The Journal
From the Blog
Dispatches from the village — written by people who walk these streets every day. History, food, culture and the stories behind the places you love.
Food & Drink
Best Delis & Food Shops in Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
From the cheese shop on Heath Street to the Italian deli that has been on Rosslyn Hill since before most of its customers were born, Hampstead's food shops are part of what makes the neighbourhood.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Eating Alone in Hampstead: The Solo Diner's Guide 2026
Counter seats, bar dining, and the cafés where a single person with a book is welcome rather than pitied, eating solo in Hampstead, done properly.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Sunday Lunch in Hampstead: The Best Roasts 2026
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.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Best Restaurants in Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
From a long-running Japanese on Heath Street to a neighbourhood Italian that has been feeding the village for decades, Hampstead's restaurant scene rewards those who know where to look.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Vegetarian & Vegan Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
Hampstead has quietly become one of North London's best areas for plant-based eating, here's where to find the good stuff, from casual lunches to proper dinners.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Best Bakeries & Delis in Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
The places to find exceptional bread, good cheese, smoked fish, and the kind of provisions that make a Saturday morning feel genuinely civilised.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Food & Drink
A Coffee Lover's Guide to Hampstead's Best Cafés
Hampstead's café scene is as distinctive as its architecture, independent, unhurried, and quietly excellent. Here is where to find the best flat white, the finest pastry, and the most restorative corner table in NW3.
Beatrice Thornton · 7 min read
Food & Drink
The Art of the Hampstead Sandwich
From sourdough to ciabatta Hampstead takes its lunch seriously. Here are the spots that have earned devoted regulars.
Beatrice Thornton · 3 min read
Food & Drink
The Rise of the Hampstead Gastropub: A Decade of Change
The gastropub revolution of the 1990s hit Hampstead earlier and harder than most places. How has the village pub food scene evolved since?
James Calloway · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Best Brunch Spots in Hampstead: The Complete Guide 2026
The art of the Saturday morning, the cafés and restaurants that do brunch properly, from flawless eggs Benedict to the best sourdough toast in NW3.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Hampstead's Coffee Scene: The Best Independent Cafes 2026
Chain coffee shops have made limited inroads in Hampstead. The village remains a stronghold of the independent cafe each with its own character.
Oliver Hartwell · 5 min read
Food & Drink
Best Pubs in Hampstead 2026: Historic Inns & Village Locals
From the 17th-century Spaniards Inn to the intimate Holly Bush, Hampstead's pubs are among the finest in London. Here is where to drink.
Beatrice Thornton · 5 min read