The Dovetail in Islington

A fantastic, friendly and relaxed Belgian style bar in Clerkenwell, featuring a great range of draught Belgian beers and food..

My first visit with some friends and colleagues who know this place and go there whenever we are all in town. This was the first time I could join them. I had the stew and some of the Belgian beers and all of it was just brilliant and tasty. The owner is ever present and engaged and standards are kept high and the atmosphere is very friendly. I would 100% recommend this place to anyone. No hesitation

A little taste of Belgium tucked away in Central London. Over 100 beers on offer, extensive bottle list and plenty on draught. Simple but effective menu. Mussels, Carbonade etc

The mussels are the best!!! Had a lovely birthday here

Just had a drink very nice bar in

Great choice of beers and friendly staff

Great pub hidden away down a side street. A true hidden London gem serving European beers and food (Belgian). Great service, limited seating, and very different to the London norm

I found this place walking a different route home through Clerkenwell last night. Great spot to enjoy some unusual (for London) draft beers and read a book. I shall be back!

Didn't have any food but the selection of beers, flavours and atmosphere is just amazing

Not cheap, but a good selection of beers, great bar staff and lots of places to sit and relax. had a lovely time catching up with friends and trying beers I hadn't had since my last trip to Ghent

A great little place, off the road with an area out front for sitting and standing (if you’re able)!

The place has a decent selection of Belgian beer - around 15 option on tap and dozens more in bottles. There is no niche super craft beer but most of the really popular options are present on the menu. It’s not super clean inside and there were some insects flying around and interfering. When we came they did not serve food anymore which was fine for us but unexpected overall. The time when they decided to close the pub felt random too

Great Belgian pub with fantastic beers & Belgian grub! One of only a few Belgian pubs in the UK.

Once you try this place it is the only place you will ever drink in.

Class - where to begin? Tucked away in central London, me and my wonderful girlfriend strolled past and then backtracked to this lovely restaurant/bar. Service 10/10 fast. Beer 10/10 class. Food 10/10 even classier, pint of chips best in London. Mussels insane! Would have my birthday here. Thanks, I will be back.

Came across this little place down an alley in Clerkenwell. I might be a Londoner born'n'bred but wasn't aware of its existence! But, in my defence, Ldn is a big place! Sat outside for a wonderful Belgium beer - I had a bottle of dark Zot! 😋

Really lovely staff and GREAT cocktails. NHS discount available. These guys are great ❤️ made us feel so welcome 🍸 🧉 🍷 🥂

Was told they're closed when I walked in at 08:15 p.m.

Devine Moules, good selection of Belgium beers, lovely atmosphere with excellent service.

It has an amazing choice of Belgian beer both on tap and bottled, which is accompanied by nice food, and service is very quick. Strongly recommend!

Excellent selection of Belgian beers!

Great beer selection and great food. This is the best Belgium bar this side of Belgium 🇧🇪

Amazing place! A hidden London gem! 100 different Belgian beers and Trappist offerings. Genuine Belgian food and atmosphere!

Solid Belgian pub- the owner is his own character

After being in Belgium recently, i decided to treat my partner to a visit here to reminisce. We were welcomed in, seated and drinks in hand within minutes! The staff were great, gave some awesome recommendations that my partner loved and we absolutely loved spending a couple of hours here. We also ordered some fries....with cheese sauce and they were perfect! Its definitely going to be a favourite spot for us and we will be back very soon! We were going to pop in today - but sore heads today will prevent that - but definitely next week! Highly recommend the Mongozo Banana Beer, Delirium Red and Kasteel Framboise! Delicious!! A++++

Says it’s open but is closed. Travelled so far to get there 😑😑

Great pub, great selection of beers, fantastic portion of chip's

Belgian pub in London, the best place to eat and drink in a Belgian style. Did it change? Yes, it got better!

Great pub with loads of tasty Belgium beers.

Tried to visit today, advertised as being open but when I arrived at 14:20 it was closed. Very disappointing as I’d walked there from South London.

Like being in Belgium for a beer! 🍻

Different beers on the pumps compared to other bars.

If you are beer addicted than this is your place guys. 99 Different beers. Amazing 🎉

Brilliant. Huge portions of Moules and a double sided A4 beer menu with some of the finest beers Belgium has available. Nice selection of draft beers too. Great value for money, friendly staff and the decor is delightful. Had a blast, we will be back!!

We were pushed out at 9:30 because the owner was 'done' for the evening. Pub was packed.

Incredible selection of beers and they're all really good. The chips served here are also really good. Staff were very attentive and made sure no one was without a drink, and very understanding when my friend accidentally broke a glass.

Decent bar, especially if you are a fan of Belgian beer.

Used to work here as staff, Paul (the owner) is great, and very passionate about Belgian Beer. The kitchen staff work really hard to provide excellent food. There's over a hundred beers to choose from!

They have Straffe Hendrik beer 😀

As others have said the main barman or owner, a guy in his sixties, is very rude. The thing is, he knows he’s rude. He thinks it’s cool that he’s rude. He likes this gate keeper thing because he has some nice Belgian beers. But, it’s not the only place that has nice Belgian beers. He probably thinks it’s fine because it’s always busy. But he hates working in a bar. He absolutely hates it. And afterwards we went to the lovely Betsey Trotwood and tonight he’ll be in the there again, hating his life and thinking he’s the only person in the world who’s sold a Duvel. Avoid it, you don’t need it. There’s more important things than strong Belgian beer. That you can also get in a supermarket.

The Belgian beer selection and atmosphere is unparalleled for me. One of my favourite bars to head to.

A great little pub with an excellent selection of Belgian beer. I've never seen such a big selection, especially on tap, outside of Belgium. Not only is the selection great, with seasonal beers, but Paul, who runs the place, is very knowledgable. He is also very friendly and helpful, especially when it comes to trying to figure out what to have next. The food is also good, and just what you need to go with this kind of beer. I've had the moules-frites on a couple of occasions. The mussle are cooked just right, very tender and flavorful. The fries the come with it are excellent as well. The location itself is very nice and cosy, just the kind of place you want to sit down and relax with a delicious Belgian beer, especially in the colder months. I don't live that close, but I make a point on going there whenever I'm feeling like having a Belgian beer, and it's definitely worth the trip.

How many? Fifty-two! I don't think I've drunk 52 Belgian beers in my entire chuffing life. Wary at first, but only of the other punters, the bar staff were knowledgeable and friendly. I managed three: the wife, Lady Macbeth, did two, and we tottered out to seek civilisation elsewhere. Loved it; please move to Marylebone; getting a tube was a dampener on the way out, but strangely enough, I didn't notice on the way back... 49 left to try.

Amazing brewery serving Belgium beer and food, seating is limited so book in advance if you can. They serve fantastic and above average pub food, we only had a small starter and mostly tried a few beers. I would come back here to try more beer and other food options.

Absolutely classic Belgian beer bar. The Westmalle Dubbel and Saison Dupont on tap were absolutely sublime. The table reservation system is a bit confusing, but overall the ambience is superb.

Lovely bar ruined by a rude angry guvnor. Seriously rude. Don’t go here! Another staff member explained that he owns the place & does what he likes…

V sad visit. First time since March 13 2020, which was our last pre covid night out (!) but Dovetail had shut early by 10pm, ie at least one hour early and they would not serve us. So no idea how it had changed or stayed the same. :-(

Travelled across London for lunch and a couple of beers to find it was closed. No updates on website or reason on the door when I arrived or even on Google - poor show!!!

Carbonnade is the best, and the selection of beer is awesome. You might get scared by the owner at first, but he’s the best once you get to know the guy!

Everything was great. Thanks Paul.

We were wandering around the area, looking for a place to have a drink, but we wanted something different to a bog-standard pub. This place fit the bill, with delicious and interesting beer choices. It was buzzy but not crazy busy and the staff were friendly. Only thing I'd say is that the view if you sit outside isn't as nice as places around, but that's small thing in the grand scheme! Apparently it's been around for years, and I wish I'd know about it sooner.

Tbh after discovering this place I don't want to drink anywhere else.

The atmosphere pervading this exquisite pearl of a venue is lustrous and tangible. The indomitably idiosyncratic management jells perfectly with the unlikelihood of finding a firmly established faux-Belgian venue in an underlit passageway named after Jerusalem, deep in the increasingly pulsating heart of historic Clerkenwell. The beers are curated and nurtured and peddled with considerable knowledge and care and can compliment the cuisine exquisitely. Just ask and you'll be placed on track whether scissoring your way through Shetland mussels or chowing down on a Flemish Carbonade.

Been meaning to come to this place for a while and ended up stumbling across it accidentally on a walk. What a joyous find! Excellent, but excellent beer selection including many options on tap, great vibe, friendly varied crowd and the location is a winner too. Have been back since and confirmed it was not a one off and we'll be back lots more from now on. Recommended

Must-visit if you are a Belgian beer lover. Quaffing my Chouffe I felt like I was in Bruges. Incredibly friendly staff who are keen to help you explore some marvellous Belgian ales.

eccellente locale che serve una grande varietà di birre belghe e squisite cozze. ci torneremo sicuramente

eccellente locale che serve una grande varietà di birre belghe e squisite cozze. ci torneremo sicuramente

So this bar has been a great bar for years... real authentic Belgian beer bar with a great range of stuff on draft too... but recently there's a guy working in there who seems to be very unpleasant. Last two times I've been there and he suddenly closes it up during the week at 9pm, both times when it's about 2/3 full. He's extremely rude and starts f-ing and blinding and stacking tables and stools away. Really odd behaviour. I was with work colleagues visiting for the first time and they were stunned by his behaviour. Maybe he's the owner so it's up to him, but if he's an employee then he's seriously damaging the reputation of this place, and the bottom line by always closing early, judging by some of the other reviews he's getting on online for his behaviour.

Charming pub at the heart of London. Gorgeous furniture and full of details. Good variety of beers.

As a lover of Belgian beer, this place is a paradise. It is one of the few places I know with such a variety of beers for all tastes. If you know your Belgium beers, this place will be your bliss. Santé!

This bar has been selling Belgian beers and food for years. First time back for a long time, but it was still as good as ever.

A classic Belgian style beer bar located in the idyllic surroundings of clerkenwell. Down a alleyway off the square you'll find this gem of a bar. If Belgian beer is your thing you'll immediately be enamoured by the selection on offer. From classic Belgian strong ales right though to lambic they have all the bases covered . Take your time to explore the wonderful flavours . I highly recommend that you try at least one Trappist beer, so rich in flavour and body. Yum it's making me want one right now.

Incredibly Dog friendly. Very helpful staff when it came from selecting from the 100 beers. Brilliant mussels

Fantastic selection of Belgian beers on tap and in the fridge. Pace yourself though- they’re STRONG!

Loved it! Great vibe, Cozy place I definitely found a hidden spot in London

Love this place. Our favorite little slice of Bruges, right in Clerkenwell.

Visited 'The Dovetail' earlier this evening with a couple of friends. The bartender was shockingly rude to my friend who had asked him a generic question about the beers and how they serve them. He was curious as to why some of the beers are not served in pints. The response was disgusting. We were told with a very raised voice to "go to another pub" if we wanted pints. We stayed for one drink and left. I've been before and this was one of my favourite places around Farringdon as I work in the area and love the selection of beers they have. I used to recommend this place to my colleagues. But never again. Sorry. Whoever that person was needs to learn how to talk to their customers and perhaps self reflect on their behaviour.

Totally worth the wait and the trip out to sample probably the largest collection of Belgian beers in London? Thank you Paul for the lesson on Belgian beers and the hospitality!

This pub is incredibly charming and nestled in a small alley in Clerkenwell. The staff were friendly, the atmosphere was wonderful and the Belgian fries were delicious

Chilled atmosphere and great selection of Belgian beers!!

Amazing variety of quality beer and service. Ask for recommendations

Decent mussels and fries here. A very large Belgian beer menu is available. Not so good for soft drinks.

Amazing selection of beer - a real gem.

This place is on our list of "musts" whenever we're in London. Great beer, of course (it's Belgian, after all) and excellent food. Great, friendly service (especially considering how busy this place usually is). And when you pay up your receipt says "thank you very much" in Welsh! (There's a story behind that but I won't spoil it here. Ask the owner!)

Awesome selection of well curated Belgian beers. Really nice, relaxed venue with warm, friendly service. Can get busy and is small but a real gem tucked away on a side street. This is a great neighbourhood - though very quiet on the weekends - and this pub does it proud.

Great pub and delicious food very nice friendly owner!

Lots of great Belgian beers. Loved the mussels.

Knowledgeable and friendly bar staff. Good value, stayed all evening, great atmosphere.

One of my favourite pubs in the city. Huge selection of Belgian beers, good food, and nice cosy and chilled out atmosphere. What’s not to love?

Good selection of Belgium beers and that too on the tap. Highly recommend for Belgium beers

A great little bar with good food and an exceptional choice of beers. Always a welcoming place.

It's a lovely little Belgian beer pub, just off the beaten track. Nice pints, or smaller measures for the strong stuff. Great nibbles and bar food and really friendly staff made it a pleasure to visit.

Possibly the best mussels in London. Certainly some of the best frites anywhere in the world. I highly recommend the mussels and frites with a Belgium beer recommended by the excellent staff. Hats off and thumbs up!

The place to go for Belgian beers and cuisine. The mussels we're great, but the special bottle list is amazing. Some really excellent beers. Book a table!

Lovely people and the food is good at a decent price. Super dog friendly too!

Hidden gem. London's best selection of Belgium beers. A must visit 😀

Went for a night out with a mate for some Belgian chaos. Barman was rude and all he did was complain about being on his own. He shut the bar at 9pm with around 15 people in the bar. Miserable sod. Ruined the night. I'd been before and the selection of beer is excellent and a great place to go but this guy killed the vibe for everyone

Lovely quiet place with an amazing selection of Belgian beers and food.

Hidden little gem. Great beers, great food and lovely and knowledge staff. Tintin posters and Poirot books are just icing on the cake.

Great place for Belgian beers! A massive selection! Helpful staff

Friendly and lovely staff, great selection of Belgian beers, delicious food. Had an amazing birthday here, thanks so much

Great selection of beers and the food is of good quality!

It could be a nice place, cosy interior, a huge selection of Belgian beers on tap and Trappist beers in the fridge... but it seems to be badly run. The poor guy behind the bar always seems extremely tense, one step away from losing it. The last time we were there, the card machines broke down and suddenly it was cash only. It's very chaotic, They need to get their act together.

Super medieval kind of pub!!! Loved it! Service is great, table service or not we were very well looked after by staff! I will definitely come back! Belgium beers are just delicious 😋 I recommend!!

Lovely little place and perfect if you're a Belgian beer fan - I'm not but they also have gin and the food is tasty. Just a pleasant cosy establishment with kind and friendly owners.

Visited on Saturday 25th March. Reserved a table for mid-day, 13 lads on a 50th birthday celebration. Hospitality, service and general friendliness were exceptional. Very accommodating and can't recommend highly enough. Selection of Belgian beers is phenomenal, a massive choice and very well priced. Thank you for a great time. Will definitely visit again.

Great service and food; ran out of real ales but still had cider and keg. Gets very busy at weekends.

Food was amazing! Beer selection is crazy!

Been going here for years my favorite pub

Big selection of Belgium beer. They speak for themselves but the nice surprise are the frites. Perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.