The Dovetail

Hidden in a little back alley in Clerkenwell, this little cosy restaurant gives you the best of Belgium on a platter.

Food is yummy and always has interesting vegetarian options (they even do a veggie menu deal on Mondays), staff is very friendly if sometimes a bit slow and there’s an amazing selection of Belgium beers to choose from.

Definitely worth a visit!

Being Belgian myself, I am probably slightly biased when it comes to reviewing this pub but in my opinion the Dovetail has the greatest beer selection in London. They have excellent Belgian beers on tap and an amazing selection of Trappist beers. Try the Vedett if you are in the mood for a tasty, light summer beer, or go for a Karmeliet or Barbar if you want to try a proper Belgian beer. My all-time favourites are Koninck and Kwak so if you are still standing up by this point, definitely give those a shot as well. Having said all that, the best (and worst) thing about The Dovetail is actually it's price setting, the beers are so well-priced (not to say cheap in comparison to the rest of London), one always ends up spending way too much money here and then arriving home in an ultimate state of happiness. I guess it is a good thing Belgian beers don't cause any hangovers. 

Hidden down a back alleyway, this small venue offers more than a 100 Belgium / European beers. More of a watering hole than restaurant, I can only testify to the smells of the food and the mouthwatering response it triggers. Perfect for after work drinks, this venue is always overspilling into the alleyway, so make sure you arrive early to get a seat. Also note that it can take a while to get served at the bar at peak times, which is the only reason why 5 stars weren't awarded. That said, the staff are friendly and always happy to help you find exactly the right beer.