Mario's Cafe in Camden

Friendly atmosphere a great cup of tea and a top english breakfast cooked fresh. Cafes like this are a rarity in London .

George Orwell famously wrote about 'The Moon Under Water', his ideal pub. It had a clientele mostly of regulars, he wrote, who "go there for conversation as much as for the beer." Amongst other qualities, he notes that it's quiet enough to talk, and that the staff know their customers by name. At the end comes the twist, when Orwell laments that "There is no such place as the Moon Under Water," and calls on his fellow Londoners to write in and tell him if they know of a pub like the one he has described. Mario's is the perfect cafe. It is, for me, the cafe equivalent of Orwell's dream, and it exists. I'd change nothing about it. Long may it live.

Mario's never ceases to delight. Nestled in the increasingly pastel pretty Kelly Street in the heart of Kentish Town, this is a gem of a café. Mario's is for people looking for good, honest food (with spectacular hand-cut, double fried chips!), comfortable atmosphere and a genuinely friendly welcome. This is a neighbourhood café in which the regulars are happy to welcome newcomers. There's always a discussion underway, whether it's politics, local gossip or reminiscences of Italy...and usually an exhibition of local artwork/photography on the walls. I can't think of a more pleasant place to start the day in London. Mario's is not a passing fancy nor an Instagram moment. It is an institution that's here to stay.

I’ve been going to Mario’s on and off since the early 90s and just started going regularly. The food is great and the atmosphere brilliant. Builders, musicians, artists and Joe and Jane public sit side by side and you meet some amazing people and the conversation is great. In fact I think I’m just going to pop down.

Been to Mario's a few times recently and every time has been fun. Relaxed, informal. Whether you want a fry-up, or some home cooked Italian, you will love it. Try the spicy sausage pasta, or the aubergine, and his bolognese is delicious. Local artists often have exhibit their work, always worth taking a look. BYOB. Previously, June 2021...  Mario has returned Wed to Saturday. Very friendly and happy service. Very popular with locals. Breakfast goes all day, and there are a few specials. Mario's pasta and sauces are all home-made. He, and his family have been here since the 1950's so have stood the test of time. Small, intimate, friendly, and cosy.  

I really love Mario's cafe, it has such a great feel to it and owner Mario is a legend, proper nice guy, plus I would say it has a distinctive north London feel and I can imagine Amy Winehouse popped in for a little morning coffee as it is near her old Camden haunts. Unlike so many bland and anodyne chains where nobody interacts this is a proper place where people like to have a frank chat, have a laugh and get a proper bit of grub. Such places are special. Although I live in South London I have crossed up to Kentish Town on several occasions to come for a chilled out lunch and have a lasagne and chips or whatever the special is and I consider it to be great value in so many senses. I will be back again in 2021 when things open up again soon! Forza Mario! :D

Found out about this place due to the fact that a local kid group hang out here, and seeing as we saw them on tour in New Zealand, thought it would be great to check it out. It's not on any tourist maps, but by crikey it is certainly a magic little place. We had been the previous day, Monday, but it was shut, but were determined to give it another go. The food was simple but delicious and being small the locals were all ready for a good chat. Really nice spot, brilliant, By the way, this was a pre Covid visit,

i have a confession to make , i'm a big fan of family run freshly cooked un-pretencious cafes and this one is the best , some of the specials are fantastic , the chicken casserole when available is astonishing , the minestrone soup with sourdough bread (big doorsteps) counts as a lunch but they also do standard fare to a high standard at normal cafe prices , it's super freindly , there's always plenty of good natured banter and absolutely everyone is welcome , it's a bit like sitting in someones front room but in a good way ...seriously when this place goes (hopefully not for a couple of decades as the family own the building) it'll be the end of an era , these places are the hub of communities . mario also does an excellent coffee for half the price of the chains ...go now you'll wish you'd known it sooner

Mario's is the perfect place to start a day. Excellent breakfast with proper coffee and great sourdough toast....reliable Italianate meals at lunchtime and always someone interesting for a chat and of course Mario, who is worth more than the price of admission. The regulars have been coming all their lives as it was Mario's dad before him. The sort of family corner cafe that has become nigh on impossible to find especially a stone throw off a busy high street. Give your Costa's and Prêt's a miss and come to Mario's.....this is what life should be like.

Scoperto questo piccolo caffè/bar praticamente per caso e ne sono davvero felice. Stavo seguendo un itinerario in zona per vedere le case color pastello che adoro; un sabato mattina, novembre inoltrato, un vento gelido, passo davanti a questo piccolo locale e confesso che all’inizio ho scartato l’idea di entrare perché all’estero cerco di evitare più che posso la nostra cucina ma…non so, qualcosa mi ha fatto cambiare idea e meno male che ho seguito il mio istinto. Credo che sia quel tipo di locale che gli inglesi definiscono; ‘greasy spoon’; locale lungo e stretto, non molti posti a sedere, piuttosto rustico, spartano, certamente vintage. Ho avuto l’impressione che fossi l’unica turista, tutti locali e frequentatori abituali, calda e piacevole atmosfera; non è molto lontano da Camden e Kelly Street tutto sommato è abbastanza ‘famosa’ ma nonostante ciò, zero turisti. Ho preso solo una cioccolata (non densa come piace a me ma buonissima) ed un sandwich al bacon che nella sua semplicità era buonissimo; si lo so, abbinamento assai discutibile ma invece l’ho gradito e digerito nonostante il freddo. Che dire: dovessi essere ancora in zona, io da Mario ci torno 

Been coming here for years and have finally decided to praise the legend that is Mario and his Cafe. Always a pleasure visiting here for my favourite chicken escalope with pasta! Cosy,friendly and proper homely grub! A Kentish town staple..

Während zwei Wochen London mehrfach dort gewesen. Einfach eingerichtetes, sehr kleines Restaurant mit sehr guter kleiner Karte. Für London ein ausgezeichnetes Preis-Leistungsverhältnis. Sehr netter Besitzer. FYI: Abend nichts offen! Keine Alkohol-Lizenz. Für Lunch optimal.

...is not on the main drag! It's right here in this family-run Italian cafe which serves great very reasonably priced food and proper coffee and they treat you like a human being. Grazie mille Mario - ci vediamo!

Excellent place, often go alone but never feel it! Food is delicious. Very small but have always squeezed in.

Found this by chance. A tiny place but we were early enough to get a table - just before the rush! Friendly service - I had chicken escalope and my friend an aubergine dish. Both very good and reasonably priced.

Un istituzione nel quartiere. Di posti cosí mi sa che non ce ne restano tanti nel centro di Londra. Bel ambiente e colazione perfetta!! Mario é una persona eccezionale

What a perfect way to start the day. The owner is a lovely warm inviting fella. The cafe really cosy. My breakfast was delish with all the trimings. Worth another visit

He estado visitando esta cafetería desde 1991, Mario ha sido detrás del mostrador ya que la primera vez y él es todavía muy bien allí como un miembro respetado de la comunidad local. El café a menudo funciona también como una galería, así como también atrae a muchos tipos y músicos creativos. En resumen, es también un poco de pasar el rato, que usamos para millas para estar allí entre amigos lo antiguo y lo nuevo.

We've been eating here for 20 something years. A wonderful tiny cafe, featuring traditional English breakfast, modern Italian and mama's home cooking. Big on deliciousness. Mario is the friendliest warmest owner. How many cafes have a song written about them?

Mario's es una institución. Fue, incluso antes de la canción de St. Etienne.

Perfect brunch spot. Spot on coffee plus haloumi is available! Also lovely natas. Visited here several times. Very friendly staff :)

Très bon petit déjeuné ce matin à deux pas de notre Airbnb pour bien commencer la journée !

Cute cafe tucked away in Camden. Very warm and friendly atmosphere. All day breakfast of eggs, toast, baked beans etc along with mains.

Un bonito lugar para visitar por un aperitivo a la hora de comer, por si se le puede llamar huevos, beicon y croquetas de patata un snack :)

This place is great for a hangover breakfast (and more). We love going for the crispy bacon, homemade hashbrowns & free range eggs. The lunch options always sound amazing but can't not have the hashbrowns. Mario is always lovely too.Great place, defo worth a visit! Shame it's not open on Sundays :-)

And awesome everything... This is a Little restaurant pretty good and cool... I were there with some friends on our travel to london on June 2013 and the attention, food, everything was AMAZNG. Mario is also really simpathic. Hope he remembers us.

You can get great, good quality breakfasts here for reasonable prices (compared to Arancini and local gastropubs). The full breakfast, scrambled eggs and parma ham/ smoked salmon etc are all cooked to perfection, using top ingredients. Due to the size of the kitchen there can sometimes be a little wait for the food, but there are usually papers dotted around for you to read. It's a great place to come and have a slow start to the day. The owner, Mario is friendly and welcoming and the walls are adorned with local artists' work.My only complaint is that I wish it was open more often! I will keep coming back to this place, not just for the great breakfasts, but to support a lovely, local, independent business- a rare thing in Camden and Kentish Town now.

Good food, excellent coffee with a local atmosphere. Mario is such an amazing person. You might spot a local celeb having a coffee if you're lucky.

A tiny back street cafe with good quality food and one of the last of the old style independents. Basically an extension of the local's living rooms, to sit and read the papers and chat. Worth stopping by just to grab a lovely pasta dish and check the art on the walls.

Best cafe in London? Could be. Best in Camden? Definitely! Great friendly owner who stays cool whether crowded or not and great breakfasts and Italian specials at good prices. Never seems to get a mention, so I thought I d put it out there. Did I mention the Camden rock stars ( real or invented)? I did now, but still really local. And St Etienne named a song after it!

Love the breakfast - love the atmosphere - Mario is great!