The Best Pubs in Hampstead: A Local's Complete Guide

Hampstead's pub culture is one of its defining characteristics — and one of its genuine strengths. The village supports more good pubs than you'd expect for its size, ranging from 16th-century coaching inns with fireplaces and history to modern gastropubs with serious kitchens. Here's an honest assessment of the best.

The Spaniards Inn ★★★★★

The definitive Hampstead pub, and one of the best in London. The Spaniards Inn dates from 1585 — originally a tollgate on the road between Hampstead and Highgate — and has accumulated enough history for a small book. Dick Turpin reputedly sheltered here; it appears in The Pickwick Papers and Dracula. The interior is exactly as it should be: low ceilings, fireplaces, uneven floors and a rambling series of rooms. The garden is large and surprisingly beautiful. The food is good. Go on a winter afternoon when it's quiet, or resign yourself to the summer crowds and enjoy them. There is no better pub in north London.

The Flask ★★★★

The essential village local, and the pub that most completely captures old Hampstead. The Grade II listed interior has been carefully preserved — wood panelling, a proper public bar, and a saloon that feels unchanged from the early 20th century. The beer selection is good; the food is reliable. The garden at the back is pleasant in summer. Best on a weekday afternoon when the tourist traffic is lighter.

The Wells Tavern ★★★★

The Wells is the best pub for food in the village — a proper gastropub that takes its kitchen seriously without losing sight of what a pub should be. The front bar has a neighbourhood atmosphere that's increasingly rare in Hampstead; the upstairs dining room is good for special occasions. The Sunday roast has a loyal local following.

The Freemasons Arms ★★★

The Freemasons Arms divides opinion. The front of house can feel tourist-facing and slightly impersonal; the back bar is quieter and more characterful. The large garden makes it popular in summer. The food is acceptable rather than excellent. Best approached for a drink rather than a meal, via the back entrance if you want to avoid the crowd.

The Old Bull and Bush ★★★★

Slightly out of the village proper (at the top of North End Way, near the Heath Extension), the Old Bull and Bush has been a pub since the 17th century and retains genuine character. The garden is one of the largest of any London pub — easily accommodating 200 people on a summer evening, yet feeling pleasantly informal. Worth the slightly longer walk from the tube.

The Horseshoe ★★★★

On Heath Street, the Horseshoe combines a proper pub atmosphere with a kitchen that genuinely cares about seasonal ingredients. It's the most consistently good food pub in the village, and the bar itself — high stools, good real ales, and a friendly atmosphere — is one of the most comfortable places to drink in Hampstead.