The working week can be hard and occasionally you need a place for a satisfying drink, a bite to eat and a bit of a boogie. Fortunately 26 Smithfield provides that all-in-one vessel.

The Venue
Only a stone’s throw away from Smithfield Market and Farringdon station is a venue which has many dimensions. It is not on the main drag of bars and eateries, so you won’t stumble upon it, as it is surrounded by offices.

As you enter, the bar is decorated almost entirely in black. There are leather banquettes to the side and all fixings, including the bar, are of a sleek design.

When 26 Smithfield isn’t hosting events - they have a popular burlesque night once a month - typically the street level floor is your first port of call, but for private parties and other events, there is a choice of three other levels. The basement acts as a VIP area and is also popular for corporate dos, whilst the first floor is used for private dining and conferences (as it has a projector. The top floor houses a roof terrace with heaters, a barbecue and twinkly fairy lights, and is an urban retreat in the city during the summer months.

The Atmosphere
As it is smack bang in the middle of a bunch of offices, you tend to get office types and suits unwinding after a testing day at work. The vibe is buzzing and the music is pumping, as people want to party hard. The main bar competently handles the pressure of people wanting their drinks speedily, and the staff do this with ease.

The Food
Although there is not a lot of choice on the menu, you can still get some good deals. They run a two courses for £13.90 and three courses for £15.90 offer, which has a fairly decent selection. However looking at the surroundings, you expect a bit more from your meal than they actually deliver. The smoked salmon and avocado salad is slightly clumsily put together and looks like the sort of dish you find in your local pub. So, if you think more pub food than restaurant, you won’t be disappointed. The calamari is a plate of huge battered rings of squid, which are a touch on the oily side. The mains fair better with the steak being served on a wooden board, with chunky chips piled up on the side and a simple salad. However the battered cod and chip is, again, average.

The Drink
26 Smithfield is more of a place to drink wine than beer, which is why there are only two on tap: Staropramen (£3.90) and Becks (£3.50). There’s also a selection of bottles: Peroni (£3.60), Corona (£3.60) and Abbots Ale (£3.50) are just three of the tipples on offer.

House wine is £14.50 a bottle, £5 a large glass and £3.90 a small, but if you want to splash out a bit, a good option is the chardonnay (£18) or malbec (£19).

For the sparkling options there's a bottle to suit all budgets. The cava is £25 a bottle and £6.50 a glass, and even the champers starts at £40 and goes up to £75 for Laurent Perrier Rose.

The Last Word
If you want a fun after work drink or need to host an event in this part of town, then 26 Smithfield ticks all the boxes.

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