Khoollect explores: Exmouth Market

***Rachel Khoo would like to thank all the inspiring people who helped make the Khoollect studio a hive of creativity. Although the Khoollect studio’s doors have now closed, you can keep up with Rachel’s newest adventures on RachelKhoo.com and on Rachel’s Instagram and Facebook pages – and, continue to enjoy the Khoollect website’s stories and recipes, which will remain available.***

In the heart of Clerkenwell lies a string of stores, salons, bars, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants that form a quaint shopping and dining precinct.

Exmouth Market offers something for all tastes with its lunch-time markets, from which the scent of grilled haloumi, warming curries, hearty burritos and zingy salads tempt you closer; its ambient dining locales, where share plates dapple tables with flavours from all over the world; its cheerful gift stores and lush florist filled with unique and beautiful items for all recipients; and its bakeries and cafes that are perfect for cosying into on a slow-paced, drizzly London morning. There’s even a slick spot to get a tattoo, a bike shop, and salons that’ll have your hair looking top-notch.

Team Khoollect took a stroll through this picturesque lane, ducking in and out of its colourful doors.

We started our slow Wednesday with with a meander through the market stalls, fighting the urge to purchase one of each dish on offer. For lunch, we stopped by to devour delicious stuffed pita breads from Shawarma Bar (we highly recommend the cauliflower pita). The sister restaurant of Haggerston’s Berber & Q is a dimly lit hub for delicious Middle Eastern dishes and quality tipples. We’re big fans of its orange wines.

Next, we sat down for a leisurely cup of coffee at Briki, where customers sat whiling away an hour or two on a laptop and our team found the perfect spot for people watching by the windows.

Exmouth market guide

After we’d been completely fed and watered, we took a stroll through the stores of Exmouth Market. Family Tree is a peaceful studio-meets-shop filled with store-made and local-made goods, alongside trinkets from around the world. We fought off the temptation to buy all of the jewellery Takoko and her team have made on site.

Next, we strode past the best ever named salon, Barber Streisand, into Botanique Workshop. From outside, tiny potted succulents and bundled blooms caught our eyes and led us in through the leafy green shopfront. Inside, plants and the scent of candles lifted our senses; while thoughtful gifts and beautiful objects for the home distracted us for a little too long.

Exmouth market guide 03

Once we emerged from Botanique, we were struck by the coral-coloured lick of paint that marks the home of Space EC1. Inside this joyous shop is just as vibrant as its outside would indicate. Creative, novelty and intriguing books, party products, fun gifts and wrapping wares line the shelves of this lively store. Even the staff seem happy to be there and help you out.

The choices for dining and shopping locales at Exmouth Market will have you standing in the middle of the street weighing up your options; but, really, can you go wrong with the likes of Caravan, Pizza Pilgrims, Dirty Burger, Morito, Brill, Coin Laundry and almost any cuisine you can hope to discover in one street? (Including Vietnamese, Indian, Japanese, Italian and Mexican, for starters). We think not. And, there are plenty of spots for an after-work bev of a Friday night too, be it beers at the pub, wine tastings, or casual, street-side sips.

Exmouth market guide 04

For the full list of places to visit in this little neck of London’s woods, check out the Exmouth Street Market website and get exploring.

Where are your favourite spots to visit in Exmouth Market?

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WRITTEN BY:
Sonya Gellert

Sonya Gellert is a contributing writer and associate editor for Khoollect. She lives in Sydney....

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