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The Drapers Arms, London,

The Drapers Arms

4.6
4.6
1457 Reviews
£25 and under
Gastro Pub
Top tags:
GARDEN BOOKING VIA PHONE OR EMAIL ONLY.

The Drapers Arms is a lovely 1830s pub in a residential area of Islington

Very much a pub we are as welcoming to one person sitting with a beer and a paper as to a group having a special meal. In an informal and relaxing atmosphere we nonetheless take our food, drink and service seriously.

Our food is all freshly prepared and our menu changes every day and across the seasons. With a focus on being enjoyable, honest and seasonal we are also affordable - our wine list available on our website is among the very best in London.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 29 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Gastro Pub, British
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch: Monday - Friday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm, Saturday 12.00pm - 4.00pm, Sunday: 12:00pm - 8:30pm Dinner: Monday - Friday: 6:00pm - 10:30pm, Saturday: 7.00 - 10:30pm
  • Phone number
    020 7619 0348
  • Website
    http://www.thedrapersarms.com/
  • Payment Options
    Carte Blanche, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Aurelien Durand
  • Private party facilities
    We have an upstairs dining room that can hold around 60 for a drinks party and 45 for a dinner. A variety of drink and dining alternatives are available. We also accept large parties downstairs and cater for many weddings, birthdays and other celebrations every year.
  • Location
    44 Barnsbury Street, London, N1 1ER
  • Area
    Angel
  • Parking Details
    Limited number of pay and display bays in the area. After 6.30pm residents bays and single yellow line can be used as well as at weekends.
  • Public Transit
    Approximately equidistant from Angel and Highbury & Islington tube stations.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,457 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • North London

    Good for groups

  • North London

    Neighbourhood gem

  • North London

    Great for fine wines

  • North London

    Great for outdoor dining

  • North London

    Most Booked

1,457 Reviews

  1. ZBee

    London

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful setting, lovely friendly staff and really great food. Thoroughly enjoyable evening all round.

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  2. KB50

    London

    30 reviews

    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The Drapers Arms was as fabulous as always - great food and service in a lovely room.

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  3. VAMA

    London

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall3food3service3ambience2
    It is very busy, perhaps it has become famous, but I didnt think it was super good. The sunday roast was average. I was expecting more.

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  4. SUSANB

    London

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Lovely food and lovely room. Good service too. Noisy!

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  5. KB50

    London

    30 reviews

    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on 20 November 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fabulous evening/meal at the Drapers Arms as always.

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  6. HeyLondon

    London

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 November 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience2
    I was waiting for the Sunday roast for a month and they served a horribly-looking flat Yorkshire pudding and RARE BEEF STEAK. When it comes to Yorkshire pudding, the server mentioned "It's not uniform". And he didn't care about anything. The server has been working at this restaurant for 3 years and has no issue with RARE BEEF being served on Sunday roasts! Normally you get asked whether you want it well done or rare, however they did not even bother to ask us :S .. Because he said everyone is happy with RARE BEEF STEAK. And the fat hasn't rendered much. I think they knew it's our first proper Sunday Roast in England, it seemed like they igonored us because we are not local people. They decided to heat our steak up but it tasted not good of course. It ruined our lovely Sunday and my exprience for my first Sunday Roast!! So I do not recommend this restaurant for your lovely Sunday lunch!

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  7. MichaelJ

    London

    10 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on 18 November 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience3
    This was our fourth meal at the Drapers Arms, and we'd had great experiences before. This time, though, was a let down. We were seated at the end of a trestle table right by the bar; the noise level was unbearable. Perhaps because it was a Saturday night, the staff seemed harried and inattentive, and the food, while good, was not at the level we'd experienced before. Even dishes we'd had before, like the cote de boeuf, seemed to reflect cut corners (fries and undressed salad greens rather than a vegetable assortment and roast potatoes). I'm afraid we won't be back.

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  8. BarnsburyGastro

    London

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on 17 November 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent food, AMAZING wine list, cool bar snacks and cocktails, great staff, wonderful atmosphere, what's not to like. Strongly recommend

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  9. StephenB

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 16 November 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    A very good dining experience, service was very attentive.

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  10. RichardP

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 6 November 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My wife and I met here 12 years ago and held our wedding reception here. They never disappoint

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  11. Tommy

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 6 November 2023

    overall1food5service1ambience5
    We had lunch on Monday and it was unbelievably short-staffed. There was one guy doing all the drinks and food for every table. It took us 3 mins to be seated, 10 mins to get a menu, and about 30mins to order. When the food came we ordered 2x mussels which I thought came with njuda butter and sourdough - however this never came. When we asked for the bread, we were given one serving to share between us but with normal butter, which felt like a mistake. Overall the food is fantastic but for the prices charged the level of service was absolutely horrendous. It's a shame because it ruined the experience for us, and I was going to recommend my wife take her friends there but given this experience I absolutely wouldn't.

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  12. HMDO

    Dorset

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 5 November 2023

    overall4food5service1ambience4
    The food and the ambience at the Drapers Arms is second to none (as always), however the service was really lacking this time around. We stood at the door for around 5-7 minutes before we were acknowledged by a staff member. Our waitress was very standoffish from the start. I asked for a vodka martini, which I have had before at this pub, but was made to feel very difficult for doing so. She then told me they didn’t have any vodka (!?) but said they would make me a gin one instead. My drink arrived at least 20 minutes after everyone else’s. The rest of our table (7 of us) said they also felt like they were inconveniencing her every time we asked for anything, even just water for the table. We ordered 2 bottle of wine at the end of our meal, to which the response was ‘well you have to be out by 7’… it was 18:15. We ordered the wine anyway but got very regular reminders of our departure time, which did not make for a relaxing evening. It’s a shame because we travelled across London for a Sunday roast, as it’s all our favourite. I will be returning as my positive experiences here have outweighed this one negative one. However, maybe the managers need to talk to their staff about being more hospitable.

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  13. ColleenR

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 31 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Really beautiful pub, great service and great food

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  14. PaddyS

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 29 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It’s not local to where we live but worth trekking an hour across town on a grey Sunday afternoon to enjoy a late long Sunday lunch to celebrate our son’s birthday with friends. It was my son’s first visit and it didn’t disappoint. Baked Camembert, bone marrow, toast and pickles followed by côte de boeuf, Yorkshire puds, roasties, cabbage two ways and finished off with sticky banana pudding and toffee sauce. Super friendly service, great wines and the odd cocktail. I only wish we had a local of this quality.

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  15. CMarch

    Yorkshire

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 22 October 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Fantastic food and cheerful, attentive service. A little bit loud at times but everyone was having a great time. Would definitely recommend the Sunday Lunch menu, particularly the banana sticky toffee pudding - incredible!

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  16. KayP

    London

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 October 2023

    overall3food5service5ambience3
    Great kitchen and service, nice atmosphere too, but as its one large, bare high-ceilinged room it’s very noisy and can be hard to keep a conversation going.

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  17. SamLondonN7

    London

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 16 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great as always!!! Not the cheapest but value for money!!

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  18. Will

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The best Sunday roast dinner I've had in London. The lamb was exceptional!

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  19. DannyM

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 14 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Super great pub with nice vibe, friendly staff and good food and drink.

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  20. AbbyM

    Sydney

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 14 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Couldn’t have loved our lunch more, it was amazing

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  21. graceS

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I had been recommended here a few times, but I wasnt read for how much I loved it, I will be back as soon as possible, the best cabbage ever (and everything else, just the cabbage blew my mind) , delicious wine, lovely staff, beautiful room and just a really cosy & special atmosphere. Im just amazed i hadnt been before!

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  22. Islington

    London

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 12 October 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience3
    Maybe we had bad luck with choices but the smoked herring starter was chewy and a bit rubbery and the beef pie just a bit heavy. But the terrine was good. The acoustic/ noise level in the dining area meant we had to lean in and raise our voices to talk to each other. Noise level in that part a real problem. Service willing and charming.

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  23. Susanna

    London

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 9 October 2023

    overall3food2service4ambience4
    - Food was ok, started were very good but mains were mediocre. Especially the pork dish we had was so salty it was practically inedible so we had to leave most of it on the plate. - Cocktails were good, wine recommendation so-so. - Value for what we had was not great. £130+ for 2 starters and 3 mains but one of the mains we did not eat pretty much, the second was the onglet where the fries were terrible so did not have those either, and the third was the pie which was good but it was tiny. So considering 2/3 dishes we didn't finish and the starters were TINY (max for 2 people to share) it did not feel like very good value. - Service was lovely, very nice friendly people. Mains did take 1 hour to arrive though, which was less good as we got starters quickly, and then had to wait an hour for the mains - Finally, they should be better with guests with pets. I am really allergic to dogs, and at the start the table they sat us on had someone with a dog that was immediately rushing towards me. We asked to move, which they kindly accommodated. Then a big group arrived with two dogs that were not on leashes and so roamed freely and rubbed against my leg. I spent the rest of the evening sneezing and not feeling well. Primarily fault of the owner who was careless, but would be good if the pub had asked them to keep dog on a leash, or asked them to keep dog to the side of the table where I was not sitting for example, rather than me having to ask them several times to not let their dog come up to me.

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  24. Richard

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 8 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My wife and I had a lovely experience. The front of house clearly work hard to provide a great service and the roast was delicious.

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  25. Londoner

    London

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on 8 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lovely pub in a smart leafy side street in Islington. Great food and a really interesting menu. The staff were friendly and helpful despite the pub being very busy. Prices are readonable given the quality of the food and great location. Thoroughly recommended.

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    Edinburgh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 7 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A delicious meal and fab service, as always! Highly recommended.

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  27. CatK

    London

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 6 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Service was exceptional. Food never misses! Will definitely keep going back.

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  28. MorganH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 4 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing place, best pub food in the area by far and superb wine list!

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  29. ClaireM

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 3 October 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Food and service was amazing, as always. I just wish the chairs were more comfortable and padded for my poor arthritic back.

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  30. OpenTable Diner

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 25 September 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Had a wonderful evening with friends. Smiley helpful staff, interesting items on the menu not seen elsewhere-it’s a first world problem! 😀😀 Difficult to choose amongst the many wines. But we managed. It was unanimous that we all had the suet topped beef bourgignon pie. With new potatoes and cabbage. Yum! Prawns on bottarga sourdough and rabbit rillette as starters. And shared a chocolate tiffin for dessert. Wonderful evening

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  31. catherinea

    London

    7 reviews

    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 17 September 2023

    overall3food4service3ambience3
    Some of the side dishes were good. The service from the manager was excellent but the waiting staff are pretty unenthusiastic.

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  32. Scott

    London

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 September 2023

    overall4food5service4ambience4
    Great food and service, great for a mid week dinner or special occasion.

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  33. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 10 September 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    The day we went to the Drapers Arms, it was absolutely sweltering, incredibly busy and yet all the staff were friendly and accommodating. Lovely place.

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  34. CharlieM

    London

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 5 September 2023

    overall4food3service4ambience5
    Ive had beautiful food at the Drapers before, however this unfortunately was not one of those times.

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  35. Islingtonite

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 31 August 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a great time at the Drapers Arms, the food was incredible, the staff were warm and attentive, and the atmosphere is lovely- relaxed and mature (I.e. not just full of people on their phones). Highly recommend.

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  36. OpenTable Diner

    London

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 27 August 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome as always and had very patient staff for our late arrival on a Sunday evening.

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  37. Drapers

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 27 August 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always great. -if you can get in. We didn't want to spend hugely last Sunday, and I suppose that's quite easy to do at The Draper's, but we shared a roast chicken with all the trimmings, and one pudding - totally delicious honey cake, - & a lovely Pinot Noir, for £102 for the four of us - (2 of whom were 6yr olds), but we were sated, and every bit of it was delicious.

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  38. Anon

    London

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 27 August 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience3
    Managed to secure a table at short notice. The Sunday Roast is meant to be the stuff of legends. Unfortunately on our visit the beef was full of sinu and most of the meal arrived luke warm and became cold very quickly. It’s incredibly noisy/vibrant depending on your disposition. My guest and I couldn’t hear one another over the table. Service is exceptional and everyone was lovely.

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  39. Ashley

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 25 August 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lovely quiet lunch for one in the garden, first grouse of the season (and practically daylight robbery at £36!). Staff were lovely and cooking was done with generosity and deliciousness in mind. Top marks!

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  40. freshfoodrocks

    London

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on 23 August 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food, service and wine as always! I can't recommend it enough.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Physical distancing

    • Limited number of seated diners
    • Distancing maintained in common areas
    • Extra space between tables

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

The Drapers Arms is rated 4.6 stars by 1457 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 29 times today
Google Map for The Drapers Arms

44 Barnsbury Street, London, N1 1ER

Additional information

  • Area
    Angel
  • Hours of Operation
    Lunch: Monday - Friday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm, Saturday 12.00pm - 4.00pm, Sunday: 12:00pm - 8:30pm Dinner: Monday - Friday: 6:00pm - 10:30pm, Saturday: 7.00 - 10:30pm
  • Price
    £25 and under
  • Cuisines
    Gastro Pub, British
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking Details
    Limited number of pay and display bays in the area. After 6.30pm residents bays and single yellow line can be used as well as at weekends.
  • Public Transit
    Approximately equidistant from Angel and Highbury & Islington tube stations.
  • Payment Options
    Carte Blanche, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Aurelien Durand
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.thedrapersarms.com/
  • Phone number
    020 7619 0348
  • Private party facilities
    We have an upstairs dining room that can hold around 60 for a drinks party and 45 for a dinner. A variety of drink and dining alternatives are available. We also accept large parties downstairs and cater for many weddings, birthdays and other celebrations every year.
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