Trending Spending: North London

A list of places that people who use Monzo loved last month in North London. 

They’re the places you've been going to lots recently, beyond all the big chains and familiar names. They’re not the most popular places overall (sorry Greggs), but your favourite haunts and neighbourhood gems. 

Let us know what you think and share your favourite places using #TrendingSpending!

You can hear from our Machine Learning Lead Neal to learn how we work out what’s trending, and see what’s trending in the rest of London.

We’ve started with London because it’s where the most people use Monzo. But if you find this interesting, we’d love to do your city next! Let us know in the community forum or tell us on Twitter.

6 Ronalds Rd, Highbury, N5 1XH lepechemignon.co.uk

This independent French café is tucked away on a quiet street just off the Holloway Road.

It’s a cute place to grab a pastry and a coffee (they serve Monmouth) in the morning, or a croque madame for lunch. The backyard is a bit of a suntrap. And you can even stock up on fancy wines, cheeses and charcuterie. As one Google reviewer put it, “eggcellent oeufs.”

330 Essex Road, N1 3PB trade-made.co.uk @trade_coffee 

You love the coffee and the brunch options at this Essex Road eaterie. Follow @trade_coffee on Insta for beauty shots of brownies and sausage rolls.

37 Junction Rd, Upper Holloway, N19 5QU @BreadandBean37

A reliable cafe and breakfast spot near Archway. Their full English comes with crispy triangles of polenta and homemade beans. 

105 Holloway Rd, London N7 8LT vagabond.london @vagabondcoffeeroasters

Serious coffee (roasted on-site) and a cute little back garden. 

42 De Beauvoir Crescent, N1 5SB @friendsof_towpathcafe

According to Eater London, the annual re-opening of this canal-side cafe in Haggerston is the surest sign that Spring’s arrived in the city. 

And although it’s been pouring with rain all supposed-summer, the cafe’s still been serving wholesome food on tables that spill out onto the towpath.

The cafe’s hours do vary according to the weather, and it goes until dusk (so opens later as the nights get longer).

1 Westland Pl, Hoxton, N1 7LP

Set just off a slightly faceless stretch of City Road, Westland is a cute independent shop serving coffee and sandwiches during the day, and wine after work. 

87 Chamberlayne Rd, NW10 5RQ minkiesdeli.co.uk @minkiesdeli_kensalrise

177 Kentish Town Rd, NW1 8PD doppiocoffee.co.uk @doppiocoffee

161 High Rd, Willesden Green, NW10 2SG @varandabrazil

663 Holloway Rd, N19 5SE @hotwokarchway

Hot Wok Kitchen serves Chinese and other East Asian food (like this enormous laksa) to locals on the Holloway Road. One TripAdvisor reviewer even called it the best place in Archway.

77 Pitfield St, Hoxton, N1 6BT @curiousyellowkafe

A cute all-day cafe serving food and coffee from behind a bright yellow door on Pitfield Street. 

45 Blackstock Rd, Finsbury Park, N4 2JF @salttheradish

According to Hot Dinners, Salt the Radish is a ‘vegcentric’ cafe in Finsbury Park, serving Climpson & Sons coffee alongside veggie- and vegan-friendly food.

227-229 Hoxton St, N1 5LG montys-deli.com @montys_deli

Monty’s Deli started life serving “Jewish soul food” from a stall on Maltby Street Market in Bermondsey, before crowdfunding £150,000 to set up permanent shop in Hoxton. Their Reuben Special layers pastrami and salt beef, with swiss cheese, mustard and sauerkraut between slices of toasted rye.

5 Charcot Rd, London NW9 5HG spaccanapolilondon.co.uk  @spaccanapolicolindale

A proper place for pasta and Neapolitan pizza in Colindale.

9 Northways Parade, NW3 5EN

Korean and Japanese staples, with takeaway options for lunch. Plus kimchi homemade by the restaurant’s friendly owners.

49-51 Lisson Grove, NW1 6UH

The Sea Shell has been serving fish and chips to Marylebone since 1957. And according to the Evening Standard, even Denzel Washington has been to the traditional chippy. 

5 Glentworth Streeet, NW1 5PG

The Infatuation calls Phoenix Palace “one of the most upmarket of London’s old-school dim sum palaces”, while the Evening Standard reassures us that it “lives up to its regal name with its palatial interiors.” Luckily, prices are good value for classic dim sum.

102 Golders Green Rd, NW11 8HB

Classic kosher restaurant serving what one reviewer reckons is “the best falafel in London by a country mile.”

74 West End Ln, NW6 2LX czechoslovak-restaurant.co.uk

A restaurant and bar in a huge house in Hampstead, that started as a meeting place for Czechs and Slovaks after WWII.

66A Drayton Park, N5 1ND @highburylibrary

Chilled out bar with a nice back garden, right opposite the Emirates Stadium.

37 Highgate High St, N6 5JT theangelhighgate.co.uk  @theangelhighgate

121 Great North Road, N2 0NW theoldwhitelionfinchley.co.uk @theoldwhitelion

High praise from the Londonist calls the Old White Lion “almost certainly the finest pub in all the Finchleys.”

37 Landseer Road, N19 4JU @landseerarms

Stoneleigh Road, N17 9BQ beehiven17.com This Tottenham pub had queues out the door when Spurs played (and unfortunately lost) to Liverpool in the Champions League final.

501 Green Lanes, N4 1AL brouhahabar.com @brouhaha_bar

5-7 Wells Terrace, N4 3JU oakn4.co.uk Wine, charcuterie and live music at this bottle shop in Finsbury Park.

65 Gloucester Ave, NW1 8JD theengineerprimrosehill.co.uk 

Did you find this interesting? Tell us what you think in the community! We'd love to do more cities outside London, so let us know where we should look next 😃