The Monkey Puzzle in City of London, Westminster

I dislike giving bad reviews but my visit to the Monkey Puzzle was unfortunately a huge disappointment. I had been wanting to try it for a while based on the reviews but my experience was not a good one. I must point out though that the lady at the bar was very apologetic and professional; my food was not only replaced but refunded and that is more than fair. I ordered fish & chips but it was inedible: the fish was extremely thin (mostly skin) but more worryingly it had the most pungent smell & taste of ...well... old/gone off fish. Awful. As I said my food was quickly replaced & refunded and my replacement dish of a burger was good. Bad luck for me but thanks to the barmaid for her kindness.

Friendly pub with small outside terrace not far from Paddington serving well kept Badger ale (from £5.50) and a range of premium lagers. Slightly difficult getting to the bar when Ireland was playing in the rugby but a pleasant, low key atmosphere.

Great local pub. Small bar but many tables throughout. The burger was very good and the pizza was good and large. Enough for 2. Staff was excellent.

Social club vibe, great owners though

Great beer! Very welcoming place

Very great, authentic pub. Food very tasty and staff friendly

From the ambience to the food to the friendliness, everything was just perfect.

Great food, lovely atmosphere and marvelous service. Highly recommended from a contented Limerick couple.

Great place and lovely welcoming staff. We had the sharer the food was delicious filling and will visit again. Fantastic staff 10 out of 10.

We had a very warm welcome from the staff as soon we walked in. Great food and a nice choice of beer. We chose the sharer plates and all were delicious: chicken strips, seasoned fries, mac and cheese bites and onion rings. Could easily satisfy up to 4 people but just the 2 of us managed to polish it off. Very tasty! I can also recommend the Outland beer! We will return again! Thank you!

We went to the pub on the recommendation of the receptionist. We had a nice welcome and a quick seat at the table. But after that it was quite formal and austere. The food was fine, I especially recommend the beef and mushroom pie, it was great. The portions are large, so there's no risk of leaving hungry. The prices are a bit high compared to what we've tasted so far, but for a taste of English cuisine it's great.

Cozy, quiet and relaxing pub in true English style. Kind and friendly staff who make you feel at home. I will definitely go back

Characteristic pub with friendly and helpful staff. I was there with my family and we ate very well. Excellent beers

Nice pub good food friendly staff

We stayed in a hotel close by and popped into The Monkey Puzzle for a drink in the afternoon on Friday and a quick bowl of chips. It turns out we'd arrived just as the kitchen had closed. However, the staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful, as they took the order. Based on the service we received and the standard of the food, we went back that night for a drink and a full meal. Again, service and food were excellent. The amazing member of bar staff from the afternoon even recognised us and welcomed us back. Apologies for not getting your name, but thank you for the warm welcome.

Después de la "cena del perro" (literalmente) en The Sawyers Arms (revisado por separado) hicimos nuestro camino aquí. Gran bienvenida y buena comida, como siempre. (No sé por qué me molesté en reservar en cualquier otro lugar en realidad.)

Excellent pub close to Paddington station - opportunity to try Badger beers on draft.

Gran ubicación en calle tranquila Nice décor Bonito exterior para al menos 50 Bonitos jardines alrededor Interiores con buena disposición Ambiente agradable Excelente servicio Buena comida Opciones de osos y bebidas Precios razonables Lugar ideal para familias Lo recomiendo encarecidamente

Vi bestilte husets utsøkte pai og en kylling piri piri med et berg saftig smakfull kylling. Stort utvalg i fatøl og flaske. God og rask service samt veldig hyggelige priser gjorde dette til en riktig god Gastropub- og Londonopplevelse.

Great pub, superb food and friendly staff!

The best pub in town! They are the nicest people and the food was incredible🫶🏼 wishing we could take it with us back home.

Great pub, full of locals. A very genuine experience. Good food and drink!

Cute neighborhood pub with good food and great staff. We stumbled upon this and were so thankful we did.

This was a busy evening but we still got our food quickly and super service from the bar! Very good local pub with nice atmosphere. Mind the step in the middle of the bar!

Pasamos de un "bar - asientos" a una mesa cuando vimos que uno estaba libre. Después de media hora mi esposa no pudo encontrar su bolso, se olvidó en el "bar - asientos". Entramos en pánico, pero las manos amigas nos llevaron rápidamente al bar donde alguien había entregado la bolsa. Gente fantástica ayudándonos. Un gran alivio , mañana nos dirigimos de nuevo a Suecia. 😀😄❤️👍

Lovely pub, nice beer, friendly welcome, never been before but I will be back

I was comfortably sat at a sofa after ordered a beer and working with my computer. A memeber of staff approached to tell me off because I took so long without ordering. Being honest I would consume more but the fact that I need to leave my computer unattended and or packed to go to prefer is ridiculous. The way pubs do business here in uk is so poor that they can’t bother to ask you if you want another pint and just approach with the data phone that’s too much to ask for may be that they need to kicked me out for apparently not spending that even a couple next to me had to lecture me about. They really created discomfort

Gran pub que encontramos después de mirar más de 20 lugares en la zona de Londres que nos alojamos. El ambiente era cálido y el personal amable y acogedor. La mayor parte de nuestra fiesta pidió comida tradicional del pub (el pastel de carne y setas) y fue excepcional. Uno de los nuestros pidió una pizza margherita que no les gustó. Nuestro anfitrión fue muy amable y se ofreció a eliminarlo de la factura, que fue apreciado. Gran selección de cervezas y vinos. Si alguna vez de vuelta en esta parte de Londres, sin duda nos detendremos de nuevo.

Amazing pub, the owner and the staff are all amazing people.

Once again, this had stayed on top of Paddington Pubs in terms of Location, Service and food quality! I have ordered their Salmon meal which comes with a perfectly cooked ingredients which melts in your mouth with every bit! The fries! Crispy from the outside, mash potato from the inside. Salmon is very tender and super tasty and easy to eat. I usually order an extra salad dressing for no extra charge but you will surly add all the veggies needed for your day making them tasty greens! The staff are very friendly as they have always been and very attentive. I would highly recommend this place for travellers and families passing by and taste their food!

seriously love this place and the gin and tonics (and the mushy peas)!! great priced & amazing atmosphere. you can come here really any time and its always a good vibe

The perfect place to eat well with the family. Top waiters, an exceptional boss, copious and very good dishes. The best restaurant we ate in in London by far. Thank you for everything and for allowing us to celebrate our daughter's birthday. We will come back with pleasure. Gary, you are welcome to France to help you discover our gastronomy.Send us a message.Thanks for all

Good selection of lagers and ales. Good food . Excellent ambience. friendly staff. Conveniently located, about 5-6 min walk from Paddington

Highly recommend‼️ A Paddington Gem - If you’re near Paddington, don’t miss it! It’s clear the owner has poured their heart into this place. With its welcoming vibe and amazing friendly service, The Monkey Puzzle is the perfect spot for families, friends, or solo visitors. Just a quick walk from Paddington Station, The Monkey Puzzle is a true find. From the moment I walked in, the warmth and friendliness of the staff made me feel at welcomed. Daren, was a genuine, easygoing and charming that had elevated my entire experience. The food was spot-on! 🥩🦐 I had a medium-well steak that came perfectly cooked, with golden fries, fresh salad, and crispy onion rings. The prawns were impressively fresh, and even the chips had that perfect crispy-outside, fluffy-inside balance. The salad dressing added a nice touch, making everything feel light and flavorful. It wasn’t my first time passing by this place and it had always exceeded expectations to be one of the top local pubs in London!

Awesome old school English Pub by Hall & Woodhouse - Badge breweries

Had some drinks, did a couple of wees. It's all.good.

Traditional pub food as it should be

Ottima location raggiungibile anche a piedi dal centro. Personale molto cortese e attento alle esigenze dei clienti, ambiente familiare. Ottimi consigli per la scelta delle pietanze Mario P.

Very nice atmosphere, delicious dishes and very friendly and helpful service staff. For three people with beef with chips, salad, fried onions and sauces, 4 beers and a dessert (apple pie with spectacular and abundant ice cream) we spent around €100

Muy ocupado viernes por la noche (alrededor de 18 : 30 ) No pude encontrar una mesa dentro, pero me las arreglé para sentarme afuera bajo el excelente calentador. Disfrutando mi pinta sin cabeza de Birra Moretti Como de costumbre El personal / servicio son muy buenos

Worth seeking out. Good food. Well kept Badger ales.

Kon and Tilly the best bartenders

Definitely the greatest hidden gem in London. Staff are friendly as it can be and the butter chicken wings are world class. MUST GO!

We visit the Monkey Puzzle every time we come to London and the food, drinks and service have remained exceptional over the years. Everything we’ve tried from the menu is great and the beef and mushroom pie in particular is excellent. Indoor seats are cozy and comfortable, although there’s also a large outdoor seating area overlooking the beautiful Monkey Puzzle tree by the gate. Staff and owner are very welcoming. Highly recommended for anyone who is in the area and is looking for a good bite to eat and a pint to drink.

Encontré este lugar para ser mi local por un par de días cuando se aloja en la zona. Encantador pub acogedor con un gran personal, algunos lugareños conversadores, un buen ambiente, buena comida y cerveza de verdad muy bien cuidada. Sin duda volveré en mi próximo viaje a la capital.

Gotta say that this is one of the best pubs around the Paddington area. Staff are amazing, efficient and the food is great (their Butter Chicken is possibly one of the best I have had). Atmosphere is great and would definitely recommend. Not too busy with loads of outside seating.

Perfect little authentic pub near our Air BnB, we loved it and regret only discovering it on our last evening in London. The employees are all charming, friendly, welcoming and helpful! The beer is excellent and so is the food. Superb relaxed atmosphere, not too noisy. The prices are very good too, we recommend 100%!

Weary travelers looking for a bite & a pint. My companion had fish and chips which he loved. I had the mushroom pie which definitely hit the spot. Diverse craft beer choices which we both loved. The staff was on point! Definitely would recommend.

Busy! Thought we would not get a seat! We were given a nice table by the window and menus in a jif. Ordered dinner at the bar and presto! Presented with a great dinner in short time. Even with a packed crowd the staff was wonderful and service was friendly and efficient . Good food for the money. If we were staying in London longer we would return.

Nice pub. Fish and chips dish was very good. You order and pay for drinks and food at the bar. You take your drinks and the food is served to you at your table. It has a lovely patio area. Very clean establishment.

Best pub we found in London! The steak and mushroom pie with mash and gravy is just excellent, but the fish and chips was quite good as well. Beer and cider selection is also top notch. Pick this as one of your stops if you’re visiting!

We ate on the terrace with our children. Very friendly welcome Very good cuisine.

Siamo andati leggendo le recensioni e perchè non troppo dol nostro albergo. Ci siamo trovati molto bene, la carne era di ottima qualità e a prezzi contenuti. Personale cortese e gentile. Se dovesse ricapitare ci torneremo sicuramente

Lovely staff, comfortable seating arrangements, nice atmosphere

We were a party of five and stopped in for dinner in August 2024 and were very pleased. We ate out on the patio and it was nice. We each got something different, but were pleased with our choices. We also enjoyed the beers. The service is okay, nothing special or above and beyond. The price was fair for what you get. Would recommend for your dinner needs.

I asked for a pint of Moretti (£7): (I went for my table ) taste is uhh..no line cleaning! I finished my pint. I took back my glasses and said, " Your beer is unacceptable,but don't worry, I dont need a refund or anything. Answer from two staff : 1. I did a line cleaning YESTERDAY. 2. I just tasted YESTERDAY! .. HOW FAKE YOURE!! your beer is bad , and you don't do any line cleaning. I can taste that, don't lie to your customers!

Very friendly, service was excellent, food and alcohol reasonably priced.

Great pub and service! This will become a standard when on this side of town.

Visit London every year at this time and this place is our first choice for great food and a relaxing drink with friends. Highly recommended 👌

Nice Pub, Excellent Fish & Chips

The food was ok, although nothing special. There was a large selection of beers. The selection of non-alcoholic drinks was a bit limited. We had to wait about an hour for the food. But the very nice waitress apologized because there was only one cook in the kitchen that day. At least it seems to be freshly prepared.

This was a lovely pub,great service and good value for money. Highly recommend the lamb cutlets yummy and their Strawberry Gin.

A pub often frequented on the way out of London due to its convenient location close to Paddington - a great place for a drink, to people-watch, and to enjoy fantastic service!

We came for lunch and drinks , the salad was nice and very fresh and they had good gluten free pizza options. The server Alice was amazing , she was incredibly friendly and attentive even though the bar was very busy, and making sure all the tables were totally clean! Thank you Alice, we had an amazing time thanks to your great attitude and attention to detail.

Fantasies place the staff are so nice and welcoming and the food is first class will defo be back and recommend

Great vibe. Fun atmosphere with a nice outdoor space for self service beer or wine. They will bring your food to the table for you. Super friendly staff. Inside is a classic but updated English pub. We didn’t try the food but hopefully next time. One nice service they do for you is happily provide a taste of the beer if you aren’t sure what to order.

Food great, drinks little bit pricey, staff fantastic, will be going back again.

The owner is without a doubt a great host.

Good local pub near Paddington hotels.

Visited this pub/ restaurant for lunch prior to a gig. Food wasn’t overwhelming but staff couldn’t have been nicer…until, upon sharing a song on our mobile device that we were trying to recall, a member of staff in a waistcoat appeared from nowhere, and very rudely told us to turn our phone off! When we apologised and tried to make light of the situation he disappeared with side eye from whence he came. We left.

Cute wee gem of a pub! Fewer tourists. Excellent service. My peri peri chicken was amazing and the cookie dough dessert sooo good.

Good drink, good food and what a lovely patio

Spent the weekend in London to see acdc at Wembley.Arrived Saturday in Paddington and decided to go for a few pints with my friend Paddy.We came across the monkey puzzle.Its a lovely bar/restaurant just off Sussex gardens with a nice beer garden . The staff were very friendly and hardworking.The owner Gary took time to come round and have a chat and a pint with us and the locals around the bar all chatted with us and were very welcoming.I would highly recommend visiting the monkey puzzle if you're in paddington for a warm friendly atmosphere.The food is top notch too,we had the fish and chips with mushy peas. Shaun from Derry, Ireland

Two adults and a kid, two burgers, a fish and chips, an apple pie, all delicious. Three beers, two cokes. In response to my indecision about which beer to have, I was offered various tastings. Very kind staff. Highly recommended

Due adulti e un ragazzino, due hamburger, un fish and chips, tre birre, due coca cola e una apple pie, tutto buonissimo. Alla mia indecisione su quale birra scegliere mi sono stati proposti vari assaggi. Personale gentilissimo. Consigliatissimo

Nice place to sit in the garden and have a reasonably priced (for London) pint. We had food, pie and mash fantastic. Avoid the fish and chips. Batter to thick, dark looking and soggy, was undercooked and like pancake mix. Told the server, but no acknowledgment.

Agreat place to sit outside away from the hustle and bustle,staff friendly and place really clean.

Loved this place. Great service and great food options and atmosphere

Great atmosphere, food,drinks and great staff make you feel welcome and at home..if you are in the area its a must see and experience!!

Excellent food menu of options and great service. The staff have a sense of urgency and pride in their work.

Fantastic staff, amazing atmosphere of what seems locals. It is friendly to passers by. I did not get to try the food but good looking modern British. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed in the pub itself, only the beer garden. Worth a stop in.

It is a phenomenal place to end the day visiting London. The owner is a lovely person, as is all the staff who works there. We went with children and we did not have any problems other than that after a certain time the children cannot Go to the area to order at the bar but that is normal. The food is very good value for money, highly recommended, especially the meat pie. To the Spaniards, go and if you think that the lamb chops are like ours with salt and little else, keep in mind that they use a lot of curry to make them. Cable cars on average will be a 6 pound dish that has skyrocketed to 18 but they take you through almost all of London. It is an English pub in London but without a doubt Irish as always, the Guinness tongs and cider are highly recommended

TOURISTS BEWARE! The Monkey Puzzle is a wonderful little neighborhood bar. It serves the local community & as such, we travelers & tourists should not expect special treatment. My party --just like the locals-- had to order our drinks at the bar. My party --just like the locals-- paid for our drinks & food each round at a time; No open tabs. My party --just like the locals-- ordered from the food selection on the menu without special modifications. And my party --just like the locals-- had a wonderful, relaxed time!! I highly recommend the Monkey Puzzle for any non-pretentious traveler who wants a very relaxed, chill, local hang-out!

Proper pub,pubs like this are hard to find,great pint,lovely outdoor area,very traditional.

The large shady terrace cools down on a strangely hot day. A maze, where you can find sofa corners and various table sets. As usual, basic pub food is also available, although this time we missed the buffet. At least sports are shown on a few TVs. When you are a little further away from Paddington station, the prices also drop to a comfortable level.

Great freshly prepared food, friendly accommodating staff. This is one of the cleanest, well kept Pubs I have been in during my many trips to London. Gary, the owner takes a personal interest to ensure everyone's experience is satisfactory.

Gary, Joe, Alice and the rest of the staff as personable, nice, and friendly as they come. The ultimate British pub in my mind. Not to mention I tried 5 items off the menu… best chicken wings ever. Steak pie, butter chicken, to say the least 5⭐️

What. Fantastic pub tucked away in Paddington. Regents park restaurant has excellent service m, great food and terrific ambience. Our meals served quickly and were very well prepared. If you are in the neighborhood, this place is the best! Gary the owner , was personable and very welcoming. He made us feel at home. What a great time!!!!!

Amazing food, much better than I was expecting. Great ales, most importantly lovely service. I felt everyone wanted me to enjoy myself. Great place, absolute find.

Relaxed easy London pub. Great food, nice staff. We really enjoyed the fish and chips and cask ales and ciders on draft. When all the pubs are full of tourists around Paddington station, make the trek to MP.

Excellent! Food was delicious and service was friendly and speedy. Would definitely go again and recommend 🌟

I cannot judge the food, but the staff and service were awful. The restaurant is totally not family-friendly; you cannot enter with your kids. We made a reservation specifying that we had five children, and despite receiving confirmation, the staff denied us access upon arrival, stating they are not equipped for kids. This was extremely frustrating and made us feel discriminated against, not only for having children but also for not being English. Our experience was deeply disappointing and unwelcoming.

Found this place while taking a stroll from our hotel on Sussex Gardens. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was lovely. It’s a traditional pub setting and plenty of draft beer to choose from. The prices are reasonable for the area and conveniently near hotels in the area. The service was friendly and timely.

Nice pub with a garden out the back

Delicious food and a great atmosphere. Perfect after a long day sightseeing and very close to our hotel. Very good value for money and wonderful staff, which is why we returned many night!

The place was full and we still got a reserved table. Thumbs up. The facility can tell a long story. We found it extremely cozy. We also enjoyed the food. Seeing each other again is joyful.

Good pub but definitely on the more expensive side

This was the first place we visited in London. The food was good. Service was excellent. The server was friendly and made good recommendations for food and drink.

Fish and Chips were delicious and hearty, the best experience with food I've had in England. Thank you

Lovely little pub with brilliant service and a welcoming atmosphere. I had a sunday roast here with my wife, and all I can say it was spot on. Tasty, properly cooked, well presented. I will definitely visit this pub again. Well recommended