The aptly-named Towpath Cafe is located on the bike-busy Regents Canal in East London.Popular with the local (push) bikey gangs, this hole in the path is the perfect pit stop to refuel yourself and regain composure - for myself at least, it takes quite a bit of tight rope walker-style concentration on the bikepath so as not to end up 'in the dip'. The bike bell certainly gets a workout.
This lovely little sunny spot is casual and buzzing with energy - something in the water or so the saying goes? The local and seemingly regular crowd flock on a sunny day, armed with books and picnic rugs to lounge on the cafes makeshift small garden terrace.
Offering light meals, homemade cakes, cool drinks and of course coffee, we opted for the affogatos with homemad
e ice-cream, and were perhaps a little too impressed judging by the spoon on empty glass clinking sounds that continued well after 99.99% of the contents were gone.
The colourful array of small clusters of mis-matched tables and chairs are perfectly complimented by the bunches of jasmine in old glass bottles on the counter.
Try it out - go on, ON YOUR BIKE!
Towpath Cafe
Between Whitmore Bridge and Kingsland Road Bridge.
The Regents Canal, London N1 5SB
