Photograph: The Lexington
Photograph: The Lexington
Photograph: The Lexington

The best pubs in King's Cross

Find the best places to drink in King’s Cross, from no-frills boozers and old-school ale houses to poshed-up gastropubs

Leonie Cooper
Written by: Laura Richards
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Finding a down-to-earth pub in the busy, busy King’s Cross neighbourhood is easy. This list delivers all the backstreet boozers you need to have on the radar – from places that champion craft beer from breweries around the world to gastropubs and watering holes which double up as extremely good indie music venues (The Lexington and The Harrison, since you asked). If you want lovely local bars, Kings Cross has got those too, as well as great neighbourhood restaurants. Cheers! Get stuck into our Kings Cross area guide if you want even more to do while youre there.

RECOMMENDED: These are the Best 50 Pubs in London

Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor and she used to work behind the bar at The Lexington, so she knows Kings Cross pubs better than most – and can serve a mean pint of Guinness. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

The best pubs in King’s Cross

  • Craft beer pubs
  • King’s Cross
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

This compact Victorian hole-in-the-wall pub with real-ale pumps and an astutely chosen handful of craft beers on draught is brought to you by the Mother Kelly’s team. With that knowledge, it’s hardly a surprise that the bottled beer selection is just as impressive. It’s usually cosy and blissfully music-free, apart from the odd hipster-trad jazz session around the old piano. 

2. The Boot

London's Irish pubs can always be relied upon for good craic and The Boot is no exception. Tucked away on Cromer Street, on the way to Bloomsbury, The Boot is trad to a tee. There's a dart board, pool table and Sunday roasts as well as some niche local history; Carry On... film star Kenneth Williams grew up in the area and was a former regular. 

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  • Music
  • Music venues
  • Pentonville Road

With an unashamedly retro feel running through the decor (wooden floor, plump Chesterfield sofas and mismatched chairs, swagged red curtains) and the bar, which boasts a selection of over 40 whiskies and numerous US bottled specialty beers, The Lexington is good place to both hear live music of an alternative variety (upstairs) and hang out (street level) until very late. 

  • King’s Cross
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

Hidden from the outside world, this homely pub provides rare ales, many whiskies, a roaring fire and the day’s papers to the dedicated regulars who frequent it. In fact, if you had to describe what a pub was to someone from Pluto, this would do the job. We also approve of their strict 'no wankers' policy. 

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  • King’s Cross

A short walk from Kings Cross/St Pancras, this simply furnished corner pub of stripped wood and tables occupied by after-work regulars enjoys considerable local status for being a smart but unpretentious spot for a decent pint and a natter. Expect a good range of real ale, live folk music a couple of times each week and decent gastropub fare – including a well-regarded Sunday roast. And if you really can't bring yourself to leave? There are rooms upstairs, too. 

  • Gastropubs
  • King’s Cross
  • price 2 of 4
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
The Lighterman
The Lighterman

Situated in a three-floor building in the redeveloped plaza behind King’s Cross station, The Lighterman has that feeling of being fresh out of the box. It’s doing the gastropub thing to a fault, but swish surroundings and attentive staff, plus a terrace overlooking the fountains of Granary Square make it worth a visit. 

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  • Pubs
  • King’s Cross
Star of Kings
Star of Kings

Tucked up by the canal in King's Cross, this pub belongs to the Star family who also run the Star of Bethnal Green, the Star by Hackney Downs, and the Leyton Star. On any given night you can find music, comedy and a pub quiz here in either their back room on the ground floor or basement. In the kitchen you'll find Breddos Tacos cooking up excellent Mexican munch. 

  • Gastropubs
  • King’s Cross
  • price 2 of 4
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
The Fellow
The Fellow

This gastropub is a well-kept spot for a drink with a few decorative nods made to horse-racing (but not enough to leave you with a nagging feeling). Although a grazing menu may tempt you in, it’s the pub’s outdoor (and covered) terrace that will convince you to stay for another round.

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  • Craft beer pubs
  • Caledonian Road
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
The Scottish Stores
The Scottish Stores

This small but handsome wood-panelled pub specialises in interesting beers and tap takeovers from breweries around the world. There are around decent draught options and a good few more in the fridge. There’s also a fairly secretive roof terrace. If you arrived fresh off the train, you’d never guess this building was a grotty strip club up until not that long ago. 

  • Breweries
  • King’s Cross
  • price 2 of 4
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Campfire by Two Tribes
Campfire by Two Tribes

There are two things on the agenda here: brews and tunes. An industrial-looking space (it’s as metallic as the inside of a spaceship), the brewery has a canny partnership with Island Records and a pretty good soundsystem, too. That silvery look extends to big brewing tanks sectioned off at the back, where Two Tribes creates its tasty range. The bar is designed for vertical imbibing, and much of this is done in a courtyard out front – also home to a kitchen residency from Taco Collective.

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