Somewhere between Moorgate and the 17th Century
If you want a real hidden gem in the City of London – like, tucked-away-down-a-backstreet-and-somehow-not-turned-into-a-Pret kind of hidden – this is the one. I stumbled across it on a bleary-eyed morning commute, then came back that evening with a good friend, and honestly? It was so good I considered gatekeeping it forever… but here we are.
The Old Doctor Butlers Head is old, really old. It’s been lurking behind Guildhall since the 17th Century, named after some kind of royal court doctor. It’s small, wood-panelled, and has that kind of candlelit cosiness that makes you want to cancel all other plans.
We went on a Monday – the holy grail of pub nights – and it was perfect. Busy enough to feel buzzy, quiet enough to commandeer a table in the corner and settle in for a few. I had a (few) traditional ciders that went down a little too easily and instantly threatened to derail my Tuesday. Worth it.
They do food too – there’s a dining room upstairs that I’ve not tried yet, but the reviews are promising. Next time I might leave room for something more substantial than cider and good chat.
There’s just something about these tucked-away city pubs. I know I romanticise everything, but this one genuinely felt a bit magic.
So basically, don’t go there.
https://www.olddoctorbutlershead.co.uk
2 Masons Avenue,
Moorgate,
EC2V 5BT
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