Angel’s cozy cafe: Candid Arts Café

The interior of Candid Arts Cafe

Perched atop a warehouse not too far from Angel station, Candid Arts Café is a rare gem amid the hustle of bustle of Islington. Almost hand-picked from the Parisian bohemian café culture of the 1920s, the space envelops you in its homely yet inspirational living room. Upon entrance, an antique bookshelf lined with 19^th and 20^th century literature greets and immediately soothes.

Shabby chic paintings are hammered into its red walls to provide an artistic feel. The long-stemmed wax encrusted candles, the mismatched rustic furniture, the symphonies of Beethoven and the softly croaking wooden floors all lend itself to a Victorian era of forgotten decadence. The atmosphere is cosy and comfortable, as one could easily nestle into the deep cushions with a book and a glass of red or gather with friends for a game of Scrabble over steaming hot chocolate. The two-seated tables by the windows and the added evening fairy lights also set the scene for an intimate candle-lit dinner.

The place has a sense of womb-like warmth that you can easily drown in. The service, however, is a little icy and this may be due to the shortage of staff. The food is meant for those with pockets that aren’t too deep. A slice of the chocolate fudge, cheesecake or apple crumble cake with a cup of coffee totals to £5.30.

There is a range of set menus to choose from including the finger buffet, the banquet and the Christmas menu (available during Christmas only, of course). The soups and salads also offer a filling alternative at lunch while the selection of vegetarian dishes is impressive. The tortellini in tomato, mushroom and ricotta sauce, in particular, satisfies the palate perfectly. Although the avocado or chicken sandwiches are dry and under-seasoned, there’s a sizeable and decently priced wine list and a selection of freshly squeezed juices to quench your thirst.

Candid Arts Café is littered with posters and adverts for art classes, yoga, exhibitions and others of similar meditative nature. It certainly can hail itself as one of the few cerebral sipping spots for Islington citizens. The food may not be spectacular but the atmosphere is something that will draw you back.

Candid Café
3 Torrens Street
London EC1V 1NQ, United Kingdom
020 7837 4237
www.candidarts.com