The story
The Culpeper at 40 Commercial St., London, is a British and Modern European kitchen across four floors of an East London townhouse, and it holds 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence (2026). The building takes its name from the 17th-century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper, who lived nearby, and that botanical streak runs through the menus and the roof.
The first-floor restaurant serves full-flavoured seasonal dishes with broadly European overtones. The Good Food Guide lists starters such as wild garlic velouté and pig's head and pistachio terrine with cornichons and Dijon mustard. Mains lean hearty, from chicken leek and bacon pie to venison bourguignon and haddock with beurre blanc and fennel. Desserts stay with Anglo-European classics like crème brûlée and sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce.
The ground-floor pub has huge heritage windows, well-worn parquet and a horseshoe-shaped bar. Guests drink local real ales, herb-infused cocktails and Old World wines there. Sunday roasts run all day in both the pub and the restaurant, and the guide advises booking ahead. At the top of the building, a rooftop greenhouse holds a ten-seat private dining room beside an urban garden that grows organic herbs, fruit and vegetables. The Culpeper is a certified B Corporation, and its sustainable approach shapes both the garden and the kitchen.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
Dispensing big-city hospitality across four floors of an East London townhouse, this urban hostelry with sociable add-ons takes its name from the 17th-century botanist, physician and astrologer, Nicholas Culpeper, who lived nearby. For many, the heart of the action is the ground-floor ‘pub’ with its huge heritage windows, dangling light fittings, well-worn parquet floors and distinctive horseshoe-shaped bar – the perfect backdrop for supping local real ales, herb-infused cocktails and fairly priced Old World wines. Moving upwards, the first floor is home to an airy restaurant dealing in full-flavoured seasonal dishes with broadly European overtones. House pickles, baguettes (from the Snapery East bakery) and Jersey butter set the scene for starters of wild garlic velouté or pig’s head and pistachio terrine with cornichons and Dijon mustard. Hearty, homespun flavours also characterise mains ranging from chicken leek and bacon pie or venison bourguignon to haddock with beurre blanc and fennel, while massive pork tomahawk steaks and côte de boeuf await those wanting to share. Desserts celebrate the Anglo-European classics, from crème brûlée and chocolate fondant to sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce and Chantilly. Cheese lovers should also check the blackboard for the line-up of artisan Francophile specialities. On Sundays, ‘incredible roasts’ are served all day in both the bar and restaurant, although you must book ahead. At the very top of the building is a rooftop greenhouse housing a 10-seater private dining space, while the adjoining urban garden (open from May to October) is used for growing and harvesting organic herbs, fruit and vegetables – all driven by an ‘admirable sustainable ethos’.
2 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
Location
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