As tourists (teenage kids family) we were looking for a place to eat and found this pub a block or two away from Edgware Rd, with all the more or less exotic restaurants there crowded because of Ramadan after sunset. We were very pleased. Well above OK. Very friendly, helpful staff. Good food. Fair prices. Nice atmosphere. Fantastic to be able to be seated outdoors after a hot day. Highly recommended.

The Monkey Puzzle has become my favorite pub in the Edgewear Road/ Paddington area. Named for the tree in it's front patio that could "puzzle a monkey," this pub has an eclectic mix of locals and tourists. So no matter whether you have lived in London your whole life or just flew in a few hours ago, you won't feel out of place. The food is good, and they are always willing to take care of special needs (they prepared my meal special for me because of my food allergies). The beer and hard liquor selection is also decent and relatively cheap. Plus, you can't beat the friendly bar owner Gary who is always willing to give an ignorant foreigner travel advice ("Don't leave your bag in your chair ladies! We keep an eye out here, but they won't other places.") I've developed a serious affection for this pub, and if you go I bet you will to!

Upon moving to the surrounding area, I made the lucky stumble onto The Monkey Puzzle - and couldn't be happier that I did. It's a great spot; the staff is incredibly welcoming (especially Gary, be sure to talk with him if you get a moment), and the food/ale is excellent. The atmosphere inside is cozy and traditional, but the true treat is when you go on a nice day and can sit outside and enjoy the garden. Sitting and enjoying a pint with friends with a visit from Gary for travel advice and tales can't be beat!

This is a marvelous pub. My first night in London I stumbled across The Monkey Puzzle for a great English Pub experience. The price for a pint is fairly standard (if not cheaper) than other similar locations, and the staff are all very nice. What really won me over was the ambiance. It's a great pub if you're with a group of people or if you just want to enjoy a pint by yourself. It's clean, good to look at, and a perfect place that's just off the main street and full of the life that anyone visiting, moving to, or living in London should take a taste of. Cheers and enjoy your drink!

Two students from Oxford- stopped in for a drink and dinner before catching the train 2 blocks away from Paddington home. Though the pubs atmosphere was both inviting, warm, and conducive to lots of good conversation. Great dinner as well, had the pie special of the day, and a pint (or two) of the HB. Both the food and beer were reasonably priced- best part. Great location (esp for train travelers via PAD), friendly staff, great atmosphere.

The Monkey Puzzle is a real little gem. The staff are always welcoming and friendly.

The prices are very reasonable and you can always get a seat.

It is what a pub should be - comfortable, relaxed and friendly.

My friends and I were pleasantly surprised with this typical British pub. If you come to London as a tourist and want to enjoy dinner and drinks in a true English atmosphere, this is the perfect place. We were the only foreigners in the pub, yet we were nicely welcomed and not looked upon at all. We enjoyed the place a lot, it was really nice to be in place designed for locals and not for exclusively touristic purpose. Slightly out of the center but not to far either, it is close to a serie of hotels, a couple of minutes from the Susssex Garden bus stop.
The pub is quite spacious, with two large wooden rooms decorated in a cosy and retro way, and a yard in the front with tables you can sit at when the weather allows it. The staff is very nice and service is as fast as it can be.
The food was delicious and quite unexpensive. We went there on a Saturday night, there was a barbecue in the front yard. I had chicken and vegetables kebab served with a pita bread and salad. Meat and veggies were grilled directly on the barbecue. Quality was excellent, quantity was way sufficient; it was not your usual kebab with two peppers and a half and three pieces of meat, it was two long kebabs of various fresh vegetable and perfectly grilled chicken with a nicely spicy dressing. My friends had cheeseburgers and were very satisfied as well. The pub serves fish and chips during the week, but not during the week end, so they said.
There was a good variety of beer and ale, as well as several stronger alcohols and wine. We had three glasses of ale for 4 pounds and a half, which is quite unexpensive for London.
All in all, I recommend this pub for dinner and drinks before going out to a club, as we spent a very nice evening, and will certainly come back next time we are in London.

The Monkey Puzzle has got an awesome outside area - real good for summer boozing sessions. Great place to relax and have a drink with your mates. The Monkey Puzzle can get pretty rowdy in the evenings, but the wait at the bar is never long.