The Alice House
Cool, retro-chic, hip are all words used to describe this unequivocally stylish place. Inside is a wooden wonderland where sofas intermingle with simple clean tables and chairs and where bare lights hang from fisherman’s netting on the ceiling. It feels rustic yet utterly modern. The staff match the aforementioned adjectives and are as pleasant as they are snappily-dressed. The restaurant has a commitment to locally sourced and seasonal British produce so there is a real buzz at dinner time. As well as the food The Alice House provides an extensive drinks list that means there’s no problem with popping in for an after work glass or two.
Best bit: Having a pint of unusual beer whilst feeling cool.
53-55 Salusbury Rd, Queen’s Park, NW6 6NJ
thealicehouse.co.uk
Tube – Queen’s Park
The Salusbury
One of the best rated gastropubs in London, The Salusbury continues to be at the forefront of this pub revolution. Ten years under the same management and a resolute ethic of serving high quality food, this cosy but vibrant pub offers elegant and hearty Italian and British food alongside a complimentary wine list that has won them awards. It is a fine enough establishment to go in for a draught beer or glass of Chianti but the food is the star and the homemade pasta is a revelation. If you are looking for a place for dinner and a pint with a touch of class The Salusbury is your best bet.
Best bit: The pappardelle with duck ragu is legendary!
50 Salusbury Road, Queen’s Park, NW6 6NN
thesalusbury.co.uk
Tube – Queen’s Park
The Priory Tavern
This is the place to go if you’re looking for a calm and traditional English pub. The beautiful late Victoria bar has been lovingly restored with original wooden floors and bar counter. It offers a quiet respite away from the main road with picnic tables outside if the weather is playing nice. Due to its location and size it is often busy but never completely full. Every other Tuesday there’s a pub quiz and on Thursdays (and the occasional Saturday) you can enjoy Live Music. Traditional pub means traditional beers and they have some lovely British ones on tap including the delicious Hampshire Rose. The owners and staff at The Priory are also famed for being very welcoming and the prices are pleasingly affordable.
Best bit: Peace and quiet in a traditional setting.
250 Belsize Road, Kilburn, London, NW6 4BT
facebook.com/priorytavern
Tube – Kilburn High Road
Paradise by Way of Kensal Green
With an atmosphere that walks the line between comfortable surroundings and exclusive luxury Paradise by Way of Kensal Green is a pub that is truly unique. It is a visual treat with a variety of rooms that are colourful, dynamic and which range in styles. You could have a drink in something akin to a 19th century drawing room one minute and a pastel blue royal banquet hall the next. The attention to detail and beauty of the different rooms aren’t the only things going for Paradise. They match their aesthetic flare with a robust menu championing British produce – Morecombe Bay shrimp, Lonk Lamb and Dorset Lobsters take their places on the menu. And being a pub there is of course a roast every Sunday. The pub also caters for events ranging from private functions to live gigs and karaoke. The possibilities seem endless.
Best bit: having a different drink in different rooms. Room-crawl.
19 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green, W10 4AE
theparadise.co.uk
Tube – Kensal Green
Hugo’s Café
Hugo’s Café is a romantic little getaway tucked out of sight down a cobbled mews just seven minutes walk from Queen’s Park tube station. In the warmer months there are a few highly desirable seats out the front that affect a Parisian sensation and inside the space is bright and roomy but still retains a clean rusticity about it. Established in 1994 as The Organic Café, Hugo’s has always focussed on sustainability, fair trade and fresh produce. From homemade breads and brioche buns to sourcing Welsh Real Ales and organic juices Hugo’s is a great place to have a meal. Its real charm however is sitting at one of the windows enjoying the little oasis of tranquillity that the pub provides and doing what we Brits do best, having a drink. Best Bit: having a romantic drink whilst pretending you’re ‘on the continent’.
25 Lonsdale Road, Queen’s Park, NW6 6RA
hugosrestaurant.co.uk
Tube – Queen’s Park
