London area guide: Finsbury Park

Finsbury Park is much more than the home of Arsenal, it’s a hub of cultural activity, excellent food and, as you may have guessed from its name, nature. Whatever kind of day you want to have – a long reflective walk, a big night out or a catch-up with friends – all are catered to in Finsbury Park.

Entertainment

You don’t have to venture far from Finsbury Park station to find something to do. Immediately outside one exit is Rowan’s Tenpin Bowl, an iconic and historic venue that has played host to awkward first dates and family outings since 1913. Without leaning too far into the contrived nostalgia of many chains, this is a classic venue with all the trimmings – including the requisite menu of greasy food—and a DJ on weekends.

By the other exit is Finsbury Park Picturehouse, which has survived the chain’s recent cullings and continues to screen a range of old and new releases, holds one-off events and provides some of the comfiest chairs in the game.

Around the corner is Park Theatre, which stages both well-known classics and new works from up-and-coming talent. The former office building impressively fits in two performance spaces, two bars and serves sustainably angled sourdough pizza. Warm lighting and broad wooden tables make this a lovely place to spend time even without seeing a show, and the fact that you’re supporting the arts with your Margherita just adds to the appeal.

For a more energetic form of entertainment, head to the Castle Climbing Centre. Rather than the cold environment you might expect from a climbing gym, this former Victorian water pumping station has much more character. With both inside and outside platforms, there’s something for climbers both new and experienced. The centre caters to non-climbers too, with a permaculture community garden and a vegetarian cafe on site.

It’s impossible to ignore the appeal of the titular park itself, especially the Parkland Walk Trail. Connecting Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace, this route follows an abandoned railway that takes you up above the streets of North London, through tunnels and over old platforms. There’s something incredibly interesting about tracing a path meant for a locomotive and seeing how nature has reclaimed the space.

Delis

Stroud Green Road is the place to be if you’re a fan of fancy food markets; multiple shops down here sell intriguing groceries. Deli at 80 serves coffee, pastries and chunky sandwiches alongside high-end produce, including a wide selection of cheeses. And if you want to linger, the deli has chairs and tables outside.

Across the street is Green and Glory, which has more of an upmarket corner shop vibe. Shelves are stacked with tinned goods, fresh fruit and veg and enough snacks to keep you going all day.

Further along the road is Butler’s, the perfect place to go if you want to prepare for a night in with all the trimmings that accompany a good bottle (or two) of wine – cheese and charcuterie.

Coffee and dining

Common Ground is a popular spot for coffee and pastries, with a garden for al fresco dining in the warmer months. If the queue is too long, The Front Room Cafe is a good bet too, with living room-style decor including books, vintage radios and various ephemera. N4 Coffee Fruit, a small rustic coffee shop set back from the main road, also does a mean latte and displays the work of independent artists.

For something a little fancier, Salt the Radish on Blackstock Road is a seasonally-inspired brunch cafe that has developed a keen following since 2017. No stranger to diversification, the place also runs regular supper clubs and sells its own spice mixtures, so you can take some of their signature flavours home with you.

There’s truly no shortage of places to eat here – the difficult part will be choosing what you want. Turkish restaurant Petek is a local favourite, lit by an array of coloured lamps and serving up all the classics from chicken shish to kofte to moussaka.

Dotori is another Finsbury Park landmark, a Korean-Japanese fusion restaurant known in part for how difficult it is to get a table. With a walk-in-only policy, be prepared to wait it out here if you arrive during peak hours. Steaming bowls of bibimbap, colourful sushi plates, and all the sake and soju await you as a reward for your patience.

Relatively new to the scene is Tollington’s Fish Bar & Restaurant bringing you a little piece of Barcelona to North London. The team behind the Pimsoll pub (also in Finsbury Park) offer tapas and little Spanish touches in the decor in a space that pays tribute to the building’s former incarnation as a fish and chip shop. The menu is paired back, unfussy and delicious.

Bars and pubs

Someday Someday, so good they named it twice, is a bright, warmly lit bar specialising in margaritas and spritzes. The weekly calendar here includes club nights on Friday and Saturday, along with by-the-slice pizza for when you’ve had one too many, and Taco Tuesdays to liven up your work week.

Great for a special evening out, Dempseys Cocktail Bar is a haven for cocktail lovers. Its menu explains the history of each drink and every glass is carefully presented with perfectly round pieces of orange peel or embossed ice cubes, these touches of detail give the place a high-class edge.

Pub-wise, The Faltering Fullback is a lively local with cosy, wooden decor and a Thai twist. Hosting live music nights, a weekly quiz and, of course, providing somewhere to watch the football and the rugby, this leaf-covered spot is the perfect place to while away the evening.

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