Veri’s guidebook
My favourite restaurants
Below a list of restaurants I love in the area, I recommend booking before.
This is a lovely little oasis, a small slice of the seaside in the city serving seafood dishes. Need to book beforehand!
77 locals recommend
Prawn on the Lawn
294 St Paul's RdThis is a lovely little oasis, a small slice of the seaside in the city serving seafood dishes. Need to book beforehand!
Good Italian pizza in the neighbourhood with gluten free pizza option available.
81 locals recommend
Zia Lucia
157 Holloway RdGood Italian pizza in the neighbourhood with gluten free pizza option available.
Chic neighbourhood institution which grabs flavours from around North Africa and the Middle East. Perfect for lunch.
364 locals recommend
Ottolenghi Islington
287 Upper StChic neighbourhood institution which grabs flavours from around North Africa and the Middle East. Perfect for lunch.
Compact dining room with shared tables and a menu of homemade bread, warming stews and rice dishes. Good option if you want to try something different and not expensive.
73 locals recommend
Afghan Kitchen
35 Islington GrnCompact dining room with shared tables and a menu of homemade bread, warming stews and rice dishes. Good option if you want to try something different and not expensive.
Chill Malaysian option offering fried chicken, rice dishes & laksa; a spicy noodle soup plus wine.
14 locals recommend
Sambal Shiok Laksa Bar
171 Holloway RdChill Malaysian option offering fried chicken, rice dishes & laksa; a spicy noodle soup plus wine.
Fusing Nordic and French flavours with some German influences, Salut! offers a relaxed take on modern-European food. Watch the dishes being prepared in the open kitchen, from the warm and comfortable dining room with wooden tables and vintage furnishings
45 locals recommend
Salut! Restaurant Islington
412 Essex RdFusing Nordic and French flavours with some German influences, Salut! offers a relaxed take on modern-European food. Watch the dishes being prepared in the open kitchen, from the warm and comfortable dining room with wooden tables and vintage furnishings
Gastropub with stripped-down decor serving organic beer, wine and meat plus sustainable fish.
141 locals recommend
The Duke of Cambridge
30 Saint Peter's StreetGastropub with stripped-down decor serving organic beer, wine and meat plus sustainable fish.
East London grill house taking inspiration from the Middle East and North Africa via Brooklyn, New York.
81 locals recommend
Berber & Q - Grill House
338 Acton MewsEast London grill house taking inspiration from the Middle East and North Africa via Brooklyn, New York.
Waterside cafe for coffee and a range of dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Good spot for brunch on the canal, it may be very busy on a sunny day, but worth trying.
216 locals recommend
Towpath Café
42 De Beauvoir CresWaterside cafe for coffee and a range of dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. Good spot for brunch on the canal, it may be very busy on a sunny day, but worth trying.
Simple, modern setting for a Vietnamese menu of noodles and BBQ meats, served with exotic cocktails.
42 locals recommend
CôBa
244 York WaySimple, modern setting for a Vietnamese menu of noodles and BBQ meats, served with exotic cocktails.
Buzzy destination for Indian street food in Bombay-style digs with vintage decor & upscale touches. Always very busy, worth trying off peak-hours.
219 locals recommend
Dishoom King's Cross
5 Stable StBuzzy destination for Indian street food in Bombay-style digs with vintage decor & upscale touches. Always very busy, worth trying off peak-hours.
Spartan tapas bar which shares the buzz and the Spanish–North African flavours of next-door Moro.
162 locals recommend
Morito
195 Hackney RdSpartan tapas bar which shares the buzz and the Spanish–North African flavours of next-door Moro.
Internationally inspired, seasonal dishes plus craft cocktails served over two laid-back floors.
37 locals recommend
Oldroyd
344 Upper StInternationally inspired, seasonal dishes plus craft cocktails served over two laid-back floors.
Akari
196 Essex RdVictorian pub with original details for small Japanese plates and sake.
My favourite cocktail bars
Classic and modern cocktails served in a cosy space with leather sofas and wood-panelled walls.
51 locals recommend
The Four Sisters Bar
25 Canonbury LnClassic and modern cocktails served in a cosy space with leather sofas and wood-panelled walls.
Halfway between the classic British pub and a trendy bar, this hip joint serves a compact food menu.
25 locals recommend
Little Bat - Islington Bar & Kitchen
54 Islington Park StHalfway between the classic British pub and a trendy bar, this hip joint serves a compact food menu.
My favourite coffee shops
Reclaimed furniture lines this stripped back local cafe with patio for artisan roasts and snacks.
49 locals recommend
Vagabond N7
105 Holloway RdReclaimed furniture lines this stripped back local cafe with patio for artisan roasts and snacks.
Vintage china adorns this cosy spot for coffee and snacks sourced from carefully-picked suppliers.
38 locals recommend
Maison d'etre
Vintage china adorns this cosy spot for coffee and snacks sourced from carefully-picked suppliers.
Country-chic nook providing artisanal coffee, beer & wine, plus British light fare & weekend brunch.
15 locals recommend
Sawyer and Gray London
290 St Paul's RdCountry-chic nook providing artisanal coffee, beer & wine, plus British light fare & weekend brunch.
St. Paul is fast becoming Islington’s new all-day destination bistro. Following its strong daytime offer - grab & go breakfast, leisurely lunches, afternoon coffee and cake dates, casual conviviality will now continue into the evening with its continental-style menu.
7 locals recommend
St Paul Islington Cafe
274B St Paul's RdSt. Paul is fast becoming Islington’s new all-day destination bistro. Following its strong daytime offer - grab & go breakfast, leisurely lunches, afternoon coffee and cake dates, casual conviviality will now continue into the evening with its continental-style menu.
Sofas adorn this bustling, trendy cafe with leafy patio for artisan coffee, sandwiches and cakes.
64 locals recommend
The CoffeeWorks Project
96-98 Islington High StSofas adorn this bustling, trendy cafe with leafy patio for artisan coffee, sandwiches and cakes.
All-day Austrian coffeehouse and kitchen in a bright and spacious chalet-like space.
49 locals recommend
Kipferl Cafe & Kitchen
20 Camden PassageAll-day Austrian coffeehouse and kitchen in a bright and spacious chalet-like space.
Rustic-chic eatery offering hearty all-day brunch fare plus dinner, wine, beer & cocktails.
11 locals recommend
Brother Marcus - Angel
37-39 Camden PsgeRustic-chic eatery offering hearty all-day brunch fare plus dinner, wine, beer & cocktails.
My favourite cinema
The Screen on the Green in Islington is one of the country’s oldest cinemas: it opened in 1913 and has been a single-screen cinema ever since. It was bought by the Everyman chain of luxury cinemas in 2008 and soon after was renamed Everyman Screen on the Green. It offers a mix of standard and premier seats (the latter being ‘luxurious sofas with footrests’), and there’s a bar at the back of the screen.
177 locals recommend
Everyman Screen on the Green
83 Upper StThe Screen on the Green in Islington is one of the country’s oldest cinemas: it opened in 1913 and has been a single-screen cinema ever since. It was bought by the Everyman chain of luxury cinemas in 2008 and soon after was renamed Everyman Screen on the Green. It offers a mix of standard and premier seats (the latter being ‘luxurious sofas with footrests’), and there’s a bar at the back of the screen.