Truckles is part of the Davy’s chain of wine bars, which means a fairly uninteresting and comparatively expensive wine list, flat ale served in pewter tankards, ersatz 18th-century decor and mediocre bar food.
So why has this particular branch made the cut into a book about the city’s best bars? Simple: it sits in a handsome Georgian courtyard close to the British Museum (and just behind the London Review Bookshop), and in summer, the outdoor seating is appealing enough to make up for all the bar’s other shortcomings.
The area’s office workers are wise to the place, and it can get especially busy on warm Fridays. But there’s usually a free table or two even on the most bustling evening, making this a good standby for an after-work swifty under the sun.