The Harlequin Alehouse & Eatery in City of London, Westminster

My absolute favourite pub in Angel! This is a quiet haven to decompress and read after a stressful day at work, and a regular stop for me on the way home. It has a very warm, relaxed, and welcoming atmosphere, and the staff is always exceptionally friendly and nice. It’s a nice and warm escape in the winter, and for hot summer days, they have a beautiful hidden garden in the back to seek refuge from direct sunlight and the scorching heat. Without doubt the loveliest place to spend an evening in the area (and arguably, in London)!

Lovely small pub with a great selection of beers. Off the beaten track so perfect for a relaxed catch-up.

Nice ambiance and four Belgian beers on draught.

The Harlequin is the best pub in the area. It’s easy to come with a group, with friends, on a date, or solo with a book. Nice beer selection, great nachos, and it’s open late too. The bartenders Tania and Matheus make the place feel like home. 5 stars.

Advertised a pub quiz in three different places including their own site and it doesnt exist. Blew 20 pounds on an uber for nothing. ETA: I AM AN INTERNATIONAL VISITOR. THIS HAS LEFT ME WITH A PERMANENT NEGATIVE IMPRESSION. AND WHAT KIND OF LAZY BUSINESS OWNERCANT UPDATE A WEBSITE AND EXPECTS CUSTOMERS TO BE PSYCHIC TO KNOW TO CALL AHEAD? AND I DONT HAVE A UK NUMBER YOU WANT ME TO PAY INTERNATIONAL CALL RATES DUE TO YOUR LAZINESS?

A charming independent pub near Angel, tucked away just off the main road. The drinks were enjoyable, with a nicely poured pint of Blue Moon for £6.50 and a good quality rosé. The snack options—Torres crisps and some Perello olives—were a nice addition. The bartender was friendly enough, though not overly chatty. The pub garden, while small, was busy, while the interior was quiet and cozy. The decor adds to the inviting vibe, and it’s easy to imagine it being even more magical around Christmas. The space feels like a blend of British and Southern European. It’s not the most obvious spot, so keep an eye out when walking by. Definitely worth a visit, especially with a Citystack card!

A village community pub in old Clerkenwell. Established 1884 this narrow front terrace pub has a beautiful green tiled facade in front of a spacious, single room around a square centre bar. Gorgeous aged, original floor with cellar trap under a variety of low seats & plenty of tables. This well loved pub has modernised, pretty rustic wood cladding on the walls & bar to compliment from original floor through squared & harlequin windows to cladding ceiling. It's dressed down but features theatrical art & original centrepiece fireplace. An excellent beer selection from 20th century bar set near a well dressed sky light & a cute, backyard secret garden. Great tunes & no screens create a good, feel good vibe. There's an excellent quality about the care invested in making this pub a peaceful, destination of artistry & love.

Celebrated my 26th birthday here - booked the secret garden and it was an amazing space. Fantastic staff who did everything to accommodate us. Will be coming back! Thank you

One of the most wonderful, atmospheric and beautiful pubs in the area. Great staff and great beer, what's more to ask for? The team have kept this pub true to it's original form whilst ensuring it's clean and well looked after. The beer selection ranges from some great lagers to a few more hard to come by IPAs, including at the time of writing a Vedett Pilsner. We were really looked after by the pub staff and will be back again.

Nothing wrong with this cute backstreet pub. Good service, nice decor and small, charming back garden.

Matheus and Tanya run this wonderful laid back and very beautiful pub. It is a joy to walk through its hallowed door. This is a proper pub with a vibe that just beckons you in. This is our local pub. We pop in 6 days a week and it is an utter delight each time we come in. What Matheus and Tanya have achieved is so lovely. They make this pub. They are professional and their fantastic Brazillian personalities give a added depth to the friendliness and welcome. You CANNOT find a better pub in the area and why would you with this winning duo at the helm. If you haven't found this treasure yet then get on your walking shoes and venture down. It is like Cheers but even better. It is just quite exceptional and it feels like home.

Proper Pub...Good they still exist

What has HAPPENED?? This pub was a favourite of mine for years, with its tiny hideaways and images of Harlequin. We went back today after being away for a few years to find bamboo sheeting across the walls and no atmosphere whatsoever. Even if you didn't know it before surely this would be disappointing. Very staid and very sad. Added to Candid being right next to a building site and scheduled for demolition, it's making me want to spirit myself back to the 1990s, when the place was riotous, cosy and full of wild thesps

Lovely little pub. Service a bit slow as only one barman and he got overwhelmed by theatregoers, but very friendly. Beautiful pub.

Best pub my area wonderful..beautiful and staff very friendly and good ...

We popped in for a drink with a view to hiring this pub as our wedding venue. I am a local and have drink here many times before but this was my fiancé's first visit. It's a perfect venue for an occasion and there is a lovely little garden plus a piano! Great staff and a good selection of drinks.

A cosy, athmospheric before theater venue.

This cosy pub in angel shouldn't be missed on a cold dark winters night. Great guiness. Staff are lovely.

Really cute pub just off a busy street. Would not have known it was there other than it being recommended.

Fun neighborhood pub! Truly captured the English experience. Staff exceptionally friendly! Became our neighborhood go to place.

I had a drink of Guinness with a friend. The service and atmosphere is great. But there was no food which wasn't great... Unless you classify peanuts and crisps as food. Make sure you eat something substantial before coming to this pub 😊

Very cute pub, great staff great atmosphere. Will definitely be back.

Lovely little pub. We were stumbling home and just happened upon it. Didn't get any photos unfortunately.

The bartender Oliver was amazing, he receive me very well as soon as I walked in and recommended some drinks to have, he had great conversation and his customer service skills was outstanding, he made me feel welcome and asked me how my day was, such a lovely lad and will definitely be coming back to be served by him again and 100% recommended this place

I loved the atmosphere and the decor. The bartenders were polite and friendly and they serve some really tasty and reasonably priced bar snacks. We tried the olives wrapped with anchovies and the stuffed peppers and they were 👌 . Very cute garden too.

Beautiful outdoor garden! Def a bit of a hidden gem.

Great pub with a lovely garden. Really like the original touch to it with it's old wooden floors.

Lovely, quaint, old-fashioned little pub with a wonderful atmosphere. Good selection of drinks at reasonable prices (pints £5-£6), and lovely bar snacks including mini salamis (£4.50 for a good size bowl) and a cheese board (£10). Probably the best pub this close to Angel station, and any pub with Aspalls has a place in my heart.

Really nice pub, good atmosphere BUT at a price. 2 pints @ £13.75.

Great selection of whiskies and friendly and helpful bar staff.

Friendly and relaxing atmosphere

Pleasant setting, quiet atmosphere, discreet music, personal dish (Harlequin cheeseboards) nice server, fairly good value for money, nice server. A good address in a quiet area away from the arteries of Angel. François et Annick

The Harlequin is a lovely old boozer with plenty of character situated close to the Sadler's Wells theatre. The staff are friendly, chatty and the pub itself feels homely.

One of the most emblematic places in London with many years of history

Lovely local pub, with friendly service.

Lovely little pub, very friendly staff. We sat in their tiny courtyard out back (that has been well painted and planted up) and enjoyed an excellent jug of Pimms.

Cosy little put with friendly atmosphere

Incredible pub with amazing staff!

Cute little bar tucked away behind Sadlers Wells, gets very busy with the before and after theatre crowd. Bea, one of the managers, is really friendly and gives great customer service. Good range of beers, wines and spirits and most importantly - for me - they have Aspall's cider on tap 😀

Adorable, rustic pub with lots of wood panelling. Decent selection of lagers, ales, and wheat beers on tap. Does get a little bit cold in winter, but they have a real log fire you can sit next to. Quite small, but lots of tables and chairs. Edit: update a few years later, they now serve snacks like dried meats, and have a selection of cocktails!

After popping in one evening out of curiosity, The Harlequin has become one of my favourite places in London. On top of the delightful bar staff, they have a great selection of draught beers, a lovely wine menu and an alluring selection of bar snacks which often turn "a quick one" into an entire evening. Would definitely recommend!

Small, very friendly pub with a notably carefully chosen wine list

Quite an unexpected vibe in what from the outside looks like a traditional pub - has a more west indies Caribbean feel

VERY expensive, but nice pub with a SECRET GARDEN

On a recent trip to London after major illness went to this outstanding pub . All The bar staff were friendly accommodating and willingness to serveThe ambience excellent we will be go I again for sure thoroughly recommended

Absolute gem of a pub hidden away near the Sadlers Wells Theatre. Great atmosphere, excellent range of draught beers and friendly staff.

Lovely, cosy pub, helpful and friendly staff. Great place to meet up with old friends.

Waitress abominably rude despite how polite we were with our order. Upon our second drinks order, she snarled at us and then poured us the incorrect pints. When we politely told her it wasn’t our order, she challenged us and then eventually silently presented us with our ordered drinks with a scowl on her face. She threw the card reader in front of us without a ‘please’ or ‘thank you’. There was a trainee bar lady behind the bar who then apologised for her colleague’s behaviour, although it was only her first night on the job. I’ve been coming to the lovely pub for years and am sad at how I was treated last night. This pub deserves better than this terrible service. Yes, it’s a charming pub but London is full of pubs and I will not be returning. Disgusted.

I love this place and Lord knows I know pubs

Lovely evening catching up with friends in a pub with decent beer and a relaxed atmosphere.

Great pub. The secret London place. Beer is kept perfectly, great atmosphere (getting really busy before and after the show). Must visit! You will enjoy! A&H

Amazing little pub, been true to itself for a very long time. I love this place.

A proper pub with one good real beer, a good selection of lagers and wines.

Best local pub I've been to in angel

Lovely backstreet pub - quiet when we visited but no worse for that.

Bit overpriced, and if your not a local bw prepared to be stared at

I love the Harlequin. Been my local for years. New owners seem to have refreshed it without losing its inherent charm, and that's not an easy thing to pull off.

Lovely pub. Rustic feel and a nice fire place. Friendly staff, dog friendly, decent prices for the area 👍

Lovely little quiet place near angel. Very small but cosy. Nice beer selection. Best part is the hidden garden out the back which is really picturesque in early evening

The best pub in an area full of great pubs. Good range of crisps.

An amazing gem, staff are super friendly and I can't wait to come back...

Great spot! Very warm vibe with lovely friendly staff Loved the hand drier in the bathroom too!

No frills, cosy pub with good selection of drinks, log fire and a good quiz on Mondays.

Nice little local. Sadly no locals around on the Friday night I was there. Maybe because it was the third day of Christmas. I had a half of Landlord (£2.50) which was a bit flat. I suspect this pub caters mostly for theatre goers. Of the two pubs on this street, my favourite is the other one.

Fine pub with sound staff. Beer was a bit flat but I switched to stout and that was good!

Cosy pub with a fireplace and friendly staff

This is truly a hidden gem off the main streets. Beautiful atmosphere, lovely staff and cozy fire place. Highly recommend the mulled wine.

A lovely small bar with a real fire, a good wine list, good bar snacks. Only one cask beer through. Handy for Saddlers wells .

A robust steak, a hearty trifecta of stout pints and a reckoning with Ricky Gervais' Arab doppelganger!

This is my favourite pub in Angel. Great mix of people, lovely secret-feeling back yard, and the best pint of Guinness in Angel.

The music is great, the pub's very cosy especially with the heart and the bartender is the friendiest person I've met. Love it, thank you!

Quirky pub with a nice small secret garden, lovely beer!

One of my favourite secrets in London. Friendly staff, tucked away vibes and a decor that just oozes homely and warm.

I had a very bad pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord. I was unable to drink more than a third. Not a place to drink real ale which is a pity as the pub is a nice old fashioned sort of place and the garden is a nice place to sit.

Tiny and old, serves alcohol and the size makes everyone there feel like a friend. Service a tiny bit slow when it gets busy.

Lovely beer garden at the back. Very friendly and open atmosphere.

My favourite bar in Angel! Lively but quiet because of its bonsai size, with a nice selection of snacks and beers and a quirky atmosphere.

Taverna style bar with a great range of beers. Only tried the Malbec in terms of wines but it was beautiful accompanied with a cheese board. A jewel in islington, quiet, cute furniture, soft jazz music in the background and very friendly and attentive staff. A particularly hidden spot in what I would consider a fairly dodge place in Islington. Brilliant.

A very expensive soda water and lime at £2.50..a complete ripple off. Wetherspoons give soda water for free.This is sheer greed

Cosy pub with great ales and friendly staff

Quaint cosy little place. Beer selection OK, but nothing too special

Nice small, cosy pub with a fireplace. Perfect for an after-work drink and a cheeseboard with the gf.

Good small size pub with good choice of ales. Worth a visit.

Great hidden gem but a little pricey

Amazing place, until you need to go to the toilet

Reasons to go to the Harlequin; 1) You want to have a conversation with someone. 2) You do not want to be surrounded by drunken louts. 3) You want friendly staff and good selection of ales. 4) They have a pub cat and fireplace. Apparently, there is an authentic well in the basement as well!

Feels like you’ve just stepped out of London - really nice friendly pub with a great atmosphere 🍺🍺

Only stopped off for one. great atmosphere in a small local.

The quaintest pub. A cool place to hang out with friends. A towny pub!

My very favourite pub in London with real fire and cat lovely staff. Old school and timeless 😘 and perfect for intense and fun convo x

Nice local pub, not huge inside, but that works for me. Didn't have a huge selection of ales when I was in, but sounds like I was just a bit unlucky

Nice, quiet pub. Good if you want to sit and chat with friends. It's pretty small so don't expect to fit s large group in.

Very cute neighbourhood pub with roaring fire and bags of atmosphere. There's an outdoor area for the summer months too.

Nice local... for the Sadler's Wells crowd.

Very cosy with the usual beer options on tab.

Small and expensive but has a nice atmosphere and does a great pint of Landlord.

Lovely little pub behind saddlers wells

Beautiful little place in Angel with a fantastic (hidden) garden.

A place in London that actually sells proper beer!

A small and cute pub out of the way with a nice, friendly atmosphere. Unfortunately it's let down by a poor selection of drinks.