CELLAR N1

Now that King’s Cross is home to Eurostar (at St Pancras), the British Library, spangly new arts venue King’s Place, and the Guardian, the days when the only reasons to come here were to score crack and catch a train to Hull are ancient history. Even Islington is seeping this way. There loads of glossy buildings, artsy bookshops and contemporary galleries, plus a palpable buzz in the air.

Cellar N1 has a great position on the corner of a spruced-up ex-industrial courtyard. It’s a snug converted warehouse with exposed brick walls, large glass windows, lipstick-red sofas, little white cube seats and wooden floors. Wooden steps lead up to an intimate mezzanine, with four dark brown two-seater leather sofas and a big arched window with views over the square. In good weather you can sit at outside tables on the courtyard.

Staff are friendly, laid-back and chatty, and there are plans for wine-tasting sessions and courses – from beginners’ one-offs to six-week extravaganzas. There’s also a handwritten cocktail list, with some tasty mixes ranging from classics such as the French Martini to extraordinary innovations dreamed up by one of the barmen, such as Cream Dream, with chocolate cream liqueur, Kahlua, Baileys, Cointreau and single cream, served with a flake (it’s probably wise not to overdo these).

Clientele are mainly local office workers, ranging from Eurostar heads to local designers, and it’s at its busiest for after-work drinks, at its liveliest on Thursdays and Fridays. It’s attached to Kitchin N1, a roomy restaurant that feels the same design-wise – pared back with exposed brickwork – and where you can eat lunch or dinner from a hotel-style buffet of Thai, Chinese, Italian and Indian food.

Friendly, good-value, unpretentious and welcoming, with wine-tasting and cocktails involving chocolate flakes – Cellar N1 is a handy new King’s Cross creation, ideal for an
after-work unwind.