Despite its village character, Hampstead punches well above its weight for food. Our guide to the best independent restaurants, from casual to special occasion.
Villa Bianca (Perrins Court)
Villa Bianca has been serving Italian food in Hampstead since 1972 and is one of those restaurants that improves with knowledge of its history. The courtyard setting on Perrins Court is the best outdoor dining spot in the village; the menu is conservative and excellent.
Yuzu (Heath Street)
The most interesting cooking in the village comes from Yuzu, a small Japanese restaurant that takes its food seriously without taking itself too seriously. The lunch menu is particularly good value; the evening menu is worth the higher price. Booking is advisable at weekends.
The Wells (Well Walk)
The Wells combines a neighbourhood gastropub downstairs with a slightly more formal restaurant upstairs. Both are good; the upstairs room is better for special occasions, the downstairs bar is better for casual meals. The Sunday roast has a devoted local following.
Louis Patisserie (Heath Street)
Not a restaurant in the conventional sense, but no food guide to Hampstead would be complete without Louis. The Hungarian pastry shop has been operating since 1963 and makes cakes by recipes that haven't changed.
Order the Dobos torte, a pot of tea, and plan to stay for an hour. It is one of the most characterful food experiences in north London.
A Note on Reservations
Hampstead's better restaurants fill up quickly at weekends, particularly on Sunday afternoons. Booking a week ahead for Saturday dinner or Sunday lunch is advisable at the Horseshoe, Yuzu and the Wells. Midweek lunches are generally much more relaxed and often offer better value menus.
Jin Kichi (Heath Street)
No guide to Hampstead dining is complete without Jin Kichi, the tiny charcoal-grill restaurant that has been one of London's best Japanese kitchens since 1992.
The yakitori, skewers of chicken, vegetables and offal grilled over binchotan charcoal, is the speciality, alongside excellent sashimi and a warm, cramped, convivial atmosphere.
It is small and deservedly popular; book well ahead, particularly for an evening table at the weekend.
La Gaffe (Heath Street)
A Hampstead institution since 1962, La Gaffe is a family-run Italian restaurant with rooms above, occupying a row of 18th-century cottages near the top of Heath Street.
The cooking is traditional and unfussy, the welcome genuinely warm, and the whole place has the unhurried character of a restaurant that has never needed to chase fashion.
The Stag and the Gastropubs
For relaxed cooking in a pub setting, the village and its fringes are well served. The Stag on Fleet Road, the Garden Gate near South End Green and the Spaniards Inn on the northern Heath all do serious kitchen food alongside a good pint, see our full guide to eating in Hampstead for the wider picture.
Hampstead by Cuisine
For a quick orientation: British / seasonal, the Horseshoe and the Wells; Italian, Villa Bianca and La Gaffe; Japanese, Yuzu and Jin Kichi; café and patisserie, Louis and Ginger and White; gastropub, the Stag and the Garden Gate.
Between them they cover almost every occasion, from a quick solo lunch to a long celebratory dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best restaurant in Hampstead?
It depends on the occasion. For a special meal, the Wells upstairs or Jin Kichi; for a reliable neighbourhood dinner, the Horseshoe; for long Italian lunches, Villa Bianca. Each has held a loyal local following for years.
Do you need to book restaurants in Hampstead?
For Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch, yes, book a week ahead for the Horseshoe, Yuzu, Jin Kichi and the Wells. Midweek lunches are far more relaxed and often better value.
Are there chain restaurants in Hampstead?
Very few. High rents and the village's character have kept Hampstead overwhelmingly independent, which is precisely what makes its dining scene worth exploring.
Jin Kichi (Heath Street)
No guide to Hampstead dining is complete without Jin Kichi, the tiny charcoal-grill restaurant that has been one of London's best Japanese kitchens since 1992.
The yakitori, skewers of chicken, vegetables and offal grilled over binchotan charcoal, is the speciality, alongside excellent sashimi and a warm, cramped, convivial atmosphere.
It is small and deservedly popular; book well ahead, particularly for an evening table at the weekend.
La Gaffe (Heath Street)
A Hampstead institution since 1962, La Gaffe is a family-run Italian restaurant with rooms above, occupying a row of 18th-century cottages near the top of Heath Street.
The cooking is traditional and unfussy, the welcome genuinely warm, and the whole place has the unhurried character of a restaurant that has never needed to chase fashion.
The Stag and the Gastropubs
For relaxed cooking in a pub setting, the village and its fringes are well served. The Stag on Fleet Road, the Garden Gate near South End Green and the Spaniards Inn on the northern Heath all do serious kitchen food alongside a good pint, see our full guide to eating in Hampstead for the wider picture.
Hampstead by Cuisine
For a quick orientation: British / seasonal, the Horseshoe and the Wells; Italian, Villa Bianca and La Gaffe; Japanese, Yuzu and Jin Kichi; café and patisserie, Louis and Ginger and White; gastropub, the Stag and the Garden Gate.
Between them they cover almost every occasion, from a quick solo lunch to a long celebratory dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best restaurant in Hampstead?
It depends on the occasion. For a special meal, the Wells upstairs or Jin Kichi; for a reliable neighbourhood dinner, the Horseshoe; for long Italian lunches, Villa Bianca. Each has held a loyal local following for years.
Do you need to book restaurants in Hampstead?
For Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch, yes, book a week ahead for the Horseshoe, Yuzu, Jin Kichi and the Wells. Midweek lunches are far more relaxed and often better value.
Are there chain restaurants in Hampstead?
Very few. High rents and the village's character have kept Hampstead overwhelmingly independent, which is precisely what makes its dining scene worth exploring.
Jin Kichi (Heath Street)
No guide to Hampstead dining is complete without Jin Kichi, the tiny charcoal-grill restaurant that has been one of London's best Japanese kitchens since 1992.
The yakitori, skewers of chicken, vegetables and offal grilled over binchotan charcoal, is the speciality, alongside excellent sashimi and a warm, cramped, convivial atmosphere.
It is small and deservedly popular; book well ahead, particularly for an evening table at the weekend.
La Gaffe (Heath Street)
A Hampstead institution since 1962, La Gaffe is a family-run Italian restaurant with rooms above, occupying a row of 18th-century cottages near the top of Heath Street.
The cooking is traditional and unfussy, the welcome genuinely warm, and the whole place has the unhurried character of a restaurant that has never needed to chase fashion.
The Stag and the Gastropubs
For relaxed cooking in a pub setting, the village and its fringes are well served. The Stag on Fleet Road, the Garden Gate near South End Green and the Spaniards Inn on the northern Heath all do serious kitchen food alongside a good pint, see our full guide to eating in Hampstead for the wider picture.
Hampstead by Cuisine
For a quick orientation: British / seasonal, the Horseshoe and the Wells; Italian, Villa Bianca and La Gaffe; Japanese, Yuzu and Jin Kichi; café and patisserie, Louis and Ginger and White; gastropub, the Stag and the Garden Gate.
Between them they cover almost every occasion, from a quick solo lunch to a long celebratory dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best restaurant in Hampstead?
It depends on the occasion. For a special meal, the Wells upstairs or Jin Kichi; for a reliable neighbourhood dinner, the Horseshoe; for long Italian lunches, Villa Bianca. Each has held a loyal local following for years.
Do you need to book restaurants in Hampstead?
For Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch, yes, book a week ahead for the Horseshoe, Yuzu, Jin Kichi and the Wells. Midweek lunches are far more relaxed and often better value.
Are there chain restaurants in Hampstead?
Very few. High rents and the village's character have kept Hampstead overwhelmingly independent, which is precisely what makes its dining scene worth exploring.
Jin Kichi (Heath Street)
No guide to Hampstead dining is complete without Jin Kichi, the tiny charcoal-grill restaurant that has been one of London's best Japanese kitchens since 1992. The yakitori, skewers of chicken, vegetables and offal grilled over binchotan charcoal, is the speciality, alongside excellent sashimi and a warm, cramped, convivial atmosphere.
It is small and deservedly popular; book well ahead, particularly for an evening table at the weekend.
La Gaffe (Heath Street)
A Hampstead institution since 1962, La Gaffe is a family-run Italian restaurant with rooms above, occupying a row of 18th-century cottages near the top of Heath Street.
The cooking is traditional and unfussy, the welcome genuinely warm, and the whole place has the unhurried character of a restaurant that has never needed to chase fashion.
The Stag and the Gastropubs
For relaxed cooking in a pub setting, the village and its fringes are well served. The Stag on Fleet Road, the Garden Gate near South End Green and the Spaniards Inn on the northern Heath all do serious kitchen food alongside a good pint, see our full guide to eating in Hampstead for the wider picture.
Hampstead by Cuisine
For a quick orientation: British / seasonal, the Horseshoe and the Wells; Italian, Villa Bianca and La Gaffe; Japanese, Yuzu and Jin Kichi; café and patisserie, Louis and Ginger and White; gastropub, the Stag and the Garden Gate.
Between them they cover almost every occasion, from a quick solo lunch to a long celebratory dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best restaurant in Hampstead?
It depends on the occasion. For a special meal, the Wells upstairs or Jin Kichi; for a reliable neighbourhood dinner, the Horseshoe; for long Italian lunches, Villa Bianca. Each has held a loyal local following for years.
Do you need to book restaurants in Hampstead?
For Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch, yes, book a week ahead for the Horseshoe, Yuzu, Jin Kichi and the Wells. Midweek lunches are far more relaxed and often better value.
Are there chain restaurants in Hampstead?
Very few. High rents and the village's character have kept Hampstead overwhelmingly independent, which is precisely what makes its dining scene worth exploring.
