The Bok Bar was more The Bok Blah for me to be honest. I ordered the tempura squid and dumplings to start and a Tom Kha with prawns as a main. The dumplings were actually great - large and generously filled, with a tasty dipping sauce. Four of the buggers too! That made me happy. The tempura squid... hmm... well, it wasn't battered, it was breaded and I'll take their word for it that it was squid inside. Anyway, moving swiftly onto the main. It. Was. Dreadful. I usually LOVE Tom Kha but this soup was extremely bland. It was as if they had just up-ended a tin of coconut milk into a bowl, heated it up and stuck in some prawns. Oh, and the prawns were so overcooked it was like eating rubber. JB pinched the jars of sauces from somewhere and I chucked a bunch of chilli in the soup before the jars were snatched back (please get one per table so people can enjoy the sauces at their leisure). I saw the Pad Thai go past and have to say it did look great. Perhaps I just went for a bad choice of main. I think I could be persuaded to go back and try the Pad Thai, should the mood take me. My advice - beware the Tom Kha and order the dumplings to start! read more

The Bok Bar - Squid tempura and dumplings - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

See all

A really odd place, as it's a combination South African pub and Thai restaurant, but really good! I ate here at least once a week with a friend when I was in London after we kind of stumbled upon it by accident one night. Thai food is available for eating in or take-away. Order from the Thai guy standing at the end of the bar, and take a seat in the jungle-decored back dining room, and they'll bring the food around. Food is surprisingly delicious for such a strange locale, and the chicken pad thai is extremely well done. We usually got wine as well with the food, with a cheap (but decent) Chenin Blanc running around £4 a glass. On weekends, the bar is full of people watching rugby matches, so good luck staking out a spot to sit in the bar area. Bartenders were usually very nice and helpful - I only encountered one slightly surly bartender during my many visits. I love the Bok Bar for a casual dinner. read more

The Bok Bar - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

So I only came here with some friends for a quick afternoon drink earlier today, but the place seemed rather nice indeed. We did that spontaneous 'lets had a Sunday afternoon pint' and I picked baker St to check out - pretty central but I don't it well enough yet. I love the idea that this is a pub with Thai food as well! Casual pad Thai pub snack would be so good, it's on the list to try! Who knows, star update may be needed afterwards? Good for outside seats, great quiet location read more

The Bok Bar - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

After being persuaded to return, I opted for something different this time, and I have to say that the noodle dishes are made rather well. A little oily for my taste but still very tasty and the vegetable are bight in colour, which is always a good sign. I was also impressed that when I asked for my dish to be "extra spicy", boy did it have a kick! Overall a good spot to a pick up a hearty portion of grub, that won't break the bank. What a funny term, "break the bank". I wonder what it's origins are. Hahaha! read more

I have come here for just drinks in the evening but also lunch. There are nice little corners to sit and have a drink with a friend. It isn't a'bar' as I would call it but a small pub. At lunchtime, a little confusing as you have to order and pay for food at one end of the bar and order and pay for drinks at another. Food is Thai. The first time I had the pad thai I was not very impressed however, as a fan of pad thai (but who isn't?) I tried it again the next time I went at it tasted better. It is not a loud bar and so easy to have a business lunch here. If you get their early you can get a more private booth areas however, wherever you sit you don't really feel exposed or worried about people overhearing you. read more

Good street seating, but if it is a warm sunny evening you will have to get here early to get one. I have only ever popped in here for a quick drink and for that purpose it has been fine. They have a TV which has been on the times I have popped in and they have been tuned to the sporting events. Given that this has covered the World Cup and Wimbledon I have to say there were still more people outside than in. Which was good as it meant I could get served easily and find a seat. It is a loud pub but again I have only ever been in here at that afterwork time so perhaps during the day it is a bit quieter? They also serve food there which looks nice but having not eaten any of it I can only comment on the look and smell of it. Price wise the it falls into line with the other bars in the area. They have a small area at the back of the pub which you can reserve. read more

See all

An absolutely delightful (and unexpected) Thai lunch in Marylebone....cheap! Our group of 4 was wandering a bit aimlessly...wanting something neither too casual nor too fancy (read: long) for a quick lunch out. Someone suggested Bok Bar --- and thankfully we were all feeling open-minded. I've been to this locale for a pint a few months back, but didn't realize it was doubling as an inn and a Thai Restaurant. Multi-faceted joint, eh? Here's the drill: *arrive *order and pay at counter (cards accepted) *order drinks (pay separately, I believe) at bar. *Plastic cups for water: decidedly unfancy. *find your seat *food is brought out. *enjoy! A bit of advice if you're cutting on rice? Just tell them "no rice" and they'll supplement with more protein/veggies and skip the waste. Not always the case and I will definitely be making that adjustment on my (sure to be) next visit. For under 7 quid I had a piping hot chicken asparagus veggie dish in oyster sauce. My dining companions indulged in various curries, prawns and rice noodles --- all to rounds of "mmmmms" and "how have we not been to this place?" In a sea of chains and/or expensive sit-down forever restaurants in Marylebone/Baker Street...Bok Bar is great for a tasty, quick bite that won't cost you a fortune. Hold the rice! read more

I gotta admit, I was a little hesitant when I saw a sign for a bar in London that does Thai food. My friends warned me about pub fare in England, and the pub down the street from my flat sells gross nachos for like 15 pounds, so I wasn't much of a believer about the concept of a bar doing decent Thai food. Oh man was I ever completely in the wrong! The ladies who make the Thai food here are awesome and friendly, and the food they make is delicious. It's easy to become a regular here, both because the ladies learn your favorite order really fast and also because the food they make is so good that if your office is nearby, there's basically no reason to not go here for lunch every day. The singapore noodle is insane and delicious and extremely plentiful. The green curry is killer too. If you're like me and enjoy going to bars with quiet alcoves in them where you can enjoy a beer and a book in peace and quiet, this is also the place for you. This place has got a surprisingly large amount of alcoves. This place is awesome. read more

We used to have the Bok as our after work local where I would spend almost every Friday night drinking more than was good for me before staggering home. The prices then started rising and the barmaid with the most amazing cleavage I have ever seen left, and we followed suit. Have been back a couple of times recently, and now they have a bit of ale on (Greene King IPA and Bombardier, I think) and it seems ok. Not the kind of place you'd want to take a date (unless she's wearing a tracksuit) but ok for a few beers with mates. Lots of tv screens show all the sports, and the thai food is pretty good for the price. Smells like varnish too at the minute, I think they raided an MFI showroom for the furniture. read more

This place is unexpectedly tasty, a bit bizarre, and has cheeky Polish bartenders. Hence, it is great. Hailed by said barman himself as a "traditional English pub that happens to have a Thai kitchen," The Bok Bar really does have the best of both worlds -- copious amounts of alcohol, and spicy, savory, hot and fresh Thai food. Really, there is only one dilemma one faces when arriving here: to eat or drink first? Went for a lunch meeting here this afternoon, by recommendation of one of the members of our group, and was initially very skeptical about the potentially awkward pairing of Thai cuisine and beery goodness (due to one too many Wetherspoons mishaps). Are pubs even authorized to prepare fish outside of a deep fryer?, I thought to myself. As usual, I was forced to eat my words (and LOTS of delicious pineapple fried rice with veggies and tofu, which is what I ordered, and which I subsequently received an Everest-sized portion of on my plate), because I was completely wrong in doubting Bok Bar. The restaurant menu is extensive, the food is well-flavored and plentiful, and the bartenders are very good at their job (not so subtly encouraging me to add vodka to my cranberry juice...at 1pm on a Wednesday. I suppose it's 5 o'clock somewhere). I think half of the place's charm lies in the surprise factor that they do Thai food, and they do it well. The one thing that could be improved, I think, is to integrate the foodie bit of the pub with the rest of it -- there's only one, small area that's designated as the restaurant, and hence the space is overcrowded and requires some acrobatic/gymnastic skill to get in and out of one's seat. I don't always eat Thai food in an English pub, but when I do, it will be at Bok Bar. read more

Tasty food despite being located on a street called "Blandford"! Take Note: The restaurant is inside of a pub, not a traditional sit down restaurant, so if you are relying on waiter service or large tables, you might want to go elsewhere However, if you are looking for great Thai food, then you've found the place. The Singapore noodles were excellent. The curry was tasty. Overall, excellent 'craveable' Thai. I actually prefer the bar service restaurant, as opposed to waiter service, because when you're done with your meal you can get up and leave instead of waiting half an hour for the waiter to come around with the card machine. read more

Love the Pad Thai! Since I'm a Pad Thai fanatic, it's basically all I eat here.... Pretty sure the rest is also great. read more

The Bok Bar - Pad Thai with Tofu - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

This is a very solid 4 stars. Might upgrade to 5 stars upon future visits. I definitely will be back. What can I say? I ordered Thai food from an Thai lade and then 30 seconds later order a pint from an Englishman. I then proceeded to watch some football with my beer as I waited for me food, and the crowd was fun. All the while I'm salivating at tasty looking Thai dishes around me. It turns out the food more than looks good, it is very good. I have eaten way more than my share of Thai food in my life, and while this is not the best it certainly holds its own. This was the best food I have had in my short time in London -- The panang curry was actually a little spicy! The pricing was very reasonable. And while the food alone is enough for 4 stars, you have to consider the fact that it is BAR FOOD -- at a good bar. Just the shear unusualness of this combination is probably worth another star. Well, I definitely see myself becoming a regular here. We'll see if they earn that last star. read more

Amazing thai food Outside sitting available GREAT bartenders read more

I'm a regular here and probably get lunch once every two weeks. The food can be absolutely amazing - I especially recommend the Jungle Curry - and it's reasonably priced. I know they are in the process of having a makeover so I think it's going to get even better. I just wish the staff would smile a bit more! read more

Decent pub with tasty, though not gourmet, Thai food. Good for a cheap lunch.

I live just around the corner from Bok Bar. In my search for a local hangout, I tried several classic brown pubs around Marylebone, but in the end I kept coming back to Bok Bar. The lighting and interior is very nice (I think they are owned by Chiltern Firehouse next door). Their Thai food is excellent and fairly priced and the bartenders are observant and friendly. You have to order Thai food in one end and drinks in the other - this is a bit annoying, but not a biggie.. They have plenty of screens for sports, and benches outside on the corner of Chiltern St and Blandford St. The rooms in the back is a gem - you have some private space there. Also, the big table room in the back is great for larger parties, e.g. if there's a big game on.. Toilets upstairs are OK. Can definitely recommend, as a local. read more

Tastiest Thai food I've had since I was in Bangkok, almost as cheap too! It's quickly turning into our new Friday lunchtime haunt!

Good place for watching sport, yesterday I was able to watch England Wales if I turned left and Ireland Scotland if I turned right. From previous experience the food is pretty good, but the place can get rammed on Thursday and Friday nights and the bar frontage is actually quite small given the number of people that can cram in to the pub and their outside spaces (including the pavement) read more

The pub seems to have been refurbished recently. It has flat screens, outside tables and almost a cosy atmosphere on quiet nights. I fear it may become really, really crowded and noisy on Friday nights, and it would be absolutely impossible to eat there. Which brings me to their Thai food. The menu is Thai and the food is decent, but I very much doubt it's Thai. The cook adds lime and coriander and coco, but I'd say its dishes are Chinese: the southern China overcooked, glutamate-laden rice, and spicy but bland soups are nowhere close to my memories of Thailand or even better Thai pubs in London. Thai food commands a higher mark-up, or maybe the landlord's wife is Thai and she was doing the cooking, originally. Still the food tastes more like what you find in those "all you can eat" buffets for half the price, so stick to drinking ! Not many cask ales but the usual selection of lagers, not too expensive. All in all a rather decent place. read more

A disappointing tired pub that needs a bit of a refurb. Whilst that look can work for some pubs it just doesn't work here. Does do Thai food, although finding somewhere to sit and eat it can be a bit of a challenge. read more

An average pub with nothing to distinguish itself from any other. Bar staff very friendly and the Thai food looked quite nice, although I didn't try it. read more

Quite possibly the rudest staff I have ever encountered - drinks were cleared still full and when questioned the assistant manager gave a ridiculous amount of attitude. Having worked in hospitality myself before I have never experienced such bad service. I am absolutely astounded as to why this person still has a job here. She needs some serious training in customer service - I would not recommend ANYONE to visit here. read more

I did what everyone else said and ordered the singapore noodles. Let's just say that they were BANGIN'. A little on the crowded side, but that may be because I went on a Friday. All in all, come here and your wallet/stomach will love you. read more