Golborne Road
By Something CuratedGolborne Road has always been the rebellious (read: dodgy) cousin of Portobello Road and Ladbroke Grove, but it has slowly emerged as the cool kid of the trio with its influx of fashion brands, upscale boutiques, and eateries — especially risk-taking tenants such as Stella McCartney’s HQ and Soho House’s Pizza East (some of the first to move into the area) are making this neighbourhood even more up-and-coming. The road sits alongside local markets, antique traders, and Halal-approved food shops. The gum-spotted street may be showing signs of a hipster colony, but it’s still home to thriving Portuguese, Middle Eastern and Afro-Caribbean communities. The Off Market checks out the ebb and flow of old and new Golborne Road to discover its gems. 
Cult Fashion Favourites: Lali
It’s hard to walk by Lali and not do a double take. The storefront teases passerbys with glimpses of the well-edited selection womenswear, accessories, stationary and objects d’art from edgy designers curated by Nelli Turner. The British designer ran her own womenswear brand Bi La Li for six years and her wares were stocked on Net-a-Porter’s e-shelves and at Harvey Nichols before she closed the label in 2009. Turner has since turned her attention to the Bauhaus-inspired space, which has been a fixture on Golborne Road since 2010, and has become a destination to discover fresh new brands and cult labels. The shop is a visual delight with constantly evolving stock and a gallery space on its walls. Eugenia Kim hats are perched on wooden stands and sit along nicely with side Bella Freud jumpers and candles, and Peter Jensen designs. Whether you’re looking for a special piece of jewellery, leather gloves in vibrant hues or beautiful leather-bound notebooks, you will find goods here that you will be hard- pressed to find elsewhere.
lalishop.co.uk
The All Purpose Danish Bistro: Snaps and Rye
Scandi bakeries are having a moment in London but most are of the Swedish variety. Husband and wife Kell and Jacqueline Skött opened this Danish café last year and it’s become a bit of a cult favorite. Snaps and Rye’s contemporary twist on traditional Danish cuisine is attracting people from all over the city who have trekked to Golborne Road to find out exactly what a Smørrebrød is. The open-faced sandwiches are beautifully constructed and Instagram-worthy, but we also love the hearty soups served with wonderfully dense rye bread, as well as its smoked eel and flavourful meatballs. The space is effortlessly cool with a Nordic flare and the curated selection of Danish books that line the shelves adds a sense of coziness to this delightful eatery.
@snapsandrye, snapsandrye.com
Designer At Your Fingertips: Lara Bohinc
Lara Bohinc’s sculptural jewellery has been seen on the likes of Michelle Obama, Kate Moss and Kylie Minogue and her West London shop is a physical incarnation of the brand’s distinct aesthetics. Bohinc’s geometric designs often combine materials in unexpected ways such as rose gold with black lacquer and layered acrylic. The brand has expanded into bags, scarves and interiors, which are all housed in the label’s second London outpost that opened in September this year. A selection of baubles sits atop white plinths alongside a series of brass and marble coffee tables that the Serbian-designer has recently launched. Prices are steep and not for the faint of heart, but each piece is a conversation starter.
@larabohinc, larabohinc.com
Paris Perogative: Phoenix on Golborne
Jess Gildersleve has brought a bit of the Parisian flea market fashion flair to Golborne Road with her antique furniture, homewares, and vintage clothing shop founded in 2010. Glazed French cabinets from the beginning of the 20th century sit side by side with mid-century sofas, French crockery and racks of clothes from bygone eras. Walking into the charming shop is a discovery of beautiful old things that seemed to have been sourced from around the world. It’s not the ultra-glamorous world of haute antiques, but rather a twee shop with unpretentious finds that feel authentic and honest. There’s a sense of community and DIY savviness about the Phoenix as the shop also sells Annie Sloane paints and Gildersleve offers workshops on upcycling furniture, which we can’t wait to take. Plus we spied actress Tracey Ullman in here, trying on skirts and things. Great minds.
@phoenixgolborne, phoenixongolborne.co.uk
The Taste Of Austria: Kipferl
We love this place for so many reasons. Not only for its £6.80 breakfast plates in a mini skillet (complete with stacked with fluffy, light scrambled eggs, a pan fried tomato, and crispy rye toast) but also for its authenticity. It’s the brainchild of Christian Malnig, a through-and-through Austrian and his partner Katie Lloyd Thomas who have worked in the cafe business for several years. Both wanted to offer real Austrian food to the English market. After working out of a mini park café in Corams Fields and a smallish cafe on Long Lane (with a kitchen that couldn’t hold all of the yummy treats they were creating) they decided to open up their own cafes in Islington and in the Golborne Road area to satisfy their loyal London fans. On top of excellent meals to start your day, the menu also boasts other authentic items: Austrian cakes and small plate dishes such as gulyas soup, frankfurters, schnitzel. Classics such as delicious herring curlicues also make it on the menu and are a hit with patrons who make this a regular place to chow during the week.
@kipferlcafe, kipferl.co.uk
Local Breakfast: Lisboa Patisserie
Golborne Road may be home to new trendy cafes but this Portuguese café is an institution and the Pastéis de Nata (custard tarts) are legendary. Enjoy it with a cup of “bica” (Portuguese espresso) or a delicious hot chocolate, but don’t expect to plop down your laptop for an afternoon of work. It’s bustling, loud and queues often run beyond its red and white awning. The interiors at Lisboa (57 Golborne Road) are humble and the tables shared, but there’s a sense of homeliness to this neighborhood bakery that has been around for almost 30 years. You know it’s pretty damn good when celebrated chef (and our eternal #MCM) Yotam Ottolenghi has declared Lisboa as one of his favorite haunts in London. They’re not on social and they certainly don’t have a website but they’re our top pick with or without digital marketing.
Text: Samantha Tse