108 Essex Rd, London N1 8LX

If you’re pining for a chicken fillet roll, or want to try the viral Irish takeaway spice bag then Homeboy’s Islington bar is the place to come. Match the home cooked food with an Irish-inspired cocktails at this lively speakeasy.

88 Upper Street, London N1 0NP

Hainan House, previously known for pop-ups and supperclubs, has now settled in Islington. Founded by Sunny Wu, the restaurant showcases Southern Chinese cuisine with influences from Qiong, Canton, Hakka, and Min regions. The menu, crafted with head chef Irene Hua, offers dishes like steamed aubergine and tiger skin quail's eggs, making it a unique addition to Upper Street.

Arch S12 Water Lane, Hawley Wharf, London NW1 8JY

Chef Paul Foster, of Michelin-starred Salt in Stratford-Upon-Avon, is behind Grassfed in Camden's Hawley Wharf, focusing on grass-fed beef cooked over coals. Menu highlights include a beef hotdog with truffle mayo, a shareable beef rib, and BBQ dayboat fish. Foster aims to promote quality British-sourced meat and raise awareness about regenerative farming.

11 Highbury Park, London N5 1QJ

Saltine is a neighbourhood restaurant in Highbury that comes from Fink's founders Mat Appleton and Jess Blackstone. Inside a somewhat tardis-like space that opens up at the back to a glass-roofed dining room it has coffee, pastries, and grab-and-go dishes during the day, while the evening menu is "led by provenance, joyful cooking and sustainability".