5 Great Places for Craft Beer in Central London – Westminster – SoHo – Covent Garden – Pimlico – Mayfair
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It seems like a new craft beer bar is opening in London every week. However, despite all the nightlife options in Central London, much of the craft beer scene is located outside of Zone 1. That said, there are a few gems to be found. Here is my guide to the best craft beer in Central London, including breweries, beer bars, taprooms, and bottle shops. For more in Zone 1, see my post about craft beer in the City of London.
The Best Craft Beer Bars in Central London – City of Westminster
Cask Pub & Kitchen
Cask Pub & Kitchen is a bit off the beaten path, located between Pimlico & Victoria. As a result, it’s a magnet for anyone looking for a decent pint in this area.
As you’d expect from the name, their cask ale selection is strong. That doesn’t mean they are weak in the craft beer department, offering 15 kegs to go with the 10 casks. The bottle list also has a great choice of about 100 beers.
They have one of the better food menus, featuring not only burgers but a traditional Sunday roast.
Address: 6 Charlwood St, Lillington and Longmoore Gardens, London SW1V 2EE, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest stations: Victoria & Pimlico
The Jackalope
While there’s been a pub on the site of The Jackalope since 1777, the transformation into a craft beer bar is newer. The pub is owned by the same people who run several other excellent London craft beer bars including Euston Tap and Hackney Tap. The restoration was done with great care, and the beer list is of the same high quality you’d expect if you’ve been to those other spots.
The Jackalope has 14 kegs and 6 casks, along with spicy noodles from LIU Xiaomian.
Address: 43 Weymouth Mews, London W1G 7EQ, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest stations: Regent’s Park & Oxford Circus
The Best Taprooms & Breweries in Central London
Temple Brew House
Temple Brew House, AKA Essex Street Brewery, is Central London’s sole craft brewery.
The brewery, which opened in 2014, is also much more. Amongst their 16 taps & 6 casks, they have a large guest offering.
With trivia night, live sport, interactive darts, and a full food menu with pub favorites (that’s also vegetarian & vegan friendly), this basement spot is a popular post-work hangout in Central London.
Address: 46 Essex St, Temple, London WC2R 3JF, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Temple
The Porterhouse London
Dublin craft brewery The Porterhouse has a taproom in London near Covent Garden. In addition to 8 taps of their craft beer, a couple of guests, and some casks, they also have a few dozen bottles & cans from around the U.K, Belgium, and Germany. The Porterhouse also offers burgers, pizzas, and bar bites.
Address: 21-22 Maiden Ln, London WC2E 7NA, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest stations: Covent Garden & Charing Cross
The Best Bottle Shops in Central London
Real Drinks
Real Drinks is predominantly a bottle shop, but they also have 8 taps. They have over 250 craft beers and ciders, plus spirits & wine.
Address: 4 Formosa St, London W9 1EE, United Kingdom (map)
Nearest station: Warwick Avenue
There are lots of places that offer a couple of options for craft beer in Central London, but a smaller number truly specialize in it. You also may notice the omission of a particular brewery I can no longer support due to their behaviour. The best London craft beer bars & breweries tend to be a bit further out from the center of the city, which makes sense due to the lack of people living in Central London, & the tendency of breweries to be in cheaper and/or more “hipster” areas. Still, if you’re in Central London for work or vacation & can’t make it out of Zone 1, then these options should keep you satisfied.
For more great London beer, see my related posts:
- The Bermondsey Beer Mile in London
- The best craft beer in Central London – Westminster – SoHo – Covent Garden – Pimlico – Mayfair
- The best craft beer in the City of London, England
- The best craft beer in North London – Camden – Bloomsbury – Kentish Town – Hampstead
- The best craft beer in the East End of London – Bethnal Green – Tower Hamlets
- The best craft beer in East London – Hackney – Shoreditch – Dalston – Hoxton – Clapton – Stoke Newington – Hackney Wick
- The best craft beer in Walthamstow – Blackhorse Beer Mile – Waltham Forest – Leyton – Leytonstone – Chingford – Northeast London
- The best craft beer in Stratford – Newham – Canning Town – West Ham – East Ham – East London
- The best craft beer in South London – Brixton – Lambeth – Clapham – Vauxhall
- The best craft beer in Richmond, London, England
- The best craft beer in Greenwich, England
Do you love craft beer? Check out more of my recommendations for the best craft beer around the world!
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