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- Nearest Transit:
-
Vauxhall (Victoria)
Oval (Northern)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12:00 - 14:00
Mon-Sun 18:30 - 22:30
- Price Range:
-
£
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Children:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
5 reviews for Bonnington Café
All Reviews
This place is a gem - it has the absolute virtue of being in a unique corner of London that you could walk past for years and never know existed.
The menu is different every time you go, as are the cook and you basically get the choice of one or two dishes per course - a three course meal is incredibly cheap and you can take your own wine or beer so overall it's a win-win situation
One of the most unique restaurants in London. It is based in Bonnington Square which is one of the few remaining Victorian squares in Vauxhall (saved from redevelopers by squatters in the 60s). Check out http://bonningtonsquar.../ and http://www.vivavauxhal.../ for a brief intro to the area.
The restaurant itself is one of the buildings which was squatted and was then turned into a communal vegetarian cafe. It operates on a rotating cook system which lends a unique sense of surprise to it. The food is first of all cheap (roughly 10 quid for three courses, BYO and non alcoholic drinks are cheap), wholesome (vegetarian or vegan) and eco (if possible from surrounding areas and carbon offset etc.).
Given the rotating cook system you can have a different experience each night. The food is generally very good (but it has to be judged in the context; local restaurant and very very cheap) and the atmosphere is unique and bohemian chilled. A great experience.
I love The Bonnington Cafe! Open at lunch time and then again in the evening, this vegetarian and vegen cafe has a different chef every night of the week. It is run by a collective of chefs and you can a user group meeting (held every 1st of the month) if you want to have a go. The vibe is bohemian with a warm and community feel. The candle lit tables and fairy lights add a lovely touch and I felt instantly comfortable. On top of this it's incredible value food with a 3 course meal for £10, and you can also bring your own bottle without corkage charge.
It's important to book a place before you go, and also check out which chefs are cooking when, as their meals and cooking styles vary hugely. You can also see what else is on as they often hold special events or music nights. When I went I had chick peas, root vegetables and saffron stew on cous cous followed by white chocolate, orange and saffron fondant (this lady loved her saffron). The food was wholesome and scrummy and instantly I was persuaded to return.
I've heard from others that the food hasn't been so great when they've been (which is why it's a good idea to see if the menu is your thing on the night you want to go) but unless you can't handle a meal without a bit of meat, I recommend this place vegetarian or not.
The Bonnington Cafe, on a dark side street in Vauxhall, is one of my favourite places in London - so much so that I have held my birthday party there for the past two years.
Lit by fairy lights with higgledy-piggledy décor, the café/restaurant is all that's left of what was once a thriving squatters community. It retains a hippy home-spun feel reflected in the way its run by a collective of chefs who take turns, or audition in others, to cook each evening. As such, the quality varies from night to night but it's always strictly vegan or vegetarian, and there are two options for each course.
Rich chocolate tart to rival a French patisserie, admirably experimental but cardboard-like mung-bean pancakes, and a deliciously complex veggie chilli are some of the assorted offerings I've tried. Despite some disappointments, the fairy light bohemian atmosphere always wins me back, and at £10 for three courses or £6.50 for a main and £2.50 for a starter/dessert, it's hard to complain.
In addition it has that covetable trait of being BYO with no corkage fee. The Bonnington takes you away from London for the evening. It's intimate, friendly and welcoming to all.
27
306
A local favourite and perenial winner of everyone's 'best kept secret' award in London, the bonnington café is a relaxed, bohemian café/restaurant with zero pretension. Starting life as a communal-run enterprise it has since developed into a homely, laid-back venue where you can bring your own booze and eat healthy food. There's loads of events on - I tried a tango class here a while back which was pretty haphazard but fun. A hippy vibe, the place gets let down by the food a bit - it's really hit and miss. The vegan night is the most popular and prices are rediculously cheap. The opening hours are erratic and make sure you book ahead.
