurant hybrid format make it a dependable spot for people who need a working lunch, a mid-afternoon meeting over coffee, or a post-close drink. The atmosphere emphasises reliability and utility without feeling austere — it’s designed to support the day-to-day flow of the EC2 crowd, offering an approachable setting that suits both informal business interactions and casual after-work gatherings.
Best For
This venue is best for business-focused occasions in the City: working lunches, pre- and post-meeting coffees or drinks, and after-work catch-ups. Its format is built to accommodate the arc of a long business afternoon, so it’s a sensible choice for teams who need to hold a table across meetings or for small groups dropping in after close. The space also works for casual daytime dining and evening drinks when proximity and flexibility matter more than destination tasting menus.
Ordering Tips
Expect straightforward, all-day service rather than a formal tasting-menu progression; the Refinery favours flexibility and continuous service. Plan bookings around typical business hours if you need a table for a meeting or a group — the venue is pitched to hold tables through a long afternoon. If you’re arriving after work, treat it like a neighbourhood bar-restaurant: it’s designed for easy transitions between coffee, lunch and drinks rather than ceremonial multi-course dining.
Venue details
Ambiance
Soft lighting, statement wallpapers, cosy faux fur, and glamorous atmosphere creating a warm, contemporary vibe.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Lively
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Large
Planning details
Location
1 Ropemaker St, London EC2Y 9HT, United Kingdom · Directions
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
Choose Bread Street Kitchen if the group wants a clearer Modern British restaurant brief. Choose Angler if the occasion justifies a ££££ seafood meal and food matters more than easy drinks-led pacing.
Restaurant context
How it compares in the City
The Refinery Citypoint is the easy, weekday-friendly option in this group: useful for after-work drinks, business catch-ups, mixed groups who need a central City base. Angler is the clear splurge in the set, with a seafood focus and a ££££ price signal, so choose it when the food needs to carry the occasion rather than simply support the evening.
Bread Street Kitchen is the safer pick for diners who want a recognisable Modern British brief and a more restaurant-led meal. The Refinery Citypoint is better for convenience and drinks-led pacing; Bread Street Kitchen is better when guests expect the food identity to be obvious before they arrive.
Bluebird City, 3 South Place, The Heron are the right cross-shops if location or room feel matters more than a formal culinary brief. For the easiest plan, keep The Refinery Citypoint on the shortlist; for a higher-spend seafood meal, move Angler ahead.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Refinery Citypoint guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Refinery Citypoint
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Refinery Citypoint | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| The Heron | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Bread Street Kitchen | London | Modern British | ; | 2025 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #8702024 OAD Casual in Europe Ranked · #6712023 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended |
| 3 South Place | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Bluebird City | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Angler | London | Seafood | ££££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #590The Good Food Guide 20252025 Michelin 1 Star2024 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #3802024 Michelin 1 Star |
How The Refinery Citypoint London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can The Refinery Citypoint accommodate groups?
Is lunch or dinner better at The Refinery Citypoint?
Hours run from 9 AM Tuesday through Friday, with closing at 11 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday and midnight on Thursday and Friday. Choose based on the opening times and check the current lunch or dinner offering directly.
What should I wear to The Refinery Citypoint?
The dress code is smart casual. Neat, polished clothing is the safest choice.
