At Camden Lock Market, take a left after the freshly squeezed orange juice stand and you will find the best (and possibly the tiniest) cookie bar in London and the World, Cookies & Scream.

Two teenagers are behind the bar. One, a girl with blue hair and tattoos from her forearms to her fingertips, and the other a pallid boy with thick black hair casually spiked out. They create the punk-goth vibe as much as the hand-chalked skulls that decorate the menu.

Picture stacks upon stacks of cookies and a really good-looking selection of cakes, brownies, pies and doughnuts (the full range is available at their larger Holloway Road location.) You can get your cookie or donut fix in an  ice cream sandwich form!

All products are free of gluten, wheat and refined sugar and nothing contains animal products. So that’s no butter, no eggs, no real chocolate and, what’s more, everything is low fat… not that you would notice.

Vegan never looked so sinful.

Deciding what to get is going to be the hardest decision of your life. Fortunately, you can always come back another day to pick up whatever you couldn’t fit in. You need a slice of their Cookie Pie in your life. It’s a thick-as-f#*k cookie that oozes melted choc and peanut butter. So. Freaking. Delicious.

And then there’s the TO DIE FOR cherry-almond blondie (do get it heated) and a tonne of Scream Shakes that are so wonderful that you will want to take them intravenously. Their old school vanilla comes highly recommended.

Note that their products do contain nuts and soya so, sadly, you might have to give this place a miss if you have allergies.

Insider Tip: For a change from the ubiquitous underground and busses, you may like to take a canal boat from Little Venice to Camden Lock. It takes 55 minutes and costs around £8.50 depending on which company you go with. Timetables can vary according to seasons so be sure to look it up before you go. 

Cookies & Scream, £

Locations:

The Market Hall, Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF

10-5pm daily*

130 Holloway Road, N78JE

10.30-7pm daily, Saturday 10-8pm*

*Check their instagram for updated opening hours.

http://www.cookiesandscream.com/

The post Cookies & Scream: Vegan Never Looked so Sinful appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

“All sorrows are less with bread,” claimed Cervantes in the 1500s. Our obsession with the Chelsea (area in southwest London) bun and New York bagel prove that more than five hundred years later, Cervantes is still right… but which snack is a bite above the rest? Let’s take a deeper look.

Chelsea buns can be traced back to the 1700s, to the Old Chelsea Bun House bakery where 50,000 people, Hanoverian royalty among them, turned up to queue for the first baker’s dozen. The buns, often paired with hot cross buns to celebrate Easter, quickly achieved cult status with a following to match. A strong police force was required to keep the Good Friday queues calm; the buns themselves were sold out of shutters in the side of the bakery lest riots ensued.

While Chelsea buns have been whipping crowds into a frenzy since their inception, bagels have also charmed the masses for decades. Bagels made such an impression that in the early 1900s, a select group of people decided that they liked them so much that they would, effectively, put a ring on it.

Cue the International Beigel [sic] Bakers’ Union. For years, bagel production in New York was tightly controlled by this bagel monopoly. An exclusive society, only sons of the original members were allowed to join the fold; wannabe bagel-bakers were threatened with broken legs if it appeared they were going to be baking their own bagels on the sly.

What about the bun and bagel of today? Both, in fact, are bastardized versions of their ancestors; the two have been super-sized and reinvented in crazy flavors at the behest of hangry Instagrammers, outraging bagel and bun purists alike. A blogger even called for government action, proclaiming, “This kind of perversity should be prohibited by law.”

One of the most controversial elements in this bread-ataclysm came out of Lender’s Bagel Factory. They opted to steam rather than hand-roll and boil the dough, managing to double if not triple the output of their traditionalist neighbors. The resulting “roll with a hole,” however, lacks the iconic chewiness of its predecessor, a loss that Mimi Sheraton, former New York Times’ restaurant critic, finds to be “completely deplorable.” We wonder what Sheraton would have to say about the rainbow bagel deviants that ‘broke’ Instagram this past year.

Bagels may prove more popular online but the Chelsea bun is no less revered. Since its inception, it quickly became a literary muse, popping up in the works of Charles Dickens, Anne Manning and Lewis Carroll. In the 1700s, a local poet even wrote an ode to the humble Chelsea:

Fragrant as honey and sweeter in taste!

As flaky and white as if baked by the light,

As the flesh of an infant soft, doughy and slight.

            – Anon.

Candid, artistic and not just a little disturbing (“flesh of an infant”?!) this poem is the icing on the proverbial Chelsea bun.

So, let’s review. The Chelsea bun wins the tale of the origins because the fact that Chelsea buns caused actual bun fights is too good to go unrewarded. The bagel also gets a point, however, for having a history that enabled a Beyoncé reference. And so we arrive at a tie but there can be only one winner and when it comes down to the wire, nothing beats a bagel in our books, not even the poetic creations of sheer bun-induced madness. Roll on bagels! We salute you.

Edited by Ivy Joseph & Demi Vitkute

The post New York Bagel or Chelsea Bun? appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound? If I drink a red velvet latte and don’t Instagram it, was there any point? In an aesthetically obsessed age, it’s practically a cardinal sin not to capture that perfectly sculpted latte art in that trendy backstreet coffee house. London’s coffee scene is evolving rapidly so we’ve compiled a list of the insta-perfect filter coffee houses to embellish your newsfeed.

Corals, £

Instagram and neighborhood favourite, Lerryn’s, recently underwent a makeover. But fear not, owner Lerryn has opened a new cafe, and it’s just as delightful. Corals lives up to its name; the  shop front is painted just the right shade of peach and is paired with a minimalist concrete interior that keeps it from becoming a Pepto Bismal headache. Lerryn’s objective was to create a welcoming atmosphere in a stylish space; Corals has got this spot on and achieved that rare balance of ‘edginess’ in a friendly and welcoming environment.

Lerryn has partnered with Sean, the eponymous mixologist of Sean’s Bar, so the cocktails are as photogenic as the interiors. Our top tip? Coordinate your drink with the bar and choose the signature pink gin cocktail.

Corals, 200 Rye Lane, Peckham, London SE15

@coralslondon

www.coralslondon.com

B&H Buildings, £££

Brunching at The Bourne and Hollingsworth Building Restaurant (B&H for those in a rush) is like eating your eggs benedict in Anna Wintour’s greenhouse. The white wash walls and tables are the perfect backdrop for the palm print chairs and leafy potted plants that fill the space.

The interior has a hint of English Heritage, but with tongue-in-cheek titled events including ‘The Chap Olympiad’ and ‘The Tweed Run’ it is the opposite of stuffy. If you need any more persuading, we’ve heard Instagram queens Alexa Chung and Pandora Sykes are fans.

The Bourne and Hollingsworth Building Restaurant, 42 Northampton Rd, London EC1R 0HU

@bourneandhollingsworth

www.bandhbuildings.com

Brockwell Lido Cafe, ££

Most of London’s Lidos have wonderful cafes. But for me, Brockwell’s The Lido café wins hands down. It’s tasteful yet playful interiors, terrace that overlooks the Olympic sized pool and Art Deco Grade II listed building make it a cute and quirky spot for a Sunday morning coffee.

The food on offer is a far cry from the chip cones of my swimming pool youth. The salads are a riot of colour that will cheer up any social media feed, but for me it’s the seafood and fish dishes (appropriately) that I really want to dive into (excuse the pun).

The Lido Cafe, Dulwich Rd, London SE24 0PA

@thelidocafe

www.thelidocafe.co.uk

The Attendant, £

It’s never good to take oneself too seriously. The Attendant offers the perfect antidote to this, with dining spaces nestled between urinals in this former Victorian public bathroom. Before you run for the scrubbing brush and marigolds, the entire place has been jet washed and is totally hygienic.

Coffee is from The Canavan Roastery, and the menu offers exotic twists on classic brunch dishes. It’s the little details, like edible pansies thrown over passion fruit French toast, that have us

feeling flushed.

The Attendant, 27a Foley Street, London W1W 6DY

@attendant_uk

www.the-attendant.com

sketch, ££££

sketch is the most Instagrammed location in London, and it’s not hard to see why. Pierre Gagnaire’s venue is intriguing and beautiful, with a healthy dash of humour. It’s this comedy, brought to the fore after a redesign from Turner Prize winner Martin Creed, that sets sketch apart.

Each room has been designed by a different person. India Mahdavi’s Wes Anderson style classic pink Gallery plays host to David Shrigley’s cheeky illustrations. The Lecture Room, designed by Gahban O’Keeffe, is a Missoni-style seventies dream. The red and black Parlour has the air of an after hours Soho drinking den. Eating in The Glade is like having a meal in a fairy tale forest. Don’t even get me started on the egg shaped toilet pods.

sketch, 9 Conduit St, London W1S 2XG

@sketchlondon

www.sketch.london

Palm Vaults, £

Walking into Palm Vaults is a little like walking into an Instagram virtual reality. Green leaves and baby pink flowers bedeck the walls, transporting you from Hackney on a rainy day to a dreamy LA sunrise. Even better, there’s a mini shop selling homeware, plants, prints and clothes, so you can take a piece of the prettiness home.

But it’s not just the cute decor at Palm Vaults that we love – the food and drink are also a delight. Delectable cakes on vintage crockery, flower strewn breakfast bowls, and their famous pink and green red velvet and matcha lattes will guarantee you some insta likes.

Palm Vaults, 411 Mare St, London E8 1HY

@palmvaults

www.palmvaults.com

Kape Barako, £

Kape Barako opened earlier this year, and is one of the most ‘London-y’ examples on our list. Married owners Umar Khalid and Alona Guerra have revived a London icon by opening a teeny tiny in a red telephone box. This TARDIS like stall sells pastries as well as coffee and is eminently photographable.

Kape Barako, 25 Hampstead High Street, NW3 1QJ

@KapeBarako2016

Did we miss your favourite? Let us know in the comments. And keep your eyes peeled for the New York partner piece!

Edited by Florence Walsh

The post Insta-Perfect Filter Coffee Houses in London appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

1. Get your freak on and down an insect

Join The Colony | Artesian, London | £18-

Absolut Elyx, wheat, almond, juniper, bergamot

2. Party on the ceiling with the Mad Hatter’s top hat

The Mad Hatter | Barts, London | Serves 4-6 | £90

Russian Standard vodka, spiced berries & apple, topped with prosecco

3. Knock back a beaver

Here’s Buddy | Beaver Lodge, London | $12

Beaver Moonshine and apricot liqueur, cranberry juice, passionfruit juice

4. Go loco for a coco-nut

Coconut | ZZ’s Clam Bar, NYC | $20

Trinidadian rum, Acacia honey, smoked cinnamon

5. Get jingled on a jam jar

The Godfather Sour | The Shop NW10, London | £8

Rebel Yell bourbon, amaretto agave, lime juice, orange bitters

6. Sip from a sweetheart

Vera Lynn | Cahoots, London | ~£10

Tanqueray No.TEN gin, ginger wine, apple juice, elderflower cordial, pear purée, fresh lime

7. Misbehave with a poptail

Poppy Horror | Adventure Bar Convent Garden, London | Serves 5-8 | £22-59

Eristoff vodka, blackcurrant liqueur, fresh lemon juice, sugar, prosecco, lipstick, handcuffs

8. Intrigue with a brass pineapple

Pineapple | ZZ’s Clam Bar, NYC | $20

American gin, house limoncello, chamomile

9. Get horsed on a horse head

Horse Head | Bunga Bunga, London | Serves 3 | £55

Don Julio Blanco tequila, Ratafia black cherry liqueur, cranberry juice

10. Make sparks fly with a light bulb

Flower | The Standing Room, NYC | $12

Dry gin, lavender, elderflower, cranberry

11. Take a swig from a flaming skull…

Flaming Zombie | The Escapologist, London | £11.50

Bacardi Oro, dark rum, triple sec, fresh lemon juice, mango, passion fruit, pineapple juice, over-proof rum

12. …or a gloriously pink one

Disco Skull | Simmons, London | Serves 4 | £35

Malibu, apple juice, cold brew Earl Grey tea, fresh lime juice, raspberries, lime wedges, sugar syrup

13. Be all class with a Chemex coffee maker

Tahitian Coffee | Slowly Shirley, NYC | Serves 2 | $35

Plantation Barbados rum, Campo de Encnato pisco, house falernum, honey, guava, passion fruit, orange, lime, cold brew coffee

14. Get spiritual with a porcelain Buddha

Cardamom | ZZ’s Clam Bar, NYC | $20

Gin, vanilla, VEP Chartreuse

15. Enjoy a tipple from an Italian

Supermario Monti | Bunga Bunga, London | £12

Fresh cucumber muddled with Hendrick’s gin, mixed with elderflower cordial, apple juice, 7UP

16. Put away a can or two

Jamo & Ginger Cha-Chunker | Genuine Liquorette, NYC | $10.10+tax

Jameson irish whiskey, ginger ale, bitters, lemon

Photo credit: Genuine Liquorette

17. Mystify with an alcoholic capsicum

Cucumber | The Standing Room, NYC | $12

Spicy tequila, cucumber, lime, bell pepper

Photo credit: @pierangeliwit

18. Pick a vintage hit with a raspberry-kissed teacup

Bikini Martini | Simmons, London | £9

Vodka, Chambord raspberry liqueur, pineapple juice

19. Have a cereal-sly good night with a milk bottle

American Cereal Killer | The Clocktower’s Gold Bar, NYC |$16

Michter’s bourbon, cheerios milk, Madagascan vanilla syrup, Angostura bitters

20. Defeat Jaws

The Shark’s Eye | Mother Of Pearl, NYC | $15

Passion fruit, lemon, maraschino, curacao, bourbon, Tiki bitters

The post 20 Most Bizarre and Fantastic Cocktails You Should Taste appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

In the late 70s, during the so-called Punk Invasion of London, Camden Town became a point of attraction for punks, mods and rude boys. It was in this period, in 1979, that Madness first performed live at The Dublin Castle, a show which catapulted the band to fame and helped the pub build its reputation. Later, in the 1990s, it attracted bands such as Blur, performers such as Billy Bragg and many other acts that later gained commercial success, including the likes of Coldplay, The Killers, Supergrass and The Arctic Monkeys. The Dublin Castle was also one of Amy Winehouse’s favourite places, having played there innumerable times and sometimes even helping the staff serve drinks behind the bar.

Today, The Dublin Castle is a relaxed, friendly, artistic pub. When you enter, you can immediately perceive the relaxed atmosphere. The extreme friendliness of its staff is unparalleled: if you order a Guinness, be it a pint or a half pint, you’re likely to get a shamrock drawn on your beer head! To enjoy your drink, you can share the long tables with the other customers, lounge around at the bar or peruse the many posters on the walls to get an idea of the past live shows and the history of the place. On the other hand, if you’re in the mood to go wild, you’re in the right place. Just behind a door at the bottom of the pub is a gig hall where, every night, at least four bands will be playing, with DJs following the performances on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The only thing you need to do now is to go to Camden and discover for yourself the place whose declared mission is to help people have a good time!

Edited by Sophie Walker

The post The Dublin Castle: A Legendary Pub in Camden Town appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.

Here is a list of some of the restaurants where spice lovers will feel at home

1. Nobu, ££

Known as ‘the world’s sexiest restaurant, Nobu provides guests with an experience that goes beyond just the food. This Japanese restaurant has a menu consisting of the best Japanese dishes made with care and overloading with flavours.

Recommended: Yellowtail sashimi with Jalapeño

2. Gilgamesh, £££

Located in the heart of Camden market, this Pan-Asian restaurant provides diners with a high quality experience. It is known not only for the food, but also the amazing setting/space. The main menu provides dishes with amazing flavours, but if you really want that extra kick, their spicy menu has dishes infused with some of the hottest chillies in the world.

Recommended: Anything off the chilli menu

3. Barshu Restaurant, ££

Barshu is a Chinese cuisine, serving authentic dishes from the Sichuan provide in particular. Sichuan chefs are renowned for their ability to create complex flavours and they certainly incorporate it in the Barshu menu. Dishes vary with some being ‘robustly spicy, while others are delicate and teasing’.

Recommended: Fragrant chicken in a pile of chillies

4. Nandos, £

Nandos is a popular casual dining restaurant amongst Londoners. It’s inspired by a Portuguese flame grilled menu, which serves peri peri chicken and a range of sides. You also get the option of choosing how hot you would like your dish to be. There are also extra sauces (including an extra extra hot sauce) provided if you would like to spice it up even more.

Recommended: The extra hot option.

5. Three little birds, £

This is an authentic Jamaican café, boutique and rum bar rum that provides you with a true feel of all things Jamaican. Caribbean food in general is known for its mouth-watering spices and endless flavours, and this eatery certainly co-signs this. They also serve delicious cocktails.

Recommended: Jerk burger

6. Kokeb, £

Kokeb is a family-run restaurant that vowed to keep a very authentic and uncompromising Ethiopian menu. Ethiopian dishes tend to be very generous with their herbs and spices so this restaurant is certainly for those who love the tingling sensation of hot food.

Recommended: Kokeb house special. Allow the chefs to impress you with their own selection.

Edited by Chermaine Sowah

The post For The Spice Lover: Must Visit Restaurants in London appeared first on The Urban Watch Magazine.