Highgate Girls' Night: Best Gastropubs and Hidden Cocktail Spots

Highgate isn’t just about Victorian tombs and quiet leafy streets. By 8 p.m., the neighborhood transforms. It’s the kind of place where you’ll find a group of friends laughing over craft beer in a converted 1800s apothecary, or sipping smoky mezcal cocktails in a backroom that doesn’t even have a sign. If you’re planning a girls’ night out in Highgate, you don’t want the usual chain bars. You want places with character, with bartenders who remember your name, and corners so hidden you feel like you’ve stumbled into a secret.

Where the locals go after work

Start at The Crown on Highgate West Hill. It looks like a classic British pub from the outside - wooden beams, stained glass, a fireplace that’s always lit. But step inside and you’ll find a menu that surprises you. The burger isn’t just beef and brioche - it’s wagyu beef from Hereford, topped with truffle aioli and pickled red onions. The craft beers? All from small London brewers. The staff don’t just pour drinks; they tell you why they chose that IPA. This isn’t a tourist trap. It’s where women from Camden, Hampstead, and even Islington come for a proper night out without the noise of the city center.

There’s a reason it’s packed by 7:30 p.m. on Fridays. No reservations. Just show up, grab a stool at the bar, and let the buzz pull you in. If you’re not in the mood for food, their gin flight - six small pours of British gins with house-made tonics - is the best way to taste the region’s distilling scene. Try the Sipsmith VJOP with elderflower tonic. It’s bright, floral, and perfect for sipping slowly.

The alleyway bar you won’t find on Google Maps

Walk down the narrow lane behind The Crown - the one with the faded blue door and no sign. Knock twice. Wait. The door opens just enough for a glance. If you smile, you’re in. This is The Velvet Lantern. No website. No Instagram. Just a handwritten menu on a chalkboard and a single red lamp hanging above the bar.

They don’t serve cocktails by name. They ask what you’re feeling. “Something sweet but not sugary.” “A little smoky, with a kick.” The bartender, a woman named Marisol who’s been here since 2018, crafts each drink like a story. One night, it might be mezcal, yuzu, black salt, and a touch of smoked honey. Another, it’s gin infused with rosemary from her garden, shaken with cold brew coffee and a drop of lavender bitters. No ice cubes - they use hand-carved spheres that melt slower, keeping the drink cold without watering it down.

There are only eight stools. No loud music. Just jazz from a vintage turntable and the clink of glass. You’ll hear stories here. Real ones. About jobs, breakups, dreams. It’s not a place to be seen. It’s a place to be heard.

The hidden garden behind the bookshop

Next stop: The Book & Bottle. It’s a secondhand bookshop by day. At 6 p.m., the back wall slides open. Behind it? A tiny courtyard with string lights, mismatched armchairs, and a bar made from an old library table. The drinks here are named after classic novels - The Great Gatsby (gin, peach, sparkling rosé), Pride and Prejudice (champagne, elderflower, lemon verbena), Wuthering Heights (whiskey, smoked sea salt, blackberry).

They don’t have a cocktail menu. You pick a book from the shelf - any book - and the bartender picks a drink to match its mood. It’s quirky, but it works. Last month, a woman picked Jane Eyre. The bartender made her a dark rum cocktail with dark chocolate bitters and a single burnt orange peel. “It’s bitter, but it’s beautiful,” he said. She cried. Then she ordered another.

Bring a book. Or leave one. The rule here is simple: take a story, leave a story.

Where the wine lovers gather

If you’re not into cocktails, don’t skip La Cave des Dames. It’s a tiny wine bar tucked under a Victorian terrace. The owner, Claire, used to work at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris. She moved to Highgate in 2020 because she wanted to serve wine without the pretense. Her shelves hold 80 bottles - all from women-owned vineyards in France, Italy, Spain, and even Georgia. No big brands. No mass-produced labels.

She pours by the glass or the half-bottle. You can taste three wines for £18. She’ll tell you why that 2021 Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley tastes like wet stone and lime zest. Or why the 2020 Nerello Mascalese from Sicily has notes of wild herbs and crushed red berries. No tasting notes on the menu. Just her voice, quiet and sure.

They serve small plates - aged cheddar with quince paste, roasted almonds with sea salt, smoked olives. Nothing fancy. Just good food that lets the wine shine. It’s the kind of place where you stay for three hours, talking about everything and nothing.

The late-night snack that keeps everyone coming back

No girls’ night in Highgate is complete without a stop at The Midnight Muffin. It’s a tiny counter inside a 24-hour pharmacy - yes, really. Open from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. They serve one thing: warm, buttery, cheese-stuffed muffins with a hint of black pepper. They’re crispy on the outside, gooey inside. You can get them plain, with truffle oil, or with caramelized onions.

They don’t take cards. Cash only. You pay at the window. The woman behind the counter, Mandy, has been making them since 2016. She doesn’t talk much. But she always asks, “Did you have a good night?” And if you say yes, she slips in an extra one. “For the walk home.”

What to wear - and what not to

Highgate doesn’t care if you’re in jeans or a dress. But it does care if you’re trying too hard. Skip the stilettos - the streets are cobblestone and uneven. Flat boots or loafers? Perfect. A nice top, a blazer, or a chunky knit sweater? Ideal. No need for sparkles or designer logos. The vibe here is “effortlessly put together.”

And don’t bring a big group. Four is the sweet spot. Five or more, and you’ll struggle to get into the hidden spots. Smaller groups mean better seats, better service, better conversations.

When to go - and when to skip

Friday and Saturday nights are busy. If you want a table at The Crown or a seat at The Velvet Lantern, arrive by 7 p.m. or be ready to wait. Weeknights? That’s when the magic happens. Wednesday and Thursday are quiet. You’ll get the bartender’s full attention. You might even get a free taste of something new.

Avoid Sundays. Most places close early. The only place open is The Midnight Muffin - and even then, Mandy might be tired.

How to make the most of your night

• Start at The Crown for food and drinks - it’s easy to find, and it sets the tone.
• Head to The Velvet Lantern next - it’s the soul of the night.
• Then wander to The Book & Bottle for a wine or a book-inspired cocktail.
• End at La Cave des Dames if you’re still awake - the wine will slow you down just right.
• Finish with a muffin. Always.

Don’t rush. Walk between spots. Highgate is small. You’ll pass old churches, ivy-covered walls, and streetlamps that glow gold in the winter air. That’s part of the night too.