A list of places that people who use Monzo loved last month in North London.
They’re the places you've been going to lots recently, beyond all the big chains and familiar names. They’re not the most popular places overall (sorry Greggs), but your favourite haunts and neighbourhood gems.
Let us know what you think and share your favourite places using #TrendingSpending!
You can hear from our Machine Learning Lead Neal to learn how we work out what’s trending, and see what’s trending in the rest of London.
We’ve started with London because it’s where the most people use Monzo. But if you find this interesting, we’d love to do your city next! Let us know in the community forum or tell us on Twitter.
Cafes in North London
Le Péché Mignon
6 Ronalds Rd, Highbury, N5 1XH
lepechemignon.co.uk
This independent French café is tucked away on a quiet street just off the Holloway Road.
It’s a cute place to grab a pastry and a coffee (they serve Monmouth) in the morning, or a croque madame for lunch. The backyard is a bit of a suntrap. And you can even stock up on fancy wines, cheeses and charcuterie. As one Google reviewer put it, “eggcellent oeufs.”
TRADE
330 Essex Road, N1 3PB
trade-made.co.uk
@trade_coffee
You love the coffee and the brunch options at this Essex Road eaterie. Follow @trade_coffee on Insta for beauty shots of brownies and sausage rolls.
Bread & Bean
37 Junction Rd, Upper Holloway, N19 5QU
@BreadandBean37
A reliable cafe and breakfast spot near Archway. Their full English comes with crispy triangles of polenta and homemade beans.
Vagabond N7
105 Holloway Rd, London N7 8LT
vagabond.london
@vagabondcoffeeroasters
Serious coffee (roasted on-site) and a cute little back garden.
Towpath Café
42 De Beauvoir Crescent, N1 5SB
@friendsof_towpathcafe
According to Eater London, the annual re-opening of this canal-side cafe in Haggerston is the surest sign that Spring’s arrived in the city.
And although it’s been pouring with rain all supposed-summer, the cafe’s still been serving wholesome food on tables that spill out onto the towpath.
The cafe’s hours do vary according to the weather, and it goes until dusk (so opens later as the nights get longer).
Westland Coffee & Wine
1 Westland Pl, Hoxton, N1 7LP
Set just off a slightly faceless stretch of City Road, Westland is a cute independent shop serving coffee and sandwiches during the day, and wine after work.
Minkies Deli
87 Chamberlayne Rd, NW10 5RQ
minkiesdeli.co.uk
@minkiesdeli_kensalrise
Doppio Coffee Warehouse
177 Kentish Town Rd, NW1 8PD
doppiocoffee.co.uk
@doppiocoffee
Varanda Brazil
161 High Rd, Willesden Green, NW10 2SG
@varandabrazil
Restaurants in North London
Hot Wok Kitchen
663 Holloway Rd, N19 5SE
@hotwokarchway
Hot Wok Kitchen serves Chinese and other East Asian food (like this enormous laksa) to locals on the Holloway Road. One TripAdvisor reviewer even called it the best place in Archway.
Curious Yellow Kafe, Hoxton
77 Pitfield St, Hoxton, N1 6BT
@curiousyellowkafe
A cute all-day cafe serving food and coffee from behind a bright yellow door on Pitfield Street.
Salt the Radish
45 Blackstock Rd, Finsbury Park, N4 2JF
@salttheradish
According to Hot Dinners, Salt the Radish is a ‘vegcentric’ cafe in Finsbury Park, serving Climpson & Sons coffee alongside veggie- and vegan-friendly food.
Monty’s Deli
227-229 Hoxton St, N1 5LG
montys-deli.com
@montys_deli
Monty’s Deli started life serving “Jewish soul food” from a stall on Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey, before crowdfunding £150,000 to set up permanent shop in Hoxton. Their Reuben Special layers pastrami and salt beef, with swiss cheese, mustard and sauerkraut between slices of toasted rye.
Spaccanapoli
5 Charcot Rd, London NW9 5HG
spaccanapolilondon.co.uk
@spaccanapolicolindale
A proper place for pasta and Neapolitan pizza in Colindale.
Sushi and More
9 Northways Parade, NW3 5EN
Korean and Japanese staples, with takeaway options for lunch. Plus kimchi homemade by the restaurant’s friendly owners.
The Sea Shell of Lisson Grove
49-51 Lisson Grove, NW1 6UH
The Sea Shell has been serving fish and chips to Marylebone since 1957. And according to the Evening Standard, even Denzel Washington has been to the traditional chippy.
Phoenix Palace
5 Glentworth Streeet, NW1 5PG
The Infatuation calls Phoenix Palace “one of the most upmarket of London’s old-school dim sum palaces”, while the Evening Standard reassures us that it “lives up to its regal name with its palatial interiors.” Luckily, prices are good value for classic dim sum.
Pita
102 Golders Green Rd, NW11 8HB
Classic kosher restaurant serving what one reviewer reckons is “the best falafel in London by a country mile.”
Czechoslovak Restaurant
74 West End Ln, NW6 2LX
czechoslovak-restaurant.co.uk
A restaurant and bar in a huge house in Hampstead, that started as a meeting place for Czechs and Slovaks after WWII.
Bars and pubs in North London
Highbury Library
66A Drayton Park, N5 1ND
@highburylibrary
Chilled out bar with a nice back garden, right opposite the Emirates Stadium.
The Angel Inn
37 Highgate High St, N6 5JT
theangelhighgate.co.uk
@theangelhighgate
Old White Lion
121 Great North Road, N2 0NW
theoldwhitelionfinchley.co.uk
@theoldwhitelion
High praise from the Londonist calls the Old White Lion “almost certainly the finest pub in all the Finchleys.”
Landseer Arms
37 Landseer Road, N19 4JU
@landseerarms
The Beehive
Stoneleigh Road, N17 9BQ
beehiven17.com
This Tottenham pub had queues out the door when Spurs played (and unfortunately lost) to Liverpool in the Champions League final.
Brouhaha
501 Green Lanes, N4 1AL
brouhahabar.com
@brouhaha_bar
Oak N4
5-7 Wells Terrace, N4 3JU
oakn4.co.uk
Wine, charcuterie and live music at this bottle shop in Finsbury Park.
The Engineer
65 Gloucester Ave, NW1 8JD
theengineerprimrosehill.co.uk
Did you find this interesting? Tell us what you think in the community! We'd love to do more cities outside London, so let us know where we should look next 😃