I have already blogged about how much I love
Arnold Circus in Shoreditch (I have this Utopian fantasy about all my friends living round the Circus and meeting for a chat at the bandstand in the middle...) but I am also a fan of the surrounding streets, in particular Calvert Avenue which radiates from Arnold Circus towards Shoreditch High Street. There are some cool shops and a fantastic deli and cafe called Leila's which would be a gem in any neighbourhood but luckily for local residents is bang in the middle of this oh so groovy corner of East London. The delicatessen is full of amazing produce but I have to mention one thing, amongst all the wonderful fruit and veg and generally healthy stuff, that stood out for me - dark chocolate covered clementines. At the risk of sounding like an SMS from Paris Hilton - OMG, they are amazing. Some people don't like the chocolate/orange pairing but I definitely do and this is the ultimate, nay the
zenith of that particular taste combination. I will dream about it until my next visit... Anyway on to the cafe next door - bustling and full of 30+ hipsters we had a lovely late breakfast with decent coffee (although you're better off going round the corner to
Allpress or
Prufrock if caffeine is your mission). I had a sizzling plate of ham and eggs, served in a cute little skillet with fantastic rustic bread and proper butter. the cakes looked amazing but as I had already had a pain au chocolat earlier in the day and I'd just scoffed the aforementoined choc clementine I nobly abstained. Next time I am definitely going for one of the brownies. This is a really great place in a really great neighbourhood and I will most certainly be back.
I love this place but the coffee is a bit disapointing. Maybe because we have so many good options out east for good coffees. Love going here for breakfast though.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly don't need to walk far to get some of the best coffee in London!
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