Located just before Stoke Newington High Street on Stoke Newington Road outside a bus stop, Metolino is ideal for both grabbing a quick coffee while you wait for your bus and having a quiet drink as well.

The Venue
From the street, this cafe might look a bit private with its dark windows, but that’s only because the lights inside have been turned down to create an intimate atmosphere. Through the doors, the counter on your left has a selection of sandwich fillings sitting in various bowls wrapped in cling film as well as a range of biscuits and muffins to complement your coffee. Behind the counter is a series of shelves where the mugs and glasses have been intricately stacked to form towers. On the top shelf is a line of various wine and spirit bottles that have been evenly spaced apart (clearly just for show as even Dennis Rodman would struggle to reach them).

The dark wood of the bar and floor help to create the dark environment and the painted walls, one orange and the other red, reflect the light in such a way to lend a dark orange tint to the air. The floor is neatly filled with tables, each with a menu, a small green glass candle holder and a tiny dark blue vase holding a couple of small red flowers. In the far left corner a lounge area has been highlighted by what can only be described as a concrete wall, with blue bottles cemented into it, swooping down from the ceiling. It leaves enough headroom for you not to have to duck whenever you walk under it and clearly defines a new area in an innovative way. Attached to this wall is a board emulating a cup of coffee that reads Welcome to the Mediterranean Aroma across the cup. In this area, you’ll find two or three more tables and chairs next to a lovely black mirror sitting between black shelves that hold an assortment of interesting Mediterranean ornaments. A very comfortable looking booth with a TV sits nestled in the corner ideal for a loving couple but, at the same time, large enough for a group of friends.

The Atmosphere
The soft lighting coupled with the slow romantic music makes this a great venue for a loving couple to share a coffee together. Alternatively, if you need to unwind Metolino provides a tranquil environment for you to de-stress. During the day it’s fairly quiet with two or three tables being used by various couples as a place to have a quiet drink.

The Food
One of the good things about Metolino is they have a takeaway menu so you can place your order in advance have it waiting for you when you walk through the door. A selection of hot snacks such as Welsh Rarebit and San Sizzlers are available for around £3.50. A full English breakfast is only £4.80 and comes with two slices of toast and a tea or coffee. Alternative breakfasts include the Continental, Meto, Real Med and Real Med Special. Veggie options are available as well. There are also a range of crepes, both sweet (between £3 and £4) and savoury (around £5) to choose from as well as jacket potatoes with various fillings. For a light snack a toasted sandwich will set you back around £3.50 while a more filling burger will cost beween £3 and £4.75. Metolino also offers a selection of main courses including pasta dishes, kebabs and fish.

The Drink
The cappuccino is served in a cup displaying the Metolino logo. The top of the frothy drink looks like a big fluffy white cloud with a generous portion of cocoa powder dusted across the top. A taste confirms a well-made coffee sits on your table as the caffeine gives a good kick to your taste buds while the smooth froth mellows it down. A wider selection of coffees is also available as is tea, juices and soft drinks. For those in need of some alcohol there’s small selection of spirits behind the bar including Gordon’s Gin, Malibu and Jack Daniels.

The Last Word
This is the sort of cafe you would take your other half if you wanted to have a nice quiet coffee with them in an intimate setting. The coffee tastes great as well so they’ll love you even more.

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