The Duke’s Head

They serve locally distilled gin here! (You can find much of the same stuff down the hill at Ladies & Gents, as they buy from the same bloke, apparently) It’s definitely worth trying one or two of their (ever so slightly overpriced) gin cocktails, just to say you’ve had Highwayman Gin. Also, the beer selection is fantastic and in ever rotating supply, so don’t expect to come back twice and order the same thing.
It’s worth noting that you should definitely book ahead and reserve a table, as this place is TINY and gets packed out very quickly, and you can forget about standing room, because there just isn’t any.
The service is really quick behind the bar, and they have pop restaurants guesting here on a regular basis, they’re on a monthly rotation, so it’s worth popping in to see what they’re currently serving.
A very nice little pub serving (pricey) locally sourced drinks.

The Duke’s Head has a good selection of beers and ciders. I didn’t count the taps but there are many keg as well as cask conditioned selections. Most of the cask selections would be what could be referred to as «session» beers: low alcohol but not necessarily low flavor. A great situation for beer sampling! Being a bit of a beer geek and used to heavy high ABV and IBU styles, this was refreshing. Beers were mostly local and again interesting because I didn’t see a single name I recognized. Staff were very helpful (and not condescending) in making selections and providing samples. Atmosphere was quiet on the evening we went, with diverse clientele: some older gents, and younger couples. Food as I understand rotates among «pop ups» (new term for me), so I would recommend that if food is your objective you might want to investigate before you go. Recommendation: great place to have a pint, good selection of beers (and cider), and good atmosphere for conversation.

The fare here rotates every month with different types of street food. This month is Italian fare and next month will be something different. The pub is pretty small so tough to get a table on busy nights but the food and general concept of this place is interesting and worth the try if you’re ok for a low key night. Our party had eggplant parm, chicken parm and the meatball sub. They were good but needed much more marinara sauce (and we got a good tablespoon of it after we asked). The jalapeño sauce is a must as it adds a little bit of amazing (they should bottle the stuff!!). For sides, the Cesar salad amazing (!!) and the fries were good too, pickles were a pass. 3 stars given as if you’re there for dinner, you have to order at the bar and you get plastic silverware and paper napkins — when you’re paying normal prices for food, I expect to have a waitress, especially real silverware and napkins! The staff was friendly enough but didn’t go out of there way for anyone or anything. Overall, interesting if you’re in the neighbourhood and if they have a good cuisine — otherwise safe to pass.

Fabulous pub. I only give it four stars due to it being tough to find a seat most of the time, because the beer and staff would definitely get five stars all the way.
You have a very large selection of craft beers and lagers, a bit of something for everyone. The bar staff are quite happy to give you a taste of something before buying or give their own recommendations based on what type of drink you prefer.
It’s a pleasant atmosphere, with locals mixing in with the craft beer crowd.

Popped in here for a quick drink after a meal as I had seen some good reviews online and it was great. We went in the evening and it was very atmospheric with the dim lighting from individual bulbs dotted around, most notably a line of them over the bar. I’m not sure what they’re called but they’re the type where you can clearly see the filament glowing a kind of orange inside the bulb.
They’ve got a great selection of ales at very reasonable prices, I had a pint of Half Mast which was only £3.80. It tasted great and was very light and was unusual for the fact that the strength was only 2.8%. I don’t recall ever seeing an ale that week so thought I should test it out. My girlfriend just had a lemonade but they had the option of traditional cloudy lemonade in a bottle instead of the standard stuff on tap which was a nice touch. They also serve gins that are locally made in Highgate village and have a selection of cocktails that contain unusual varieties of this gin such as coriander gin. I think they are the only pub to sell this particular gin and you can even buy a bottle to take home.
The bar staff were genuinely friendly and the overall atmosphere was very welcoming, no one looking over their shoulder to assess who has just walked in like in some small pubs! The décor is great and gives it a very contemporary feel and this is added to by the predominantly indie playlist which was playing loud enough to enjoy it but not so loud that you couldn’t hold a conversation. Will definitely be returning!

A pleasant little neighborhood pub with an excellent selection of well priced ales.
The pub is run by really lovely and friendly staff who will walk you through the different types and nuances of ales if, like me, this is not your usual beer territory.
The pub is quite small — there are only a couple of tables and a small seating area by the bar. But I think that’s one of the things that makes it more charming — this way it does not get too loud and feels quite homely.
I haven’t eaten here, so I can’t comment on that aspect, but the burgers which I saw being carried past me looked and smelled very enticing, so I’d be willing to give it a shot.

Amazing pub ran by a great friendly bunch. They’ve always got a smile on and very knowledgable about all of the guest beers. So much to choose from you could get very drunk trying to go through it all. They also run a monthly food pop up. Oh My Dog was there when we visited. Perfect combo to match the vibes of the pub. Pimped up hot dogs with so many different flavours. Even though I don’t live close I could see myself coming back once a month to see what’s on offer. (Visit — 13/​04/​2015 Dinner)

(my review is based on the food which does not really deserve to be associated with the fine pub grub you expect in London)
2 stars for making me pay 7quid for a chicken sandwich and chips, and then telling me that there was no mayonnaise! I mean come on, they were seconds away from a Tesco Express so they could have easily bought some mayo for the restaurant?!
Thankfully, it looks like this was all down to the January Beefsteaks menu, so maybe I’ll come back again to try out the tapas in March (
).
I really want to give more than 2 stars as it had such promise, but just can’t understand how a pub that serves food runs out of condiments?!

Great little pub. Big selection of ales, which are well looked after. Bit dark for daytime beers but atmospheric in the evenings. ⁵⁄₅ ales.
Food is tasty but a bit «fast food» presentation if you have a taster, hence ⁴⁄₅. Burgers look good.

Came on a rainy Saturday (last weekend) and there was a little regular crowd gathering to watch a Liverpool v Chelsea game. By a little crowd I mean probably 5 punters. The pub is too small and refined to be what you call a regular sports pub with the stereotypical roaring TV noise and game machines, but then again this is Highgate and it does represent its regulars, who are clearly the quiet sort. A few couples with their babies came for a quiet lunch and the space is sufficient to accommodate the prams.
The interior has the vintage-​reclaimed-​chic thing going on, mishmash of found chairs and uncomfortable wooden benches. Some of the tables were awkwardly small because they were clearly vintage study desks. I’m not really a fan of those, they’re not particularly comfortable. There’s a lovely moose horn chandelier hanging in the front.
Some very artfully chosen beers and ciders were on tap and I trust they were good — my boyfriend had an oatmeal stout and it was pleasantly fruity. I had a ginger beer, which was poured into a glass — I would much have preferred the bottle and the glass…
The main purpose of the visit was to sample the food of Bell & Brisket. I had the ale braised brisket in a box with a selection of pickles and chips. When it arrived it looked amazing, and the chili relish was especially good. Shame there wasn’t more of that. The brisket was tasty and reasonably portioned, the meat was delicious, soft, slow cooked and flavourful.
The food left me confused. It looked beautifully composed, with the pickles remarkably drained and arranged on one side, chips on the other, and for added height, the brisket on the top. Perhaps it was intended to be some kind of low-​carb woman menu option. If it was meant to be so then it raises the question of why anybody wants the chips along with it to begin with. The beef rests on its bed of fries but there is no meaty juices or gravy to speak of to make the entire affair a delicious mess. For that reason it was literally eating pieces of beef and then a chip or two. There was a lemony mayonnaise and ketchup to go with the chips, but having had the box served this way I had hoped the chips had some extra flavour.
What I would have liked (and hope will happen) — gravy or braising juices, and some of the English mustard offered on the bagels, or at least a good spicy one full of popping little mustard seeds.
I think I picked the dud on the menu — fat is flavour and my order didn’t have cheese. If I do return, and I will update this review when I do, I’ll be sure to go for the bagel or black rye sandwiches or the filthy fries.

Great to see a pub like this in Highgate. They serve up to 8 ales although they were a couple short, which is probably standard for a Sunday. I had the Anchor Blonde Bitter which was a seriously good pint and Siren Serenity of the Sky (not sure what is behind the name) which was a good mild.
My friends ordered some chips but actually received cheese and horseradish chips. This turned up to be an accidental upgrade which the staff later acknowledged and even apologised for (there was no need!)
There is a sports TV at the back, which can easily be avoided at the front. I really rather like the place!

This isn’t a pub — it’s a bar.
You know how I know, nearly one third of this place is a bar. It’s so small the little tiny place is dominated by the bar. When a place is one third of something, then it is that something. Hence — The Duke’s Head is a BAR.
It’s also a bit of a time warp. This place reminds me of the crappy pubs I used to have to go in with my Dad as a kid (don’t worry, no tragic childhood story — he worked for a brewery) — all big CRT TVs, faint smell of tobacco and despair, and the sense that women were not welcome. (Mrs VonTurbo was the only lady in the place)
Still, the staff were friendly, the TVs were showing sport at a normal human volume, and they let you go outside with your drinks in glass, not silly children’s cups like other places. Outside is right on the high street, so people watching is a must do.
Very much an old man pub — one for the locals — not much for anyone else.