A proper North London local that's just had a fresh lick of paint and come back better than ever. The Stag does what Hampstead pubs do best — solid Sunday roasts, proper pints, and a beer garden out back that's the real draw when the sun's out. It's the kind of place you stumble into for one and end up staying for three.
A freshly revamped Hampstead local where the Sunday roast earns its reputation and the beer garden is the real prize on sunny afternoons.
Get there early on Sundays — the roast is the main draw and tables fill up fast, especially in the beer garden when the weather's good.
A proper Hampstead local with a roast worth queuing for
The Stag is exactly what you want from a neighbourhood pub in this part of North London — no fuss, no pretension, just good food, decent beer, and a welcome that feels genuine. After a recent refurbishment, the interior's been freshened up with revamped spaces including a dedicated floor for private events and a new garden hut, but it hasn't lost that unmistakable pub spirit. The Sunday roast is the main event here — consistently praised by regulars and worth queuing for — and the Stag burger, served on a wooden chopping board with proper rustic presentation, is a solid alternative if you're not in a roast mood.
The beer garden out the back is the real star, though. Multiple reviewers single it out as the highlight, and on a sunny afternoon in Hampstead there are few better spots to settle in with a pint. The pub also does bar snacks, live music, and has outside seating that makes it a year-round option, not just a summer one. Service can get stretched when it's busy (and it does get busy, especially weekends), but the staff keep things friendly. At 4.4 stars across nearly 1,900 Google reviews, this is a local that earns its following the hard way — by turning up consistently, week after week.