If you're cool enough to be coming to Xerocon London(!), then - as the venue is a mere quarter of a mile away from the Funding Options offices - we thought we'd wander a bit off-topic and give some local knowledge. Here we go...
Get your caffeine fix
If you’re looking to grab a coffee while you’re at Xerocon, whatever you do don’t be boring and default to Pret/Starbucks et al. There are so many independent places around Old Street that would be so happy to take your business.
Fix (http://www.fix-coffee.co.uk/) is my regular haunt and happens to be about three hundred metres from The Brewery, on Whitecross Street. You can get yourself an appropriately antipodean flat white, or a green tea, and there’s normally space on one of their small tables to have a chat if you’re looking for a good place for a meeting.
Shoreditch Grind (http://www.shoreditchgrind.com/): if you’re looking for the classic hipster Shoreditch experience. It’s located just out of Old Street station, on the roundabout. Great coffee served by some guy with dreadlocks. Be warned, though- it’s expensive and you won’t get a grande-sized cup, either, although they do use Xero, so perhaps we should support them.
Timberyard (http://www.timberyardlondon.com/) is the perfect place if you want to have a meeting since there’s lots of space, both upstairs and downstairs. Lovely coffee, as well as a good selection of pastries, salads and cakes, for both breakfast and lunch.
Where to grab lunch
Again, I beg of you... don’t go to Pret. Go to Whitecross Street Market, where the best selection of street food stalls awaits you.
There are over fifteen stalls to choose from, so walk around a bit and see what takes your fancy, although the Funding Options favourites are:
- Traditional Turkish wraps, stuffed with spicy sausage or feta cheese, all baked fresh and hand rolled in front of you (£5 for the works)
- The famous Burrito Van, where you can choose between mild spice, hot spice or ‘the under the counter’ hot sauce (£5-6, chicken, beef, pork or veg)
- French gluten-free pancakes (or ‘galettes’), again made fresh, filled with either ham and cheese, egg, mixed veg or a chicken stew (£5-6 per wrap)
- Soup from the ‘Soppka’ stand: these two ladies make two delicious soup choices every day, and serve it hot with a big slab of bread (£3.50-5.50 per soup, check @soppka on Twitter for daily selection)
You’ll eat well for around £5. Get there before 1pm if possible, to beat the crowds.
My only advice is that some of the options are a little messy to eat on the go. Take your time and make sure you’ve got plenty of napkins.
Pubs and bars
There’s a pub called The Trader on Whitecross Street that is where you’d find our team on a Friday after 7pm. It’s a fairly average boozer, with space outside for smokers, and a nice selection of beer including Doombar.
For later night drinks, or something a bit more Shoreditch, The Rotary Room (http://www.rtryrm.com/) on City Road, near the roundabout, is a secret underground cocktail bar, open until midnight on both Xerocon nights.
Other stuff
If I haven’t covered everything, or you have any specific requests, just get in touch with me on Twitter (@baileytalks). See you next week!
/ By Bailey
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Replies (5)
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Thanks so much! Especially appreciate the coffee recommendations. Does Fix have any food? Pastries, toast for a pre-conference boost?
Dinner
While I suspect that a tin hat may be needed for the title of the post, thanks for the information provided. Is there anything in the area that you'd recommend for dinner? I'll be up Tuesday afternoon and meeting the family in the evening
Xerocon...
Hi both,
Catherine-
Yes, Fix does pastries and other snacky things for breakfast but if you're after something a bit more substantial, try Timberyard where they do a selection of things including toast with all manner of spreads. Another place is The Breakfast Club (http://www.thebreakfastclubcafes.com/locations/hoxton) where they do BIG breakfasts, with things like pancakes and french toast from 8am, although it's a bit further from Xerocon.
'Cloudcounter'-
There are a few nice places like The Iskele (Turkish- http://www.theiskele.com/) and Pizzeria Cozzo (pizza- http://www.pizzeriacozzo.com/) on Whitecross Street, or if you like Thai there's Thai Thai on Old Street (http://www.thaithaioldstreet.co.uk/).
Hope that helps!
@fordco Thanks for the Fix details - I'm definitely more of a toast person, less of a big breakfast person - just had fun in Tesco getting toast supplies at the automated machines - not - where our US cards without a chip-and-pin were rejected ... we kept setting off a little red alarm light. TOURISTS!! ;)
Thanks Fordco, I'll check those out