Turn off Haverstock Hill onto England’s Lane and you’ll come across a large violet canopy hanging over a shop front that has been painted violet. You’ve guessed it – you’ve just arrived at the Violette Cafe.

The Venue
You can’t miss it and it’s worth looking out for because it’s quite smart inside. A waiter wearing a violet shirt will approach you and offer you a menu and allow you to pick a seat. Don’t worry, there’s no more violet except for the fact that the canopy does tint the air ever so slightly tricking your mind into thinking that the walls have been painted violet. Instead, the walls are white and the ceiling is extremely high up. The floorboards have been varnished and emit a golden yellow glow. The seating is quite organised – in the front window are nine square tables in a three x three formation. Further into the cafe and a light blueish-grey leather bench runs down the wall before it veers round in front of a large window that has been covered by an enormous Venetian blind. A large mirror, professional black and white framed photographs and large silver vases with cacti line the walls.

A smart modern looking flight of stairs lies next to the extraordinarily large Venetian blind and takes you up to a second seating area. There are only a handful of seats up here but it adds a lot of flavour to the cafe as a whole as it’s all open plan. The bar area is made up of an interesting combination of wood and metal and has a window displaying a large bowl of fruit salad, some cakes and a few cookie jars on top.

The Atmosphere
The Violette Cafe is very relaxed during the day and almost certainly fills up quickly in the evenings. Some of the locals often take advantage of its quiet nature and bring a book with them to read while they have a coffee. The soft playing music offers a mix of interesting ethnic beats and soulful chilled-out sounds.

The Food
There’s quite a substantial (and violet) menu. The dishes all come very well presented, and the options range from light snacks right up to full blown roasts. Expect to find continental dishes like lamb stew, beef, chicken and risottos, at around £12 for a meal. They shut at 6.30pm though, so this is best for a lunch destination.

The Drink
A lot of time and effort goes into the hot chocolate and if you position yourself correctly you’ll be lucky enough to see it being made. Served in a mug, it comes with big fluffy froth lightly dusted with a sprinkling of cocoa powder. It looks the part, but it doesn’t taste like a normal hot chocolate. The after-taste is very much like that of a milk chocolate bar. It’s very different: very sweet. Perhaps it’s an acquired taste. Other drinks on the menu include your usual coffees, a selection of teas and a small assortment of wines.

The Last Word
One of the trendy cafes on England’s Lane that’s undoubtedly popular with locals for good reason.

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