North London Food & Culture

The Best Places For Outdoor Lunch In Kentish Town, London

With social distancing laws relaxed from July 4th, a brief guide to one of the best places for alfresco lunch in London

In the London Borough of Camden, Kentish Town is the baby brother of Camden in terms of notoriety, considered quietly cool.

Stretching from Camden Gardens in the south to Highgate Road in the north and through to Queen’s Crescent onwards east to Torriano, the postcode offers loads of opportunity for an amazing outdoor dining experience.

Let’s start with some history. Kentish Town was originally a settlement on the River Fleet, where large amounts of land were purchased by the railway thus making Kentish Town an early commuter destination.

Famous residents, from Karl Marx to musician Eddy Grant and a ton of present-day actors including Damien Lewis have lived in or near Kentish Town. And the area has long been a favourite location for filming. Who remembers About a Boy starring Hugh Grant, lovingly filmed in Lady Margaret Road, NW5?


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All this history is making us hungry and, thankfully, Kentish Town is a great place to eat and drink: here are a few recommendations.

Restaurants, Pubs and Cafes with Outside Space

Anima e Cuore – 129 Kentish Town Rd, London, NW1

Want food made by chefs who have worked at The Gavroche? We know we do, and Anima e Cuore is a real find. Italian food with a difference; no heavy creamy pasta but only dishes from the Veneto region of Italy, light, tasty, dedicated original cooking. There will only be very limited spaces to dine in the covered garden, and with social distancing likely to remain a feature for a while, there is always the option to have your food delivered instead. All in all a great find.

The Fields Beneath – 52a Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town West, London, NW5 3LN

Want a quick and tasty lunch? It’s a joy to sit outside The Fields Beneath in Prince of Wales Road. This cute cafe has amazing coffee and delicious vegan delicacies, and homemade cakes that are literally made by the owner’s mum at home. Right now it’s takeaway only, but there are seats and you can sit outside – let’s just hope the sun comes out in time for your coffee break.

Andy’s Greek Taverna – 23 Pratt Street Camden, London NW1 0BG

Take me to Greece, Andy! That’s exactly what eating lunch at Andy’s place is like. Established in 1967, dining here is everything you would expect (and it’s less than a ten-minute walk from Kentish Town, too). Delicious authentic food served in joyous surroundings, and if you eat with your eyes closed you could easily be in Mykonos or Santorini. Outdoor dining is available throughout the summer. While we can’t promise warm weather we can promise a warm welcome here. So all that’s left is to say is – Kalí ygeía – Good health!

Camden Town Brewery – 55-59 Wilkin Street Mews, London, NW5 3NN

You will know that the now-famous Camden Town Brewery is actually situated in the railway arches in Kentish Town. This small brewery, tap house and local street food purveyor started trading in 2010 and is a landslide success with visitors and locals alike. Lunch is served only on the weekends, but with amazing beer and delicious street food, it’s well worth a visit.

The Pineapple – 51 Leverton Street, London, NW5 2NX

Situated in the back streets of NW5 this pub can trace its roots back to 1868. With a Grade ll-Listed bar and old-world charm, this pub boasts a pretty beer garden and large sunny conservatory serving Thai food all week. The food is award-winning and booking is advisable as this is a firm favourite with pad thai crew.

The Junction Tavern – 101 Fortess Road, NW5 1AG

Sunday lunch at the Junction Tavern is legendary at this Victorian pub in between Kentish Town and Tufnell Park. A leisurely afternoon can be had in the light and airy conservatory or outside in the award-winning beer garden, where social distancing shouldn’t be too difficult to maintain. Traditional delicacies such as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding can be enjoyed alongside the best vegan roast lunch in town. Not to be missed.

The Government has agreed that pubs and restaurants with outside spaces can open from July 4th, with establishments going out of their way to ensure social distancing can be maintained. As Londoners, we know we all agree our pubs and restaurants are a vital part of our culture, so what are you waiting for? Ours is a pint of Camden Hells and a dirty burger. See you there!

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The award-winning print and online title Kentishtowner was founded in 2010 and is part of London Belongs To Me, a citywide network of travel guides for locals. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section.