More than a Kentish Town Taxi

There are a lot of good pubs in Kentish Town, a lot. So it’s harder to choose a favourite than you might imagine. In the case of The Grafton there were a few mitigating factors. First of all, it’s lively. The staff here are really friendly and the clientele usually equally so. Second, they have loads of good beer, a lot of which is actually from London breweries. Thirdly – and this is a big one – they have an awesome roof terrace. That’s right, you can buy your London beer from the charming bartender and then rock upstairs to peer out over north London with your drink in hand and your friends nearby. They also serve some pretty excellent food.

20 Prince Of Wales Road, NW5 3LG
thegraftonnw5.co.uk/

If the Grafton is our favourite then the Southampton Arms is definitely Kentish Town’s favourite. Proudly refusing to embrace the future/present (they only take cash), The Southampton Arms claim to be the only London Cider and Ale House that sources all its products exclusively from the capital. Their motto is “Ale, Cider, Meat” and true to their word, they stick to their guns. Those that come here do so for the love of everything this place is about. They are the antithesis of every swanky cocktail bar, every seating only speakeasy and every glittery gastropub in London. And yet they manage to do it without ever being snooty. God love ‘em.

139 Highgate Rd, NW5 1LE
www.thesouthamptonarms.co.uk/

If you believe that variety is the spice of life then there’s simply no getting away from it – you have to visit Ladies & Gentlemen. Set in a former underground toilet, this stylish gin-fuelled cocktail bar is nothing if not ambitious. The inside is – unsurprisingly – cosy. But the quality of service, layout and cool decor more than make up for the lack of space. Not only that, they also make their own gin. Using a 16-litre copper still (because space wasn’t apparently at a premium), they make Highwayman Gin. Which, we have to say, is the most delicious gin ever made in a toilet. Fact.

2 Highgate Rd, NW5 1NR
www.ladiesandgents.co/

There’s no doubting that the guys behind The Chicken Shop were deliberately trying to throw you with the rubbish name. But when you discover that those guys were actually the same people behind Pizza East and Soho House, you suddenly feel a lot more forgiving about it. Like all good things in life, The Chicken Shop is a simple concept. Rotisserie chicken served with a choice of sides and sauces. Except this chicken has been marinaded in a bath of orange and spice, and it is delicious. The interior is also stylishly simple and for a quick lunch or dinner it can’t be beaten.

9 Highgate Rd, NW5 1TL
www.chickenshop.com/en/kentish-town

Eerily named after the mind bending milk bar from Stanley Kubrick’s ‘A Clockwork Orange’, Korova is a French restaurant and cocktail bar with a stylish village feel and some big city ideas. What makes this incredible cafe-bar-restaurant so utterly desirable is the attention to detail. Owned by the guys behind the Pan Asian bar and restaurant Zen Sai in Camden, Korova serves all its main meals for around £15 and when you try them it’ll feel like daylight robbery. Subtle, delicious, classic and creative – Korova hits all the marks. Even the cocktails come with an old world style. Drinks like the Negroni and Corpse Reviver No 2 take prominence over sweeter crowd pleasers.

9 Campdale Rd, N7 0EA
www.korovarestaurant.com/

Much like its sibling restaurant the Chicken Shop, Pizza East may sound like a bog standard pizzeria, but trust us, it’s so much more. Yes, they’re big on the rustic pizzas, but they also make every other aspect of your meal their business. Using their wood fired oven, they serve up a tantalising antipasti menu, as well as some truly delicious main dishes. The whole place is set out like something between an authentic meat drying house and a cool, rustic cafe. They also serve some excellent cocktails and wine to pair with your food, and their Sunday brunch and roasts are a thing of local folklore.

79 Highgate Rd, NW5 1TL
www.pizzaeast.com/kentish-town/

North London is an area famously synonymous with live music. However, for the mostpart, that’s a connection most people apply to neighbouring Camden Town. Whereas, in truth, a lot of the biggest names that visit the area come to the Forum. Originally opened in 1934 as an incredibly stylish art deco cinema, The Forum was then turned into a music hall for Irish Dance. Today, it stands as one of the best places to see some of the most exciting bands in world music. Local girl Amy Winehouse, Jack white and Rihanna are just a few of the huge international stars that have played at The Forum. They also quite often host comedy nights as well. Check the website for listings.

9-17 Highgate Rd, London NW5 1JY
www.academymusicgroup.com/o2forumkentishtown/

If you’ve been in London long enough you’ll know that city farms aren’t actually all that unusual. Plenty of areas have them and they provide welcome respite from the traffic, noise and pollution of the city. Kentish Town City Farm is one of the city’s oldest such farms and can be found by Gospel Oak station. It houses a number of rural animals including, pigs, ducks, chickens, horses and even a cow. There are also apple groves and vegetable patches, and visitors are actively encouraged to drop by to visit, feed and even ride the animals. The farm is free to visit and it sopen daily.

1 Cressfield Cl, NW5 4BN
ktcityfarm.org.uk/

Once again, it’s not just Camden that gets all the good stuff. Although if you’re expecting the Dandy Lion Market to be anything like Camden’s famous market, you’ll be disappointed. Hosted at Sir Richard Steele pub in Belsize Park, this is the kind of market that celebrates individuality and flair above all else. The traders sell everything from unusual clothing to rare bric-a-brac and hand crafted gifts. It costs nothing to enter and there’s usually music, food and drinks on offer. Folks are encouraged to dress as loud and proud as you possibly can.

97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 4RL
ilovemarkets.co.uk/listing/dandy-lion-market/