Clicia

Most locals to Stoke Newington, if asked for a good spot for coffee and a bite to eat by a passerby down Stoke Newington Church Street, would point out Clicia’s charming pistachio-coloured cafe in an instant. Popular among those in Hackney in perennial lookout for brunch and liquid lunch, especially come the weekend, this north London restaurant also does a good range of honest and less-than-pricey dishes with an emphasis on down-to-earth Turkish and Middle Eastern fare.

Equidistant down Stoke Newington Church Street between Stoke Newington High Street and Clissold Park, Clicia is a bit of a landmark for locals in this part of Hackney. The outdoor seating is always packed on London’s sunnier days, while inside, lovingly furnished in a Near East mood with beautiful Turkish lanterns, the vibe is a little more intimate. Indeed, Turkish cuisine is the go here, with a few European items thrown in for good measure (for example, the ever-popular full English breakfast).

If it is breakfast you’re after, go for Clicia’s house breakfast, an Arabic-tinged affair of spicy sausage, fried halloumi, and olives gracing the plate alongside more usual breakfast staples. The Clicia vegetarian breakfast is equally satisfying, and then there’s the menemen classic, what we might call the full Middle Eastern breakfast. As day turns to night, Clicia’s clientele from Hackney and Stoke Newington turn to hot and cold mezze platters to share across the table, and begin to crack into the extensive bar menu covering all the liquid bases. A favourite in north London, booking is always best.