Amina Ali, BA English and Arabic
- 1. House of Morocco, 82 Caledonian Rd, N1 9DN
Moroccan owned, this café is a lovely place for breakfast, brunch or lunch – you could even study there! The comfortable, vibrant Moroccan-style sofas and pillows are a great space to unwind, read a book, write an essay or grab a coffee. The hummus and Za’tar dip or Baba-Ghanouj reminds me of my warm childhood summers in the Middle East. With its laid-back atmosphere, House of Morocco provides a great escape from busy, fast-paced London. It’s a place I always find myself going back to.
A Delicious platter of wraps from House of Morocco (Credits: @hom.coffee on Instagram)
- 2. Addis, 40-42 Caledonian Rd, N1 9DT
Addis is an authentic Ethiopian restaurant. Most dishes are served with injera – a traditional east African crepe-like bread with a slightly tangy undertone. They do the best freshly made injera that can be dipped into a variety of mouth-watering sauces. With an array of flavourful curries and stews, you’re spoilt for choice. The menu is packed with options, from slow-cooked meats that melt in your mouth to a variety of fabulous vegetarian dishes, making it the perfect place to bring friends and share a dish or two.
- 3. Dishoom, 5 Stable Street, N1C 4AB
Dishoom is a slightly more upscale option – if you’re looking to treat yourself, this is definitely the place to be. The nostalgic interior resembles an old railway station – as soon as you enter you feel transported back in time. With high ceilings, wall to wall vintage cabinets, and black and white photographs, the decor is reminiscent of by-gone days. My favourite dish is definitely the Chicken Ruby curry, accompanied by the warm garlic naan. The world stops when it enters your mouth and it feels like a hug from your grandma.
Chole Puri – spiced chickpea curry and fried flatbread (Credits: @dishoom on Instagram)
- 4. Pizza Union, 246-250 Pentonville Rd, N1 9JY
Don’t we all crave pizza at least once a week? With its trendy mood lighting, excellent music choices and extensive menu, this cafeteria-style Italian restaurant remains a fail-safe. The long benches and lively, sociable atmosphere make Pizza Union great option for groups. Did I mention, it’s right next to Dinwiddy? Even the most hungover fresher can manage to roll out of bed and grab a slice. Here’s to cheap and wonderful pizza!
The neon-lit exterior of the Pentonville Road pizza bar (Credits: Pizza Union)