Since I became a teenager I have visited Brixton a good few times for gigs and club nights, until relatively recently it would always be a fleeting visit, largely due to not knowing there was anything else there and not having any friends from the area to advise me otherwise.
Perched on the end of the Victoria line Brixton may look far away but is luckily easy to visit from most areas of London and I have become extremely grateful for this. Recently I have discovered the joy that is: Brixton Village. Far far away from your conventional view of a village, this is actually a 1930s Market Arcade, but who needs thatched cottages, rolling hills and fresh air when you can have almost any cuisine imaginable freshly prepared in the bustling heart of Brixton. From casual café style Columbian to more upmarket joints such as Champagne+Fromage you're certain to find something to tickle your fancy!
The restaurants are largely BYOB and there is even a great independent wine merchant within the village itself. I've yet to try even half of the restaurants here but can't say it'll be much of a chore doing more research. I will keep you up to date on my favourite finds as I go.
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A must try for me at Paradise Soho are the gigantic grilled ceylonese prawns - tender and smokey from the charring & the cashew curry along with a hopper.
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As an independent wine bar their focus is on stocking wines from smaller producers, lesser known regions and grape varieties, and also female winemakers.
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The team at the Penny Drop are real coffee geeks in the best possible sense of the word and go to great lengths sourcing the best coffee beans out there.
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If you arrive in the morning you’ll find their popular morning buns with a variety of fillings, sticky buns, beignets, and more!
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Rondo La Cave is a hip wine bar situated in the basement of the Hoxton hotel and has a charming rustic interior with dim lighting.
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The menu has all the brunch classics you’d expect and also some more unusual offerings as well as weekend specials that change regularly...
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Quiet yet somehow buzzing, classy yet unpretentious, central yet hidden. What impresses me most is the concentration of great spots in such a small area.
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The Bloomsbury farmers market is a small market for fresh produce and lots of different food stalls held every Thursday on Bloomsbury square.
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Southwark Brewing company has a range of traditional beers such as ales, IPAs, porter, and bitter - all really fresh and available on draft or bottle.
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Museum Lates is a concept that is essentially a late-night opening when you can explore the exhibitions without the day-trip crowds getting in your way.
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Stir Coffee Brixton is a lovely neighbourhood coffee shop located on the corner of Brixton Hill and Arodene Road which has a very chilled vibe.
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It was set up in 2009 by Highbury resident and cat enthusiast Doreen Rolph, as a place to raise funds for local animal welfare organisations.
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