Randomness Guide to London Menu

In the early years of the new century, the Brixton end of Coldharbour Lane was brightened by the opening of an eccentric little cafe bar. Crammed into a small ground floor space under some council housing, it offered wickedly-concocted smoothies and milk shakes, juice cocktails, cheap organic cooked food, alcoholic cocktails, poetry readings, jazz nights, comfortable armchairs and bookshelves stuffed with a very random collection of books. It was a very pleasant place to relax and many local residents were disappointed when it suddenly disappeared to be replaced by an equally eccentric but much less successful furniture shop. It returned a few years later as a cocktail bar but that closed too.

The good news is that this small but fun cafe bar has just reopened (as of mid-November 2008 it has been open for five weeks). The original bookshelves are gone but everything else is back, so much so that it feels as if it simply closed for a quick spring clean. The cafe is snug, with seating for about 16 people inside (there is outside seating in good weather). Friday night is live music and poetry night (from 8:30pm) and Saturday is jazz night. The venue can be hired for parties or events.

Smoothies are £4 each and Juice cocktails are £3. All are made freshly on the premises (you can see buckets full of mangoes in the corner). There is coffee and a couple of beers on tap (Staropramen and Stella). Alcoholic cocktails are £4.50 before midnight and £5 after.

The food menu includes sandwiches, quiches, soups, pies, salads (all at £4.50) and cakes (£3.50), all made with organic ingredients. Apparently they are introducing a special Sunday Roast lunch menu.

itsbruce didn't try the food on this visit but can testify to the continued high quality of the smoothies. In the Juice Bar's previous life, the food was well cooked and healthy but nothing special.