With a terrace for summer drinking and the warmth of freshly prepared Thai food for cold winter days, The Bear is a top pub that’s guaranteed to be packed after work hours.

The Venue
The Bear is a typical post-work Farringdon venue; brimming with business types. Go anywhere near the pub in the summer and you’ll be blocked off from the entrance by the hordes of people gathering around the benches outside. Getting through the door in the winter and to the bar is a mission in itself. Once you’re there though, it’s a decent pub, where you’ll end up staying all night.

The Atmosphere
There’s nothing wrong at all with the atmosphere at The Bear. Straight after work it’s usually packed to the rafters and bustling but after about 9pm it calms down (especially on Friday nights). Although it is mainly business people who head here, they’re more arty than the normal snobby city slickers, and it’s obvious they come from design agencies and publishing houses rather than law firms.

The Music
During the day, you’ll hear an interesting array of Latin music, with a couple of RnB tracks thrown in for good measure. During the night though, music includes gangster rap, indie, pop and whatever other CDs the bar staff can throw on the CD player.

The Drink
It’s a little disappointing that the pints aren’t always as good as they could be at The Bear. It’s sometimes a better option to avoid the beer and go for the house wine at bargain prices.

The Food
The food shouldn’t be missed. With Thai curries and meat-brimmed ciabattas to choose from, it’s a tasty tour around Asia and Europe, with smaller snacks available too for those less hungry.

The Last Word
The beer may not be the best around, but the food at The Bear is delicious and the atmosphere top if you fancy a decent start to a Friday night.

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