The iconic Camden Market building, dating back to 1907, is home to Camden Kitchen, a beloved neighborhood bistro set over two floors. The restaurant gets a taste of the buzzy atmosphere from Camden Street while still retaining an element of privacy, tucked away from the chaos in the more serene Grantham Street.
The intimate ground-floor dining room is the image of a Parisian wine bar, with wooden accents, a blackboard detailing the specials of the day, and navy seats. The charming interiors are enhanced by low-hanging lights, the occasional fern, and a distinctive painting of a horse overlooking the window-side tables.
The menu combines local Irish produce with modern European dishes - regulars won't get bored with the seasonally-evolving choices. The à la carte has a fantastic roster of inventive dishes, with starters dominated by gourmet croquettes – revel in smoked Irish salmon with chorizo vinaigrette and smoked haddock croquettes, or a meatier pork belly and black pudding filling.
There isn’t a huge amount of room for vegetarians, with showstopper mains of slow-cooked duck leg and roasted Atlantic hake with mussels. There's always at least one veggie option, however – expect gnocchi with wild mushrooms and poached egg. Those with a strong appetite for all things sweet won’t be disappointed by the line-up of sugary desserts – tuck into caramelised banana and butter sponge with chocolate and tonka ice cream, or a fruitier lemongrass panna cotta with rhubarb granita. The wine list is limited to European sparkling wines, reds, and whites, while prosecco cocktails are a must.
Camden Kitchen’s early bird menu ticks all the boxes for pre-theatre dining, with the National Concert Hall minutes away from the bistro, while the à la carte dishes whisk locals overseas in the evening.