Guidebook for Greater London
Food Scene
Hidden away from Finsbury Park’s main thoroughfares, Finks is a local favourite with its sunny space in a former butcher packed at weekends with punters on their way to nearby Clissold Park. Offering the area’s best coffee and beautiful brunches (including a worthy avocado, harissa and goat’s cheese on sourdough), through to toasties, charcuterie and small plates of seasonal produce, served alongside natural wines, Finks is a day-to-night venue with real charm. Plus, with London’s only Sylvanian Families shop as its neighbour, there’s plenty of reason to linger
71 locals recommend
Fink's Salt and Sweet
70 Mountgrove RdHidden away from Finsbury Park’s main thoroughfares, Finks is a local favourite with its sunny space in a former butcher packed at weekends with punters on their way to nearby Clissold Park. Offering the area’s best coffee and beautiful brunches (including a worthy avocado, harissa and goat’s cheese on sourdough), through to toasties, charcuterie and small plates of seasonal produce, served alongside natural wines, Finks is a day-to-night venue with real charm. Plus, with London’s only Sylvanian Families shop as its neighbour, there’s plenty of reason to linger
With a homely set of mismatched artworks offsetting its sleek grey walls, Season Kitchen is one of the area's most sophisticated restaurants and has a menu to match. As the name suggests, seasonal produce is the main event (it's even got its own vegetable garden that produces tomatoes, courgettes and herbs), adding freshness to its melding of British and Euro influences.Thus nettle soup and bone marrow on toast can be found alongside baked halibut, chicory and wild garlic gnocchi while its steaks and Sunday roasts are standout. And leave room for dessert – both the rosemary chocolate pot and rhubarb and custard doughnuts more than warrant it.
53 locals recommend
Season Kitchen
53 Stroud Green RdWith a homely set of mismatched artworks offsetting its sleek grey walls, Season Kitchen is one of the area's most sophisticated restaurants and has a menu to match. As the name suggests, seasonal produce is the main event (it's even got its own vegetable garden that produces tomatoes, courgettes and herbs), adding freshness to its melding of British and Euro influences.Thus nettle soup and bone marrow on toast can be found alongside baked halibut, chicory and wild garlic gnocchi while its steaks and Sunday roasts are standout. And leave room for dessert – both the rosemary chocolate pot and rhubarb and custard doughnuts more than warrant it.
Tucked away on Fonthill Road, this neighbourhood restaurant specialises in southern Italian fare with a focus on seafood. Head chef Paola is usually on hand to offer a warm welcome to the beautifully appointed space, which offers a menu replete with notes from her native Naples and beyond. Expect burrata, polpette and bruschetta before primi piatti of hearty homemade pasta, grilled fish and ribeye steaks, although menus do shift with the seasons. A Sunday set menu is tailor made for settling in and embracing the best of Italian hospitality.
39 locals recommend
Osteria Tufo
67 Fonthill RdTucked away on Fonthill Road, this neighbourhood restaurant specialises in southern Italian fare with a focus on seafood. Head chef Paola is usually on hand to offer a warm welcome to the beautifully appointed space, which offers a menu replete with notes from her native Naples and beyond. Expect burrata, polpette and bruschetta before primi piatti of hearty homemade pasta, grilled fish and ribeye steaks, although menus do shift with the seasons. A Sunday set menu is tailor made for settling in and embracing the best of Italian hospitality.
Drinks & Nightlife
Don't be put off by the fact that the ramshackle horseshoe bar is always full, or that the vast but rowdy main room has the atmosphere of a sixth-form common room crossed with a 1970s pool hall. This vaguely Irish pub has long been a Finsbury Park favourite, and that's 98 percent down to its amazing garden. Drinks are reasonably priced, the Thai food is good and it’s a sport-watchers paradise, but these are just cherries on the verdant layer cake that is its three storeys of leafy nooks, crannies and look-out posts outside.
171 locals recommend
The Faltering Fullback
19 Perth RdDon't be put off by the fact that the ramshackle horseshoe bar is always full, or that the vast but rowdy main room has the atmosphere of a sixth-form common room crossed with a 1970s pool hall. This vaguely Irish pub has long been a Finsbury Park favourite, and that's 98 percent down to its amazing garden. Drinks are reasonably priced, the Thai food is good and it’s a sport-watchers paradise, but these are just cherries on the verdant layer cake that is its three storeys of leafy nooks, crannies and look-out posts outside.
As the name suggests, the building was a Victorian dairy, which sets the tone both outside (there are some stunning friezes on the exterior walls) and inside this Real Pubs venture. Exposed brickwork and unusual angles create all sorts of cosy corners in what is actually a very large space, and locals of all ages come to enjoy the friendly welcome and above-average food. A decent range of drinks includes a guest cider (Orchard Cornish cider, say); real ales such as Thunderbird from Cottage Brewing in Somerset or Windsor & Eton Brewery’s Guardsman; and a global wine list with plenty by the glass.
99 locals recommend
The Old Dairy
1-3 Crouch HillAs the name suggests, the building was a Victorian dairy, which sets the tone both outside (there are some stunning friezes on the exterior walls) and inside this Real Pubs venture. Exposed brickwork and unusual angles create all sorts of cosy corners in what is actually a very large space, and locals of all ages come to enjoy the friendly welcome and above-average food. A decent range of drinks includes a guest cider (Orchard Cornish cider, say); real ales such as Thunderbird from Cottage Brewing in Somerset or Windsor & Eton Brewery’s Guardsman; and a global wine list with plenty by the glass.
A wonderful local pub that has an excellent wine menu and a long list of craft beers.
19 locals recommend
The Worlds End
21-23 Stroud Green RdA wonderful local pub that has an excellent wine menu and a long list of craft beers.