The Creative Charm of Crouch End

The Beginning and Middle of Crouch End

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Once a countryside hamlet, the village of Crouch End is now a sought-after residential area with a busy high street and vibrant art scene. In the late 1800s, strong rail connections to central London accelerated Crouch End’s development and new housing, parks and roads were quickly laid out. By the 1930s, The Broadway and Topsfield Parade were already established as the main shopping streets and went on to form the town centre that exists today. While I wouldn’t class Crouch End as a London visitor destination in its own right, it is a worthy detour if you plan on visiting other attractions in the area such as the Sunday Farmer’s Market at Alexandra Palace, the Parkland Walk or Queen’s Woo...Read More

Once a countryside hamlet, the village of Crouch End is now a sought-after residential area with a busy high street and vibrant art scene. In the late 1800s, strong rail connections to central London accelerated Crouch End’s development and new housing, parks and roads were quickly laid out. By the 1930s, The Broadway and Topsfield Parade were already established as the main shopping streets and went on to form the town centre that exists today.

While I wouldn’t class Crouch End as a London visitor destination in its own right, it is a worthy detour if you plan on visiting other attractions in the area such as the Sunday Farmer’s Market at Alexandra Palace, the Parkland Walk or Queen’s Wood. Despite its small size, Crouch End has some great restaurants such as Banners and Rhythm and inexpensive bites to be found at Spiazzo and O’s Thai. For perfect coffee there’s Coffee Circus and for a taste of France, stop in at the Sable D’Or for a croissant. There’s also the old school Dunns bakery who are fifth generation bakers. The first master baker started his business in Highgate in 1827, making Dunns one of the longest-running bakeries in North London.

There are three supermarkets cheek-to-cheek on The Broadway (Budgens, Waitrose and Tesco) and a proliferation of opticians and hair and nail salons. Sadly there are also more than a few chain stores in evidence, with Costa, Starbucks, KFC, Boots and Wetherspoons amongst others having elbowed their way in.

A few boutique and independent clothes and gift shops can be found along Middle Lane and on Topsfield Parade with Gift, Indish and Treehouse all worth a look. For vintage designer label clothing, be sure to stop in at Change of Heart on the corner of Wolseley Road.

For the past seven years, the Crouch End Open Studios weekend has been bringing local art to local people. Painters, printers, sculptors and photographers based in and around Crouch End exhibit in their homes or in shops close to The Broadway. Locations in 2011 include Hornsey Library, the Sally Bourne Workshop on Middle Lane and even the local chemist, Petter Pharmacy. The website: www.crouchendopenstudios.co.uk provides details on times and locations although it’s not the most clear site so you have to do a bit of digging to get the correct information. It is a great way to explore the neighbourhood though and to pick up some unique artwork if you’re in the market.

There have also been some notable musicians associated with Crouch End. The Kinks and Dave Stewart are both reported to have set up recording studios in the area in the past. There is even an urban legend that Bob Dylan paid a visit to Dave Stewart’s studio, and if the rumour is true, to Banners as well. Read Less

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Getting to Crouch End

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Crouch End isn’t on the underground tube network, which is usually enough to put most outsiders off visiting an area in London. Accessing Crouch End by way of the Parkland Walk is a perfect way to arrive as it is an easy stroll from either Finsbury Park or Highgate (Northern line) tube stations. By bus, the W7 departs Finsbury Park station (Piccadilly and Victoria lines) and stops right on The Broadway. From central London, the W9 begins its route at Trafalgar Square and also travels through the centre of Crouch End. There is also the option of taking the W5 bus from Archway station (Northern line). The other choice is to catch an overground train to Crouch Hill station, which ...Read More

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Parkland Walk, Local Nature Reserve

Hotel | "The Parkland Walk "

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Away from the city smoke and noise is a leafy trail that runs through Crouch End. This gentle four-mile walk is ideal for children, dog walkers and railway aficionados.The north of London is blessed with green, open spaces. Hampstead Heath is one of the largest in the city and further north and east are Waterlow Park and Queens Wood in Highgate. London may be better known for its parks but there are also many public footpaths worth investigating. One such trail is the Parkland Walk, a 4.5 mile / 7.2km track that runs between Finsbury Park and Highgate. A final stretch continues on to Alexandra Palace and its park for far-reaching views over London. The trail is a nature reserve...Read More

Away from the city smoke and noise is a leafy trail that runs through Crouch End. This gentle four-mile walk is ideal for children, dog walkers and railway aficionados.

The north of London is blessed with green, open spaces. Hampstead Heath is one of the largest in the city and further north and east are Waterlow Park and Queens Wood in Highgate. London may be better known for its parks but there are also many public footpaths worth investigating.

One such trail is the Parkland Walk, a 4.5 mile / 7.2km track that runs between Finsbury Park and Highgate. A final stretch continues on to Alexandra Palace and its park for far-reaching views over London. The trail is a nature reserve and open only to walkers and cyclists and is accessible year round. The path follows what used to be part of the Northern Heights railway line, which ran from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace until 1954.

Steam trains once ran between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace and there were plans to electrify the line and make it a part of the London Underground system. The outbreak of World War Two halted the development and when the war ended, the Northern Heights railway instead remained an overground line for steam trains and eventually fell into disuse.

After years of neglect, the rails were pulled up and eventually the way was cleared for the opening of the Parkland Walk. A few reminders of the railway can be found along the trail. At Crouch End, an abandoned platform is now overgrown with weeds and trees and at Highgate the trail dead-ends into the derelict overground station. It is at Highgate that walkers have to leave the trail of the railway line and either cut through Queens Wood or walk along Muswell Hill Road as far as Cranley Gardens to rejoin the trail. The Friends of the Parkland Walk www.parkland-walk.org.uk website provides a map although bringing an A-Z map is advisable as there aren’t many good landmarks en route.

In 1990, the Parkland Walk was declared a Local Nature Reserve and most of the trail has been left for nature to take its course. Graffiti artists are in evidence where old railway bridges remain but for the most part, the path remains unaffected. Wild flowers have taken over where tracks once lay and animal life has replaced local commuter traffic. Hedgehogs, foxes, butterflies, birds, squirrels and rare deer have all been spotted in the Reserve.

Access to the Parkland Walk can be found at many sites along the route although the easiest starting points are at Highgate and Finsbury Park, reachable by the Northern and Victoria and Piccadilly lines on the London Underground. Helpful signs have recently been erected along the trail, indicating those roads, which connect with the trail. These are: Holmesdale Road (near Highgate tube), Northwood Road, Milton Park, Stanhope Road, Crescent Road, Crouch End Hill, Crouch Hill, Blythwood Road, Mount Pleasant Villas, Stapleton Hall Road, Florence Road, Upper Tollington Park and Oxford Road for Finsbury Park tube.

The trail can be accessed at any time of day and there is no entrance fee. Much of the path is flanked by trees and embankments obscure it from general view. In addition there are no lights so it is not a recommended route to take at night. It is also unpaved so boots and waterproofs may be required on wetter days and during the winter when the path can be reduced to a soggy, leafy mulch.

In the summer, taking a picnic to enjoy in either Finsbury or Alexandra Park is a great way to round off the walk. Alternatively, Crouch End has numerous cafes, bakeries and restaurants and also makes a great stopping point along the way. There are also no less than four supermarkets on the Broadway, enabling walkers to pick up a picnic en route. Or for more thirsty travelers, there are also plenty of good pubs to choose from. Read Less

Parkland Walk, Local Nature Reserve
North London
London

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Places to Eat

Banners

Restaurant | "Brunch at Banners"

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The red, yellow and green frontage of Banners Restaurant is well known in Crouch End and being that it is well-loved, reservations for weekend brunch are definitely recommended. Part of the reason for its popularity is that it is a family friendly place so come the weekend, large groups take over tables all morning and well into the afternoon.We arrived around 2pm on a Saturday without reservations and got lucky, with a table tucked away at the very back of the restaurant. We were just two tables away from the ‘Bob Dylan’ plaque. Apparently he paid a visit to Banners many years ago and was a little put out that their alcohol license meant they couldn’t sell him a drink if he didn’t order f...Read More

The red, yellow and green frontage of Banners Restaurant is well known in Crouch End and being that it is well-loved, reservations for weekend brunch are definitely recommended. Part of the reason for its popularity is that it is a family friendly place so come the weekend, large groups take over tables all morning and well into the afternoon.

We arrived around 2pm on a Saturday without reservations and got lucky, with a table tucked away at the very back of the restaurant. We were just two tables away from the ‘Bob Dylan’ plaque. Apparently he paid a visit to Banners many years ago and was a little put out that their alcohol license meant they couldn’t sell him a drink if he didn’t order food as well.

It was a little too early for drinks (for us anyway) so we were only too happy to order pancakes, a chicken burger and a couple of fresh fruit smoothies.

The inside of the restaurant is as colourful as outside. Old music posters and flyers cover the walls and each table is lined with all the condiments one could wish for.

Our food arrived but my gingerbread pancakes had been injected with finely chopped nuts. It wasn’t mentioned on the menu or by the waitress and unfortunately I’m allergic to nuts hadn’t suspected that they would be an ingredient. Our waitress was extremely apologetic and the kitchen quickly whisked up a batch of buttermilk substitutions, which were fluffy, filling and delicious. I drowned them in maple syrup and mopped up any residue with the crispy bacon and fried egg on the side. My husband had the Jamaican Jerk chicken burger, which comes in an onion bun with a chunky piece of breast meat slathered in spicy dark sauce, with chips and a small salad on the side. They should probably have a sign above their door: Abandon all diet plans all ye who enter here.

There are smaller sized meals and a long kids menu with Jamaican, British, American fare and even a ‘Kids Meze’ for parents wishing to introduce haloumi and hoummus to their child’s diet.

There was little left of our meals and although the dessert list was tempting, the buttermilk pancakes had completely filled me up. The only downside to Banners is that it’s on a busy road in north London and for all the colour in the cooking and on the walls, it would be better placed on a Caribbean beach. For Crouch End visitors and residents, the A1201 road isn’t quite as picturesque but at least you can enjoy some Southern American cocktails should the mood take you later in the day, or over brunch if the hair of the dog is in order. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 3, 2025

Banners
21 Park Road
London, England
+44-208-348-2930

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The Haberdashery

Restaurant | "Seasonal Sensations and Homebaked Cakes"

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The Haberdashery is brand new to Crouch End as of 25th November, 2009. In what some would say is a brave move opening a new business in an area already full of good eateries, The Haberdashery is dressed to impress. Painted in gentle eggshell blue and lime white, the simplicity of design at this café ensures that all eyes are drawn towards the baked masterpieces on display in the window and beside the counter.Bread, muffins and cakes are all baked in store and set out in pretty terracotta flowerpots and on delicate china plates. The menu is also thankfully simple. On a cold and wet November day, the specials board consisted of four hot soups: pumpkin and nutmeg, spicy tomato, sweet potato a...Read More

The Haberdashery is brand new to Crouch End as of 25th November, 2009. In what some would say is a brave move opening a new business in an area already full of good eateries, The Haberdashery is dressed to impress. Painted in gentle eggshell blue and lime white, the simplicity of design at this café ensures that all eyes are drawn towards the baked masterpieces on display in the window and beside the counter.

Bread, muffins and cakes are all baked in store and set out in pretty terracotta flowerpots and on delicate china plates. The menu is also thankfully simple. On a cold and wet November day, the specials board consisted of four hot soups: pumpkin and nutmeg, spicy tomato, sweet potato and parsley and Chinese leaf and haricot beans. I ordered the pumpkin soup, a deep Fortnum and Mason bowlful that comes with a pot of their bread of the day, which for me was olive. The bread was quite doughy with a hint of salt and a strong yeasty flavour. With the dots of olive and white complexion it had the appearance of a fruit scone. The soup followed shortly, tasting and looking more like a carrot based stock than pumpkin. They could have been a little more liberal with the nutmeg too but overall it was delicious and absolutely perfect for a wild winter’s day. Overhead warm orange lights added further cosiness to the café’s busy ambience.

For drinks we ordered a caffe latte and my husband tried the Pitfield Bitter. The owners have obviously made an effort to connect with local businesses and markets. Pitfield is an Essex based brewery and they regularly attend the nearby Alexandra Palace Sunday farmers market, which is where the owner came across them. In addition, their teas are sourced from Muswell Hill purveyor W. Martyn.

Other dishes on the lunch menu included Swedish meatballs and a pumpkin gnocchi. It is nice to see attention to detail not only in their décor but also in creating such a winsome, seasonal menu. The sandwich list included rare beef, ham and brie, chicken and a vegetarian option. My husband ordered the mustardy ham and brie in a baguette, which came with a side clump of bull’s blood leaves. The sandwich was fresh and tasty but for £5 should have been larger and the salad was very dry and sadly lacking any dressing.

I sipped on my bowl of coffee as we contemplated the cake line up in the shopfront. The coffee and thick hot chocolate are served in wide breakfast bowls, perfect for French-style pain au chocolate dunking if you stop in for breakfast. We zoned in on the handsome Victoria sponge, as did several other people as by the time we got our order in, only one slice remained. The homemade cake was very sugary and along with the rest of the café, reminiscent of times gone by when individual ingredients were less blended and could actually be identified.

By the cash register they have created a sweet shop counter, complete with American bonbons, lollipops, marshmallows and Christmas candy canes. If they ever put in a fireplace and a sofa I might go in and never leave.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

The Haberdashery
22 Middle Lane
London, England N8 8PL
020 8342 8098

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Hot Pepper Jelly

Restaurant | "A Bright and Spicy Lunch Spot"

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Along the busy and slightly dirty and tatty Broadway Parade in Crouch End, Hot Pepper Jelly provides a bright and breezy interval. The walls were decorated with colourful artwork of daffodils and tulips. A local art club set an exercise for 5-11 year olds to emulate Van Gogh and to be fair, their efforts were better than some adult stuff I’ve seen at other cafes. Beyond the artwork, the community feel extends to the toilet where leaflets and cards for local businesses are posted on the back of the door. HPJ is a narrow café but the menu is wide. Fortunately as they strive to provide a good variety it doesn’t seem like they’ve compromised on quality. We ordered two iced coffees and as they ...Read More

Along the busy and slightly dirty and tatty Broadway Parade in Crouch End, Hot Pepper Jelly provides a bright and breezy interval. The walls were decorated with colourful artwork of daffodils and tulips. A local art club set an exercise for 5-11 year olds to emulate Van Gogh and to be fair, their efforts were better than some adult stuff I’ve seen at other cafes. Beyond the artwork, the community feel extends to the toilet where leaflets and cards for local businesses are posted on the back of the door.

HPJ is a narrow café but the menu is wide. Fortunately as they strive to provide a good variety it doesn’t seem like they’ve compromised on quality. We ordered two iced coffees and as they blend it with vanilla ice cream, I had to suppress the urge to gulp down the pint in one go. They also serve a variety of tasty-sounding fruit smoothies mixed with yogurt and honey.

The lunch menu offers salads, sandwiches and a variety of pasta. The sandwich order starts with your bread selection, which from memory includes focaccia, panini, tortilla, white bread, wholegrain and I think baguette as well. I went for the BLT on panini and my husband chose an Indian Summer sandwich (chicken, mango chutney and fresh coriander) on focaccia. The large glasses of iced coffee arrived first, topped with a thick layer of cappuccino froth. The sandwiches followed shortly. My BLT was served with a clump of rocket and a drizzle of balsamic along with two other colourful puddles of some reduction I couldn’t identify. One was green and the other orange and it does tell you what they are on the menu. They were quite tangy and went well with the rocket and the ends of the panini, which I used to mop up any remaining dressing.

My panini was good, with fresh lettuce, tomato and perfectly cooked bacon. The only issue I personally had was with the chili mayonnaise. Given the name of the café it’s not easy to escape spicy ingredients but when something is so good as it is, why mess with it? The BLT is predominantly a breakfast or brunch meal and I didn’t really understand the point of or need the kick that the chili mayonnaise offered. They seem quite flexible there though so I imagine asking for it without wouldn’t be an issue.

The Indian Summer disappeared quickly so it must have been good. They also have more traditional sandwiches like tuna mayonnaise and kid-friendly options and portions. If you’re looking for something bigger, then full fry-ups are also on the menu.

Hot Pepper Jelly doesn’t take cards or cheques so do bring cash. Our two sandwiches (one with a side salad) and two iced coffees came to about £14 not including service charge.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

Hot Pepper Jelly
11 Broadway Parade
London, England N8 9DE
+44 20 8340 4318

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O's Thai Cafe

Restaurant | "Fresh, Yummy and Very Reasonably Priced"

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Close to the clock tower in Crouch End is the bright and funky O’s Thai restaurant, named after owner Somchai Kantavanich, who has the mysterious Thai nickname ‘O’. Kantavanich started doing Thai food just down the road in the Victoria Stakes pub in Muswell Hill in 1993 but just four years later he and a partner had opened their own restaurant.O’s is a popular restaurant and the tables are busy almost every night of the week. The big draws are that the service is fast and friendly, the food is very good and it’s cheap. Two mains and two drinks costs less than £20 and while their website says there is no service charge for tables with less than five people, you will probably want to tip reg...Read More

Close to the clock tower in Crouch End is the bright and funky O’s Thai restaurant, named after owner Somchai Kantavanich, who has the mysterious Thai nickname ‘O’. Kantavanich started doing Thai food just down the road in the Victoria Stakes pub in Muswell Hill in 1993 but just four years later he and a partner had opened their own restaurant.

O’s is a popular restaurant and the tables are busy almost every night of the week. The big draws are that the service is fast and friendly, the food is very good and it’s cheap. Two mains and two drinks costs less than £20 and while their website says there is no service charge for tables with less than five people, you will probably want to tip regardless of how many people are at your table.

Multi-coloured pink hearts light up the shop window at O’s, adding a touch of kitsch to O’s very clean and simple style. Inside there are rainbow panels on one side of the room and specials boards on the other. Small wooden tables are crammed in for maximum capacity so don’t expect a quiet or intimate night out.

For groups bigger than four, reservations are recommended but otherwise the turnover of customers is fairly fast so waiting should be short or non-existent. The staff at O’s is very sweet and friendly. If you are hungry then O’s is perfect because the staff is fast on their feet and food is quick to come out.

According to their website, O sources only fresh ingredients. On a Saturday night, I had the Pad Khing with chicken, vegetables and ginger. The mix of beans, pepper, onions, cauliflower and mushrooms did taste fresh as did the crunchy slivers of ginger. My husband ordered Pad Thai with chicken. The salt, curry powder and chopped peanuts were placed to the side of the dish in delicate mounds, meaning he could add as much as little as he wanted.

Choosing a dish at O’s can be tricky. In addition to their regular menu and a three course set menu they also have an unusually long specials board. They have a list of O’s recommendations and on another visit my husband had the Pad Chu Chee (number 23), which he thought was particularly good and has been recommended by other visitors too. Most dishes come with the choice of meat or bean curd, or for a slightly higher price, king prawn.

All the tables are small, wooden squares and the lack of space can make things tricky if you order multiple dishes. The vase with oversized plastic flower and green frond took up a quite a bit of space so you have to watch where you put your elbows. Also be prepared for the fact that you may have to get up close and personal with some of your fellow diners, being as they will be in very close proximity.

Don’t let this put you off though. Everyone at O’s are there for a good night out and while it can be noisy when full, people are generally in good spirits. This is particularly true on weekend nights. The restaurant is very close to some great spots in Crouch End including The Kings Head (which has a comedy club), the Queens pub and the popular Kiss the Sky bar, making it an ideal place to eat before heading off into the night.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

O's Thai Cafe
10 Topsfield Parade
London, England N8 8PR
+44 20 8348 6898

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Old Dairy (The)

Restaurant | "Sunday Lunch at The Old Dairy"

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If you ever find yourself traveling along the North London overground line you will be lucky for two reasons. The first being that the trains are running (a current rarity at weekends) and the second is that you’ll have the opportunity to alight at Crouch Hill station, the nearest port from which you can reach the Old Dairy Pub.The first bonus about the Old Dairy is that it is huge, meaning that seats are usually easy to come by. However, if a major sports match is on (e.g. the World Cup) or it’s Sunday lunch you had better make sure you either turn up early or call ahead and book a table in their restaurant.The last time I visited was not a happy occasion. This had nothing to ...Read More

If you ever find yourself traveling along the North London overground line you will be lucky for two reasons. The first being that the trains are running (a current rarity at weekends) and the second is that you’ll have the opportunity to alight at Crouch Hill station, the nearest port from which you can reach the Old Dairy Pub.

The first bonus about the Old Dairy is that it is huge, meaning that seats are usually easy to come by. However, if a major sports match is on (e.g. the World Cup) or it’s Sunday lunch you had better make sure you either turn up early or call ahead and book a table in their restaurant.

The last time I visited was not a happy occasion. This had nothing to do with the pub. England were playing Germany in the last sixteen of the 2010 World Cup and that’s all I need to say.

We rocked up about an hour and a half before kick off and bagged one of the last tables with three high backed studded leather chairs. The pub rapidly filled up after we arrived although on a more ordinary Sunday the pace is obviously a bit more sedate.

Orders need to be placed at the bar and as it was a particularly hot afternoon I chose a light Chicken Caesar Salad for lunch and a bottle of chilled Mexican beer. My husband on the other hand went for roast chicken with red pepper stuffing and all the trimmings.

The Old Dairy is a beautiful building and as the name suggests, used to be a working dairy. Built in 1890, the pub has retained appealing features such as exposed brick walls and steel girders but renovations have been done with sensitivity. Skylights let shafts of sun through from above and below them stylish chandeliers illuminate the black wooden galleries and red brick walls.

Outside a series of beautiful etchings resembling paintings of Greek legend illustrate ‘grazing’, ‘milking’, ‘cooling’, ‘delivery’ and ‘butter’. Make sure you take a look at them from the Crouch Hill side as they are works of art in their own right.

Our food arrived in good time. The roast was doused in a decent amount of gravy and came with a Yorkshire pudding and roast vegetables. My salad contained a healthy amount of grilled chicken but also over generous helpings of dressing and anchovies. Had they exercised a bit more restraint with these two ingredients the salad would have been greatly improved.

Overall though the food isn’t bad and the prices are probably average for London. Roasts are £12.50 (beef is £1 more) and my salad was £10.50. We have also eaten in the dining room. The rooms which make up the formal dining area are ideal for groups but reservations are best made for Sunday lunch regardless of the size of your party. There aren’t a great deal of other good pubs nearby so unless you’re up for a trek to Crouch End, about a fifteen minute walk away up and over Crouch Hill, booking ahead is a good idea.

If you want to make a half day of it there is the option of getting the Northern line tube to Highgate station and doing part of the Woodland Park Walk: http://ukirelandtravel.suite101.com/article.cfm/an_easy_woodland_hike_in_north_london
Exit at Crouch Hill and it’s only a short downhill amble to The Old Dairy. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 9, 2025

Old Dairy (The)
1-3 Crouch Hill
London N4 4AP
+44 20 7263 3337

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Spiazzo

Restaurant | "Crouch End's Own Little Italy"

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Spiazzo Italian Food Hall holds possibly the prime retail position in Crouch End. Bang smack in the middle of the Broadway with the main bus stop just outside, it’s impossible to miss this place as it commandeers the corner of the main street’s only green area, which despite its small size, is a popular resting point for locals in the summer. Summer is Spiazzo’s busy season, when the outdoor seating area is as popular as the diminutive park it borders. However boxy booths inside fill up fast in the winter with chatty families and couples meeting up for a brunch date.The Italian influence can be felt as soon as you enter with a wide deli counter facing the entrance and stockpiles of pasta, ...Read More

Spiazzo Italian Food Hall holds possibly the prime retail position in Crouch End. Bang smack in the middle of the Broadway with the main bus stop just outside, it’s impossible to miss this place as it commandeers the corner of the main street’s only green area, which despite its small size, is a popular resting point for locals in the summer. Summer is Spiazzo’s busy season, when the outdoor seating area is as popular as the diminutive park it borders. However boxy booths inside fill up fast in the winter with chatty families and couples meeting up for a brunch date.

The Italian influence can be felt as soon as you enter with a wide deli counter facing the entrance and stockpiles of pasta, sauces, biscotti and panettone filling every window space. They have recently installed a shiny new pizza oven although I’ve yet to see it working. Pizza boxes are also stacked high in anticipation of take out orders so watch this space.

The service at Spiazzo isn’t highly regarded by too many online reviews that I’ve looked at. However on my last visit (28/02/10) I’m happy to report that the service was fast, efficient and while our waiters weren’t gushing with pleasantries, they certainly weren’t impolite. The restaurant was busy so I’d like to think they were instead focused on getting food and drinks out quickly.

We ordered a panini with chicken escalope, mozzarella and roasted vegetables and a ham and rocket pizza and two drinks. Thankfully Spiazzo doesn’t let that Italian side down and serves decent coffee. We sipped frothy cappuccinos under the watchful eye of an Edward Hopper "Nighthawks" reproduction. The scenario in his painting was a world away from the hive of activity in Spiazzo.

Spiazzo also serves excellent panini and pizzas. The chicken escalope was lightly breaded and deliciously crispy rather than greasy. The small salad on the side was a little limp but with a helping of aubergine and courgette in the sandwich, this was a minor criticism. The pizza was a picture of freshness. The dough looked recently hand-thrown and random bubbles had risen from its time in the oven, after which parmesan, rocket and Parma ham had been scattered liberally all over.

In spite of the generous portions, both the panini and pizza quickly disappeared. Around us, large bowls of pasta kept appearing and although we enjoyed our meals, we did develop a mild case of food envy.

The bill was delivered to our table but you pay at the till at the front of the shop, giving weak-willed customers (like us) the option of picking up a small liqueur chocolate or three on the way out. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 5, 2025

Spiazzo
26 The Broadway
London, England N8 9DR
+44 20 8347 6065

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World Cafe

Restaurant | "Lunches are Big but Far from Worldly"

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How World Café got its name I do not know. This narrow corner café, set back from the main street of Crouch End’s Broadway serves average food at average prices and catering as it does to the local hordes of mums and toddlers, there’s decidedly little ‘worldly’ about it. The menu is an odd mix of an all-day breakfast (served until 4pm anyway), Spanish tapas and burgers. World Café is always busy so maybe there is something to be said about middle of the road food. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and the service we experienced was fast and friendly. There were a number of solo customers who the staff left alone to their coffees and newspapers, perhaps another reason for its popularity. ...Read More

How World Café got its name I do not know. This narrow corner café, set back from the main street of Crouch End’s Broadway serves average food at average prices and catering as it does to the local hordes of mums and toddlers, there’s decidedly little ‘worldly’ about it. The menu is an odd mix of an all-day breakfast (served until 4pm anyway), Spanish tapas and burgers.

World Café is always busy so maybe there is something to be said about middle of the road food. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and the service we experienced was fast and friendly. There were a number of solo customers who the staff left alone to their coffees and newspapers, perhaps another reason for its popularity.

We ordered a club sandwich and chicken burger and sipped on watery cappuccinos while our order was prepared. The lone coffee drinkers picked at their all-day breakfasts, pored over the day’s news and obliviously chatted on mobile phones, whiling away a cold, windy and rainy November afternoon.

The place has seen better days. The décor is a strange mix of a faded Moroccan restaurant cum community centre cum holistic remedy store. Flyers for local services and events are scattered around, fairy lights are strung across the windows and bad artwork hangs on the sand-coloured walls. Behind the somewhat redundant bar a number of wall mounted optics sit waiting for bottles. There are no bar stools and despite calling itself a café, bar and restaurant, World Café is definitely not a bar and is on thin ice appropriating the restaurant title as well.

Our food arrived and one thing can be said, they do not skimp on portions. The club sandwich was a tower of brown toasted bread, chicken, tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise and hard boiled egg skewered through with a slice of bacon on top. The chicken burger was slightly less impressive and the sesame bread bun looked suspiciously like those that come in a freezer 12-pack. Both came with chips, which were slightly soggy and unexplainably moreish.

Admittedly their cake counter looked quite decent with pasteis de nata, a large homemade carrot cake and other pastries. Specials boards advertised pastas and wines although with a large Oddbins over the road, buying alcohol out may be a safer bet.

World Café isn’t a bad place but it isn’t good either. Our meals with two drinks came to £20. It’s a fine place to relax and read the paper at the weekend, or if you have children in tow, stop in mid-week for a coffee and cake. Otherwise you may want to head back to the Broadway and try one of the better cafes there.
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Member Rating 1 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

World Cafe
130 Crouch Hill
London, England N8 9DY
+44 20 8340 5635

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