The Best Caribbean Restaurants in London

In September 2010, we asked our readers to vote for their favourite Caribbean restaurants in London. So here are the top Caribbean restaurants as voted by Londoners!

Cotton’s

55 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8AN (020 7485 8388) Tube: Camden
70 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QP (020 7833 3332) Tube: Farringdon
www.cottons-restaurant.co.uk
Cottons Camden is London’s leading and longest standing Caribbean restaurant. They deliver Caribbean staples in sizable portions: the starter ribs are delicious and the mix meat platter, with buffalo wings, pork belly, jerk chicken, sausage and lamb cutlets, will have you lick your fingers. Cottons boasts a nice party atmosphere, fuelled by the fruity (but strong) cocktails mixed by the friendly staff of their Rumshack bar- which contains one of the biggest rum collections in town. The bar is tiny (but the restaurant is on 2 floors) and it’s always a blast to see people crammed there, shaking their stuff to the vibing music played by the DJ.
Your comments:
“Nice venue, atmosphere, traditional menu, attentive staff.”
“ Great food and super atmosphere especially the Islington Branch.  Service is usually first class.  Some great events and nights like Colourful radio a few Saturdays ago.”

Mango Room
10-12 Kentish Town Road, London NW1 8NH (020 7482 5065) Tube: Camden
www.mangoroom.co.uk
This restaurant, also located in Camden serves traditional and modern Caribbean food.  The prices are slightly higher than in your regular Caribbean restaurant but one look at the menu and you will understand why. You will find Caribbean staples such as Ackee and Saltfish, Rice & Peas and Roti Bread alongside more refined fare such as Roast Honey & Ginger Duck Breast or Baby Spinach, Okra & Coconut Risotto. Vegans will find enough fish dishes to satisfy the most demanding palate.  Mango Room’s colourful décor is reminiscent of an upscale rumshack, with lots of wood and bright paintings on the walls (some of which you can buy). The three dining rooms are versatile and the tables will accommodate a couple on a romantic dinner or larger birthday bookings.

Your comments:
“The food is exquisite, the cocktails delicious. The décor tasteful, very artsy. I wish I could afford to eat there more often”
“The food is out of this world, the music – soft reggae, the fabulous service which is just heaven and the cocktails at the bar. The art decor describes it all.”

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The Black Culture Cafe – A New Gate Opens in the Heart of Dalston

Set in the heart of Dalston, Open The Gate, The Black Culture Café is a new venue dedicated to promoting African and Black culture – a centre offering visual art, film, poetry and literature, dance, music and other social activities as well as a café with authentic, homemade African and Caribbean dishes. Sandrine Herbert, one of the founders, explains why London needs a permanent cultural centre such as this one.

Located in Dalston, an area already thriving with a multicultural crowd, lively bars and restaurants and a large black community (around 60% of the total local population) – this new venue sets a new tone for the black cultural scene in London as soon as you step in through the door to the spacious area and genuinely laidback, friendly atmosphere.

Sandrine, who grew up in France and has a mother from Madagascar, saw a need for a place in London where you can meet other people who share a common interest in black culture. “There is no permanent space doing this,” she explains. The café intends to offer a varied programme, from open mic nights, poetry readings, Kazimba drums groups, dance workshops as well as interactive movie nights with talks and discussions of documentaries and culture films.  “I want the café to be a reference – to be the centre,” says Sandrine, “somewhere where people can enjoy unique events and programmes and that brings people together – we are aiming for and have interest from quite a wide market.”

There are already a number of arts venues, museums and a well-established café scene in the city. Is there a space for Open The Gate? Sandrine thinks so: “The fact that cafes are so popular is a good thing for us, it shows that people have a need for it.”
“There are lots of places offering black culture and arts but there is a problem of visibility for such spaces,” she points out, “We can offer the visibility, right here in Dalston on this busy, central location”.

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London’s Coolest Bars

It seems too good to be true what with all the good weather recently in London. In a city like this, you need to enjoy the longer warm evenings – and perhaps a bit of relief from the heat – at a nice bar or summer terrace, with a good drink and company at hand. But how to know which ones to pick in a city as big and varied as this – one that will offer a welcoming and multicultural crowd, sunny and positive vibes and of course some quality beverages? No need to get all hot and bothered, Catch a Vibe has sought out the cool from the sweaty. Here’s our guide to some of the best summer bars to sip a cocktail or a beer…

 

Mahoe Café Bar
Echoing a true Caribbean vibe, this centrally located café cum bar is named after the blue hued indigenous tree of Jamaica where the lawyer-turned bar owner hails from. Inside the lime green walls and among the cosy décor, choose from Caribbean classics like curried goat, jerk chicken as well as herbal teas, cocktails and ‘Sunday lunch’. Stylish and modern for the city workers but also provides that relaxed, homely island feel. Late night bar on Fridays and Saturdays until 1am is popular. A refreshing change from the typical bar-restaurant fare in Central London.
74 – 82 Queen Victoria Street, EC4N 4SJ, Mansion House tube | Mahoe Cafe website

The Beaufoy Bar & Restaurant
Offering a welcoming feel, this bar and restaurant in Battersea borough offers live music DJs as well as a varied menu, including Caribbean favourites.
18 Lavender Hill, SW11 5RW, Clapham Common tube | Beaufoy Bar website

Rhythm Cafe
Live music and performances are the focus at this venue, with evening and music workshops also offered such as Brazilian dance and African drumming, as well as jamming sessions, much in line with the traditional, tribal Camden spirit. A not-for-profit organisation, it aims to instil rhythm, spirit, dance and community for its punters – to provide a world music centre in the heart of North London. Think raw yoga dancing, a family friendly vibe and funky organic café food. Uplifting and welcome to all.
Stables Market, Camden, Chalk Farm tube | Rhythm Cafe website

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Top 5 South African Restaurants in London

If you cannot go to South Africa, let South Africa come to you! And what better way to discover South African culture than through food?  We did our research and listed for you the top 5 South African restaurants in London.

 

Jungle Braai
28 Osborn Street, London E1 6TD (020 7247 0073) Whitechapel tube (www.junglebraai.com)
Just like the Americans, South Africans are very serious about their barbecue, which they call “braai”, the Afrikaans word for roasted meat. Located in the heart of Brick Lane, Jungle Braai boasts a modern and sharp décor. The menu caters mainly to meat-eaters and includes boerewors, (sausages) and sosaties (marinated mutton on skewers). The signature dish is the Chicken Congo Ciabatta, a mighty name for a toasted cheese ciabatta with grilled chicken and peppers.

Chakalaka
Chiswick: 1-Barley Mow Passage, London W4 4PH (020 8995 4745) Chiswick Park tube
Putney: 136 Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 2SP (020 8789 0460) East Putney tube (www.chakalakarestaurant.com)
Vegetarians beware! This chain of South African restaurants is famous for its meat dishes: Boerewors (South African farmer sausages) served with chakalaka, a spicy tomato and onion salsa or Springbok (antelope) Loin with slow roasted vegetables. Portions are big and the more daring can take on the challenge  to eat a 25oz Namibian steak in 25 minutes (you’ll get  a t-shirt for that.) As you may have guessed, the atmosphere at Chakalaka is warm and cosy, with a bright décor and walls adorned in funky zebra stripes and tribal artefacts.

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ACE Fusion, a Caribbean restaurant in Clapham

St John’s Hill is a slice of village life a mere 200m from the onslaught of commuter hell that is Clapham Junction station. Nestled along a neat row of independent shops and restaurants, ACE brings a melange of African, Caribbean and English fare to an area representing cuisine from across the globe. It’s cute and informal, with a splash of red and green on the eye-catching exterior with IKEA furniture in the dining area and mezzanine level, which is great for noisy groups. The clientele consists mostly of well-heeled Clapham/Battersea residents. Service is slightly haphazard and the food itself is decidedly mediocre. My pepper soup arrived lukewarm and under spiced while the main course of lamb steak was again lacking the necessary oomph associated with flavourful Caribbean cuisine. The milkshakes however were thick and frothy and distinctly fruity. A little attention to detail will assure ACE can contend with the best Battersea has to offer.

110 St John’s Hill, clapham, London SW11 1SJ
020 7228 5584
ACE Fusion website

A highlight of Brixton’s Nightlife: Satay Bar

A highlight of Brixton’s nightlife scene for sometime now, Satay Bar specialises in Indonesian/Malaysian cuisine with exotic cocktails to match. The crab claws with sweet, hot sauce are delicious, as is the Coconut Cooler cocktail.  The décor isn’t jaw-dropping but the stark orange exterior of the bar is certainly eye-catching. The crowd of artsy Brixton locals congregate in large groups eating, drinking and socialising. Often a good place to flirt and people-watch, the music is a progressive mix of funk,  neo-soul and house. Staying open until late on weekends Satay Bar is equally good for a chilled weekday evening meal or drinks with friends. They now have a 7 days / week take-away service.

447-450 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London SW9 8LP
020 7326 5001
Satay Bar website

The most popular Caribbean restaurant in London: Cottons Camden

Cottons Camden is London’s leading and longest standing Caribbean restaurant. They deliver Caribbean staples in sizable portions: the starter ribs are delicious and the mix meat platter, with buffalo wings, pork belly, jerk chicken, sausage and lamb cutlets, will have you lick your fingers. We love Cottons for its party atmosphere, fuelled by the fruity (but strong) cocktails mixed by the friendly staff of their Rumshack bar- which contains one of the biggest rum collections in town. The bar is tiny (but the restaurant is on 2 floors) and it’s always a blast to see 20-ish people crammed there, shaking their stuff to the vibing music played by the DJ. On Friday and Saturday nights, you will be able to groove to a mix of reggae, revival, rare groove, dancehall and rnb. Definitely recommended.

55 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1

020 7485 8388
Cottons Camden website

 

 

 

 

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