The Anthologist on Gresham Street

Not many bars can boast to be the former office of the City of London’s police commissioner.

Stepping into the Anthologist, it is hard to imagine how anyone could have got any work done here, let alone upheld the long arm of the law. This is not to say that the Anthologist is a dissolute venue or a den of vice, but the lavishness and finesse applied to the interior makes a marked contrast from its previous occupants.

The venue ties together several different components: a large bar, a cocktail lounge, a kitchen and a deli, along with a basement wine cellar. What is good to see is that all these different parts converge together quite seamlessly, rather than being bolted together. The main concourse is extremely open, although there are separate partitions with the ‘cabana’ style seating in the window enclaves allowing you to claim a small space of your own. Downstairs in the wine cellar, the walls are lined with a great number of bottles, well-lit enough to create a feeling of intimacy.

The venue is thought through enough to have an extended central bar to make sure that the flow of people doesn’t cause an unnecessary blockage. There are plenty of beers to choose from though it’s best to stay away from the bottles, given that a bottle of Peroni will set you back £4.55. The relaxed atmosphere of the place and the coming summer make it a place for cocktails, which come in skinny and signature categories. The choice of food on offer is sturdy rather than outstanding but offers decent value for money, with an average meal likely to set you back £20-25.

The scale of the place makes it a flexible venue and an inviting place to spend a weekend’s afternoon or to take in a couple of drinks after work. This isn’t a place to go out of your way for but if you are in the area and looking for a well thought-out venue with plenty to offer, you could do much worse than check out The Anthologist.

The Anthologist
58 Gresham Street
The City
EC2V 7BB

Tel: 0845 468 0101