7.5
Good
Restaurants

Hattie Lloyd 30/04/17


Martello Hall

A martello is, traditionally, a round defensive fort.

Only this one has no need to defend itself.

An artfully faded, industrial tavern, Martello Hall serves up absinthe fountains and sharing plates, perched right next to London Fields station. Locals will recognise it as the site of the former London Fields pub – meaning that it sports generous windows, battered wooden floors and peeling plasterwork, given the full Hackney treatment with reclaimed furniture, tin panel ceilings and antique lighting. In short, it’s exactly the sort of place you want to have up your sleeve whenever you’re looking for a hot-desking café that’s also a gin distillery that’s also a wine-on-tap-toting pizzeria, rooftop cocktail bar, and late night venue.

Which, from now on, you will be, much more regularly.

So let’s break that down a little…

THE HOTDESKING

During the day, it’s a bright and airy café where you can snag yourself a work spot with bottomless coffee, all day long, for £10. Alongside bottomless toast for £3.50 with Nutella and jam, and, come lunchtime, a selection of Po’Boys and pizzas to see you through the working day, until…

THE EVENING

When the chef really begins to flex his muscles. There’s a ‘social’ small plate sharing menu, combining dishes like mini parmesan fonduta with toast; pecorino and potato croquettes with a hot mustard sauce; and buttermilk fried chicken with hot mustard, watermelon and jalapenos. There’s also, as you may have noticed, a hulking wood-fired oven squatting in the corner, from which is hustled pizzas with toppings like the Phoenix, topped with toasted pistachio, parmesan, rosemary and red onion, or the Calabrian, which comes with ‘nduja, finocchiona salami, roasted fennel and mozzarella.

Martello Hall - bottomless brunch London

Then, there’s the drinks menu. There’s (deep breath), cocktails, wines on tap, sparkling red and white, craft beers, (another little breath) home-made syrups and limoncellos, aaand their own Martello gin, distilled just behind the bar.

THE WEEKEND

When you’re really looking to let your hair down, you may be interested to know that Saturdays are given over to giant, pizza and punch-fuelled bottomless brunches, and Sundays to equally giant bottomless roasts.

Whatever you choose… just be prepared to defend it from your companions.

 

NOTE: Martello Hall is open daily from 8am (weekdays) or 10am/12pm (weekends) till late. You can reserve a spot on their website right HERE.

Martello Hall | 137 Mare Street, E8 3RH


Partial to a tipple? Peruse the Best Bars in London


Martello Hall


137 Mare Street, London Fields, East London, E8 3RH

020 3889 6173

7.5 | Good