Latest favourites and wishlist by designertom

Macondo - review by CristinaA

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:32:22 +0000

Macondo - review by CristinaA

Rating: 4.2

Location: 8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7729 1119

Website: http://www.macondo.co.uk

Tags: cosy, crowded, quick bite, lively, cultured

I was so pleased when I came across this place, I've been looking for it since I moved to London.

It's a very small space and every nook and cranny is used, even when it gets busy it still feels relaxed and cosy.

It's spanish influence is clear but not over done, the cakes and pastries are delicious. The wine is ok but get here early to get a seat, because once you've sat down you won't want to leave.

Macondo - review by acrobat

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:28:26 +0000

Macondo - review by acrobat

Rating: 4.2

Location: 8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7729 1119

Website: http://www.macondo.co.uk

I've been several times to Macondo - hoping each time it will live up to expectations and have been disappointed on every visit - orders were wrong, took a long time to come some of the drinks were poorly made and the staff seem at best disinterested. Maybe I've always picked a bad time to go - but there are places nearby which don't try as hard to be something but do it better.

Macondo - review by Pabs1

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:13:24 +0000

Macondo - review by Pabs1

Rating: 4.2

Location: 8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7729 1119

Website: http://www.macondo.co.uk

Tags: cosy, top food, amazing brew, lively, cultured

Just realised there's a newly opened second Macondo in Camden Passage, Islington. As good as the one in Hoxton Square...

Macondo - review by grumblemouse

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:44:45 +0000

Macondo - review by grumblemouse

Rating: 4.2

Location: 8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7729 1119

Website: http://www.macondo.co.uk

Tags: cosy, proper food, amazing brew

Despite being situated slap bang in the middle of Hoxton Square this place is sheltered (physically and mentally) from the rambunctious drunken shenanigans that usually take place here.

The coffee is great and the cakes are awesome, although 1 piece of the cheesecake has been known to defeat 2 hungry people.

Its a Mexican place so the beers are all south american and they do a special version of a bloody mary thats tomato juice and beer which I hear is actually delicious. The breakfasts are really good as well - Huevos Chicanos or Rancheros is my fave.

All in all this is a great place to meet friends however the beer and food are not cheap and there's no draught beer so if you're getting stuck into the booze then be careful!!

Ember - review by QueenB

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:45:53 +0000

Ember - review by QueenB

Rating: 3.5

Location: 99-100 Turnmill Street, EC1M 5QP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7490 3985

Website: http://www.faucetinn.com

Tags: cool, fun, drinks, music

This is mine and my work mates after work, lets have a drink bar! Great selection of people, all different genres of work, you have your media crowd, financial, PR, all spliced iwth the clubbers heading to Fabric and Turnmills due to it being a stonethrow from the tube station.

You can either chill on a sofa and head home or get ready and have a dance to the DJs and just start your night at Ember.

Staff are nice, helpful and friendly.

Just a shame its Farringdon ;)

Macondo - review by Bernd

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:21:14 +0000

Macondo - review by Bernd

Rating: 4.2

Location: 8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7729 1119

Website: http://www.macondo.co.uk

It was a great and chilled place for lunch. The food was excellent, supper tasty, brought to you by a friendly service. A great place to meet up with old friends for a long chat accompanied with a coffee and one of those devilishly good looking home made cakes.

Zena's Cafe - review by designertom

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:12:27 +0000

Zena's Cafe - review by designertom

Rating: 4.0

Location: 144 Victoria Road, W3 6UL, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 8992 5908

Tags: indian, top food, good value

Passers by might be forgiven for not looking twice at this inauspicious looking cafe, but believe me, this is a hidden gem that all the locals know about (the back room is always packed!). I eat a lot of indian food, I cook it, my local take away appears on my BT friends and family list(!), so I can really vouch for the fact that the food they serve here really is top notch. The place itself has a definate cafe feel rather than a restaurant, is very basic, and won't win any awards for decor or comfort, but if you can get past this, and want some authentic, damn good indian, clean and crisp tasting food, (that unlike most indian takeaways isn't overdone with garlic and fat), then do give this place a try. I have to say that when i find a place like this that serves indian food, that is packed with indian people, my eyes light up.

Macondo - review by designertom

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 13:39:53 +0000

Macondo - review by designertom

Rating: 4.2

Location: 8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7729 1119

Website: http://www.macondo.co.uk

Tags: cosy, cool & smart, good value, trendy, friendly, relaxed

Macondo is a cosy friendly space and the moment you walk into this narrow room, with its hodge podge of low level furniture (leather sofas, stools, poofs and teeny wooden tables), you have the sense of finding a really special place. A wall of raw brickwork is covered with 'modern' artwork from the likes of Tom Hammick, and there's interest in every corner, from the shelves of home made cakes, to the hanging wicker chair suspended from the ceiling, to the bowls of salad, olives, tortillas and quesadillas. the home made feel extends to the hand written labels, and to the pricing - pick 2 of anything for £6, and finish with a wodge of cake for £3. The food is excellent and the portions are generous. Because of the small size its always busy around lunch times, and there's no space for standing room, so expect a fight for the comfy sofas!

Ember - review by designertom

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:06:12 +0000

Ember - review by designertom

Rating: 3.5

Location: 99-100 Turnmill Street, EC1M 5QP, London, United Kingdom

Phone: 020 7490 3985

Website: http://www.faucetinn.com

Tags: cool, comfy sofas, trendy, friendly, bar, cozy, relaxed

Met a date at Farringdon tube station, and discovered this great bar. Being so close to the tube its always busy with young professionals, and having been a couple of times now, the atmosphere is always great. As you walk in, the bar is dotted with couches and leather stools, giving it an informal, friendly feeling. Down the stairs leads to SubEmber, which has even more couches in corners, which can be reserved on request. Has a club night on saturday with DJs till 2am. Thoroughly recommend.