Spark Café

The Grade-II listed White Lodge Mansion that houses this child-friendly park café is a magnificent building best enjoyed outdoors at the plastic tables in its garden. The café has a homely charm, and attracts legions of families with toddlers and pets in tow. The focus is on healthy food, including freshly prepared hot and cold sandwiches, and delicious meze platters – ours was bursting with a three-bean and chickpea salad, tabouleh and houmous, and the ‘Absolute Med’ plate brought fresh stuffed vine leaves, falafels and a summery tomato salad. Own-made carrot cake was slightly too sweet, but the banana cake was terrific. Staff are accommodating and mellow.