Sunday Lunch in Hampstead: The Best Roasts in NW3

Sunday lunch in Hampstead follows a particular rhythm that I have come to regard as one of the neighbourhood's more important civic institutions. After the morning walk on the Heath — or the swim, for the devoted — you want somewhere warm and unhurried, with a serious roast, a good wine list, and no obligation to leave before the afternoon has pleasantly dissolved.

The Spaniards Inn

The Spaniards does the most atmospheric Sunday roast in NW3. The beef comes in thick slices with a proper gravy and a Yorkshire pudding of considerable structural ambition. The pub itself — low ceilings, oak beams, four centuries of continuous service — adds a context that no amount of interior design can manufacture. Book ahead; the dining room fills by noon on Sundays.

The Wells Tavern

The Wells on Well Walk is more gastropub than traditional pub roast, and none the worse for it. The lamb shoulder has a devoted following; the chicken is properly brined and roasted and arrives with excellent gravy. The wine list is notably better than you might expect, and the sommelier's suggestions are worth taking.

The Holly Bush

The Holly Bush is not primarily a food destination — it is primarily an exceptional pub — but the Sunday roast is quietly very good. The beef is properly hung, the vegetables are seasonal, and the fact that you are eating in a room that has not materially changed since the 1700s adds a certain something to the experience.

Practical Notes

All three of the above require booking on Sundays. Aim for 1pm — the kitchen is at its best then and the dining rooms have not yet reached the midafternoon lull. The walk back across the Heath afterwards, past the ponds and up to Parliament Hill, is the recommended conclusion.