MEDCALF

There’s something reassuringly British about Medcalf. It could be the old butcher’s sign in the front window or the menu of Welsh rarebit and other comforting British bar food, reinvented with a modern twist for the Clerkenwell crowd. Over the last five years, this smart but understated bar and restaurant has gained a loyal local following – a mix of city workers, arty thirty-somethings and journos from nearby media houses. With the easy familiarity of an old friend, it slots perfectly into the increasingly buzzing after-work scene along Clerkenwell’s Exmouth Market.

The owners have taken a former butcher’s shop and transformed it into a stylish, post-modern space for drinking and dining. The long, thin dining room is lined with time-worn tables and chairs, and the walls are hung with eye-catching artworks by local artists, illuminated by dangling globe-shaped bulbs. To one side is a sofa-filled chill-out lounge (often booked out by groups) and hidden away at the back is an open-air patio – these days, it doubles as a smoking room). On summer evenings, the tables spill out onto Exmouth Market, lending a pavement café vibe to the proceedings.

Medcalf started life as a watering hole, but these days it wins as many plaudits for its food as its drinks. You’ll still find old world wines and intriguing import beers like Paulaner, Brugse Zot and Estrella Damm behind the bar, but you’ll probably need to book a table if you want to sample delights such as duck breast with gorgonzola and trout, or crab and pink grapefruit salad, from the food menu. Our conclusion – a great place to chill out for people who like the good things in life.