Café Vintage (N5 2LT)

88 Mountgrove Road London N5 2LT

http://www.cafevintage.co.uk/  

Cafes like this are what reinvigorate London’s high streets. It’s located on an unremarkable street, mid-way between two café hot spots (Stoke Newington Church St and Stroud Green Road). 

The street has potential… plenty of vacant store fronts, a gallery here and there. It’s what the agents like to call “up and coming”. Café Vintage is of the ilk that causes a street to be on the up, not the down.

Again, this was another accidental en-route-to-somewhere-else find. My eyes were immediately drawn to the Tiffany-blue store front and matching wrought iron chairs and tables outside.

 

Drivers be warned… it’s pay parking on Saturdays. While parking is free on Sundays, the exception is match days at Arsenal in which case you’re best bet is to come on foot.

The interior is just as rewarding as the exterior – it’s quirky in a 1930s/1940s grandma’s kitchen sort of way, which is code for saying it’s awesome. I can’t comment on the standard of its vintage offerings; these seemed more part of the theme of the café than a serious business (although the goods are for sale should you be in the mood).

Our visit was well rewarded with cake. I rolled the dice and went with red velvet, as I wasn’t in the mood for typical chocolate and the colour matched my cushions at home. It delivered everything I expect from cake… really big slice, lots of icing, good flavour and texture. It was in fact almost too sweet if such a thing is even possible. 

Cake to match my cushions

Ben had the hazelnut & raisin toast which he couldn’t stop raving about. He said the coffee was good (phew!). We also shared the most enormous pot of tea I have seen to date.

If you are looking to buy a property in the area then you’d better act soon, because if cafes like Vintage keep popping up it will price you out of the market. 

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