The Grafton Arms

I love the Grafton and frequent the place all the time. The drinks are fab, the food is amazing, and the staff are always up for some banter. Great place to hold parties upstairs and the roof terrace the perfect chill out area to enjoy a pint and fag. A 5* pub!

Ok, now I have a serious problem here: how do I review an english pub? I mean, they are pretty much the same to my eyes: some english beer which I constantly avoid, a couple of german/​australian lager, that’s it. Usual lights, usual tables, let’s speak straight: they look pretty much the same thing for me. Therefore, I concentrate on the small things!
Notice, I went here late during the night, avoiding the confusion this place sees every single week day because of after work drinking (seriously London, you definitely drink too much after work!). And among the small things I noticed there are the waitresses, who are young and probably students but focused on the job and smiling, an action difficult to find from a bartender in london, and the fact they didn’t start to put chairs on the table BEFORE closing the place. Easy things, but that’s what makes the differences for places which are not that special.
Just one more thing: men, GO to the TOILET. Just go.

My favourite place to go in Fitzrovia — lovely bar staff and food is amazing all home made (unlike some pubs who just heat it up). They have a roof terrace as well which is only of the only places in the area to have one and they allow dogs (mine is the local resident).

Aah the mythical upstairs room, quiet and cozy

This is the perfect after-​work watering hole for those with offices in the North/​West End bit of London. Spacious and interestingly laid out over three floors (plus roof terrace) there is always somewhere to sit, even when it gets busy (which often happens in the summer months in particular).
Decent selection of beers, wines and other tipples, and a really nice traditional pub feel that’s lacking from many other establishments in the area.

The anarchist Frank Kitz formed the Social Democratic Club which met here regularly from 1877 to 1878. This pub is featured on the Fitzrovia Crawl

I thought I’d reviewed this pub aaaaaaaages ago, but it seems not. So, erm… I am now.
I’m actually torn between three and four stars. I actually think the pub itself is a solid three stars, no more, even on a good day. So why four stars? Their roof terrace is nothing short of brilliant.
Roof terraces in the summer are like gold mines for pubs. And this one is no exception. But it’s not the most well-​known area, so never gets really really packed. In fact, I’ve never had trouble nabbing a seat here. But like I said, it’s not the best pub in the world — and being slightly further down a side street than you’d usually walk means you won’t just stumble upon it.
The best thing? You can hire the terrace and upstairs bar. It’s been a while since I’ve done this, but it was just £50 deposit to hire out the top bar, and you get the terrace in the bargain as well. I think you have to spend £250 or lose the deposit — but that’s a very low minimum spend. You can hire the area for free if you don’t mind walking up and down the stairs to get to the bar. Bargain.
I wish I couldn’t remember anything about the drinks, or the rest of the pub. It’s nothing special, but if you’re outside, in the sun with your friends you’ll be happy. Especially when you’re paying pub prices instead of swanky member’s bar prices.