Bellanger

Walk into Bellanger and you're stepping into a proper Parisian-style brasserie that's got the energy of a Friday night even on a Tuesday. The room's got that warm, theatrical feel—all burnished wood, brass fixtures and mirrors that make the place feel bigger and more glamorous than it actually is. You'll find yourself squeezed in with locals and date-night couples, everyone tucking into confit duck, steak frites, and sole meunière done the way the French actually make them. It's not fussy or pretentious; it's the kind of place where you want to linger over a glass of wine and watch Islington's cool crowd doing the same around you.