There’s an infectious charm to North London — a palpable energy that makes it one of London’s most exciting areas. Its many unique and vibrant neighbourhoods — where luscious green spaces, thriving artistic scenes and culinary diversity co-exist in harmony — creates a delightful, interwoven tapestry of culture and community.

It’s also home to our Islington store, located at its centre on the borough’s bustling Upper Street. As an homage to the communities surrounding our stores, we’re introducing Whistles Neighbourhood: a series where we celebrate the people and places we’re proud to call neighbours. To kickstart the first in the series, we’re shining a spotlight on the thriving culinary scene surrounding our Islington store, paying a visit to a handful of some of the best food spots in North London.

This community spirit is a philosophy that extends to ingredients and suppliers: “I grew up in a small village, so I liked the idea of doing something that gives back. We approach it by seeing what the farmer has, rather than moving on to different suppliers if they don’t have the specific ingredient we’re looking for. We approach it by asking ‘What do you have? How can we support you?’”, said Florin, discussing the importance of supporting local suppliers. It’s an approach that enables Florin to connect more with customers, too: “it’s about building the relationship between the person that produces the ingredient and us. Then it’s about translating that to the customers, so they can know where everything is coming from, getting a better understanding of the products and why they are different”.

As for the end product, it isn’t difficult to see why Tarn has become a neighbourhood favourite. The interior is a lovely place to be with its duo of large wooden tables, exposed brick kitchen and earthenware mugs, giving a warm, welcoming feeling, much like the service. As for the food, delicious, creative pastries are expertly crafted by the Tarn team — think flaky croissant dough topped with honey flapjack, house-made ricotta and marmalade, pastries stacked with strawberry compote, lemon verbena and a black pepper meringue and spinach pastries with truffle raclette, slipcote cheese and za’atar. Paired with a cup of Tarn’s delicious coffee while you’re sitting, staring out of the large front windows, watching the world leisurely go by, and you’ll quickly realise why Tarn is a favourite.

The Tamil Prince | 115 Hemingford Rd, London N1 1BZ | 0.6 miles from Whistles Islington

It’s hard to understate the importance of a good local pub. But one that retains that neighbourhood feel while serving incredibly delicious food? That’s the intersection where The Tamil Prince sits — a friendly, inviting neighbourhood pub serving its own imaginative take on South Indian food. Speaking with its General Manager, Jack, he describes the food as “small, perfectly formed, a little bit of a twist on the classics with the Dosa and stuff. It’s not necessarily Tamil — I know we’re called The Tamil Prince — but the owner’s name is Prince and he’s Tamil, with inspirations taken from his childhood and growing up in South India”.

Located on the tree-lined back streets of Barnsbury — nestled between Caledonian Road and Islington — The Tamil Prince fits in seamlessly with its leafy surroundings, housed in a tastefully restored Victorian pub, formerly known as The Cuckoo. It’s a quieter neighbourhood and it’s this local feel that’s integral to The Tamil Prince: “it’s really important to us, it just helps make it feel more organic. It’s quite a local neighbourhood here, it’s not very central, so the people living around us are really important. It’s good to just drop in, have a quick drink and a snack, and that feeling of locality really helps the atmosphere”, said Jack, discussing the importance of the local-pub-restaurant feel.

Perilla | 1-3 Green Lanes, Newington Green, London N16 9BS | 1.5 miles from Whistles Islington

Perilla, located in Newington Green on the edges of Dalston and Stoke Newington, has often been touted for a Michelin star. Upon trying the food, you’ll immediately understand why. But don’t let that conjure up notions of pretentiousness of any kind, as Perilla is far removed from any sort of restaurant-fine-dining-stuffiness. Instead, upon entering, you’re welcomed by an atmosphere that’s warm, friendly and, thanks to an impeccably designed interior, a beautiful place to be. Large, fish-bowl-like windows let in swathes of light, illuminating the restaurant’s wooden tables, terrazzo flooring and exposed timber ceiling.

Perilla was co-founded in 2016 by childhood friends Ben Marks and Matt Emmerson, with Matt looking after front of house and daily operations, and Ben taking on the role of executive chef. “We actually met as kids at primary school in North London and stayed in touch loosely over the years. Ben went the fine dining route, working at places like Noma and The Square, while I was more front-of-house, working in high-energy restaurants that had loads of atmosphere but weren’t necessarily serving the kind of food I felt excited about”, said Matt, discussing how they met. “When we opened, the idea was to bring together the best parts of both our experiences — food with the quality and technique of fine dining, but in a loud, informal, relaxed setting that felt like somewhere we actually wanted to eat”.

That experience is at the core of Perila — it’s very much a neighbourhood restaurant, a unique mix of local-spot warmth and mind-blowingly good food. Perilla is an integral part of the community mosaic of Newington Green: “Newington Green has always had a special pull for us — Ben and I actually grew up in the area — so when we stumbled across a small children’s café on the corner, it immediately caught our attention. The space had this brilliant natural light, lots of character, just off the green, and just felt like somewhere we could build something special”. The restaurant’s relaxed-yet-considered feel translates to the cooking, “it’s about using classical technique to let those ingredients shine. We try not to overcomplicate things — we want the food to feel thoughtful but relaxed, with bold flavours and real generosity. There’s an honesty to the cooking that’s important to us: we’re not trying to hide behind anything fancy or overworked. Just really good ingredients, cooked well, with a sense of place and season”.

Giacco’s | 176 Blackstock Rd, London N5 1HA | 1.9 miles from Whistles Islington

There’s something to be said about a local spot where you can unwind with a glass of low-intervention wine, eat some freshly made pasta and listen to some good music. Enter Giacco’s — a cosy, neighbourhood Italian restaurant located on Highbury’s Blackstock Road. Giacco’s was founded in 2003 by Leonardo Leoncini, who is originally from Florence, with its name being an homage to his family: “it was actually my grandad’s nickname; as I pretty much grew up with him, I thought I owed him something”, said Leo, discussing its origins.

It’s a relaxed-yet-sophisticated environment, its deep blue exterior complemented beautifully by a pared-back, considered interior, where you’ll find minimalist furniture, candles overflowing from wine bottles and a pair of vintage Celestion Ditton speakers. Music fans will appreciate Giacco’s, where a discerning playlist perfectly matches the laidback atmosphere. Of course, this being a wine bar, there’s an incredible selection of wine proudly displayed around Giacco’s bar, where organic and low-intervention bottles have been carefully curated and sourced from both Italy and France. Giacco’s also hosts regular guest chefs every Sunday, where renowned cooks take over the kitchen and serve up a variety of different cuisines.