CK Travels

12 Best Stoke Newington Pubs & Bars, London (2023)

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‘Bar’ none, the pubs in Stoke Newington are some of the best in north London.

A rich mix of vintage Victorian boozers, craft beer bars and traditional taverns, the best Stoke Newington pubs are dotted along Stoke Newington High Street, Church Street and the neighbouring side-streets.

Known affectionately as ‘Stokey’, sublime sunday roasts, beautiful beer gardens and a huge range of craft beer on draft are all part of the Stokey….sorry …Stoke Newington pubs scene.

From 20+ beer taps at The Axe and the incredible interiors at the Rose and Crown (plus cracking craft and curry combos at The Jolly Butchers), here is our guide to the best pubs in Stoke Newington, North London.

Best Stoke Newington Pubs & Bars

1. The Axe pub

With a discreet door way in, The Axe is not only one of Stoke Newington’s best craft beer pubs, but also possibly one of London’s best stocked craft beer pubs. The Axe has over 20 beers on tap (all from different breweries) plus a whole range of cask, keg, cider and other beery goodness.

We last visited The Axe one Sunday and the place was heaving. The Axe beer garden was heaving so we opted to have a seat at the bar and watch as a steady procession of Sunday roasts streamed out the kitchen.

Popular with all ages, The Axe is a popular pub with locals and craft beer connoisseurs – we hope it never gets… the Axe (sorry).

Address: The Axe, 18 Northwold Road, London N16 7HR


2. The Jolly Butchers

The Jolly Butchers pub is good stuff! With a prime view of the main high street in Stoke Newington, a pavement beer garden and a kitchen that specialises in delicious Indian food, we recommend that you have a ‘butchers’* at their range of craft beers and Indian curry menu.

The huge open plan bar at the Jolly Butchers combined with big bay windows make this a lovely light space and the perfect place to put away some pints with spicy food.

*Cockney rhyming slang for ‘have a look’ from ‘butcher’s hook.

Address: The Jolly Butchers, 204 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 7HU


3. The Rose and Crown pub

An old school classic pub, the grade II listed Rose and Crown near Stoke Newington’s Clissold Park is a glorious gem of a boozer, built originally as a Truman’s Brewery pub and subsequently rebuilt in the 1930s.

The Rose and Crown pub Stoke Newington

Serving good pub grub and satisfying Sunday roasts, make a night of it at the Rose and Crown and stay in their guesthouse directly above the bar (so you can overindulge in draft and dessert if you so wish).

In the winter months, wrap up warm by the roaring log fire and get cosy in the Rose and Crown snug.

Check the rates for The Rose and Crown on Booking.com >

Address: The Rose & Crown pub, 199 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 9ES

The Rose and Crown pub Stoke Newington

4. The Three Crowns N16 pub, Stoke Newington High Street

From The Rose and Crown to the Three Crowns bar, another good Stoke Newington Pub.

We like the Three Crowns as the interior feels a little shabby chic, with a ramshackle of odd sofas and mismatched chairs (has a Stoke Newington social club feel about it).

The staff were super friendly when we last visited and there was a good range of local craft beers on tap – not just your bog standard cooking lager.

The Three Crowns N16 pub Stoke Newington

The Rose and Crown is also known for one of the best Sunday roasts in Stoke Newington with an a la carte menu during the week – they do a ‘pie of the week’ offer too. Nom.

In the basement at the Three Crowns, The Waiting Room is a live music venue and night-club, with  ‘grassroot’ musicians playing during the week and club nights on Fridays and Saturday.

Address: The Three Crowns, 175 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 0LH

The Three Crowns N16 pub Stoke Newington
The Three Crowns N16 pub Stoke Newington

5. The White Hart, Stoke Newington

Not to be confused with a Tottenham pub (this used to be the name of the old Tottenham Hotspurs ground), this White Hart pub in Stoke Newington is a classic British boozer, with exposed red brick walls, Chesterfield furniture and a top beer selection that rotates regularly.

Blessed with a beer garden (one of the best beer gardens in Stoke Newington we might add), The White Hart is proud of its pub grub and bangs out Sunday Roasts in style.

With plenty of events including live sports and summer BBQS in the beer garden, The White Hart is a superb Stoke Newington pub and the perfect way to enjoy a pint (or three).

Address: The White Hart, 69 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 8EL


6. The Londesborough, Stoke Newington

A nice neighbourhood pub, The Londesborough in Stoke Newington is a cute and charming backstreet boozer popular for its Sunday roasts.

Set back from the busier Church Street, The Londesborough boasts a gem of a beer garden plus weekly events like ‘quiz and curry’ nights. The Londesborough is a historic hang-out with the building dating back to the 1860s.

Grab a pork-pie and pint at The Londesborough for a super Stoke Newington pub session.

Address: The Londesborough, Stoke Newington, 36 Barbauld Road, London N16 0SS


7. The Clarence Tavern, Stoke Newington

Established in the 1860s and having a bit of an identity crisis in recent years (with names such as the Tea House, Steptoes and The Daniel Defoe), The Clarence Tavern has now reverted back its original title and is one of the best reviewed pubs in Stoke Newington.

The Clarence Tavern pub, Stoke Newington

A modern gastropub that manages to retain its historic characteristics, The Clarence Tavern has a bar downstairs with a fine selection of craft on draft (plus all manner of ales) plus an upstairs dining room.

Address: The Clarence Tavern, 102 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0LA


8. The Coach and Horses, Stoke Newington

The Coach and Horses is a fine naaaaaaay-bourhood…we mean neighbourhood pub, a ‘stable’ stalwart of the Stoke Newington pub scene.

Half way along Stoke Newington High St, the Coach and Horses has one of the best and most interesting pub menus in the area – Korean BBQ chicken wings and Asian slaw accompanied with a cold brew pint sounds like our idea of hot and hoppy heaven.

The Coach and Horses have an eclectic events schedule. As well as the usual pub quizzes and DJ nights, the Coach and Horses also host a weekly night of up and coming local artists every Thursday night, ‘Bright Nights’ (free entry as at February 2023.

Address: The Coach and Horses, 178 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 7JL


9. The Prince, Stoke Newington

Suitably, The Prince in Stoke Newington N16 has 16 beer and ale taps. The unofficial Stoke Newington home of ‘Sunday roasts, beer and everything in between’, the Prince is one regal back-street pub.

A vintage Victorian Stoke Newington pub, The Prince offers hearty pub grub plus also some food value mid week special pub meals (including vegan options like oyster mushroom burgers). As ever, best served with one of their massive range of craft beers.

Address: The Prince, Stoke Newington, 59 Kynaston Road, London N16 0EB


10. The Auld Shillelagh

The best known Irish pub in Stoke Newington, The Auld Shillelagh is one of the top spots in north London to grab a pint of Guinness (my goodness!).

Having been around for over 30 years, this iconic Irish pub has expanded over the years and is also one of the nicest places to have a pint on Church Street (there is usually a couple of tables and chairs outside the The Auld Shillelagh).

The Auld Shillelagh pub

Although you wouldn’t guess it from the small entrance out front, The Auld Shillelagh has a beer garden out back plus has regular live events and sports screening.

Address: The Auld Shillelagh, 105 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0UD


11. The Red Lion, Stoke Newington

A few steps (or stumbles depending on what you started drinking) from The Auld Shillelagh, The Red Lion is another favourite Stoke Newington pub, now run by the Frontier pub group.

Although the pub has been through several names over the decades such as the Magpie and Stump, the Red Lion is a hark back to the original Stoke Newington Red Lion pub that stood on this site in the 1690s.

Proud of its craft beer range (usually over 10 beers on draft) and its plush pizza offering from Flat Boys pizza, The Red Lion also has a small outdoor beer garden and a big screen for sports making it a prime summer spot.

Address: The Red Lion, 132 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0JX


12. Rochester Castle (Wetherspoons Stoke Newington)

If you’ve heard of the Wetherspoon pub chain, did you know the oldest surviving Wetherspoon pub can be found in Stoke Newington?

Whilst the Rochester Castle may not be one of the finest Stoke Newington pubs, it sure is popular because it is cheap and cheerful with a nice beer garden out back.

Rochester Castle (Wetherspoons Stoke Newington)

Plus although north London can be expensive, if you are visiting Stoke Newington on a budget, the Rochester Castle (and other UK Wetherspoon pubs) all do very cheap food.

Try a Wetherspoons full English breakfast fry-up for less than £5.

Address: 143-145 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 0NY

Rochester Castle (Wetherspoons Stoke Newington)

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