Our 10 favourite Islington pubs

The Compton Arms is a traditional pub with crown glass in the windows and exposed timber frames in its low-ceilinged rooms. The whitewash inside and out is a blank canvas for the pub’s many potted plants and contemporary graphic art prints you’d expect to see somewhere in east London rather than in the north.

Our favourite thing about this Islington pub is its atmosphere – relaxed, the kind of place you want to spend hours in. The drinks go down easy, and the Pugliese menu by Chef Dara Klein is offers something different from the standard Sunday Roast.

Whether you want to drink in the garden, get cosy in the ‘snug’ backroom, or enjoy the home-cooking of Dara Klein’s Tiella kitchen, we reckon The Compton Arms alone is worth the visit to Islington.

The Foxglove has four pillars with which they can credit their success as an Islington pub: craft beer, beer garden, delicious food, and dog friendly. To that list, we would add their relaxed and homely atmosphere and knowledge of said craft beers.

We don’t live in Islington, but if we did the Foxglove would likely be our local. Let’s address those four pillars. They possess a tidy craft beer collection, but they’re knowledgeable without being snobs. The beer garden is small but snug, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

The food is the definition of hearty and completely unpretentious. Looks good, smells good, tastes good. And as for the dogs? We think that adds to the homeliness – a dog sleeping by the fire or in between the legs of their owner. Yeah, it’s not our local, but we kind of wish it was.

The Drapers Arms is located on a quiet Islington street, a bit of a walk from public transport, but worth the stroll, we think. It has a traditional bar, fireplaces, chandeliers, and a garden. We’re beginning to suspect there’s an unspoken rule that an Islington pub has to be picturesque.

There’s a seasonal menu of quality dishes with Sunday favourites like roasts and pies featuring heavily – all of which are prettily plated and very Instagram-worthy, if you go in for that. Of course, there’s also a wine collection (and beer, ale, and stout) to complement all that food, it is a pub, after all.

Pop in for a relaxing Sunday afternoon or book out their private dining room for a special event – it has a black and white checkered floor; we don’t know why we feel a checkered floor should entice you to book, but it might.

The Earl of Essex isn’t much of a looker from the outside. The North London pub, tucked off a backstreet in Angel, is laid-back, simple, and a little old-school. The extensive beer list, featuring an impressive display of local and international options, is displayed on a cool retro-looking board.

A periwinkle bar adds a pop of colour to the pared-back decor, and the atmosphere is pleasant. Just enough buzz to have a conversation without raising your voice, while not feeling like the place is dead.

Pop in for Sunday lunch, a cosy midweek pint or pay a visit during the warmer months to enjoy the sunken beer garden. Now that’ll teach you not to judge a pub by its exterior, you pretentious thing you.

It seems like all the traditional Islington pubs are tucked away on quiet residential streets frequented by locals, and the Crown is no exception. Its Victorian features are nearly untouched by time, with a vintage wooden bar that looks like a barrel and a long brown velvet sofa along one wall.

For as old as the pub appears, the Crown has had no problem in keeping up with times with an impressive little offering of Japanese whisky and Asahi on draft, gin goblets filled with fine botanical gins, and a modern presentation of dishes belonging to a high-quality menu.

Between the al fresco dining on the patio, the candle-lit tables, the real log fire, and a dog or two sleeping underneath a table, this Islington pub has a comfy, homely feeling that’s just really hard to beat.

Nestled inside Kings Cross Station is The Parcel Yard, a popular Fullers gastropub. This Grade I listed building offers a unique location for guests to enjoy the nooks and crannies of the architecture.

Alongside Fullers famous ale, the drinks range from beer and wine to artisan soft drinks with a menu of British classics to accompany. With multiple seating areas available, choose between an enclosed terrace or look over the buzzing station. Who knows, you might even spot the Hogwarts Express leaving platform 9 ¾. Try The Boardroom, an intimate private dining space for 12 to get away from the station bustle.

For a first-class experience, head to The Parcel Yard for a crisp pint.

The Albion is a self-described “Georgian gem”, and we’re inclined to agree – this is a really lovely pub. The dark wooden interiors and roaring fire make it the perfect setting for a cosy winter evening spent catching up over a glass of red, meanwhile, the beer garden outside is a must-visit when the sun is out. With wisteria and willow trees, plenty of beautiful bright tables and an old barn (which used to be a bar), we could spend more than a few blissful hours there on a July afternoon. Not a bad selection of beers on offer (including the pub’s own Albion Ale from Laine Brewery), decent gastro-pub grub and bar snacks for when you get hungry.

A gorgeous private dining room, designed by a local interior designer intent on honouring the pub’s Georgian charm, sits up to 24 guests along one long table. Hungry after a long weekend walk along the canal? You’re in luck, they also do a great Sunday roast. Enjoy.

Describe your perfect Sunday? Lie in, a long walk with coffee, some hearty grub and maybe a few quiet drinks (hair of the dog or fighting the Scaries, we’re not here to judge). If that’s a bit of you, take our advice and after a weekend stroll along Regent’s Canal, set up camp at The Narrowboat for the rest of the day. With balconies overlooking views of the waterfront, this charming (and, obviously, narrow) pub is a great spot to relax in for a while.

The food menu is traditional-with-a-twist British pub classics, there’s a decent wine list and plenty of beers and cocktails on offer (they do a fantastic Bloody Mary). Plus, there’s three private room hire options for work drinks, Christmas parties and lunch meetings.

A good pub has a soul, and Islington’s The Pig and Butcher has soul. Situated on Liverpool Road, it’s a winning combination of stylish yet relaxed; pouring great craft beers without being unpretentious, serving wines from family-owned vineyards and offering a food menu lovingly created by skilled chefs. In fact, supporting the community is at the heart of everything the team here does.

The food menu changes daily depending on the best meat and produce supplied by local farms, with an onsite butcher ensuring nothing goes to waste. The homey, country-style interior only adds to the experience. A beautiful private dining room, complete with a wood burning stove and Aga oven, sits up to 24 guests for an exclusive farm-house style feast.

Located on trendy Islington’s Noel Road, The Island Queen (simply “the Queen” to locals) has kept punters fed and watered since 1851. The old London gin palace is worth a visit for the interior alone – high ceilings, gorgeous wood panelling and beautiful hand-painted mirrors keep the Victorian opulence alive well into the 21st century.

The bar is well-stocked with the usual drink offerings and prices are reasonable for the area, making the Queen a great spot for a quick daytime pint or a night out with a few G&Ts. The upstairs Gin Lounge is available to hire for a truly unique private event space. In fact, it’s so unique that the Island Queen is the only pub of its name in the entire British Isles. Now that is one-of-a-kind.