Set amidst the bustle of suits in the heart of The City, this popular haunt is a chain bar that knows good food and serves it with a smile.

The Venue
A step across the road from Cannon Street station, All Bar One is a spacious, light bar with a traditional pub-like theme; wooden floors and furniture making you feel right at home. Once through the hefty entrance, you’re met with a large bar with disabled access and further seating in an upstairs area.

The decor is typical of the chain, a neutral colourscheme punctuated by an array of blackboards stating the bar’s wares are key. Choose from higher tables or cosy booths to sip your drink and tuck into the menu; there’s plenty of seating so you don’t have to prop up the always-busy bar while others try to get served.

The Atmosphere
With City transport links along the road and plenty of offices surrounding the area, it’s no surprise All Bar One attracts commuters after a hard day’s work. Locals also show up for a pint, with the pub-like atmosphere making it great for regular visits. The crowd is as easygoing as the bar itself, with drinks and conversation flowing over a quiet background hubbub of commercial tunes that won’t interrupt. From a morning coffee to a late night rendezvous, the relaxed bar is served by efficient staff who cope well with the happy punters.

The Food
All Bar One’s menu reads like a selection of pub food with a difference. Choose from hot sandwiches, handmade burgers and an impressive selection of tapas for a snack with a twist, or if you’re hungry after a long day’s graft try their ‘big plates’ to fill your appetite.

The worldly list of tapas starts at only £2.45 for olives or ciabatta, with the top price being just £6.35 for Atlantic scallops. The small options are also perfect for a starter - try the tortilla strips (£3.90), served hot in a tall metallic container to retain the heat with a side of cool sour cream, guacamole and tangy salsa. For a classy take on an old favourite there are large plates such as Cumberland sausages with a potato, parsnip and celeriac mash and red onion gravy.

For something a little unusual, the selection of grilled skewers are spot on. The halloumi skewer includes peppers, courgettes and onions, grilled to perfection, laced with a sweet pepper and olive dressing, contrasting the delicately creamy halloumi to make it anything but bland. For just £7.50 you can add whatever you fancy to the skewer to make a full meal, from spicy noodles to roasted organic beetroot. The fattoush is a generous accompaniment, packed with tomatoes, cucumber, red onions and red pepper to colourfully combine with crisp slices of pitta. A fresh salad that fills more than half of the large dinner plate, with a skewer on the side it makes a large lunch or reasonable evening meal.

For more than just a healthy snack, the chicken wrapped in pancetta makes a flavoursome meal. Served with a green pesto dressing, roasted tomatoes and a heap of fries you won’t leave room for pudding with this plate, which is only £8.80. The chicken is tender and light, while the pesto adds a herby, oily texture to keep it moist. The chips, as with a lot of pub grub, overtake the dish in quantity but taste freshly cooked and complements the chicken for a good take on the classic.

As you’d expect, the burgers such as the beef and coriander burger with bacon and mushroom, are more than enough for a big helping of quality meat with salsa to dip in for a nice touch. The beef is grease-free and tender to taste, whilst the mushroom is grilled enough so as not to be soggy. Not forgetting the sweeter side of life, All Bar One offers a small choice of desserts to finish off a good meal. The melting chocolate fondant cake is as good as it sounds, at only £3.90, served with a pot of clotted cream, this heated sweet treat is rich enough to share. A crisp chocolate pastry encases gooey, melting chocolate whilst the cold clotted cream softens the richness.

The Drink
All Bar One has a huge selection of wine stacked behind the bar. The house white is better than simply the cheapest pub drink; a fresh, crisp Pinot Grigio that comes in at only £2.65 for a large glass and suits the lighter dishes. As with the red and white, the rose selection is divided into the classic, bold and the distinctive; choose from the palest, salmon-pink tint of the Pinot Grigio or, for a summery, fruitier tang, the Cotes du Rhone Rose is ample at just £3.50 a glass.

Bottles of bubbly start at just £5.95 a glass or £29 a bottle; a bargain for any London drinking den. For beer drinkers, there won’t be a disappointed pint-buyer in the house; the adventurous draught selection includes Duvel Green Draught, Becks Vier, Amstel, Staropramen, Erdinger, London Pride, Guinness, Heineken, Adnams East Green, Peroni, Paulaner and Aspall Draught Suffolk Cyder. The bottled tipples are just as varied. Prices are more than reasonable, and if beer and wine don’t make you feel fine there’s a range of spirits from the well-known brands to premiums, as well as smoothies and soft drinks for an easier night out.

The Last Word
The All Bar One chain has found what it’s good at and stuck with it a high standard. Friendly service, a tantalisingly tasty menu and more than just your average beer makes it stand out as a bar that ticks all the boxes.

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