Charter Legal · Legal London
Visiting the Royal Courts of Justice or joining our Legal London tour? These are our favourite places nearby for coffee, lunch or a drink. Several are inside the Inns of Court themselves and are open to the public.
Numbers match the venues below. RCJ marks the Royal Courts of Justice.
Lunch in a 16th-century hall
You can have lunch in Middle Temple's 16th-century dining hall, which is open to the public. You must book online in advance.
Lunch is served on some weekdays only, and not during the summer, Easter or Christmas holidays. Torn jeans, T-shirts and shorts are not allowed.
Middle Temple Lane, London EC4Y 9AT · middletemple.org.uk/lunch
Coffee and lunch in Middle Temple
The Garden Room in Middle Temple is open to the public and reasonably priced. An Americano costs under £3, and lunch (a salad with a choice of protein) is around £12.
It's relaxed and the staff are welcoming.
Middle Temple Lane, London EC4Y 9BT · middletemple.org.uk/sites/gardenroom
The best food in the Inns of Court
In our view, the MCR has the best food of all four Inns of Court. It costs more than The Garden Room but is still good value. Burger and chips is £16.50 here, compared with £22.50 at the Law Society's Six Clerks restaurant, and the MCR's is better.
There are more ambitious dishes too, such as South Coast catch of the day with confit leeks, caviar and sour cream fried potatoes, tempura spring onion and grilled brassicas with a nori sauce (£23). It is also open in the evening for lighter meals.
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, London WC2A 3TL · themcr.lincolnsinn.org.uk
Coffee beneath Staple Inn
Good coffee and Italian cakes, beneath the Tudor timber frontage of Staple Inn.
Staple Inn, 337–338 High Holborn, London WC1V 7PX · brewgarden.co.uk
Sicilian pastries on High Holborn
Tempting Sicilian pastries and ice cream.
75 High Holborn, London WC1V 6LS · nonnabakery.co.uk
A pub in a former bank
This pub has a stunning interior and serves food and McMullen beer.
The Grade II listed building was a branch of the Bank of England until 1975, conveniently close to the courts for settling financial matters before and after a case.
194 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2LT
Behind the Royal Courts of Justice
The pub claims to date from 1602, though the building is probably from the 1680s. It has an interesting, quirky interior, and it stands right behind the Royal Courts of Justice.
53 Carey Street, London WC2A 2BJ · thesevenstars1602.co.uk
Beer from wooden casks
A Grade II listed pub in High Holborn, included in CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.
It is owned by Samuel Smith's Old Brewery and is one of the few pubs in London that still serves beer from wooden casks.
22 High Holborn, London WC1V 6BN · cittieofyorkeholborn.co.uk
Prices and opening times change, so check before you visit.