There are so many awesome pubs in Clerkenwell; so, to say this is one of the best in the area is really saying a lot. They've got Fruli on tap, Kwak, a long list of krieks, lambics and all sorts of other specialist Belgian beers. If you don't know what Fruli, Kwak, krieks, or lambics are, Dovetail's a brilliant place for the uninitiated to sample some of the best brews that Belgium has to offer. For those in the know, this is probably the best pub in town for Belgian beer. And its dark cavernous setting and walls lined with Tin-Tin posters creates the right Belgian vibe for a night of drinking. The food's good too and really hearty. The chips are gorgeous, and the burgers exceptionally tasty (and impossible to eat with just your hands). read more

Aside from the burgers (which are excellent), the portions are quite lean. Don't bother with starters. Great beer, very noisy, friendly service. always worth booking ahead since it's rammed on week nights. read more

This is a fabulous little bar. But I'm blaming them for my accidental hangover. It's one of the only times I've thought that alcohol percentages should be properly displayed. I had two or three drinks there earlier this week. Only little tiny beers. By the time we reached our next destination I was trollied. I can actually hold my beer better than most girly girls, so this was a bit of a shock. Until I discovered I was drinking an 8.5% beer and had no idea. Hehe! Fun though. And it's done nothing to quash my like of the place. It was busy, but cosy rather than rammed. The food was good (well, the chips were, we found ourselves looking longingly at the plates of mussels at the next table). A round is cheap, at £14 for four drinks. I like like like all of these things. Staff aren't hugely helpful because there's so many beers and so much choice. Asking for a beer is complicated, but they do have menus. Unfortunately beer menus aren't ever as comprehensive as wine menus and I could be ordering anything. Like an 8.5% beer. But I like it. It's a great little bar and I'm pleased I've tried a new venue in Clerkenwell. I'll be back here. I'll eat all of their food and get accidentally drunk and be accidentally hungover the next day. And I'll probably enjoy every single minute of it. Again. Yay. read more

Ah, this is a GREAT bar - one of my favourites. It has all the ingredients which make a bar great in my opinion. 1. The drinks - the Dovetail has an EXTENSIVE drinks menu - I'm getting thirsty just writing this. There must be ten pages of amazing belgian beers, from the fruit beers to the golden beers, from the wheat beers to the trappist and abbey ales they are all here! They're not ultra cheap, but they're not too expensive, and they pack a punch! 2. The food - there's a great selection of delicious, classic food, at low prices. Really nice belgian style chips, good chicken burger, it's all very nice. 3 The service - the barstaff are professional, knowledgeable, and nice. 4. The place itself - it's really nicely decorated, nice wooden tables, a few little alcoves, and a nice size - quite cosy. So basically, the dovetail is the bar to go to for belgian beer in london. It completely kicks Bierodrome's ass, and does it with style. read more

The Dovetail is one of my favourite bars to visit, namely because it's almost hidden away, and the fact that they serve a great selection of Belgian beers with their great food. During the day, the area at the back of the bar is fantastically lit up with a skylight, while during the week is often standing room only since all the tables get taken up. Being the sister pub to The Dove (on broadway market) they also serve amazing sets of food, or if you want something lighter, a decent selection of finger foods. The frites and mayo go down particularly well with a drinking audience. Sometimes they run out of the beers for the week, but with well over a hundred to choose from, you are sure to find something new and interesting to try. read more

Great beer - a massive selection of fine belgian ales like its sister pub the Dove. Not quite in the same class though unfortunately. The bar is little so you can't view the array of beers properly. It also lacks a little bit in decor, its sparse and a little cramped and the seating isn't the most comfortable in the world. Its still my flavour of the week every second Friday - check out the Three Kings if you're in the area and seeking an alternative. read more

Great selection of Belgian beers, though some are a little hard to see behind the counter and the 'beer menu' huge! Well worth asking the bar staff for a recommendation if you've not tried them before. Food was pretty good, though we didn't try the burgers. We visited on a Saturday evening and had no problem finding a table - the bar itself wasn't packed, but there were enough people here to create some atmosphere. There was a charge for using a debit card though, so well worth stopping at an ATM on the way there! read more

One of my favourite bars. I love Belgian beer and the Dovetail has a very good range. The staff are ace! As well as a variety of draught beers they also do bottled Trappist beers, Kriek and other fruit beers, blondes, dunkels and the list goes on. Their food is also very nice. I'm not a fan of mussels but their burgers and chips are large and tasty. read more

The Dovetail is one of my favourite bars in London. I'm not a big drinker, but for those who are they have around 200 different varieties of beer. For me, the food is what makes the Dovetail so memorable. They have a lovely menu specialising in seafood, but they also have a lovely sausage and mash and Belgian burger section to the menu. The burgers are traditional Flemish burgers and are particularly delicious - the highlight being the wild boar burger. Unfortunately they have recently changed the relish they offer which isn't as good as it was before, but that aside this is one of the best places in London to eat. Don't leave without trying a pint of fries, which is their delicious home made chips served in a pint glass. The Dovetail is easy to miss, which is one of the reasons why it is such a nice little place. It's hidden away in a dark passage in Clerkenwell, but it's worth seeking out. It has a very rustic feel to it - it's almost like you're eating in an old dark cellar - albeit one that has been immaculately decorated with a tiled floor and pictures of Tintin adorning the walls. Not only does this place serve great food and drink, but it has character and personality. It's a true hidden gem. I'd avoid on a Friday night though as it's full of the Clerkenwell crowd just out of work, and there's nowhere to stand, let alone sit. Go at a lunchtime, an evening early in the week, or at a weekend and you'll be richly rewarded with great food, friendly staff and a truly memorable experience. read more

A great bar. The range of beers is excellent (with a leather bound menu to select from.) The food is also very good and is served quickly. I like the fact the bar is hidden away - but even this doesn't stop the crowds from descending. Try to get in early if you want a table. read more

I went here for a quick lunch with a few work colleagues during a lunch break to celebrate an end of season before everyone went away on their xmas holidays. We got into the place where we'd booked a table as were a fair large group and seated at the back in this little conservatory add on, it was december and thus freezing however the thought of putting the heating on was not thought of until prompted. The place was empty apart from us so the staff clearly didn't have much to do, though getting their attention was possibly the hardest thing in the world. I was promised the burgers were great, so i decided on a buffalo burger the order for which was (agreeing with gibbon here) reluctantly taken and half an hour later my food arrived. The burger was fine, nothing wrong with it but nothing spectacular and ended up being pretty expensive for what it was. The place was ok, the staff could have been a bit more enthusiastic especially seeing as at the beginning we were the only people in the place! Don't think i'll be returning. read more

Best pub in London. Fantastic selection of Belgian Beers. Great staff and food. Never get tired of going here. Just LOVE the place. read more

The Dovetail - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

I really, really like the Dovetail. Partly because they have great Belgian beer selection, but mostly because their food is really scrumptious (and not even "for a pub"). Although it can be quite busy Thursday/Friday, it's worth a visit any day of the week. My recommendations food-wise include the spicy wild boar and chorizo burger (yuuuuuuummmy) and the kilo pot of mussels. I invite people to visit me, specifically so that I can peer pressure them in to ordering both of those things and sharing between us. I've had both fondue dishes, and they're great...but the burger/mussels combo is so good I'll still take those any day of the week. Scrumptious (have I said that already?) and awesome! read more

I came here on a Friday after work and it was jam packed but the beer selection is awesome and offers something different to the usual pub. Also they have great Tin Tin posters on the wall read more

I recently went to Dovetail for lunch two days in a row, and it's leapt to the top of my list of Clerkenwell lunch spots. For a tenner you can score a delicious bison burger and chips. Judging from the unusually benign expressions of my colleagues, sausages and moules are similarly well-crafted. Nestled in the charming Jerusalem passage, the place has a pleasantly independent feel, so you're sure to gain kudos if you take anyone there. read more

Perfect idea of a pub, Belgian or otherwise. Staff was brilliant. Although I was a bit disappointed that they were out of my favorite beer, Hoegaarden, our waiter recommended an alternative white ale that complimented my moules frites perfectly. My partner had a beef carponnade that he enjoyed as well. The one thing that prevents me from giving the fifth star was a rather disappointing waffle dessert that was served cold. I'm used to the warm Belgian waffles. But that said, my partner liked his so to each his own. read more

Not bad at all. Superb selection. Have yet to try to food here. Price is definitely not cheap. Came here with my co-workers and the boss expensed everything. Probably wouldn't come here on my own dime. But, when drinking what amounts to the best beer in the world (i.e Belgian monk-made ales), prices like these should be expected. Just a warning for the Belgian ale newbies -- do not, I repeat, DO NOT drink Belgian beer as though you were drinking a regular pint. Belgian beer alcohol percentage ranges from 8-12%. Treat this drinking experience as though you're drinking wine. Drink slowly, savor the flavor, and keep it down to 2-3 max -- unless you want to end up like me. Praying to the porcelian gods the next day at work. Otherwise, it's a good ol time read more

We hit a list of very good pubs in London and this was a cut above the rest. Beer selection was outstanding and the food was such a surprise. Had the Fisherman's pie (mash potatoes, prawns and halibut mixed together) and it blew me away. I searched for something like this and it delivered. Enjoy. read more

Fantastic food and service Ordered the braised steak and beef stew, which were recommended by our server and were outstanding Had a tasty white beer and a sour strawberry and raspberry Would absolutely recommend this pub read more

Everything here is so delicious! I had an amazing baked Camembert and wild boar sausage which was the perfect thing to pair with a crisp Belgian beer. I'm usually not a huge beer lover but Belgian wheats are an exception. Loved all the fruit beer options as well for the summer months. Cute little bar right off clerkenwell with a little bit of outdoor seating; can't wait to make this place a regular haunt. read more

Hidden away in a tiny ally at the back of Clerkenwell Green is this great little Belgian bar. Of the two menus the one with the beer in is the most impressive, far better than you would think possible with the size of the bar but test the staff if you dare; I've never managed to find anything out of stock. The food menu is what you would expect, the mussels are excellent and the other standard fare (sausage and mash, burgers) is above average. This pub pulls into 4 stars territory though when you compare it with its competition, it knocks Beirodrome and the like for six in almost every category. The only exception being if you are looking for a more lively venue with more space. read more

This gibbon is averse to excess grease. Therefore I was offended by the food put in front of me here. It was swimming in the stuff. A food order had been reluctantly taken, then slowly delivered. When it arrived I feared heart attack. But, as a Hungry Gibbon, I ate it anyway. The Belgian beers are nice if you're a time traveller from the 1990s and still think beers from the continent are exotic. read more

Great wild boar burger! This was one of the best meals I had during a work trip to London! The food I have in London was overall, underwhelming. The fish and chips were excellent and you can find lots of good ones (I went with the yelp recommendations ^_-). Indian food was average though sweet, even in Brick Lane... but then again I live by Edison, NJ which has such a highly concentrated population of Indians they know about it in Mumbai. The place is pretty much located in an alley but the beer was good and the staff friendly. Couldn't ask for anything more! Don't know about evenings but weekday lunchtime it was empty except for 1 table besides us. read more

Great little pub, with a fantastic selection of Belgian beers. Good knowledgeable staff, recommended some lovely beers for us, friendly and happy to help. I'll definitely visit again in the future. read more

Had a lunch here today with colleagues. Friendly service and good food - although the steak baguette seemed pretty challenging to eat. I don't drink so can't speak for the beer selection but it was indeed vast. Definitely a nice spot. read more

Lovely little pub/bar down a quaint alley in Clerkenwell. It has an excellent selection of beers, knowledgeable staff, delicious food. There was a good mix of people and a nice atmosphere. It got busier as the evening went on but we arrived just after six on a Wednesday and easily found a table. read more

If you are looking for a little slice of Belgium in London, here you are. Quality beers, with over a hundred to choose form and in all the styles including brun, blonde, bière blanche/witbier, gueuze, lager, and of cause Pawel Kwak. All served the their correct glass (bar once). Don't be afraid to ask for guidance, you will find your favourite here. Nearly every-time I head to London I stop by here. The only downside is that a little far from St Pancras station, although the new Crossrail service between Farrington and King's Cross does help a lot. read more

my tastes are very simple. i love Belgian beer and i love sausages so this place is heaven. they also have my 2 favorites beers St. Bernardus Abt 12 and Trappistes Rochefort 10. London needs more bars like this promoting world class beer! read more

Went in afterwork on a Friday, was completely packed. Pretty average place, good selection of beers but nothing to write home about.

The Dovetail, like its sister bar The Dove in hackney, is just fantastic. The food is interesting, delicious and not at all expensive. The Belgium beer menu reads like a book and the staff know all about the beer they serve, which is great cz. it means I can risk trying something different. Its a small hidden gemso don't tell everyone otherwise it will spoil it for those in the know!! read more

friendly place only been a couple of times but always a good night out =) thanks guys.