North London Food & Culture

Map Studio Cafe: back in business. Plus 3 newbie alternatives

One of Kentish Town's most loved creative spaces returns with a refreshed interior, fully stocked bar and packed arts programme. And that's not all to discover this weekend

Waaahhhh. Map Cafe, back in biz. Photo: Tom Kihl
Waaahhhh. Map Cafe, back in biz. Photo: Tom Kihl

Eighteen months ago, a landmark Kentish Town multimedia arts space and cafe unexpectedly shut its doors with the rather chipper message: “Closed until we meet again!”

Thankfully, now that time has come. After a rather leisurely refurb – which involved knocking a partition wall down to create a more open interior – Map Studio Cafe is back in business.

Sharing table by the window. Photo: Tom Kihl
Long table stocked with papers. Photo: Tom Kihl

What’s new? Well, there’s a useful sharing table in the window, a smart new back bar laden with bottled ales and wine (Beavertown craft beer on draft will follow soon), a shiny coffee machine and a juicing counter. “We want smoothies and juices to be a focus, as well as lunchtime daily specials from around the world,” says owner Chris Townsend, brother of Queen’s Crescent antique dealer Matt. Food sounds as unpretentious as before: healthy cooked breakfasts, roast chicken, homemade quiche, soups, salads and sandwiches.

And once again there’ll be a lively arts programme, from book clubs to gipsy jazz and even counter-cultural theatre, with an exhibition currently running across both floors by the enigmatic @secretartistnw5. Finally, musicians will be pleased to hear that the recording studio, which has hosted the likes of Ms Dynamite, Omar and Aswad, has been rewired and revamped.


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Map Studio Cafe is at 46 Grafton Road NW5, open Wednesdays to Sundays, from 8am to 6pm, and all evening when there are events.

Three others to look out for in West Kentish Town

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Aquamarine blue to brighten up a grey stretch: We Make London. Photo: WML

1. We Make London & Little House Kitchen
Great new pop-up with Monmouth Coffee, sandwiches, cakes and a changing roster of artists and designers. At the moment we particularly love Alice Tams’ Birds In Hats. 6 Malden Road NW5

A nice aspect: the new Cafe Andalouse
A nice aspect: the new Cafe Andalouse. Photo: Tom Kihl

2. Cafe Andalouse
This opening in the former grocer’s on the corner of Queen’s Crescent (by the arch) is firmly old school, but a strong americano is a bargainous £1.50 (to drink in), there are tempting cakes and pastries galore, and on our morning visit every table was taken.

3. Mamelon Tower
Word has just reached us that plans are afoot for this long boarded-up boozer to reopen as a pop-up market and bar selling bottled craft beers. Watch this space for more details. 149-153 Grafton Road NW5


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