Sunday lunch is a serious business in Hampstead. Here is where to find the best roast beef, the finest Yorkshire pudding, and the most civilised Sunday afternoon in North London.
A proper Sunday roast is one of the great British institutions, and Hampstead does it superbly. From historic pubs with roaring fires to gastropubs and village restaurants, the area offers some of the best Sunday lunches in North London, ideally enjoyed after a bracing walk on the Heath. This is the complete guide to Sunday lunch in Hampstead.
- Hampstead's pubs serve some of North London's best Sunday roasts
- The Holly Bush and the Wells Tavern are top village choices
- The Spaniards Inn offers a roast in a historic setting
- The classic combination: a Heath walk followed by a roast
- Booking is essential for Sunday lunch at the best spots
- Budget £18-£28 for a roast at most quality pubs
The Sunday Roast Tradition
The Sunday roast, roast meat, crisp potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables, and lashings of gravy, is a cornerstone of British food culture, and nowhere does it feel more fitting than in a historic Hampstead pub after a walk on the Heath. The combination of fresh air, exercise, and the prospect of a hearty roast by a warm fire is one of the quintessential pleasures of a North London Sunday.
Hampstead's pubs and restaurants take their Sunday roasts seriously, offering quality meat, proper trimmings, and generous portions. Whether you want a traditional pub roast or a more refined gastropub version, the village delivers.
Where to Have Sunday Lunch
The Holly Bush
The Holly Bush, tucked up Holly Mount, is one of the village's most atmospheric pubs and serves an excellent Sunday roast in its cosy, panelled rooms. The combination of the historic setting, the open fires, and a proper roast makes it a favourite for Sunday lunch. Booking is essential.
The Wells Tavern
The Wells Tavern on Well Walk is a smarter gastropub with a serious kitchen, and its Sunday roast is among the best in the village, quality meat, beautifully cooked trimmings, and a more refined dining setting. The choice for a special Sunday lunch.
The Spaniards Inn
For a roast in a truly historic setting, the Spaniards Inn, a 440-year-old pub on the edge of the Heath, does an excellent version. With log fires in winter and a beautiful garden in summer, and positioned perfectly for a post-walk lunch, it is a classic choice. Booking strongly advised.
Other Options
The village's other pubs and restaurants offer their own Sunday roasts and lunch menus, giving plenty of choice across the area.
David Reynolds makes Sunday lunch in Hampstead a weekly ritual with his family. "We walk on the Heath first, rain or shine, we earn it," he said. "Then it's the Holly Bush or the Spaniards for a roast by the fire. There's nothing better on a cold Sunday: you come in glowing from the walk, the fire's going, and there's a proper roast with all the trimmings waiting. The kids have grown up with it. It's the best of British life, really, a walk, a fire, a roast, the family round the table. We book ahead, always; the good places fill up fast on a Sunday."
The Perfect Sunday: Walk Then Roast
The ideal Hampstead Sunday combines a Heath walk with a roast:
1. Morning/midday: A walk on Hampstead Heath, Parliament Hill for the view, the Kenwood woods, or a circuit of the ponds.
2. Lunch: A Sunday roast at the Holly Bush, the Wells Tavern, or the Spaniards Inn.
3. Afternoon: A gentle wander through the village, or a cosy afternoon by the pub fire.
This combination, fresh air and exercise followed by a hearty, warming roast, is one of the great pleasures of life in North London, and a wonderful way for visitors to experience the area at its most characterful.
Tips for Sunday Lunch in Hampstead
- Book ahead: Sunday lunch at the best pubs and restaurants fills quickly, booking is essential, often days in advance.
- Arrive hungry: Portions are generous; a Heath walk first sharpens the appetite perfectly.
- Consider timing: Early sittings (around midday) or later ones (mid-afternoon) may be easier to book than the peak 1-2pm slot.
- Check the menu: Roasts often sell out; some places offer a choice of meats plus non-roast options.
- Dietary needs: Most places offer a vegetarian roast or alternative, confirm when booking.
Practical Information
- Best for: The classic British Sunday, a walk and a roast
- Top choices: The Holly Bush, the Wells Tavern, the Spaniards Inn
- Budget: £18-£28 for a roast at most quality pubs
- Booking: Essential, book ahead, especially for the peak lunchtime slot
- Combine with: A Heath walk beforehand
- Getting there: Hampstead (Northern line), Hampstead Heath and Gospel Oak (Overground)
Sunday lunch in Hampstead is a wonderful tradition, a proper roast, generous and warming, enjoyed in a historic pub after a bracing walk on the Heath. From the cosy Holly Bush to the refined Wells Tavern and the historic Spaniards Inn, the village offers some of the best Sunday roasts in North London. Book ahead, walk first to earn it, and settle in for one of the great pleasures of a British Sunday. For more dining options, see the Hampstead restaurants guide.
