Restaurants

A bar-cum-diner on the edge of Brixton Market that straddles these two functions and as a result defies easy categorisation. It serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks, and has become a one-stop shop for lounging, live music and exhibitions. The Hive also manages to maintain a high standard on the food front. Decor is light and bright, with stencilled bees on sage green walls. Sit downstairs at large wooden tables, or upstairs, on the first floor, where soft sofas provide a more laid-back vibe. Daytime snacks include first-rate sandwiches with salad or own-made fries, roast organic beef ploughman's, and pasta dishes. The evening menu offers an enticing range of well-thought-out dishes. Prawn and pea risotto was excellent, with bumper-sized crustacea and smooth, creamy rice. Also enjoyable was vegetarian tagliatelle with red onions, sun-dried tomatoes and green olives. Service was efficient and friendly. To drink, there's a wide range of wine and plenty of champagne, plus some cocktails, both classic and contemporary.

Time Out Cheap Eats in London Guide 2007