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Blackstock Road. Like much of London, this energetic street that runs between Finsbury Park and Highbury is filled with contrasts. It’s home to hipster haunts like Top Cuvée and Finks, and a slew of Arsenal pubs and caffs that have been there since well before the invention of small plates and social media-friendly wine bars.
Blackstock Road is just about as multicultural as you can get in London, with authentic Uyghur, Kurdish and Turkish cuisine all readily available, supplied by the area’s diverse population. It’s got beloved family-run businesses, like Baban’s Naan, Dilara and St Gabriel Ethiopian Delicatessen. And we can’t forget some of the street’s fallen heroes, like the legendary Sylvanian Families shop (which was just off Blackstock on Mountgrove Road).
When it comes to shopping, there’s everything from higgledy piggledy second-hand book stores, to bougie furniture boutiques. Because the great thing about Blackstock Road is that it’s made up of a hodgepodge of things. It’s not always particularly glamorous, and can certainly feel a bit chaotic at times. But this is why we love it, and it’s also why we’ve just named Blackstock Road as London’s coolest street for 2025.
Here, Time Out editors name their favourite places on the legendary road.
The best places to visit on Blackstock Road, chosen by Time Out editors
Dilara
‘Dilara looks a bit like any regular takeaway kebab shop from the outside, but don’t be fooled – head to the back past a tiny kitchen and you’ll find big groups and local families tucking into some of London’s best hand-pulled noodles, kebabs, wings and dumplings. If you’ve never tried Uyghur food before, you’re in for a treat, because every dish here is packed with spicy, mouth-numbing Szechuan flavour, all served with (free!) fluffy warm bread. Just remember, there’s no alcohol served here – this spot is for splitting huge sharing plates and sides, ending with a round of baklava and Uyghur milk teas and probably falling asleep on the bus home.’ Ella Doyle, Guides Editor
27 Blackstock Road, N4 2JF
House of Hodge
‘Sure sure, House of Hodge might not be quite so hip ‘n’ trendy as its sleek neighbour Book Bar – also, FYI, well worth a visit for bibliophiles – but it’s a treasure trove of pre-loved literature as good as any other in London. Behind Hodge’s bright green and faded maroon façade is a tight but well-stocked shop with bookshelves up to the ceiling, each inch of space is utilised with an extremely well-curated selection. All the orange Penguins of your wildest dreams; non-fiction from sci-fi and true crime to literary biography and needlework; foreign language tomes in German, Spanish, Italian and French… Hodge has it all. Better yet, it’s for a good cause: House of Hodge is a registered charity with proceeds going to various animal organisations.’ Ed Cunningham, News Editor
174 Blackstock Road, N5 1HA
Bank of Friendship
‘How many Hinge dates have I been on at the Bank of Friendship? It’s an embarrassingly high number. Some were more successful than others, and one even ended up with me doing the worm on the dirty floor of Mascara Bar (don’t ask). This is all to say, this pub is a fantastic first date location. And it’s great for meeting mates too. The Bank of Friendship nails the almost impossible combination of being supremely cosy, but also quite cool, and still not pretentious. There’s something for the walking Real Housewives of Clapton memes by way of ordered-in Yardsale Pizza and mezcal negronis on tap, it’s a hot spot for Arsenal fans with footie broadcast on multiple TVs, and it actually is as friendly as its name suggests. If you’re lucky you’ll get a seat in the usually packed beer garden, which comes equipped with blankets and hot water bottles you can have filled up at the bar.’ India Lawrence, Staff Writer
226 Blackstock Road, N5 1EA
The T Bird sign
‘I truly believe that the sign that hangs above the shop frontage of the T Bird is the greatest in London. The bar is, well, a normal bar, but the sign? The sign is truly majestic, opening up a world of wonder. Is it the headquarters of a 1950s rebel biker club? Is it an old school funeral parlour? Or is it, in fact, a former suburban clothing store which just so happened to be run by someone whose initials were T Bird? (The latter is true). A little bit goth, a little bit art deco and a whole lot London, if I didn’t have other places to be, I would happily hang about on the pavement and stare at it for hours on end. If the developers’ wrecking ball ever comes for the place, I’ll be there to save the sign.’ Leonie Cooper, Food & Drink Editor
132 Blackstock Road, N4 2DX
The Woodbine
‘Many will disagree, but I honestly prefer The Woodbine to the much-loved Bank of Friendship down the road. It feels more like a proper neighbourhood pub – cosy, friendly, unpretentious and just a tiny bit kooky. I spent many a socially-distanced evening in one snug corner or another during lockdown, with a consolatory pint and a warm bowl of tom kha. Laidback locals head here for a solid weeknight Thai menu, spontaneous singalongs and the regular Tuesday night quiz. There’s no beer garden, granted, but nab a table out front and you’ve got front row seats to the comings and goings of N5.’ Grace Beard, Travel Editor
215 Blackstock Road, N5 2LL
Farang
‘Farang is the reward you get from walking all the way up the incredibly steep bit of Blackstock Road. It sits tantalisingly at the top of the hill, like a mirage. It's a Thai restaurant, but it's also quite different to most Thai restaurants. The name (meaning ‘foreigner’) reflects the fact that owner and head chef Sebby Holmes is as Thai as I am (not at all). But he and his whole closely knit team are utterly obsessed with the region’s food, flying in obscure ingredients weekly, allowing them to put together intricate, ingenious dishes you simply won't find anywhere else in London. Menus change seasonally, but you can usually bank on there being some kind of delicious spicy curry on offer. A guaranteed good time.’ Joe Mackertich, Editor-in-chief UK
72 Highbury Park, N5 2XE
The King’s Head
‘Karaoke is one of the best things about the pub. Whether you’re a seasoned crooner, or just someone who splutters their way through Rock DJ once a year after a few too many gin and tonics, the King’s Head on Blackstock Road is probably the best place to do it in London. Welcoming, warm, and with a wide array of talent levels – if you’ve been looking for a pub in which to surrender yourself to the Sunfly, look no further. Plus, come on the right day and you’ll be treated to some of the finest pub sandwiches in town.’ Jimmy McIntosh, Contributing Writer
126 Blackstock Road, N4 2DR
Nourished Communities
‘I know what you’re thinking; north London has more than enough bougie little delis peddling cold-pressed olive oils and artisanal hot sauce. There are barely any off-licenses in the area that don’t stock Torres crisps, Perello olives and a few varieties of natty wine. What exactly makes this place so special? Well, dear reader, it’s not just the products that Nourished Communities stocks, although it does a brilliant job of sourcing local and sustainable products, representing more than 200 independent growers and producers on its stacked shelves. What makes the place truly worth visiting is its genuine commitment to educating Londoners on the food they buy, and helping to establish more sustainable and equitable food systems, whether its through growing its own fungi in its basement mushroom farm, harvesting honey from beehives in the garden and hosting workshops on everything from regenerative agriculture to lacto-fermentation. Community building at its finest.’ Rosie Hewitson, Things to Do Editor
183 Blackstock Road, N5 2LL
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