Highgate pubs - our favourites

One of the great advantages of living in and around Highgate is the fantastic selection of publife. Highgate is home to a number of long-established traditional British hostelries, and many go the extra mile with dining and decor to create a truly special pub experience. Here in N6 it's not hard to find hand-pulled cask ales, good wine selections, beer gardens, bar billiards and plenty of good food. Read about our favourites here, and add your own below!

The Flask is something of a Highgate institution, often topping the list of local favourite pubs when we ask around. Situated on Highgate West Hill just off Pond Square, the 18th century building features a series of connecting rooms with panelled walls and low ceilings, which mean wherever you sit there's always a cosy and intimate ambience.

A Fullers pub, The Flask unsurprisingly serves the brewery's London Pride, ESB and Chsiwick ales alongside a selection of lagers and a good wine list. Popular with diners, the pub has a seasonal menu with a modern British feel, serving dishes such as homemade sausages, grilled salmon and rabbit terrine. Veggies are reasonably well catered for with salad, pasta and pie options.  In summer, the beer garden is an exceptionally pleasant place to sit and enjoy a pint.

A popular alternative to The Flask is The Wrestlers down on North Road. Dating back to 1547, the dark wood interior centres around an impressive wood-burning fireplace, making this pub especially good on winter evenings (there's also a conservatory and outdoor seating for the summer months). The kitchen serves traditional English roasts which come highly recommended, as do the puddings.

The Gatehouse on North Road is another pub dating back to the 16th century, and like The Flask is said to be haunted. The pub is now part of the JD Wetherspoon chain and is included in the CAMRA Good Beer guide. The Gatehouse also boasts its own fringe theatre upstairs, named (no doubt in a fit of Coleridgean inspiration) "Upstairs at the Gatehouse".

Around the corner sits the pleasant The Prince of Wales, with its attractive glass frontage and small beer garden at the back overlooking Pond Square. The interior is cosy and there's tasty Thai food and a popular Tuesday night quiz. Just down the road is The Angel, another local which prides itself on quirky decor, homemade food and hearty breakfasts. Some readers have commented on poor service here, however, and the message for the time being is to avoid this pub.

For a real gastropub dining experience, The Rose and Crown on the High Street is probably a safer bet - the awrd-winning venue was recently included in this year's Michelin Guide. Choose from chef Gareth Thomas's a la carte menu, or the set menu from Monday to Thursday (2 courses for £15, 3 for £18.50). The dining room is furnished with chic white linen and there's an outdoor dining area for warmer evenings too.

For live bands (and a great jukebox selection when the bands aren't on) The Boogaloo on Archway Road is hard to beat. Regular events include the monthly acoustic night, indie pop at Shindig!, the "Proper Songs" DJ night and a new monthly jive club. The famous jukebox contains 100 albums, all over 10 years old to demonstrate their unimpeachably classic status, guaranteeing a cheer with every song choice. It's small wonder that The Libertines chose The Boogaloo as the site of their long-awaited reunion earlier this year.

Have we missed any of your favourites? Let us know where you prefer to do your drinking and dining in N6 below!