The Barbary image

The Barbary

Restaurant Mediterranean restaurant North african restaurant

One of the Most Reviewed North african restaurants in London


Address

16 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP, United Kingdom

Website

www.thebarbary.co.uk

Price rating

$$$ $

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (1.4K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 12 to 2:30 PM, 5 to 10 PM
  • Thursday: 12 to 2:30 PM, 5 to 10 PM
  • Friday: (Good Friday), 12 to 2:30 PM, 5 to 10 PM, Hours might differ
  • Saturday: 12 to 10 PM
  • Sunday: 12 to 9 PM
  • Monday: 12 to 2:30 PM, 5 to 10 PM
  • Tuesday: 12 to 2:30 PM, 5 to 10 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (31) great (30) service (25) restaurant (21) cauliflower (19) delicious (19) amazing (18) dishes (18) staff (17) kitchen (16)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Queenie W. 4 months ago on Google • 250 reviews
    Finally tried the *actual* The Barbary because last time I had booked the one literally called "The Barbary Next Door" thinking I had got the right one! So happy to have tried both places now and would highly recommend this one because the menu is just amazing. We had made a reservation prior and you have to do so because it's too popular to cater for walk-ins. We went there at 5pm on Saturday before a musical and it was packed! Sat down at the bar and it was cool to be able to see how the chefs made all the dips, fried bread and grilled meat and veggies. We went with the Jerusalem bagel, hummus, za'aluk, labneh and cauliflower Jaffa style, and then my friend ordered grilled halloumi and Moroccan cigars for herself. The dips were fantastic, hummus was of the smooth consistency we both enjoy and nutty, za'aluk had such a nice kick with the tomato and definitely stimulated our appetites more and the bagel was fried on the spot and hotly served to us, the sesame made it fun to eat and the bread was fluffy and soft with the sesame adding more texture to it (we even ordered a second bagel to finish all the sauces and dips!). Cauliflower was so smoky and we couldn't stop eating the sauce! I tried a bite of my friend's Moroccan cigars and it was great - I love anything that's deep fried and they were served once again freshly deep fried and super hot and the white fish inside was marinated perfectly with a very small hint of spice. Grilled halloumi was the only let-down of our entire meal as it was way too salty and my friend didn't finish it. Staff were all very friendly and attentive, explained the menu to us and advised on how to order. I think it really depends on how much you can eat normally and how hungry you feel at the moment, because she had advised that we hadn't ordered enough with just the dips and 2 veggie mains but she was wrong because the dips, especially the hummus really filled us up. And obviously her job was to advertise the food to make customers spend more so just bear that in mind when you are there. I really loved the vibe of the place, intimate yet cozy at the same time. It's perfect for all kinds of occasions, dates, meeting up with friends or families. But it's definitely not for big groups since it's only bar/ high chair seatings and I don't think they take party sizes bigger than 4 people. Overall, I had a fantastic time here and would love to come back soon. This has easily become one of my top 3 Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern places in London and I know I will be a regular.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anne V. 2 years ago on Google
    One of my top spots in London. All bar seating so you can watch the chefs. Staff are wonderful and knowledgeable, music and vibe is fun. The food is so so tasty, the combination of flavours are insane. It’s all designed to share, so pick a few plates from each section and plenty of bread on the side to mop up sauces. Wine list is succinct but on point. Great for a date night / 2 people as it’s all bar seating so you can’t really have a big group.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jess K. 2 years ago on Google
    overall: every single dish was phenomenal, packed full of unique flavours. highly recommend the cauliflower. bar-style seating, so go with no more than 2 other people. moroccan cigar 🚬: crispy spring rolls filled with aromatic white fish. though i couldn’t really taste the dipping sauce, but it’s good without anyways. naan 🫓: literally baked in front of me, couldn’t possible get anymore fresher! thinly stretched chewy dough, that is just perfect when dipped in sauce. since it’s oven baked, the super thin parts have a crispy texture. Jerusalem bagel 🥯: less chewy than the naan but the sesame on top just brings the bread to a new level. mashwiya 🍅: it’s salsa on top of tahini, both are good when eaten separately; but when put together, the tahini overpowers the salsa. hummus 🧆: i’m in LOVE, smooth and creamy. just the right amount of olive oil on top (i’ve tried so many that it feels like i’m drenched in oil) pata negra 🐖: juice just spills out when you bite in. the meat is tender but not fatty nor oily. obsessed with the sweet glaze on top as well. tho i find it pricy for the portion. cauliflower 🥦: MVP of the meal. veg fried perfectly, crispy on the edge & just the right crunch inside. the tahini gives an extra level of umami flavor, balancing with the fresh tomatoes. knafeh 🍬: got too sweet for me in the end but very interesting texture with crispy exterior & slightly chewy interior. love the crunchy pistachio on top & the juicy fig.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Nadia K. 2 years ago on Google
    We booked a table for 2 on a Sunday evening & so glad we did! It’s a very snug restaurant with bar counter type tables surrounding the central kitchen, a great concept so you get to see all the action. Service was quick & friendly! The chef was very attentive with orchestrating the serving of our dishes, only sending it out once we’re done working on the ones on our table. We had 8 plates which fed us nicely. Just a note for tall people, to request for the corner most seats so you can kind of angle your legs to the side (my partner is 6’4 and thank goodness we were lucky to be seated in the corner as the space between the bar & seat isn’t tall people friendly). The food blew us away more than the wines tho, so maybe skip that & focus on the dishes when you pop in :)
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jillian K. 2 months ago on Google • 43 reviews New
    The Barbary is hands down my absolute favorite restaurant in London. I first visited last March and was blown away by the excellent dining experience, seated around the bar overlooking the open kitchen. The food is delectable and I knew I needed to come back. I just popped in while on a solo trip to London from New York for my birthday dinner and was greeted with such a warm welcome from the staff - especially Alex, who selected each dish for me and didn’t steer me wrong! Even despite dining alone, I felt so comfortable and welcomed in with open arms by the entire staff. They made my birthday feel so special, centered around celebrating each ingredient and dish. I will be dreaming about my dinner and longing to return! You MUST come.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Table 8. 2 months ago on Google • 142 reviews New
    Tucked away in Neal’s Yard, this unassuming restaurant (from the outside) is The Palomar’s little sister but don’t let the ‘little’ fool you. What they deliver is big. Big on customer service, flavours and atmosphere. Yes, the plates may not be big but they’re enough and won’t leave you hungry. It’s not the most comfortable either with stools firmly fixed to the floor but you don’t go there for armchair seating, you go for the vibe, great service and delicious food at a very reasonable price point for the location. Verdict: Fantastic! Type: Food from the Levant Recommend: 100% YES Price Point: $$ Ambiance: Rocking Vegetarian Options: Few Vegan Options: Fewer Need to book? Yes Will I return? Yes
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nathan 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent food and excellent service. Everything we ordered was delicious. The bagel, cauliflower, chicken and octopus. Impressed with the chefs who were really on top of the orders, everything came out fast and perfectly cooked while also interacting with the customers and acting as front of house at the same time. Fun place to eat - you are essentially sat in the kitchen with the chefs and can feel the warmth of the grills and noise of the cooking. Highly recommend.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yossi T. 1 year ago on Google
    We were looking for something unique and fun, with water mouth dishes. The Barabry was just like it. Great food, made in the central kitchen in front of your eyes, under the hands of the chef which is part of the super small 3 people team. The plates are quite small but the superb. We tried the chicken shawarma and the Moroccan Cigars which were amazing. The chef recommended to try the cauliflower and it was super good. The place has a great vibe too. All in all - very good place to go. Just book in advance as it is super small and packed.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Raheel S. 3 months ago on Google • 260 reviews New
    This restaurant was recommended to me by a number of people over the last few years and I was really excited to try it. The food was good but nothing special that would make me come back. I've had better versions of all the dishes we tried in other restaurants around London. I also thought it was quite expensive and loud. This took away from the dining experience. We ordered one each of Jerusalem bagel, spinach borani, Moroccan cigar, cauliflower, octopus, lamb and hashcake for dessert. No drinks other than tap water. Our bill was £106. The bagel was fluffy and nice to dip in the spinach dip. Our server didn't tell us that the little piece of paper on the plate that came with the bagel was filled with zatar spice. We only figured that out when the bagel was almost finished. The Moroccan cigars were really interesting and probably my favorite dish of the evening. It was filled with fish and had a really nice flavor and came with a nice yogurt sauce to dip into. I really appreciated the crispy grape leaf that came with the octopus. The main dishes were well cooked and had a great char and smokiness. This overpowered some of the other more delicate flavors in the dishes. The cauliflower would have really benefited from some additional hits of acid. The hash cake is similar to a pecan pie but with much fewer pecans. Still quite tasty and a nice way to finish the meal.

  • 4/5 David A. 3 months ago on Google • 223 reviews New
    Loved the unique food here. North African roots but it covers foods from all over the Mediterranean region. The service is friendly and helpful but to be frank, the portions are small. 20+ quid for a skewer of lamb with 5 pieces of meat on it..really? Mainly bar sitting but it gets quite cramped. Doubt if I will return.

  • 5/5 Tiago R. 1 month ago on Google • 113 reviews New
    Excellent food, great service. The entrées were awesome, well sized. The main dish works well with this, being a bit on the small side. Short menu and to the point, everything turns oit good this way. A bit noisy place, but not too bad.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Simran T. 10 months ago on Google
    One of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to! I visited this place on one of my trips to London from New York and I’ve got to say, I’ve never had food this fresh, delicious, and within a relaxing and chill ambiance. I was skeptical to visit since I hadn’t had North African cuisine before and didn’t know quite what to expect. We were seated in front of the chefs and the manager explained all the items on the small but interesting menu. The manager was more than happy to, and with a lot of patience, explain the menu, so don’t be shy and ask if you’re not sure what an item is. As the orders were placed, food came out sooner than expected, which was great! The plates were small but that was actually beneficial to trying a little bit of everything. The breads were fresh and soft with so much flavor! The dips were bursting with flavors of so many spices and seasonings. One of the dishes had a seared fish tossed with onions and tomatoes- and let me tell you, the tomatoes were like none I’d ever had before, they were fruity, crunchy and so yummy! I usually don’t like tomatoes but these were beyond normal tomatoes and that says a lot. Fish was fresh and tender. I could go on about the food, but overall, if you want to try something new that will blow you away, go here! Bring a friend so you can try a little bit of everything! Great food, chill vibes, not too expensive and an experience you’ll savor!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mohammed K. 2 months ago on Google • 120 reviews New
    This dining experience in London is the best I've had; everything was exceptional. For starters, I highly recommend the dolma, falafel, harissa, and hummus. The cauliflower, surprisingly, didn't taste like cauliflower, which I consider a plus. Be sure to try both types of bread, as they were really good. The chicken masabacha was excellent, and the tenderloin shawarma was mind-blowing. The lamb tirshi was also really delicious. It's a bit pricey, but it was definitely worth it.

  • 5/5 Johanna Coraline J. 5 months ago on Google • 14 reviews
    I'm usually vegetarian/vegan and I made an exception trying out my friends meat dishes, and I was not disappointed. Worth doing! The veggie options were also amazing and I can't wait to come back. The staff were also super knowledgeable and friendly. The desserts are to die for, I would just come back for that.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Paula 2 years ago on Google
    I was looking forward to visiting the barvary since it opened, I finally had a chance. Good food and nice service. It's worth noticing, they have one of the best non alcoholic beers I tried. However the prices where a bit high compared to restaurants of the same range, and the chairs very uncomfortable. Very nice overall!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Julia M. 2 years ago on Google
    Tucked in, away from the main drag this jewel of a restaurant deserves a medal. It was our second visit and everything was as superb as the first time. Staff are absolutely delightful, professional, attentive. Food is simply wonderful. It’s a MUST. We will definitely go back again
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bhavik R. 4 years ago on Google
    Who knew cauliflower could taste so good eh? The cauliflower has changed my life. If you’re there on a date, make sure your date doesn’t try to steal any of your cauliflower it’s not for sharing.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Patrick M. 1 year ago on Google
    A good place to eat with a great atmosphere and service. Sit around a counter and watch them cook as you wait. The Naan bread is amazing! The octopus is delicious and cooked just right. The flavors are amazing in all the dishes. Would highly recommend!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Paul C. 4 months ago on Google
    I’ve been to some great restaurants but this is the first time I’ve wanted double the stars available for service. Yes the food is amazing. Yes the bar and atmosphere are lovely. But the friendliness, genuine warmth and loveliness of everyone who served us was amazing. I want all of them to be my best friends. Thank you Barbary.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Myriam W. 6 months ago on Google
    Go and try you won’t be disappointed. What a great meal with a very perfect service. We had : - falafels 5 pièces very generous size and absolutely delicious, - Smokey aubergines very tasty with a nice kick of spices, - hummus very very nice, - tasty flatbread, - mushrooms definitely worth a try, - a must try the cauliflower so so delicious. Nothing was average, we had a beautiful lunch. Lovely to seat at the bar and watch how the food is cooked. The staff is very pleasant and it was a very relaxing place. Go and try, you can’t be disappointed.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kev G. 4 years ago on Google
    This is my favourite restaurant in the world. Never fails to impress with great quality and variety of food cooked on a wood smoked fire. Get a seat at the bar/kitchen and watch your food being made with finesse and skill. Great beer choices too. For the quality of food it’s good value too! Enjoy!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Laura Flórez P. 4 years ago on Google
    The service is wonderful. Food was amazing and freshly cooked. Every single plate has its own flavour and touch. Simply delicious. Get there early (by 18.30) if you want to avoid the queue. Wine by the glass is a bit pricey. Highly recommend.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yi-Chieh C. 4 years ago on Google
    Ranked top 3 of my favourite restaurants in London. Great vibes and service. Every dish is executed on point, and the wine list is thoughtfully curated. The lamb is so good that it melts in your mouth - and I don’t even like lamb! The only dish that did not “wow” us is the falafel.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 this is e. 1 month ago on Google • 98 reviews New
    An intimate eatery with top-quality food and a fantastic dining experience. The open kitchen design allows you to see the chefs work their magic. We thoroughly enjoyed every dish we ordered- especially the Jerusalem bagel with ikra & chicken masabacha. The octopus was fresh, but the curry sauce was a little overpowering. Dessert (hash cake) was a slight letdown, but it doesn't draw away from the fact that everything else was spectacular.

  • 5/5 Jasmin P. 1 month ago on Google • 60 reviews New
    My sister made a booking after our Sunday art venture. Our booking was at 3pm and the restaurant was packed throughout the entire time we were there. So advanced booking is def recommended. The restaurant was very vibe, majority of the seats were around the kitchen where we can see chefs in action either at the robata grill or at the tandoor clay oven. We ordered the naan e Barbari (twice), the Moroccan cigars, the Ikra and humus dip to begin with. Then the chicken masabacha and the cauliflower - these two are must order, the chicken could be the best I’ve had, it’s so flavorful, tender but with texture. By the time I finished the meal I’m already thinking of booking my next visit :)

  • 5/5 Nicola K. 1 month ago on Google • 56 reviews New
    Cozy Atmosphere. Friendly, Patient staff. They walked us through the menu, catered to our allergies, and checked in with us periodically throughout the night. All the dishes we had were delicious.

  • 5/5 Simona M. 1 month ago on Google • 18 reviews New
    We spent less than 60£ in 2 people and we ordered few dishes to share that they were extremely tasty, all of them. The highlight was the kunafa served with pistachio butter, blow mind. The 2 runners were extremely friendly and helpful as well. I’ll come back for sure!

  • 5/5 Richard W. 4 weeks ago on Google • 16 reviews New
    We were early birds , so the first in to dine , very warmly greeted on arrival . Love the decor , interesting non alcoholic cocktails available . There isn't a huge menu , but I find this is better as the restaurant can more easily concentrate on offering great plates of food , which they do and there is enough choice and variety on show . We will be back !

  • 5/5 Mike S. 3 years ago on Google
    I luv the ambiente and the Salmon was world class.. i will come back

  • 5/5 Yaron M. 4 years ago on Google
    Great food and great atmosphere

  • 5/5 Costa 1 year ago on Google
    Probably my favourite meal from 2021. I wanted to try everything on the menu, and thanks to it being small plates, I made a great dent in it! The octopus, Jerusalem Bagel, Cauliflower and Hash cake were impeccable and I think about them *a lot*.

  • 5/5 Salina A. 1 year ago on Google
    The food, service and vibe are all perfect. The Barbary may just be my favourite restaurant in London. I’ll definitely be booking in for a dinner service every time I visit the city. Catered to vegetarians. I’m not that into desserts but even I think their pistachio tart is incredible, you must order it if it’s on the menu.

  • 5/5 Christy K. 1 year ago on Google
    Wow. Exceeded all expectations. We wanted a change up from the Spanish and French food we've ate for the past 10 days. This was fresh, fast, flavorful, and had incredibly friendly staff. Reservations definitely are required if you want to get a spot. It is all bar seating, but the exclusivity of it simply adds to the charm of the entire experience. The cauliflower and octopus are must haves while the chicken shawarma exceeded all expectations we had and the arayes were incredibly tender. Honestly, I don't think you could go wrong here!

  • 5/5 Andrew H. 4 years ago on Google
    Not what I expected at all but was more than impressed. The restaurant is a large horseshoe bar with the kitchen as the main attraction in the middle. Staff 5+, venue 5, food 5... A fun atmosphere for dinner which matches the mood of the area.

  • 5/5 Remy N. 4 years ago on Google
    One of the most incredible places we have eaten in London. The minute you walk in you get the smell of hot coals. Service was gorgeous, the food was exceptional, and I can’t wait to go back!! The combination of flavours that they use in their food is beautiful .

  • 4/5 Michael M. 1 year ago on Google
    Always great when you get to sit around the bar and watch everyone at work. Fun atmosphere, good service, and good food as well. My only issue is that although the food is very tasty I did not think it was worth the price. However, still would recommend trying this out once! They have some very unique dishes I haven’t had anywhere else

  • 5/5 jfnavarro007 4 years ago on Google
    Nice experience and good service. You have to try the Pata Negra neck!

  • 5/5 Mitra 1 year ago on Google
    What a lovely experience. We had been to Evelyn’s Table and Palomar from this restaurant group before and were hoping the Barbary would be just as good and we weren’t disappointed. The service was very personal and friendly. Every dish was a highlight. Compact but fantastic drinks menu, the cocktails were refreshing. Kitchen counter seating provides a lot of people and kitchen staff watching opportunities. The only negative was the stool seat isn’t super comfortable.

  • 5/5 Bernadette T. 4 years ago on Google
    Had a very memorable lunch for 2 at The Barbary. The food was high quality and full of flavour. The staff were knowledgable about the details of each dish and were able to explain the menu really well so we could make sure we got the best options for our taste. Lively atmosphere and it really added to the experience being able to watch the chefs at work on our dishes (be prepared to order an extra something that you didn’t initially plan to order as you see another delicious-looking dish being prepared for another customer! We were tempted, as was the couple next to us). Would highly recommend and will definitely be back. We visited in early January 2020 (late review but the dining experience is still fresh in my memory and it deserves applause).

  • 5/5 Paco J. 4 years ago on Google
    Very special place, unique and delicious flavors!!

  • 5/5 A R. 4 years ago on Google
    Top 10 restaurants in London at this moment

  • 5/5 Freya R. 3 years ago on Google
    One of my favourite restaurants in London, without a doubt. Fantastic salmon and wonderful hosts, with a great understanding of what is and is not gluten free.

  • 5/5 E 1 year ago on Google
    Small restaurant with bar seating and open kitchen. Sharing style. Friendly service though. Its busy so don’t expect to leisurely eat as they serve you very quickly and expect you to order more or leave. Definitely on the higher end price point (e.g., £30 for a pork dish that’s a few bites each). But everything was pretty tasty.

  • 4/5 Peteys T. 5 months ago on Google
    Have visited The Barbary about 6 times and it does what it says on the tin - serve great food. Albeit, in the last couple of visits, it has been apparent that the hosting staff could be a little more attentive, lower the music volume, and make sure that the orders aren't all served at once, as it made our party of 3, feel like we needed to hurry. Something to also look at, is having a repeat customer identifier, such as marking their name on the booking system, or simply asking them when they arrive. It can make people feel welcome, and appreciated for coming back. I'll visit again, to enjoy the scrumptious food, and hope for an improvement in the hosting.

  • 5/5 Mel D. 3 years ago on Google
    Had a lovely dinner there - really enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. Grilled octopus is to die for!

  • 5/5 Emre Can �. 4 months ago on Google
    So many good flavours here. We left the food choices to the bartender who was taking care of us. It was mostly great but felt too much as we had all the vegetarian mains together with a couple of starters and cold mezze plates for two people. Here is the full list: - Spinach Borani - Za'aluk - Jerusalem Bagel - Barbarian Falafel - Cauliflower Jaffa Style - Grilled Halloumi - Oyster Mushroom - Fattoush Salad They were all very delicious but we wouldn't order falafel and fattoush salad as they didn't feel very special. Bagel was amazing, a nice spice & butter touch to Turkish simit. Halloumi with the spicy sauce and the cauliflower were our favourites. If you want a meat substitute, chargrilled oyster mushrooms are the right choice. Finally, we had Knafeh, which was the best kunefe I've ever had (including the ones in Turkey). Atmosphere was really good as the kitchen is just in the middle of all the seating and you can see what the chefs are doing all night. Seating was not good for us as the distance between our stools was longer than the others in the restaurant. And the music was a little irrelevant to the atmosphere. But other than these, very good experience.

  • 5/5 Bridget B. 5 months ago on Google
    Fantastic North African inspired food perfectly prepared @barbarylondon 💕 Everything was made with such skill and care; all right in front of us as the design is an Open Kitchen surrounded by counter seating so guests can watch their plates and breads freshly prepared. So yummy 😋 Great service from our server Maddie and the rest of the team. And love the perfect vodka/elderflower/citrus shot to finish the meal Cheers to a wonderful evening #Eatlocal #SupportSmallBusiness #bridgie_breland_foodie

  • 4/5 Gerard G. 3 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Average (Original) Nella media

  • 5/5 Jack S. 4 years ago on Google
    Incredible food! Amazing service, our waitress was super helpful explaining the menu, worth every penny.

  • 5/5 Khalid N. 4 years ago on Google
    WOW, that’s something new and amazing. The food was delicious. I definitely recommend it and I’ll be back again. Enjoy guys.

  • 4/5 Alice N. 4 years ago on Google
    Wonderful evening. Our first time but been meaning to go for some years. Not disappointed at all. Glorious food. The lamb was just perfectly cooked. Thank you!

  • 5/5 Marie 4 years ago on Google
    Perfection! This place is absolutely amazing. I would give this place 10 stars if I could! It’s worth the 30-40 minute waitingtime, have a drink - you will not be disappointed. Excellent food with good service and great atmosphere. Highly recommended!

  • 5/5 Alexander F. 4 years ago on Google
    Loved the place! Great food, good service. They always have some new dish to offer and it's great to try them out.

  • 2/5 S H. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice service and tasty food. Many dishes look alike though (colors and arrangement) Sorry to say that here, but for me it's one of the most uncomfortable place I've ever been. Loud, cannot seat properly on the chairs, no place for jackets and other customers and waiter bump in your back if you have the seats on the way to the toilets.. this should be changed imho..

  • 4/5 Linda M. 4 years ago on Google
    Had a great time this evening at The Barbary - this place has been on my list for a while and so glad to have finally made it. We really enjoyed the appetiser dishes especially the Moroccan Cigars and the labneh ?? the chicken was also delightful! Highly recommend.

  • 5/5 Alex W. 4 years ago on Google
    Awesome experience , Good food with great quality.

  • 5/5 Charlie M. 4 years ago on Google
    Exquisitely judged flavours, buoyed even higher by the effervescent staff

  • 5/5 Daniel B. 4 years ago on Google
    Loved everything about the Barbary. Lovely food, lovely space, lovely staff. Love love love.

  • 5/5 Nicole B. 4 years ago on Google
    The Barbary has been on my list for some time and we finally made it! We wanted to say a huge thank you to Tomas, Jo & Freddy? for one of the best meals and experiences we’ve had in London to date! And we’re there quite often. The food was amazing?, one delicious plate after another. We put our trust in Tomas and he did not steer us wrong. We felt very taken care of! We cannot wait to come back! Cheers!??

  • 5/5 Marcel P. 4 years ago on Google
    The food was delicious and very good value.

  • 5/5 Ali A. 4 years ago on Google
    Very nice and well done

  • 5/5 Raymond M. 4 years ago on Google
    Excellent place with great good be prepared for a taste explosian. Small menu but everything tastes delicious!

  • 5/5 Henrique C. 4 years ago on Google
    Very good 24-seat counter bar and restaurant situated in the iconic Neal’s Yard. Food is cooked the traditional way, with fire. Delicious. Friendly staff. Don't miss the naan bread. For dessert, ask for the knafeh.

  • 5/5 Glenn B. 4 years ago on Google
    Teeny restaurant with seating around kitchen area. Delicious.

  • 3/5 sam i. 4 years ago on Google
    Good Middle Eastern styles foods... , but very expensive, they are over priced for all their items by far... There are better Middle Eastern restaurants nearby whice offer great quality foods and value based...

  • 4/5 Don C. 4 years ago on Google
    Tapas style with a bar vibe. Very tight space so be prepared to wait for an hour. Come hungry; leave satisfied

  • 5/5 Sekhar S. 4 years ago on Google
    My favorite restaurant in London, and I’ve been making the rounds. The waits can be long so I recommend a reservation, but the food is great.

  • 5/5 michel s. 4 years ago on Google
    Very good service from Italian Donna ?. Food is exelent and nice flavours ?

  • 4/5 Will 4 years ago on Google
    The things I got were really good and spiced just right for my taste. All in all a great experience.

  • 5/5 James M. 4 years ago on Google
    Awesome experience at The Barbary, Good food with great quality.

  • 3/5 S 4 years ago on Google
    Good food, everything is freshly made, but the portions are very small and some of our dishes were burned. The prices are also quite high.

  • 5/5 Adam T. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent atmosphere, incredibly friendly staff, great selection of wine, and lovely food. A long time fan of The Barbary - TBND did not disappoint. It's a more cosy, intimate venue with ~12(?) seats, with vibes similar to a Spanish tapas bar.

  • 5/5 Theodore W. 4 years ago on Google
    Such a lovely restaurant, amazing service, delicious and healthy food! A must go!!

  • 3/5 Emma D. 2 years ago on Google
    I was really looking forward to trying this place out but it was so disappointing. I could list other restaurants in London doing a better job at this kind of food for a much cheaper price. And on more comfortable chairs!! The seats are around a U shape bar with the kitchen in the middle. It is mesmerising watching the meat grilling and naked flames. But the stools themselves are high, don't move or spin and are so close the to bar that if you are tall it is too uncomfortable with your knees jammed against the bar. Or if you try and spread yourself out, you bang the people next to you. Definitely not for big or tall people. The kitchen staff were lovely. Really friendly and happy to have a chat. The waiter though... He cleared the plate of my friend and asked her if she'd like another drink. Then as he came past me, he (gently) elbowed me in the back with his hands full of plates to see if I wanted a drink too. Poor. The beetroot tastes just like the Natoora dip from Ocado. The Moroccan cigars are minced salmon. The fattoush a Greek salad without the olives. It was all pretty disappointing. Except the grilled salmon was really good. The three stars for my review come from quality of ingredients and the good vibes and conversation from the kitchen staff.

  • 4/5 Bogdan T. 4 years ago on Google
    The food was flavorful, with many spices that I've rarely had at a restaurant. The flavors were bold and delicious.

  • 4/5 Bulat A. 4 years ago on Google
    Never fails to impress with great quality and variety of food cooked on a wood smoked fire.

  • 5/5 Irina G. 4 years ago on Google
    Amazingly delicious food! The restaurant is small but very cozy, some dishes are just finger licking great: cauliflower and pata negra neck were fantastic!

  • 4/5 Kelly S. 1 year ago on Google
    Like the vibe there. The setting is very causal. The menu is kept rather simple. It’s interesting to see they cook in front of you, I really like counter seating with open kitchen. Most dishes that we tried are good, very delicious though I found it more on the salty end. I like the cauliflower Jaffa style the most, very flavourful and tasty. The chicken shawarma was succulent, the Harma Octopus turned out to be average. The services are excellent, staff members are all very friendly and nice. I recommend this place.

  • 4/5 Tina T. 1 year ago on Google
    We were lucky that someone had cancelled, and we're able to get a table. The octopus was excellent, but the star of the dinner was definitely the pata negra, cauliflower, and hashcake. The pata negra has a lovely charcoal flavor and is ridiculously tender. The hashcake has the texture of thick chestnut paste, and a nutty pistachio flavor. The ikra was also very good as well.

  • 5/5 Syl V. 2 years ago on Google
    Going there is a whole experience! Seeing the cooks do their magic in front of us is part of what makes this place amazing. The service is top level, and of course the food - the most important part here - is amazing. You really get what you pay for

  • 5/5 Kimberley C. 4 years ago on Google
    Me and my boyfriend were bowled over by the food. The Pata Negra pork neck and the knafeh (dessert) were amazing. The staff were also on top form, everyone was so friendly. Once they found out it was my boyfriend’s birthday we all had homemade limoncello. Perfect end to a perfect meal.

  • 5/5 Irina S. 4 years ago on Google
    Great food and atmosphere

  • 5/5 Mark T. 2 months ago on Google • 2 reviews New
    Had an amazing birthday meal at The Barbary. The restaurant takes inspiration from the North African "Barbary coast" and surrounding Mediterranean. Customers are seated in a horseshoe around chefs churning out small plates in a cosy and informal setting. We started with some wonderfully fluffy and smoky, blistered naan straight from the Tandoori oven with two gorgeous dips: a smokey, garlicky aubergine Za'aluk, and Ikra, which is essentially a levelled-up taramasalata. Both were so good that I could have quite happily just feasted on them all evening. But move on we did to a meaty tentacle of grilled octopus, which had a nice charcoal touch from the grill, was slightly crisp on the outside and gloriously soft inside. It was served on a bed of Labneh yoghurt, with flamed cherry tomatoes and a drizzle of harissa oil. It was again excellent. Alongside it, we had Achari Bass: a perfectly cooked, grilled seabass fillet with a satisfyingly sharp, spicy and mustardy North Indian sauce. We finished off the meal with an exceedingly rich and sticky pistachio "hashcake" with a slightly gooey centre, served with chantilly cream. Which was lovely, but I'm glad we shared it! I had it accompanied by Kanela, a Greek liqueur that I'd never heard of before: tsipouro with cinammon, cloves, nutmeg and citrus. Something that I'll now be buying a bottle of as soon as we get home. An amazing meal. Highly recommended.


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Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Hard liquor
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible seating
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Takeout
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Curbside pickup

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