The Flask in Camden

Food average. Service pitifully slow. Waited over an hour for main course - not good with children. By the time the dessert arrived we were being told we had to vacate the table as our time was up. Disappointing

Very old type pub lovely inside

It might just be me, but I’m finding the ‘chains’ are becoming as bad as each other. We want to love The Flask but every time we go we feel unloved, just another punter. Waited almost an hour to eat. We had the tomahawk steak, and friends fish and chips. The tomahawk somehow feels smaller than it used to be and not quite as good value at £80 - could be better. The burnt cheesecake was a joke. Complained and was waived only to be added to the bill. Even the waitress was embarrassed. Please, please, sort out the detail and recover some pride and get the detail right. I want you to be good.

The food was superb - I had the pork roast, gravy was just right and vegetables were Harry really looked after us - so did Theo - thank you

Came here on a Sunday after a very long day looking for a roast; I ordered the lamb. When it arrived it was absolutely decimated, I could barely eat it and it was dry as a bone. My server Harry was amazing however and got me a different option quickly and took the other meal off my bill. Service was great but I’m immensely disappointed in the food, for £27 I would expect premium quality and did not receive it. Harry made my evening however and his service really made up for the poor food.

We went as a family for a sunday lunch. Food was fairly nice, not amazing but certainly to a good standard. However we waited really quite a long time for our food, fair enough as the place was pretty busy. This in itself is acceptable but being hurried with desserts and the bill at the end just isn't. We were rushed through as the table was needed for another party, and yet we waited ages for our food. Not massively impressive, as it was not exactly a cheap meal. Better service would be appreciated. Pub inside is absolutely lovely but I doubt we'll be going back.

Excellent, but service dropped sharply halfway through the meal causing considerable delays between meals. Otherwise it would have been 5*,

Awful experience. Appalling service from bored unhelpful staff, dirty tables and terrible food- Sunday roast and trimmings I’ve had better in a prison canteen. And to top it off they messed up the bill and didn’t split it as we asked, and not so much as an apology. No wonder we were able to find a table on a Sunday at short notice! Such a shame as the location and venue are iconic.

Service declining...Sat there for maybe 20 mins and no service. Tried getting thr servers attention but no success. Went inside and no better...

We ordered the pork roast at 645 PM. We were asked to pay prior to receiving our food. When we received the food, we found they were out of cauliflower cheese (only supplied with 1/2 an order) and Yorkshire puddings (pretty integral parts of the meal). We were also only served two very small bits of pork (for reference, about 1/2 the size of a deck of cards total). Staff were fine- clearly had a busy day. My issue is with charging us full price and not communicating they were out of items beforehand.

Lovely pub with food, just had some drinks but would love to return for food!

A little further than could be classed as a "local", but this pub could still become my "local". Fantastic and friendly service, great cocktails, and bar staff knowledgeable about obscure 80s cartoons - what more could you need? Highly recommended!

I asked for a plain burger with no pickles nor sauces, but with added bacon. It came with lettuce, which was not on the menu description, and bacon jam instead of bacon. I would have expected to be informed about bacon jam before being served , and I didn’t expect lettuce.

Well run pub servicing the locals and ramblers from the heath. Great outdoor space for the smokers and some dining in the sun. Drinks are always good and well conditioned. Staff are always welcoming, especially Mark and the fella with the long hair and goatee. Table service out front on weekends too.

Very charming pub. Whether dining inside or outside- it feels like youre in old londdon

Great Sunday roasts, and the bread pudding was fantastic. Friendly service too. It's worth booking in advance or getting there early.

Service was slow, food was awful and very expensive. Roast lamb looked dreadful and didn't taste great for £27! No mint sauce offered or salt and pepper, greasy plate. Very disappointed in standard.

I have been to The Flask many times for a drink, and even had a roast lunch there once. Not bad. However, that all changed last night when I went for a meal with my husband and two friends. The food was so bad that I am compelled to write a review. I ordered the trout (£23), which came floating in an ocean of tomato sauce with bits of barely cooked courgette and a few floating mussels!! Who thought it would be a good idea to put those ingredients together god only knows! I ordered it as one of the only things I could eat as gluten-intolerant, and gave it the benefit of the doubt, but it was awful. My husband had the steak and eggs (£20) and I’ve attached the pic for you to see. The ‘steak’ was the size of a sausage (no exaggeration), totally over-cooked, and tasted only of a burnt grill. Two sad looking fried eggs were served alongside on a piece of thin white sliced bread!! He left the pub ravenous. The other main course we had was a (main) salad, that my friend should have been a side, as there was nothing to it! All of this would have fine if the meals were £10 each but when the bill comes to almost £150 (with 3 ciders and a glass of wine included), and the chips are the best thing on the table, I’m afraid it is enough to say that I will never be returning to eat here. Perhaps the fish and chips and burger are ok but you have been warned.

Went for Sunday lunch and were overall disappointed with the food & service. One roast came cold and we had to send it back! It lacked in flavours and wasn’t very generous..

Great venue with great service from all Staff. I had fish & chips but thought just a bit on the average side. Great selection of beers though. Lots of history to this proper Pub with nice little nooks & crannies in a fab area of Highgate. We didn’t see any ghost’s though. We visited on our Wedding Anniversary & were looked after by Mckenzie. We will be back.

Wonderful. Same as it's ever been.

FLIES FLIES FLIES!!! The restaurant was filled with flies! We had to eat with one hand while the other constantly waved the flies away. We eat out a lot and have never seen such a thing. When we spoke to the waitstaff, she said she’d come back but never did. Then we told the manager and our main waiter they should do something about that room, and they said sorry but you should see how many flies are outside too! As we were leaving, we didn’t notice more flies than normal, but maybe they were all sitting patiently in line waiting to get to our table. Something needs to be done. Overall, the food was great and staff nice, but the flies were just too overwhelming to go again.

A classic and wonderful pub in Highgate which I’ve always loved going to. There’s a large outdoor area and plenty of cost areas inside. Upon this visit it was unclear whether bar service was possible and lots of staff hovering round doing what I assume was table service. On two occasions during this visit I politely let staff through carrying plates and they didn’t say thanks or even acknowledge me. They did the same to my partner when she went to the toilet too. Very strange. You don’t even need customer service skill just basic manners to say thank you. The staff who were doing the table service all looked very stressed and a bit depressed. This really made the visit feel quite laboured so we only stayed for one drink. Didn’t try the food but the burgers that went past looked tiny and didn’t make us think we’d want to eat here having done so many times before. The drinks prices were also very high so we went to the Dukes Head where the prices and beer selection were much better and staff friendly and engaging. It’s a sad demise for this pub and a similar experience to The Spaniards earlier in the day. Maybe they’re just happy in these parts to take the money and not give anything back. I might return one day but not anytime soon. Hopefully they do something to boost staff morale as it was non existent and for the money you pay this is unacceptable.

Lovely old traditional pub. But £8.20 a pint for ‘Yes’ a session ipa from a local brewery. Come off it. Available for under £6 accross north london

I loved it there. The staff were very friendly and professional. I would particularly like to mention two outstanding members of staff-Jack and Collette who excelled in their efficiency and helpfulness.

Very disappointing. Nice building. £8.25 for a pint of beer. Service so slow it had fossilised. One member of staff at the bar, with a growing queue. Group of 4 people who seemed to be staff stood nearby doing nothing to help.

Not just a place for the guide books but, the locals and the returning clientele. You really are transported back to a time of the Tudors as you eat and drink your fill.

Stumbled upon The Flask in Highgate, London, and couldn’t resist stopping in for their Sunday roast! 🥂 This cosy little pub might be smaller than others nearby, but it has a charming garden that’s perfect for sunny days. 🌞 The staff were absolutely lovely—super sweet and attentive. I was seated quickly, and my drinks and food arrived in no time. I went for the lamb, and wow, the portion was generous! The lamb was perfectly cooked, falling off the bone with ease. The Yorkshire pudding was spot on, and the sides—roasted potatoes, veggies, cauliflower cheese, peas & greens—were all delicious. If I had to nitpick, the gravy was a tad light for my taste, but that’s just a personal preference. Overall, it was a delightful experience!

Great pub. Lovely staff and a gorgeous setting.

Gorgeous fish and chips, very crispy beer battered haddock with triple cooked chips with smashed peas and tartar sauce. Gobbled up so no pic but have pic of the Guiness :@)

We absolutely adore hanging out at The Flask. It's by far our most favourite pub. They just renovated the front garden, which looks amazing for nice summer days. Mark always takes such good care of us. Can't wait to go back soon!

Great spot with excellent decor. The pork scratchings are too tough and could be improved.

dinner in the summer evening under the pergola was divine, great spot

Food was okay, but extremely expensive for such small portions.

We were served carrot coriander soup with granola.The granola was sweet like breakfast granola and did not work at all, soup was lukewarm.My son had lamb ravioli with Broad beans and crispy onions - awful! It came covered in peas with far too much crispy onions ( dried and pre packed!) The portion was very small and we were very dissatisfied.Never eating there again.

A pub in pure English style, charming.

Great pub in Highgate with top notch food and excellent service. Will definitely return!

My cousins Lamb came up raw. It was sent back to be cooked properly and came back almost 30 minutes later very overdone and crusty. The chef must be a school-leaver. This place used to be one of the best in North London, not anymore.

An institution. Great summertime vibe at the patio. Great spot for a breather. Good food.

Worse Sunday lunch ever. Yorkshire puddings were burnt. Cauliflower cheese was mushy and chicken inedible (gave it to our dog). We have eaten here before and had a wonderful meal. Maybe going at 2.30 was the problem. Will think twice on returning.

Hophead - one of my favourites. I had been meaning to get to the Flask for a while. Lovely pub, I'll be back soon.

Beautiful old pub with indoor and outdoor dining. Best fish and chips I’ve had in a very long time: crispy batter and chips. Perfect! Plus two interesting accompaniments in a special version of tartare sauce and a minted pea sauce. Portion size was generous. Highly recommended.

Disappointing brunch. Bread was just cheap supermarket pre-sliced and avocado was like out of a can. Ridiculously overpriced.

Beer is too expensive, two beers shouldn't be £16.50

Brought my dad here for a father's day treat with my siblings. We all had a hearty Sunday roast and Dad was offered a complimentary father's day pint which was a nice touch. The lamb was so delicious, great portions and tasty Yorkshire puddings. Only let down was there were only cold desserts on the menu, no traditional sticky toffee pudding (which I have had here before and love) or apple / fruit pie or crumble. Apart from that, everything else was top notch! Great food, great service, friendly and welcoming staff, great ambience and lovely quaint setting. Have been many times before and will certainly be back again. Oh and was first time for dad and siblings and they absolutely loved it!!

I just paid £18 for a large glass of rosé wine. A bottle of the same wine costs that in the supermarket. The chain that has taken over this once wonderful pub is treating us like idiots.

We were curious to try this having recently learned there are 2 'Flask' pubs in Hampstead. We loved the building and all the different sections in the pub, making it feel very cosy and atmospheric. The beer garden was lovely but absolutely packed being a sunny Saturday afternoon. The food was good but a little overpriced. £20 for a duck leg with massive chunks of watermelon and lettuce dumped on the side..however the trout and the smoked mackerel starter were excellent. Service was ok, the food came quickly but expect a little better for a place of this caliber than having to ask for cuttlery and paying the bill while the table was still full of dirty plates. With all the stiff competition in Hampstead I'm not sure we'd feel the need to return, but perhaps if we returned at a quieter time it would be different!

Great spot. Our server Daisy was fantastic

There were 7/8 of us, but the young people who served us were friendly. The food was amazing, literally .Most of us had Cottage pie a couple of them had a caeser salad If you get the chance, guys, go check it out...

It was my first time having rost dinner. It was very nice and tasty, but I didn't know that the beef would be a bit raw! Next time, I will mention that I would like it well done. Everything else was perfect! Very friendly staff Great service Lovely atmosphere

Wow, had the best time here yesterday. Staff went above and beyond. Food was amazing and the pub has a chilled atmosphere. Thankyou we will definitely be back.

Wow,had an amazing lunch here yesterday. Fab staff,delicious food. Will definitely be back. Thank you.

Brilliant! Me and my partner just had the best time in the beer garden at the Flask Highgate with our one year old baby. Incredible service, the guy wearing ray bans was extremely polite and attentive throughout our stay as were all the staff. Fantastic beer garden with great selection of drinks and food. Already planning our next return. Highly recommend

One of the best Sunday roasts I have had cooked for me. Relaxed atmosphere, excellent staff , friendly and efficient. Overall experience left us all feeling to come again

What a amazing Pub... the food was so lovely particularly the Sunday Roast!! And the service was so on point the guy who served us was Jack what a charismatic young man so helpful and polite 👏 he really did make our vist special lovely guy... the out door dining g area is beautiful very well maintained with beautiful flowers everywhere 😍 highly recommended 👌

I had an amazing Sunday roast a few weeks ago The staff were awesome The barman Jack was so friendly and charming.The lady who served us our food Collette was so engaging and helpful suggesting wines to drink and starters to have with our meal I had a fabulous day

Went here for a meal with my girlfriend . Was given a nice table and everything seemed like we were in for a perfect evening . Shared a platter , olives and anchovies to start . Was quite substantial so asked them to hold fire on the main which they did . When it arrived the duck dish was the most mismatched horrific taste combination with a huge amount of vinegar in the dressing . My girlfriend had the gnocchi and caponata which also had way too much vinegar in it . The most disappointing thing was they clearly could see that we had hardly touched our mains and no one said a word . I really don’t care about getting something knocked off the bill but i found that extremely poor service . I paid £136 with service but i can assure you i will never go there again . Poor management and a disappointing end to the evening .

Lovely garden when the sun is out. No other place like it in Highgate.

Outside area is cozy and the wine list extensive. Never fails to charm.

I've been a regular customer at The Flask over many years, but sadly they've resorted to shameless "skimp-flation". I paid £26 for a main meal of "hake" which was practically microscopic, served with a pile of potatoes to bulk it out. When I complained, I was told this was "As it comes", but that my comments would be noted. Gee, thanks! Very disappointing, and will make me think twice about dining there in future. Plenty more places to eat in Highgate.

I love the venue. Has alot of history. There was a real fire which was great as a chilly evening. I ordered the Hake dish and the portion was very small. Small piece of Hake and a few potatoes and asparagus. I think improvements need to be made as not very filling. My friends ordered the fish and chips which they enjoyed.

The Flask, a historic pub in Highgate, London, has been a local favorite since the 18th century. Steeped in tradition and charm, its classic interior and cozy ambiance offer a nostalgic escape. From its connections to literary figures like Charles Dickens to its rumored hauntings, The Flask is rich in history and intrigue. Whether you're enjoying a pint by the fireplace or savoring British fare, the pub's welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff make it a must-visit spot for locals and tourists alike.

Classic Victorian pub. Excellent food and nice staff. £17 of service charge. Never again.

Best pub for food and drinks.. evening topped up with quiz games was even better

Came here for a Sunday roast and was not disappointed. A really good Bloody Mary to start and followed that with the Lamb which was perfectly cooked and just fell off the bone. The portion size just right for us and the gravy was so flavourful. I look forward to another visit

Seriously good pub food, and equally great service. Lovely Lola served us and made our lunch experience smooth with her professional and friendly approach. The place (and staff!) very dog friendly. Love the atmosphere with fire places and labyrinthine layout. Cocktails were very good also. 👍

Stopped in for a quick pint … didn’t want to leave.

The Flask in Highgate is such a special place. The food is very yummy and service is very efficient.

Loved this charming pub. Great food, wonderful atmosphere and great service. One of the best by the glass sparkling wine/champagne list I've ever seen.

Flask is a wonderfully historic pub, one of the nicest in North London. However, this is where the story gets worse. Maybe it's because it is now owned by Fullers brewery: it's extremely expensive and the food is not bad but nothing special at all for a pub. Service on this occasion was very slow and unattentive. If you want to pop into this pub to enjoy the history and a pint then great, however, I would find other places to eat.

We arrived hour before our booking, but we were shower to the table without any issues. The waitress, Collette was very helpful and really nice. Food great and atmosphere lovely. Great place!

The staff were behaving as if on boycott, none of them showed any interest in the customer trying to get sth at the bar and then looking for a place. Are they underpaid that badly I wonder?

Arrived on a Saturday afternoon with no booking but they kindly accommodated us. Service was fast and food was great!

A great pub with good beer, a nice relaxed atmosphere and the staff were polite and very helpful, not bad food either.

Not sure what’s happened to this pub but the food is now awful! Service friendly but not very organised. Please please sort the kitchen out. This was such a favourite destination for locals but now serving under par basic pub grub

What an amazing authentic little English pub! I attended with my friend in New Year’s Day after a botched first go at roast somewhere else. I’m so glad we ended up here. The bar staff were friendly, amazingly talented and crafted the perfect old fashioned for us! We ordered the lamb roast and it did not disappoint! The meat fell off the bone and was mouth wateringly good! Along with the gravy, Yorkshire pudding and veg! I’d highly recommend trying! The atmosphere is quaint and cozy and quirky in a good way, there are plenty of real fireplaces that you can find with a cozy fire burning and the staff are polite, attentive and generally just pleasant to engage with! I will definitely be back!

I can only confirm the good reviews from others. A great pub with outdoor dining. The service friendly. I even got to try a beer before ordering it. I didn't know it, but I was curious.

The atmosphere was excellent, the food was good but unfortunately the service was very bad.

This was one of our favourite pubs of the evening. All 16 of us ordered food and we set up outside in the lovely garden patio area. Food was well presented simple and reasonable priced. Bar was quirky with small area for ordering and tables for the restaurant. It was very busy with Xmas meals. Highly recommend.

Very old pub in Highgate with good food and ale and atmosphere.

Excellent BEER 🍺 AND CIDER Pub, with a small range of snacks and food.

Bom ambiente, serviço simpático e profissional. A confeção da comida e os pratos do menu não são nada de especial.

Lovely! Beautiful! I love the area, and it's nice and close to home. I've been to the Flask quite a few times now. It's always been one of my favourite pubs in Highgate, and even now that I'm living locally, and have the opportunity to explore and find more watering holes in the area, it still holds its place in that respect. The food’s great. Standard pub meals, but they've got that home-cooked aesthetic. The service is friendly and familiar, and the pour is professional. I've never had a bad beer here. The facilities are clean, as is the pub in general. The beer garden’s also really nice in the summer. My only gripe is the clientele, or at least one customer who's been there the last two visits I've made. I guess he's a regular. A man who’s intrusive and vial in nature. He's bugged my partner and me, interrupting conversations and drunkenly forcing himself upon us. I can't imagine we’re the only customers he's harassing, and so it's disappointing that when this happens, the staff take no action. As much as I am fond of this pub, the idea of being face-to-face with this man again is enough to make me hesitant to return. Something my partner feels even stronger about.

Super place, fire, atmosphere. Food selection a bit thin but good. Drinks selection good. Service good. Friendly.

Fantastic place. The food experience for me was top notch, the service was smooth and seamless throughout the night. Highly recommend.

Absolutely love this pub - sooo idyllic on a cold winters day with the open fire !! Amazing food but VERY small portion for the price - I think that can be easily improved to get 5 stars!

Nice dinner on a Saturday night.

Such a quaint pub with lots of books and crannies. First visit for us and have to say the food was very impressive Hubby and I shared a large sirloin steak (which was given to us as they did not have the cote du boeuf left) it came with fab sides and two delicious sauces. I was too full for dessert but hubbys vanilla parfait was delicious (I tasted!!). Service was friendly but not as good as it should be but it seemed that maybe they were short staffed as it was extremely busy. Unfortunately toilets left a lot to be desired!! Would definitely go back again though for the food alone,

Boring menu. Overpriced for what was offered, tempura crab was all batter and hardly any crab and taken off the bill. Barman was not knowledgeable in the handling of an £88 bottle of wine, despite asking for it to be brought to room temperature it was served cold! Not sure what the mess under the hake was supposed to be but it was tasteless. Over all a disappointing experience!

Really lovely atmosphere, great friendly service and plenty of convenient parking and public transport. Would definitely recommend.

Great to see where George Michael drank.

I ordered whitebait starter. Until today, I never realised that for all of my whitebait-eating life, I hadn’t been getting the real deal; I'd been having this dessicated frozen deep-fried excuse for whitebait. But today, rather than deep-fried whitebait crisps, I found myself eating FRESH whitebait and my god - what I've had before will never seem the same again. I can only liken it to ground coffee vs instant, or processed orange juice vs freshly squeezed :)

Very traditional local pub, worth a visit especially during summer months

Friendly proffesional service with an elevated menue that was well executed. Worth going out of your way for.

Strosar du den enormt branta backen upp till Highgate är detta den bästa belöningen du kan få. Trevlig pub med god mat i fantastisk lokal. Lägg till att denna pub har den bästa uteservering i norra London. Missa inte denna pärla.

Updated September 2023: The atmosphere has improved for the better in the last year. The staff have been pleasant and friendly which is a welcome return to form. I hope it continues. Old review: What has happened to my beloved pub! It feels as though an imposter has come in with the intention of ruining it. We just went to the bar and ordered a pint, as I have done 50 times previously (prior to covid). The barman told us to 'get out'. literally. Aggressively! Those are the words he used. I note another reviewer had an almost identical experience and a plethora of reports of rudeness from many others. The pub also insists on staying half full. Other Highgate pubs manage to keep a full venue. The food here is reportedly awful, as previous commentators have also pointed out. But you'd accept that for the lovely cosy interior or the vibrant beer garden. It used to be so nice here in the summer in the garden. I've been coming for 10 years. I assume this us a new owner trading on the reputation and location. Or the old one has lost their mind. Bad food, bad service. Abusive staff. Expensive. And a manager who doesn't give a monkies clearly, as this has been going on for over a year now. If you don't believe me, check all the recent negative reviews (mainly from disgruntled locals lile me) and note the same auto reply on all of them. Why would you bother? So many lovely pubs in Highgate. I hope this owner runs out of money and clears off so somebody else can save this beautiful old Highgate institution.

My first visit to The Flask, we travelled all the way from Barnes, as wanted to experience the Sunday roast. Sadly it was a disappointing experience, for all three of us. We had two Lamb Shanks and one Beef and veggies. The roast potatoes were soggy and swimming in gravy, inside were dry and difficult to cut up. All the vegetables were mushy, i didn't even recognise the cauliflower. Meat was ok though but average. We liked the vibe in there, it was cosy an welcoming, but could have been a bit warmer, we were near the door/window and felt a chill even though I was wearing a cashmere top. So sad it was not a good experience overall, we had it on a must visit for a very long time.

A lovely neighbourhood pub. Which must be very nice in the summer as it has a large outside area. As it was relatively cold without inside and enjoyed fish and chips and a burger. We had a great time, but nothing to write home about.

Wet autumnal Sunday and a stiff climb up Fitzroy Park from the Heath, a near perfect resting post. Well kept Fuller’s and guest ales, they’ve even started doing bar snacks again for those not wanting a £25 roast dinner. Okay it’s well posh and a bit unfriendly, but that’s posh people for you! #11 #28

Lovely pub. Very popular and rightly so. Lots of opportunity for people watching.