Exmouth Market uncovered

Exmouth Market: Keeps mouths happy. Photo Credit: Lilly LeClair

My home away from home. It’s where I do my grocery shopping, buy necessities, eat take-away, or just gulp down a flat white on my way to university a few blocks away. Where am I? Exmouth Market!

This pedestrian-friendly street at the junction of Farringdon Road and Rosebery Avenue used to have a seedy reputation, but that’s all changed in recent years as a stream of chic restaurants and shops began to appear.

But Exmouth Market is not completely devoid of its colorful, low-priced roots. Wholesalers, gambling venues and places like Exmouth Arms (a corner pub where the market got its name) still remain, drawing all types of people. The unusual combination of new and old gives it a slight edginess, making it popular with Clerkenwell’s hipsters (a plethora of art and design companies occupy nearby office spaces), yet the area is gentrifying faster than ever. Moro, one of London’s top restaurants resides here and a new residential high-rise on the northwest corner is due to begin construction in April. Get here before the yummy mummies take over!

Here are a few of my favorites, but come explore for yourself!

BAKERY – Jesshops: This fourth generation bakery has been in the same location for 15 years, and the prices have continued to stay low. Here you can still buy a loaf of fresh baked bread for under a quid.

BOOKS – Clerkenwell Tales: This independent bookstore sells the work of local authors. Take a look through Clerkenwell and Finsbury Past where you can learn about the neighbourhood’s long history.

BREAKFAST – Café Maya: Come eat breakfast with the Royal Mail employees and aspiring cabbies taking a break from studying ‘The Knowledge’. This place has an enormous English Breakfast for £5.25.

Exmouth Market by day

CHURCH – Our Most Holy Redeemer: This is the only Italian basilica-style Roman Catholic Church in London. The ornate structure holds Mass daily as well as morning prayers. The Church also runs a number of community events, classes and art fairs.

COFFEE/CD’s – Brill: Jeremy - music aficionado and friend to everyone – is glad to help you pick out some new tunes. What used to be just a music store now contains short stools and tables where you can enjoy a mean cappuccino. It can get a little cramped, but that’s all part of the fun.

CLOTHES – The Apartment: This clothing store sells unique men’s and woman’s clothes from up-and-coming designers. The duds can be really expensive, but sales occur often. November 26^th is the owner’s birthday, and he’ll give you the exact discount of his new age. The older he gets, the better it is for all of us!

DESSERT – Sweet: I do admit, a few of the employees can be rude, and the small shop plays nauseating easy-listening music, but you can’t argue with the taste of their amazing desserts and pastries. On a nice day grab a table outside and listen to lively dance classes taking place at Urdang Academy.

DINNER – Café Kick: This Portuguese/Spanish cafe never dissapoints. Drop by for a quickly prepared gourmet salad, soup or sandwich and pay non-gourmet prices, or stick around and play a round of table football (foosball to you Americans).

FALAFEL – Charcoal Grill: This falafel joint is cheap and open late. The friendly Turkish guys behind the counter will wistfully talk to you about their home country and inspire you to buy a plane ticket.

FLOWERS – Pod: The laid-back owners will sell you day-old flowers for a discount price: I’m talking a dozen tulips for a quid, and they’ll even wrap them in colorful tissue paper.

GIFTS – Space: Need to buy a last-minute gift? This tiny place has a selection of hilarious cards, offbeat gift ideas and well-priced chunky jewelry.

HAPPY HOUR – Cottons: On the corner of the market is this Carribean/West Indies themed restaurant with nightly Happy Hour from 5-7pm (2 for 1 beer /wine, and £4 cocktails). Downstairs is the Rum Jungle where on Tuesdays you can take part in Salsa lessons. Friday and Saturday nights DJ’s play reggae, soul and funk music until 1am.

LUNCH – Food Stalls: Visit the market on weekdays between 11am and 2pm for delicious street food. You can choose from a number of options including a huge portion of Kavurma (lamb stew over rice) served with a chunk of bread for only £4.90. Sniff around and find fajita burritos, sausages, skewers, Indian and Thai vegetarian options, ‘Jollof’ Ghanaian cooking, or mushroom risotto. Wednesdays-Fridays, Medcalf owner Justin Unsworth flips juicy burgers for £4. It’s the best and most lively time of Exmouth Market.

PUB/LIVE MUSIC – Wilmington Arms: This is my favorite pub in London. Long taper candles keep it aglow after dark, and the consistent good tunes, food and free Wi-Fi are a constant draw. Grab a drink before heading next door to the attached music venue - sister to Camden’s The Hawley Arms. The venue brings in ‘indie’ bands and comedy acts for as little as £5.

SALON – LIV Hair & Beauty: Tucked away on a little walkway is LIV Hair & Beauty Salon. No appointment necessary, just pop in. Men’s haircuts start at £7, women’s for £15, and manicures for £8.