This London street has just been named one of the coolest in the world – and it’s lined with independent kitchens serving flavours from around the globe
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FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2025|IMOGEN GREEN.
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PROPELLED ONTO THE GLOBAL MAP BY TIME OUT’S ANNUAL RANKING OF THE WORLD’S COOLEST STREETS, NORTH LONDON’S BLACKSTOCK ROAD HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN NAMED ONE OF THE COOLEST IN THE WORLD. IT’S A STRIKING ACCOLADE FOR A STRETCH THAT, UNTIL NOW, WAS LARGELY KNOWN TO LOCALS AS AN UNASSUMING ARTERY SKIMMING THE BORDER BETWEEN FINSBURY PARK AND HIGHBURY.
What was once a quietly modest stretch linking Highbury to Finsbury Park has now secured its place among global destinations lauded for their distinctive blend of food, culture, and community spirit. The recognition only reinforces what locals have long understood: Blackstock Road is a vibrant and genuine snapshot of authentic London life.
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Where global flavours meet everyday London
The street’s recent recognition is due in large part to the variety and quality of its food scene. Blackstock Road is lined with independent kitchens that reflect the area’s diverse influences and tastes, combining everyday neighbourhood life with international flavours all in one place. From Café Beam, a Middle Eastern-inspired coffee spot, to the Ethiopian deli St Gabriel, and the Bib Gourmand–winning Thai restaurant Farang just steps away on Highbury Park, N4 brings a world of flavours to one single street.
One particularly special spot is Dilara Uyghur, which holds a special place among London’s diverse culinary landscape. It is best known as one of the very few places in the entire city that focuses exclusively on Uyghur cuisine, offering a rare and authentic offering of Central Asian dishes. This cuisine, which hails from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, is fascinating because it acts as a culinary bridge connecting the distinct flavours of Chinese and Central Asian food traditions.
But beyond its culinary reputation, Blackstock Road fosters a powerful sense of community and distinct local culture, thanks to one nearby football club. On match days, the street comes alive thanks to its proximity to the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club, which is just a 10-minute walk away.
A global standard of ‘cool’
Time Out’s ranking assesses streets through a lens that values local creativity, emerging dining and drinking spots, and the strength of independent culture.
Blackstock Road embodies this contemporary notion of urban cool, offering a model of city living that is both vibrant and community-oriented. Its inclusion alongside internationally celebrated streets in cities like Rio de Janeiro, Osaka, and Porto underscores its status as a notable cultural street and destination on the global stage.
https://www.en-vols.com/en/getaways/travel/this-london-street-has-just-been-named-one-of-the-coolest-in-the-world-and-its-lined-with-independent-kitchens-serving-flavours-from-around-the-globe
