We all understand the joys (and the relative safety) of a pedestrianised street, and Exmouth Market is one of the best this city has to offer.
Indulge in coffees and cocktails, tacos and tequila, books and bagels… It’s the perfect place to while away your weekend.
1. Cielo Blanco
Who says you can’t have tequila before 12pm? Certainly not these guys. They’re serving up margaritas from 10:30am sharpish. Try their Huevos Rancheros or dig into a Chorizo and Sweet Potato Hash — but whatever you do, make sure you start your meal with some Queso Fundido, i.e. a cheesy dip topped with crispy chorizo. If you’ve ever woken up to an overwhelming craving for Mexican food, this is the place to go. They’re also open for lunch and dinner with a menu filled with “street food” and sharing boards, but we’re not done raving about their boozy brunch*. There’s rather a lot of competition in the brunch category along Exmouth Market, but this is certainly on the podium.
*fresh juices sans booze are also available.
2. Botanique
Botanique is a blooming lovely shop for cacti and succulent fanatics. They have gorgeous plants, lots of wonderful handmade crafty bits and… well… sometimes there are dogs *pricks ears up and tilts head*
3. Morito
As tapas goes, Morito’s small plates are up there with the finest. They have fish, meats, cheeses, montaditos (aka mini Spanish baguettes) and plenty of stuff for veggies. They also promise to satisfy your sweet tooth and your vermouth tooth — because that’s a thing, right?
4. Brill
Without making the ‘Brill is brill’ comment, which is exactly what you’re expecting us to do, Brill is pretty darn great. It’s a music venue cum coffee shop with fantastic bagels and a lovely little garden out back.
5. Space EC1
If you’re a fan of quirky stationery and cute little bits and bobs, you’ll love it at Space EC1. There is truly no better place to browse silly books on How To Become Instagram Famous or Where To Find The Most Hipster Coffee Shops.
6. Barber Streisand
Aside from it’s frankly excellent name, we hear that this unisex barber shop is a darn good place to get a trim.
7. Exmouth Grind
Start your day with the grind and end it at The Grind. At this Exmouth Market branch you can get everything from porridge and an espresso to a flat iron steak and an Old Fashioned. They’re open all day every day from early in the am to late in the pm, serving your every need.
8. Berber & Q’s Shawarma Bar
Inspired by the streets of Tel Aviv, Berber & Q specialises in rotisserie meats slow-cooked over charcoal and wood. Their menu is ram-packed with tasty Middle Eastern treats, but what’s the first thing we noticed? They have 4 different types of hummus.
Feature Image: @clerkenwellboyec1