If you’re in Old Street, London, you seek the extraordinary. Now about this place, it is not merely a street in London. It is taken as the pulse of London’s culinary and creative beats. Each one of the Old Street cafes and bars is sure to give you a worthwhile experience. In this heavily electric space, you shall witness it all from historic pubs to contemporary coffee houses, to the quirky The Attendant which was once a toilet- yes, you read it right! Stay with us so we can enlighten you all about the must-visit cafes and bars that truly enrapture the essence of Old Street and London.  
Let's begin, shall we? 

Here's London’s List of the Best Cafes & Bars in the Old Street! 

Table of Contents

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The Attendant

If you’ve been looking to take yourself out on a solo date, you cannot miss out on this one-of-a-kind cafe. Here urinals have now been transformed into private spaces to savour pastries, coffees, and so much more. Crazy, no? They also rather wholesomely welcome groups and couples in their separately built spaces. 

What do they offer?

Once a Victorian-built toilet, this cafe offers a wide variety of breakfast, lunch, and brunch. Their coffee is soul-touching, and the sandwiches will fill your heart with joy along with excellent coffee. The menu also contains outstanding vegetarian-friendly, and gluten-free options. If you’re in a rush, don’t worry, taking out is always an option.  

Achievements 

The place has been gracefully rated among the Top 10 Independent Coffee Shops in the city by Timeout London and Visit London. It has also been picked as the runner-up Best Coffee Shop in London in the year 2013. 

Highlights

• They are pet-friendly. 
• The place serves on a “first come, first serve” basis. No reservations are needed for the same.  

Timings

• Monday to Friday:  8 am - 5 pm
• Saturday & Sunday:  9 am - 5 pm

Address: 270 A Foley Street, London.

How to reach?

• Some of the closest bus stops to your destination may include New Cavendish Street, Great Titchfield St / Oxford Circus Stn (OJ).
• Buses: 59, 18, 27, 453, 55, 88, N18, N8, N25, N55, 73, N3, 12, N15, 22, N22 
• Trains:  Chiltern  Railways, Elizabeth, Overground 
• Tube: Central Circle, Jubilee Metropolitan, Victoria Bakerloo, Northern Hammersmith & City 

 

Ozone Coffee Roasters

 

Are you a coffee person? If that’s a yes, we bet you would not find better coffee than this cafe which was conventionally a coffee roasting place!  The journey of this cafe began with three people passionately started roasting coffee from a small shop in a provincial New Zealand surf town- Fitzroy, New Plymouth in the year 1998. The Ozone Coffee Roasters are well known for their over 25 years of expertise in speciality coffee.   

What do they offer?

With extremely elaborate meal options the cafe also offers an exquisite range of drinks.  Apart from this, their coffee, their eggs benedict, and kedgeree are to die for!

Achievements: The cafe became B Corp Certified in September 2022.  

Highlights

• The cafe welcomes dogs.  
• They only welcome walk-ins for all weekend visits. 
• To reserve a table for groups of 7 or more, you need to contact their eateries on their mail directly.   

Timings

• Monday to Friday:  7:30 am - 4 pm.  
• Saturday to Sunday: 8: 30 am - 5 pm

Address: Emma St, London E2 9AP 

How to reach?

• Here is the list of stops closest to your destination:
  • St Paul's College,
  • Baldwin Avenue 9,
  • Jervois Road,
  • Ferry Terminal - Downtown,
  • Hamer St. 
• Bus: 105, OUT, 101  
• Ferry: Bays, Birk, Dev, Gulf, HMB, Great Barrier Island Ferry 

 

Barbican Centre Cafe

Have you ever been to a cafe which is also a multi-arts and conference venue? If not, this place needs to be on your bucket list! The Centre itself is a monolithic masterpiece, stunning evidence of post-war architecture that has now become an iconic landmark in London. 

What do they offer?
The cafe has various sections catering to a wide variety of people.  
 

The Barbican Kitchen

Located on the ground floor of the Barbican, they serve a variety of breakfast options, lunch, and evening snacks and drinks.  The calf's liver they serve is a must-try. If you have a sweet tooth, you’re in luck, because they offer some of the finest cheesecakes and doughnuts.  

Highlights: Kids under 10 can choose a free meal from their kid's menu, with every adult meal above the value of £10. 
 
Timings: Monday to Saturday: 10 am - 8 pm  
 

Barbican Bar & Grill

You will find this bar and grill at Level 1, do not miss this place for a pre-theatre meal.  They offer delicious burgers and plant-based dishes, along with salads, light bites, and cocktails. Their burgers and sweet potato fries are a hit! It is most definitely one of the best bars near Old Street.
 
Highlights: 

• They only accept card payments 
• Reservations needed 

Timings

• Monday to Saturday: 12 noon - 8:30 pm 
• Sunday: Closed 

 

Barbican Brasserie

You'll find this brasserie on the second floor of the Barbican overlooking the renowned lakeside and fountains. 
 

What do they offer?

It offers some of the most classical British and European dishes with a modern tinge added to it. The place offers lunch and pre-theatre dining, with £28.50 for (two courses) and three courses for £34.  Their mindfully created wine list screams excellence. 
Highlights

• Reservations needed
• For booking tables for people more than 6, a deposit of £10 is required to secure your booking.  

Timings

• Lunch: Monday to Saturday: 12 noon – 2.30 pm 
• Dinner: Monday to Wednesday & Saturday: 4.30 pm - 7 pm 
• Dinner: Thursday to Friday: 4.30 pm -9 pm 
• Closed on Sundays.  

 
Martini Bar

This place is a heaven on Earth if you love Italian cuisine. How could we even miss this one in our list of bars near Old Street? Founded in the year 2012, this place offers exceptional Italian courses, 

What do they offer?
Along with finger-licking Italian food, they also possess some of the finest cocktails in London. Their creations are magically curated by their mixologist Harvey Macaraig. 
 
Tip: Do not miss out on their happy hour from 5 pm to 6 pm everyday where you can get 2 cocktails for £16. 
 
Timings: Monday to Saturday: 5 pm - 10.30 pm 
 
Address: Barbican Centre, Silk St London, EC2Y 8DS 

How to Reach? 

• By Tube: 
  • They are within walking distance of numerous London Underground and Elizabeth Line stations, the closest being Barbican, St Paul’s, Farringdon and Moorgate  
  • The nearest tube station served by the Night Tube (Friday and Saturday) is St Paul's on the Central line. 
• By Train: 
  • The nearest train stations are Liverpool Street and Farringdon. 
  • Liverpool Street: 11 min walk 
  • Farringdon: 8 min walk 
• By Bus: 
  • Bus Route 153 runs directly past the Barbican along Chiswell Street. Alight at 'Silk Street'.  

 

NightJar  

Do you live for jazz music? You’d be delighted to be here as they have an amazing live jazz band playing through the evening. The place is a multi-award-winning vintage bar and music venue renowned for exceptional cocktail serves, nestled amongst the Old Street shops. 

What do they offer?
They offer some exceptional quality of food, spirits, and cocktails.  

Achievements
It has been voted as the World's Top 3 bars for 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. They possess a small tapas menu for those who possess an appetite. 
 
Timings

• Monday to Thursday: 6 pm - 1 am 
• Friday and Saturday: 6 pm - 2 am 
• Sunday: 4 pm - 10 pm  

Address: NightJar Carnaby, Kingly Court 49-51 Carnaby St., London W1H 9PY 
 
How to Reach?
The nearest tube is a 5-minute walk from Oxford Circus & Piccadilly Circus  
 

The Book Club  

This bar is what one can call a typical representation of an Old Street night out. If you enjoy games, this is the place for you. The place hosts events such as the Wednesday hip hop quiz party, DJ nights featuring influential selectors, and “thinking and drinking” sessions which combine expert Q&A sessions with beer and cocktails.  

What do they offer?
They offer extraordinarily delightful options for food and drinks. From Marinara, Margherita, and Pepperoni, to nachos, you can have it all.  
 
Timings

• Monday to - Tuesday: Closed 
• Wednesday: 5 pm – 12 midnight 
• Thursday: 5 pm – 1 am 
• Friday: 5 pm – 3 am 
• Saturday: 12 pm – 3 am 

Address: 100-106 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4RH 
 
How to Reach?

• The nearest tube to this location is Old Street.

 

The Princess of Shoreditch  

Located in the quiet street, the Princess creates magic with the outstanding quality of traditional British pub food in the lively downstairs bar and refined British & European cuisine in the elegant and charming dining room. 

What do they offer?
They serve authentic British food, with certain changes seasonally. Yorkshire pudding and lamb from this place is a must-try.  

Achievements
The cafe proves itself by winning a couple of awards, including Timeouts, “And Best New Gastropub”. This qualifies as one of the best Old Street cafes in London. 

Timings

• Monday to Friday: 12 noon- 9 pm. 
• Saturday: 12 noon- 9:30 pm 
• Sunday: 12 noon- 8 pm  

Bar:

• Monday to Saturday: 12 noon - 10:30 pm 
• Sunday: 12 noon - 9 pm   

Address: 76-78 Paul Street London, EC2A4NE 
 
Nobu Hotel Shoreditch  

With an informal vibe, Nobu Hotel Shoreditch offers the perfect blend of luxury, craft, fun, and theatre. With 164 mindfully curated guestrooms and suites, the place possesses a Nobu Restaurant Shoreditch and Nobu Shoreditch Bar and Terrace. The hotel is filled with innovatively printed and architecture-layered glass.  

What do they offer?
Speaking of bars near Old Street, savour as of the most innovative cocktails here. Enjoy some of the classics of this place, such as Crispy Rice with Avocado, Dashi Fries, and Beef Tartar. 
 
Timings

• Monday to Wednesday: 5 pm- 10:30 pm 
• Thursday and Friday: 5 pm- 12:30 am 
• Saturday: 11 am- 12:30 am 
• Sunday: 11 am- 10:30 pm 

Highlights

• If you enjoy live DJs and Music, this place would be a hit for you.
• Thursday to Saturday- 7 pm onwards  

Address: 10-50 Willow Street near Old Street Station, London EC2A 4BH England 

The Old Fountain: A Classic Pub

If one enjoys nice terrace seating there is no doubt that this place is a wonder, it is sure to captivate your soul. It is one of those Old Street Cafes in London that one visits for their ultimate hearty meal cravings. 
What do they offer?
They offer some world-class dishes, but the star dish has to be the roasted beef and the exquisite collection of crafted beer they offer.  
 
Timings

• Monday:  3 am- 11 pm 
• Tuesday- Saturday: 12 noon- 11 pm 
• Sunday: 12 noon- 8 pm 

 
Address

• 3 Baldwin Street 
• London, Old Street 
   

Callooh Callay 

Among the Old Street Cafes in London, mentioning one of the OG bars in Shoreditch would be like sinning, would it not? They are widely renowned for their distinctive menus and designs.  
What do they offer?
In this extremely cosy bar, their wine collection is a complete hit. 
 
Achievements
The bar has won several awards along the way and has also been featured in the Top 50 Cocktail Bars 2022, 2019, top 500 Bars 2021, 2020, 2019, along with Imbibe’s Best Drinks List 2020, and many more.  

Timings

• Monday to Sunday: 6 pm to 1 am     

Address: 65 Rivington Street, London  
 
How to Reach?

• Shoreditch High St - 6 min walk 
• Old St - 7 min walk 
   

Final Thoughts

Old Street, London, is not just for tech startups and modern developments, rather it is a place where you can witness some of the most captivating cafes and bars of London. From the award-winning Ozone Coffee Roasters to the serene Barbican Center Cafe the Old Street cafes and bars have it all. 
Old street being the happening street is rich with bars and cafes. To ensure that your stay is full of excitement but also provide the comfort required to make the stay perfect, we have serviced apartments in Old Street, London which can provide you the same. Do check it out!

Which cafe excited you the most? let us know in the comment!