The Spaniards Inn

We had their Festive menu on Christmas Eve. The place was packed! It’a a pub with an amazing history and it shows. I would definitely come back to have a beer and a burger in their garden in the warmer seasons after a stroll in the surrounding nature park. However, the food was a disappointment, specifically the main dish - the turkey with all the traditional sides. The food was bland and the pig in the blanket was honestly a small bit of coal on the plate. The Eton mess dessert was OK and the goat cheese starter was pretty good as well. The staff overall seemed super nice if a little overworked which I guess comes with the season. Our main server though paid zero attention to us and in the beginning stopped from being seated at the reserved table for a very awkward and quite uncomfortable moment where she was not ready to believe we had a reservation for the festive menu… Overall, I would come back for the old timey vibes but not the Festive menu or any of the restaurant meals. I think the burgers outside looked pretty delish! Thanks and happy holidays!

If you’re looking for a pub that combines centuries of history, literary charm, and outstanding food, The Spaniards Inn is an absolute must. Recommended to us by our niece Giulia, it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip to London. Dating back to 1585, this inn has welcomed poets like John Keats, and you can still feel that timeless atmosphere the moment you step inside. The setting is wonderfully cozy, full of character, and steeped in tradition. As for the food—it was simply excellent. We started with a perfectly made Scotch Egg, with a golden yolk and a crispy coating that set the tone for the meal. The Chicken, Smoked Ham Hock & Leek Pie was comfort food at its best: rich, hearty, and beautifully baked. The Pan-Roasted Fillet of Cod was delicate and flavorful, cooked to perfection and served with a thoughtful balance of sides. For dessert, we indulged in the classics—Sticky Toffee Pudding, warm, sweet, and indulgent, and a decadent Chocolate Brownie with ice cream, the ideal finish. To drink, we enjoyed a refreshing cider, the perfect pairing with the dishes. What makes The Spaniards Inn so special is not just the food or drink, but the sense that you are part of something much larger—a place where history, literature, and conviviality have mingled for centuries. A truly unforgettable experience. We’ll definitely be back!!!

I had so much hope for this place. No, that’s not even strong enough. I had the greatest of expectations. You so very rarely come across places like this. The history, stories of the unlikely, and a cooky, charming, ambiance. You fall wistfully enraptured with the time you’ll have and the meal you’ll experience. Oh the stories you’ll tell, of the lazy winter Sunday sessions enveloped by the warmth of the fire and the diffusive whirl of bawdy talk by the transient pub goer. Or the sneaky pint (or five) on a warm sunny summer’s day. Sitting out in the garden, bathed in light, far enough away from the “real world” that it can’t be heard and thus isn’t thought of, living in that space where there’s always time for “just one more”. But Pope warned us. He said “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” and his warning I should have heed. The staff are friendly, but are either over worked or under trained. The manager was either kind of a jerk or bemused. We had a problem with the bill, we were charged for something we never got. After we explained, he looked at us blankly for a minute then asked “did you want me to remove it?” The food was ok, but not the level I would think would come from a pub like this. The pork cheeks were a bit dry, the pie was a bit blonde, everything was under seasoned. Not major issues, but not what one would hope. I felt like a pub resting on its historic reputation of place, rather than working to add to it.

Amazing staff, brilliant atmosphere, such a nice pub. Our server Flynn was so nice and had very good humour! Food was good but a bit expensive for portion size. Historic pub makes it a worthwhile visit.

Lovely pub! Feels like you’re in the countryside with Hampstead Heath right there. The outdoor space is beautiful. It’s a bit pricey but worth it to be honest. Flinn and Erica were very helpful and took good care of us.

We had such a lovely time at Spaniards Inn on Saturday. We ordered the seafood share platter and it was fresh, tasty, and perfect to enjoy together. A big thank you to our waitress, Arika. She was so friendly, kind, and made us feel very welcome. Her service was warm and attentive without being too much. She really made our visit special. We will definitely come back again! 😊

Lovely pub with large outdoor space with heaters. Marvellous Christmassy atmosphere. Nice walk to the pub via the Heath. Lovely staff. Had a blast.

I really like The Spaniards usually and have had a great experience inside. However we visited today and were seated outside with the bbq service. Firstly the salad I ordered was ridiculously small for £17.50. A few bits of butternut squash, a few bits of beetroot and some leaves. Secondly we waited over 50 minutes for 2 burgers and a sausage bun. They forgot the bacon in the cheeseburger (they eventually delivered the bacon 15 minutes later). The sausages arrived totally burned. I had to take them back to the bar to complain. They then had to be redone which took another 15 minutes. The staff were apologetic but honestly it was one of the most dissapointing experiences I've had in a pub and I'm not sure I will be back.

Loved this place! I had one night in London and picked this restaurant based on history and food. It did not disappoint! Service was friendly, it was clean and has soooo much history. Very cozy feel and my sausage and mash were excellent! They also have a parking lot too which is handy. Highly recommend!

One of my new favorite pubs. Right off of the Hampstead Heath, this is a cozy, old, classic English pub with great food. We got a variety of things to split, and it was a lovely ambiance outside. The food was also really excellent, particularly the scotch egg. Will definitely be back!

Awesome spot, excellent food. We came for breakfast and our server Erik was excellent. Also, some of the best coffee we Americans have found here yet! It was so great to be able to get a "traditional" english breakfast that was vegetarian (they also have a vegan option).

Aside from this place being a very cool, historic location, the Spaniards Inn was a great dining experience. The staff were great, explaining their offerings well and bringing samples of several beers and ciders before we ordered. The padron peppers were cooked perfectly and a great starter. But then, I had the Carmelized Celeriac dish as a main. If I say that it was one of the best dishes I've had in recent memory I'd be understating my enthrallment with this dish. And it's vegan. Come here, get the Caramelized Celeriac and enjoy the historic ambience. Another bonus, dogs are welcome. There were 5 including ours while here.

First time at Spaniards Inn. It was so worth the visit to Hampstead Heath. Highly recommend getting the Sunday roast and going for the pudding after -- delicious. Gina also provided excellent service!

this was on a list of historic london pubs I wanted to visit, and unfortunately was made to feel unwelcome. I was greeted by the host by being told every single table was occupied/ reserved and that I could only stand at the bar. Then the same host who told me nothing was available ignored me and accommodated other patrons with a table to drink at. Received odd suspicious looks from staff like I shouldn't be standing around drinking in a pub, despite being told that was the only option.

Came alone for lunch after visiting Kenwood House. Lovely servers and the best scotch egg I've ever had. Mulled wine was delicious on a cold, rainy day. So much history here; you can feel it! As a party of one I was seated in a small side room and had to remind the servers I was there, but they were very friendly and welcoming. Be sure to walk around and see the different rooms and read about the history. The garden was closed due to weather but it looked marvelous.

I traveled in Europe and lived in London for three years in the late 60's. Frequented The Spaniards Inn before so many tourists. The history of the place can be 'felt' and oozes from the floor boards where famous people including Keats and Shelly walked and worked. When in London, don't miss it. You will never forget it.

Came here on an Easter Monday when the sun was nicely shining. My friend drove here and was lucky enough to find a spot in their small carpark (fits maybe 20 cars?). You can either choose to sit inside, outside covered or uncovered so we chose outside since it was a nice day. We ordered a few things off the menu but the most delicious item was the chicken wings. FYI no table service, order the food from the bar and any bbq items directly from the bbq counter. The place is also dog friendly. Also loads of space for kids to run around.

Nice final stop after long walk in the park. Best to be in no rush. Food & beer was good for all In the group. Fish & chips were very good. This place was built in 1585, not for the faint of heart who need pampering.

What a great way to spend father's day 2017 w family. Last time I was in the Spaniard's Inn I was studying abroad in London many many decades ago. The Inn was the first big 'night out' I attended at the end of that first week in school decades ago w class mates. For this Father's day our food was simply perfect on this very warm 30c degree day. Can't wait to go back to create more memories.

In the leafy green heights of Hampstead in North London you can find one of the best and oldest pubs in the UK known as Spaniards Inn. Keep on reading if you fancy a bit of history with your beer! Originally opened around 1585 this legendary pub was built to accompany a tollhouse on the edge of the Bishop of London's vast estate and is said to have gotten it's name from early landlords in the form of two Spanish brothers. The tollhouse still exists due to it's grade listed status, although obviously no longer in use, and is said to be where the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin was apprehended by Police whilst attempting to make an escape. Historians believe The Spaniard Inn was a safehouse of Dick Turpin's with his father believed to have been the landlord at the time as he potentially used it to watch potential coaches to rob on the road in and out of London. There are also many accounts in old records after his death of people who claim to have heard and seen his him in the early morning fog along with the clopping hoofs of his famous steed Bess. Stories that prove very popular with tourists and ghost hunters alike. The pub itself both outside and in has been kept as traditional as possible with it's rustic yet cosy interior and roaring open fire; perfect for those cold winter evenings or lazy weekends. In the spring and summertime with the vast open green spaces around the pub, the large beer garden is also a very popular choice with locals and a popular place to take the family for a meal in their gastro pub restaurant. As well as one of the oldest pubs in Britain, due to it's location at the top of Hampstead, it also lays claim to being one of the highest pubs in the UK above sea level. Although any feelings of altitude sickness can most likely be caused by one drink too many! It would not surprise you to know with a pub as old and steeped in history as this to be able to claim some well known people as regulars such as the poet John Keats, the writer Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson (of Treasure Island & Dr Jeckyl & Mr Hyde), the painters Sir Joshua Reynolds, William Hogarth and John Constable as well as the poet Lord Byron himself. So if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us so go and check out this gem of a pub! If none of that is has impressed you so far they always have alcohol!

Very rude and disappointing service from the beginning (the way we were treated at reception and seated) till the end (we had a problem with our food and restaurants response was basically 'tough luck, order something else') Even from the manager himself! Not recommending & never coming back

A gorgeous little pub nestled in Hampstead Heath full of history, great food and wonderful wine. Great on a grey day to sit inside and spend the afternoon catching up with good friends. They have a lovely outdoor area as well and you can bring your dog. The food and drink are fab, though maybe a little pricey. Regardless, I will be going back!

Oh Boy! You want to talk about history and feel it? Then come to the Spaniard's Inn. Built sometime in the 16th century this place is older than Canada or the United States and still going strong! It's been mentioned in Charles Dickens' "Pickwick Papers" and Bram Stoker's "Dracula". The poets Lord Byron and John Keats were both regulars here. After a day of tramping through Hampstead Heath and Kenwood House, you're going to build an appetite and the Spaniard's Inn is the perfect place for a dinner and drinks afterwards. So what if it is in Zone 3? Your Oyster card should cover getting here and back no problem. I came in around 6pm for supper and there was no one else in the room I was seated. I did see a blaring fireplace and two chairs already occupied by some regulars, but I was quite happy to be seated in one of the booths in the side room. I made no reservations but had no problem coming in and being seated, probably because it was the middle of the week and early evening. I'm almost positive that their Sunday Roast dinners are very popular and the place is probably packed solid and you'll definitely need reservations then. I ordered a glass of wine, their Scotch Egg as a starter, followed by their British Beef Burger with Triple-Cooked Chips. It was way too filling for any room left over for dessert. All of it was excellent. Service is A-1, the girls who were serving me were really friendly and chatty and honestly for the quality of the food here, prices are very reasonable. Also because of the historical toll-house outside and the super-narrow street, you have all the traffic buzzing past your window. I'm certain this must be a lovely place in the summer months as well. I have no hesitation recommending this place, even for the experience of having a drink at such a historically significant pub and when I'm back in London, I'm definitely coming here again.

Great for ambiance and people watching! Lovely outside terrace. The building is really cute, and apparently has been around hundreds of years. Great for visitors to experience a classy pub! Food is a bit pricey but you pay for location. We drove here, I don't think you can easily get here by public transport. Food was ok, but be prepared to wait a long time if you're there on a busy Sunday, like when the weather is nice . We have been here twice. The first time we ordered fish and chips and they were nicely done. My husband waited almost an hour for his order yesterday and had the beef roast - he said it was not very good. I had the sticky toffee pudding and it was too sweet. I'd go back there for drinks and order something simple. Parliament Hill in the park has a perfect view of London, and is only a mile away, so try to also go there if you're in the area!

I hate to not give this pub more than three stars...especially since I had been wanting to come here for so long, reading all the good things about it. But unfortunately, I simply wasn't that impressed: A friend and I came to the Spaniard's Inn one cold winter day and we were looking forward to warming up and getting all cozy. Well...the warming up worked quite well, especially with the warm, spiced cider that they were serving that day. But the cozy feeling that I would have expected just didn't come up. Maybe it was because many of the tables were still clattered with the remains of the previous guests, or because the benches were a little bit too hard as my but cried out for a cushion or something similar. Anyway, I still had a lovely time chatting with my friend, but next time I will make sure to come in the summer, as I hear the beer garden is quite nice...

The Spaniard Inn, is a listed building which must be at least a couple of hundred years old. Oops, I just checked the website, and it is nearly 500 years old. The pub has an outhouse where they must store certain things, and the only road to access the pub goes directly between the main house and outhouse. This causes so much traffic, especially during the rush hour. So one may well hate the Spaniard in, for how much traffic it causes for commuters just passing by. This isn't the typical kind of pub I go to. It is right next to Kenwood House, and Hampstead is just a five minute walk away, and The Bishops Avenue is just as close. So on my occasional visit, I have hoped to see a famous face, but it has yet to happen. I tend to go there for a nice lunch. The last time I was in there, a man brought in two dogs on leads, that seemed to be far more well kept than I am. It is a family place, for the locals or visitors from the Park, it has outside seating and a car park that must accommodate up to 20 cars. The food is fantastic for a pub grub, I say fantastic because come to think of it, I am still amazed at why it is as cheap as it is, baring in mind the location and who lives around it. I last sat there a month or so ago, and had a juicy steak with chips. I would never go here for any other reason than eating. I have taken the girlfriend here for some lunch a few times and we both enjoy it, but it is no more than that for me. It has an older crowd, I am sure my parents would love it.

Beautiful historic pub, decent selection of ales and other beer, and awesome scotch eggs. Bit pricey, but not so much as to put you off it. Always enjoy it, will be back again soon. It's too cold right now, but in the summertime the Spaniard has the best outdoor seating of any pub in the area.

At the top of a hill in Hampstead, The Spaniards Inn is somewhere in Zone 3, but it doesn't feel like London. As soon as you walk through the door, it feels like being inside an English country pub. To be honest, it's a little unsettling - however if you're one of those people who live in London in a shoebox but yearn to be back in the rolling countryside with a whole house to yourself, you'll find this a little corner of paradise. The pub attracts a huge number of people with dogs, so the beer garden outside (made up of plenty of picnic tables) is full of the most gorgeous canines. It gets very busy, so book in advance and specifically ask to sit inside or outside depending on how much you like animals! Oh, children are also welcome if you happen to have any. There's a relaxed family-friendly atmosphere. Whilst the menu is quite expensive, this is proper gastropub fare and worth it. If you were to take away the balsamic dashes, some of the food would not look out of place in a posh London restaurant. The mushrooms on toast are delicious, as is the squash gnocchi, which are both fabulous vegetarian dishes that even meat eaters will love. They do a good Sunday roast if you're after traditional English food to accompany the traditional feel of the venue. Deserts are yummy (we can vouch for the brownie and the sticky toffee pudding), but three courses is really ambitious. I would recommending going for no more than two unless you've starved yourself in advance accordingly. A pain to get to given the location, however worth travelling for. Would definitely recommend!

Man, I love this place. So bloody cosy. My husband and I sat in front of the fire Saturday late afternoon, with mulled wine and a half-pint of Aspall's respectively, and it was just glorious. So chill. Friendly dogs, people. It wasn't too crowded either- a far cry from the warmer months when it's slammed. I just dinked a star bc the menu is pretty pricey for pub fare. That being said, I got the 'shrooms on toast and it was delicious. Smokey, creamy goodness. We also got the tof and date pud with vanilla and it was AMAZING. I think the best sticky tof pud I've ever had. The peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake was good as well but the pud beat it out. Will defo return with tourist friends.

This place is a MUST visit if you are in Camden / Hampstead. Not only is the food phenomenal, but the enchanted atmosphere makes you feel like you've been there before, in a Pirate movie. This pub is as authentic as pubs get. The king prawns are flavored to perfection. I'd go here for the atmosphere but the mouth watering food paired with a Camden IPA would keep me going back every week if I lived in London!

I had cycled past the Spaniards Inn a few times on my tours of London and have always been intrigued, not least by the sign that said it was established in 1585. After a long day of walking around Hampstead Heath I came here in desperate need of a good meal. As it was early August we sat in the garden and ordered inside. I had the pork roast which despite coming with a Yorkshire pudding was great, nothing was wasted off my plate. Julia D had some vegetarian dish that she has been raving about ever since. The food is slightly expensive for pub food but it is definitely worth the extra spend. The inside has a nice cosy feel which makes me tempted to go back on a cold winters day.

Nuts on the table. I am a massive fan of the Spaniards Inn. The only downside is that it's opposite the strangest piece of traffic control in the world, so if you make it across the road in one piece you can consider yourself immensely lucky and you should reward yourself with several hours in this sexy establishment. Think of it like a journey to Mordor, but with less orcs and more Land Rovers trying to gun you down. As I continue my search for the ultimate Sunday Roast, Tommy (sex pest flat-mate, a couple of other equally hung-over friends and myself headed for The Spaniards Inn after Tommy stumbled upon it after a light jog around the Heath. Upon entering you have two options. Either head for the garden or inside to the bar and a few select tables dotted around. The ceilings are low, so if you have daft hair like myself hit the garden and get others to order for you. The interior is dimly lit, but it has a charming, relaxing and traditional feel to it, but it is run by lots of French people, so that will throw you if you're not expecting it. The staff were excellent. From the moment we walked in and all ordered separately which usually causes most bar staff to adopt the foetal position and start crying, they simply dealt with us in an extremely proficient and well organised fashion. We were then able to get outside into possible the finest beer garden in the North London district (and I LOVE the one at the Edinboro in Cammers). It's so big in fact I was intimidated by its size. The tables are all massive and there is loads of space between each one and yet there is a great atmosphere here. Plenty of room to hide away from noisy groups should you not be part of one. I am pleased to say that the food was immense too. I had the lamb and Tommy had the beef. Both were excellent, so food envy was off the cards. The meat was well cooked and there was plenty of it, the veg was excellent and if you're anything like me, you always need a Yorkshire pudding no matter what, which was 'standard' with all our meals. The potatoes were the highlight as they were slightly spicey and made me a little wet in my pant area they were so delish. The only thing I wanted more of was gravy, but it wasn't enough of a lack to make it a wangle meal. All in all I left with a massive smile on my face. A Roast and beverage (in this instance t was a Kopperberg) cost me 14.5 nuggets. EPIC WIN - especially if you have just forked out 20 badgers for the roast at the Lord Stanley (which sucks). So impressed was I by my day at the Spaniards Inn that I felt compelled to tell the management. However, this place will now become my new 'go-to' Sunday pub, so for all intents and purposes i hope you enjoyed this review, but don't tell too many people what a find it is... I'm selfish and want it for myself. Sexy Rob

I used to drink here in the late sixties when I was in school in London. The pub was founded in 1585 and has the authentic look to which other pubs aspire. Keats and Dickens drank here after the place had already been in business for hundreds of years. The Beer and ale selection has expanded exponentially and is excellent. I have no real memory of the pub food from years ago but now it is tasty with generous portions. I had a delicious piece of sea bass with lobster Thermidor sauce, served with kale and purple potatoes. Others in my family had fish and chips, quinoa salad and steak and leek pie. Everyone loved the food. We shared a brownie and a treacle pie for dessert. Both were served warm, with vanilla ice cream, and were great. Service was friendly and quick even though one server may have been working the whole room on a busy rainy night.

This little pub for starters is architecturally beautiful. The Spaniards Inn has the bustle and cheer of times past . Built in 1585 as a tollgate inn on the Finchley boundary, the Spaniards formed the entrance to the Bishop of London's estate. Today it offers an extensive beer garden, one for the most impressive in London and a kitchen who are doing more than just serve pub food. This pub is legendary and must be seen, smelt, talked about and eaten in. I mean The Spaniards Inn is mentioned in many books like Dickens's The Pickwick Papers and Bram Stoker's Dracula, it's a special place. Most of all the food is awesome. GO!! Order the Scotch Egg, its a must. There nuts they roast and rub are great. Didn't like the pork scratchings, but great to have anyway.

After a long walk round Hampsted Heath going to the Spaniards Inn is a great way to refuel. This pub is steeped in history as it was built in 1585 and was regularly visited by the likes of Dick Thurpin before robbing people on the Heath. Its a bit of a pain to get to as there's not a tube very near but it's definitely worth the effort! It's lovely in the summer as they have a large beer garden and cosy in the winter as they have welcoming wood fires. The pub always seems to be nicely busy and has a lot of character. They sell a wide selection of drinks including lots of real ales with guest local ales too. The main draw for coming here is definitely the food though! It's on the pricey side as far as pub food goes but it's really tasty and filling. The Sunday roasts are great!

This place would still be Dick Turpin's favourite! Nestled above Hampstead Heath, this is one of my favourite places for a Sunday roast and a good pint. The Spaniard's Inn probably has one of the best beer selections in NW3 - and the best beer garden. Save it for a sunny afternoon as you'll enjoy spending all day in the gardens next to the heath. If you believe the Inn's spiel, Keats allegedly wrote his Ode to a Nightingale in the gardens! Clearly, it's been a longtime favourite.

In true British fashion we had to hit up this pub that was est. in 1585. Good beer, excellent food...we had the lamb shank, rib eye, fish and chips & even the roasted pork. It fills you up and you kinda feel the history in the hardwood floors...found it kinda odd that it was named the Spaniard, located in London and operated by a French person :) GO FIGURE

Great place to rest after a long walk around Hampstead Heath with the dog. I came on a friend's recommendation after we'd been walking with our dogs. Thankfully they welcome canine pals so we didn't feel awkward about bringing 3 muddy monsters in. We did opt to sit outside so perhaps they were more understanding as a result :P There's a great selection of ales on tap and the food menu is pretty typical of an English pub. Portions are generous and scotch eggs are tasty. (I feel like every pub review I write, I make some mention of a scotch egg.) Sunday roast is definitely where it's at if find yourself needing a bit of grub. Not something I've found to be particularly inspiring since moving to London but this definitely one satisfies and leaves no room for improvement. I wouldn't drive all the way out here just to eat or drink at this place but it's certainly my first choice if I'm in the area, especially if the dog has opted to tag along.

Great place to sit and enjoy what sunlight London has to offer. The patio is cozy and offers a variety of seating options. It boasts a fantastic setting for drinking, eating, and catching up with friends over a leisurely afternoon. I love the landscaping around the beer garden and they have an additional outside bar stocked with some various draft and bottled beer, which is convenient versus having to continually go inside to order. That being said, the service here is just not very good. You have to order everything yourself and even once you order, the servers seem to have the hardest time figuring out which tables should be served what food. Also, there are a ton of smokers at the restaurant. That is not the fault of the establishment but it would be nice if part of the patio could be smoke free for those of us who are not interested in filling our lungs with toxins while trying to enjoy the fresh outdoors.

What a gem. This ancient inn on the edge of the Heath is a must see. Keats used to come here for drinks, Dickens wrote here and this place is even mentioned in Dracula (!). Pretty pricey but hey you're in Hampstead my friend. Look around and you'll see people with dogs everywhere. There is a huge backyard garden for your summer nights and a dining room that fills quite fast but the staff. Make sure to put this place on your path when you walk through the Heath!

Well its a 16th century coaching inn at top of Hampstead Heath right next to the old turnpike house . As you can guess theres lots of dark oak , bare timbers and flagstones . Apparently Dick Turpin was a regular . The food looks excellent and they have a reasonable range if real ales available . What was tasted was well kept . A bit of a hidden gem .

This is basically my new favourite beer garden! Enormous, by London standards, it was brilliant to rock up mid-afternoon and not have to fight for a table in the sun. Lovely staff, bottles of water to take back to the table and a great atmosphere - there really isn't much bad I can say about this place. Food was great - not sure the mac and cheese entirely fulfilled it's promise (it really wasn't macaroni) but the scotch egg was so well liked one of the party actually had two. Drinks could be on the pricier side if you weren't careful - a friend ended up with a £12 glass of wine but bottles were reasonably priced. Overall, a place I really loved and would happily frequently return.

Very popular pub at the north end of Hampstead Heath, and popular with weekend walkers and picnickers. You'll find it where the road narrows at an old toll gate spot. It's Grade II-listed: large, old, and traditional. It has exposed beams, several separate rooms, and lots of outdoor seating for the nice weather. The food is very good, and there are nice ales on tap. It's the sort of pub you'd expect to find out in the country. Popular with dog walkers, you'll easily get a bowl of water for your four-legged friend.

Great place for a late summer evening drink in the fabulous beer garden. However, meet there for a Sunday Roast and you'll be faced with the longest wait for food. In. Your. Life. Thats both ordering and receiving. Don't do it. Hard to argue that beer and Hampstead Heath are a right royal combination and if thats your tipple, you've come to the right place - but unless you want a foodfight, or a fight with no food at all - stick to the ales.

The Spaniards Inn is the kind of pub you'll find in wikipedia. Amongst the list of 'Notable Patrons' from the wiki site are: Dick Turpin, Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, Bram Stoker, John Keats, Charles Dickens, Karl Marx. The whole place is practically made of oak and as the night goes on it gets rather tempting to stumble around pretending you're an outlaw from an half-remembered semi-historical tale, shuffling through sawdust on your way to have some hanky-panky with a mead-soaked wench.... then running around the heath naked accusing innocent ghosts of being Dick Turpin. There's Weston's ciders on tap as well as real ales and foreign bottles. Food and all that malarkey too. The beer garden is large and suited to smokers. Not cheap. Nope.

The perfect Sunday lunch pub. Walk on the Heath, check. Cosy interior/huge beer garden, check. Super sized hearty British fare, check. I absolutely love this pub but if you're going on a Sunday you should try and book a table (good luck) and get there early. Although Sunday is the best day to go it just gets crazy busy in the afternoon and that's why I can't give it 5 stars. They often run out of food and the staff are excruciatingly slow in dealing with the chaos. The bar can get packed 4 deep and North London types get rude and pushy, demanding they've waited longer than you when they've only just waltzed up to the bar waiving their gold cards. The strength of the place is that I still love going here despite the odd bad Sunday, to the point that I've once been stuck trying to order for 35 mins, only communicating with my friends at the table outside via mobile phone.

The Spaniards Inn is someplace I'd take someone who visited London the first time to show them why it's cool to live here. The food is good, the drink selection is good, it's a lovely old building and on a nice day the beer garden is the best. On the weekends especially, you need to get there right as they open mid-day. They take reservations only for inside, not for the beer garden. My only problem with the place is that if you're not driving and need to cross the street, it can feel a bit hazardous since the road tends to be busy and narrows to a single lane right in front of the Spaniards.

The Spaniards has a very special place in my heart, my late father used to take the family for walls on the Heath followed by lunch here. The food was very simple pub grub back then, and it's great to see they have kept up that tradition. My wife and I now go and I thought it time I write a review. The welcome is warm and you can smell the history of the place as you walk in. A good mix of Hampstead locals and people driving in ensures a great atmosphere. Couples in their early twenties on a Sunday date to large family gatherings of several generations enjoying lunch. The beer and ale selections are spot on for both winter and summer, and you can tell they keep clean pipes and have frequent guest ales. As mentioned earlier, the food is spot on as was the service. We both had Scotch Eggs to start and Roast Beef for mains (rarely does that happen!). Now I come to the crux of the matter. The Scotch Eggs were something very special. The Roast Beef good. Not amazing, but you can tell they have a good supplier of quality fresh meet. Portion sizes were fine (I'm a big chap, so most people will be stuffed after a meal here!). My issue is price. £6 for a starter and £19 for the main. This is not far off Central London restaurant prices. They can, and should be doing much better if charging these prices and I'm happy to pay them, but have had roasts just as good for £12-£15. I guess you are paying for the setting and atmosphere to an extent, but feel slightly out of pocket compared to other places in Hampstead. Other then the prices for food, can't really fault The Spaniards, and may it last hundreds of years more. 4 stars rather then 5. I will certainly be back, but only on special occasions!

You have to go to the bar and pay upfront - including your tip even though you haven't even had anything yet. The food was tasty but it arrived very late - three of us got it in about ten minutes and the other two had to wait so long that the other three were finished when the food finally arrived! I had the fish & chips - peas were great, fish was good, chips were dry and hard...not very good at all. We ordered hot chocolate and were told "I'm not allowed to say we don't do it....so I guess I will do it." Two of us received it from a very grumpy waitress who didn't want to carry it - and I can see why, as she spilled a lot of it. It was delicious, but lukewarm at best....we both had to down it while it was at a drinkable temperature. I had the profiteroles, and received three, plus a scoop of ice cream, for £6.50. Again, tasty, but the profiteroles were encased in a hard shell of chocolate and the choux pastry was soft and tasteless, so although the overall flavour was good, they weren't recognisably profiteroles. They weren't that busy, didn't clear up quickly, food was ok but not worth the price, and I won't be coming back here, or recommending it to anyone.

Absolutely adore this place!!! Best food, best service, best staff!! Lovely beer garden and in such a cute and quaint area of Hampstead. All time favorite place in London Town!

I don't understand how anyone can give this place a low rating. It's isolated in the Heath, has a great old feel to it and has an amazing garden area. Very dog-friendly as well. Wonderful to stop by after a nice hike through the Heath to get a pint (or mulled wine in the winter).

Terrible food. the service is reasonable but the food is awful. Cold duck confit , and lacking flavour roast beef. Stay away.

I can't imagine a better spot to spend a sunny afternoon in London. On a recent glorious Sunday, a group of friends ended up sitting in the outdoor beer garden, soaking up the sun with pitchers of Pimms and a hearty roast. We walked up through the green-green Heath on our way there, and were in the mood for a big meal by the time we arrived. We ended up staying until they closed - couldn't get enough of the sun, and when that went away they turned the heat lamps on. Eventually, we made our way inside where we enjoyed our second meal - bangers and mash, and oh man! were they good. The inside was cozy and comfortable - full of dark wood and old leather. I can't wait to come back in the winter. They invariably run out of many menu items by midday on the weekends, so get there early if you want the roast or Sierra Nevada (we were having a California craving). They scene is a good mix of young and old, tipping slightly toward the sophisticates (and their dogs), sans attitude.

great seafood and the waiters and waitresses are the nicest people I have ever met! There is a magical outside area complete with fairy lights and a scatter of trees to sit under on a sunny day.

This pub is ooooooooooooooold. I seem to remember something to do with Dick Turpin hanging out here and they haven't had highwaymen in London for quite a few years. It's brilliant in the summer as it has a spacious and pretty beer garden but equally good in winter when you can sit and have a hearty meal in a rickety old polished wood, fire-warmed setting. It's really difficult to get to, stuck right in the middle of the Heath although the 210 stops right outside and is a pretty good bus. For this reason though, it tends to be frequented by families with cars. I decided to come here on my birthday as I thought it would probably be the only time I could persuade a lot of my friends to come all that way. They were pretty unanimous that it was worth it though as the Spaniards is a really lovely pub.

My friend and I wanted to treat ourself after a stressful two week road trip ending in Hampstead. So we booked in advance and saved up some money. When we got there we got really strange looks from the waiters,who where quite unfriendly though our whole visit, they where basically rude. Maybe it was because we are young but I simply do not get it. We were properly dressed and paid for our meal like everyone else did. The food was great by the way, so were the drinks. The other guests were funny and it was a nice atmosphere. Just the people working there kind of ruined it for us.

This place is in a great location and is steeped in history (Keats & Shelley drank here Dick Turpin was rumored to have been born here) but unfortunately its owned by a brewery and they seem like they couldn't care less. I first came here in 1995 and it was much better cared for - since then its changed owners a few times and has numerous 'refurbs' - sad really. Everytime I go back its ethics get closer and closer to a Subway thats just failed a hygiene visit. The best pub in this area is back towards Hampstead called 'The Holly Bush' (but not on a Sat/Sun lunch as just too busy) but during the week fine.