The North London Tavern

If you think all of Kilburn’s pubs are filled with Irish old-timers nursing pints of Guinness, try the shabby-chic North London Tavern for size. It attracts Kilburn’s young trendies, who harp on about the area being up-and-coming, & quaff wine from an eclectic list alongside pints of Amstel & Hoegaarden (plus regularly changing ales such as Sharp’s Doom Bar & Brakspear Oxford Gold) poured by laid-back, friendly staff. Tucked behind the bar is a dining room serving up pretty good food. Roquefort, pear, fennel & walnut salad might be followed by braised lamb shank with saffron risotto or slow-roasted pork belly with Puy lentils & salsa verde. There’s a generous roast on Sundays & the upstairs room is good for private parties.