London area guide: Angel

Angel is a quaint pocket of London that feels more like its own little town than an urban neighbourhood just minutes away from King’s Cross. With charming streets of unique shops and restaurants, this is one of my favourite areas of the city to explore.

Whether you’re in the mood for a little retail therapy, want to try a new dish, or have tickets to a theatre show, you can easily spend a whole day wandering around Angel. These are just some of my go-to places in Angel and a little into Islington and Clerkenwell (I promise they’re worth the extra walk!).

Coffee & Tea

There are plenty of great coffee shops in Angel where you can stop for a latte and a sweet treat while you're shopping and exploring.

The Redemption Roasters location in Camden Passage is your typical modern, minimalist coffee shop on the ground floor, but the basement is like a mermaid’s grotto with teacups and silverware stuck onto the wall.

For something more traditional, High Ground is a cosy coffee spot that also hosts wine tastings on the weekend. Nearby, you can grab coffee at Devotion Coffee or pick up beans from small independent roasteries to take home.

There is also a Bird & Blend tea shop in Camden Passage, where you can shop for creative blends and treat yourself to one of their signature tea lattes.

Bakeries

If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t feel ready to take on the week without a fresh loaf of sourdough in your kitchen, Sourdough Sophia is a must. This adorable pink bakery has some of the best bread in London and the cutest merch to match. This is dangerous information for the tote bag hoarders among us - but if you pick up one of their tote bags, you get a sourdough loaf for free!

Infamously trendy, Pophams is unfortunately worth the queues. With specialty pastries and stunning interiors, you have to go at least once. I highly recommend following them on social media to see what unusual flavour combinations they come up with each week.

Like almost every corner in London nowadays, Angel also has a Buns from Home that serves their iconic pastry-like cinnamon buns and indulgent weekend specials that are always too good to miss.

Serving giant cookies from a tiny yellow storefront, Crumb is Angel's answer to viral New York-style cookies that seem to be popping up everywhere. Shockingly, these decadent cookies are entirely plant-based and come in unique flavours like brookie and almond croissant.

Dining

Angel is home to restaurants offering a multitude of cuisines. It would take years to try everything this area offers, so here are my top recommendations.

Tofu Vegan is a plant-based Chinese restaurant that might put you off your usual Chinese takeaway for good. This is my favourite solo date spot in London as the staff are always friendly and the atmosphere is so relaxed and welcoming. My usual order is the smacked cucumbers and wontons in the house sauce.

If the price of Eurostar tickets has made you push off your next trip to Paris, dinner at La Petite Auberge is the next best thing. This charming little bistro will transport you across the Channel with checkered tablecloths, a candle-lit dining room, and authentic French dishes.

If you are in Angel on a Sunday, stop into The Pig and Butcher for a comforting roast dinner. It goes without saying, this is a popular spot for a stellar trad roast lunch or dinner, but I had the most delicious veggie roast here and highly recommend it to anyone who doesn’t want to miss out on a Sunday lunch even if they don’t eat meat.

One of the cosiest restaurants in Angel, Gallipoli serves traditional Turkish dishes in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Further along Upper Street and tucked away in an alley is Detroit Pizza Islington, serving authentic deep-dish pizza in a sleek, industrial setting.

Shopping

Angel has shopping of all kinds, including high street brands, a weekend antique market, and a vast selection of specialty shops.

Some of my favourite shops can be found along Camden Passage. Magpie Vintage is perfectly curated with one-of-a-kind vintage pieces and upcycled fashion, like the most gorgeous scrunchies made from repurposed fabric. Across the street, Haygen has beautiful, Scandi-inspired homewares and clothing.

For book shopping, there is a huge Waterstones and a great Oxfam bookshop where I’ve had some lucky second-hand finds. Upper Street Books is a charming independent bookshop with an adorable children’s section and fun gifts like blind dates with a book.

For artisan ingredients, The Passage Pantry is perfect for upgrading your weekly shop. They carry products from gourmet brands and small local businesses, such as bagels from Papo’s in Dalston.

Theatre & cinema

Some of London's best performing arts venues are in Angel. You can find everything from world-class ballet to stand-up comedy shows in unique, historic theatres.

For movie nights, check out what’s showing at Screen on the Green. This old-school cinema only has one screen and offers a luxurious movie-going experience with plush seats and a menu of pizza and cocktails to accompany your film.

Islington Assembly Hall has hosted dances and social gatherings since the 1920s and is now a music venue bringing in musicians of every genre. It's one of the venues for the Pitchfork Music Festival, hosting an eclectic lineup of indie artists every November.

For dance performances, Sadler's Wells attracts ballet companies from across the UK to perform in London. I recently saw the Scottish Ballet perform A Streetcar Named Desire and it was a refreshing change from the usual repertoire of classical ballet companies.

For groundbreaking drama productions starring top actors from both stage and screen, the Almeida Theatre is one of the most exciting theatre companies in the city. From modern takes on Shakespeare to unique interpretations of classic plays, it’s worth trying your luck to get tickets to their highly anticipated productions.

If you’re looking for something slightly more lighthearted than Shakespeare or Tennessee Williams, an evening at the Angel Comedy Club is sure to lift your spirits. They host a free 45-minute set each evening where you might see some of your favourite comics try out new material.

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