| Only the stylish serif typeface above
the door indicates anything special from the outside but special
the Alpino most certainly is. Founded in 1959 this monument has
held on to every ounce of its characters for the best part of
a century. The interior is a wonderland of museum-quality tables
and shiny, worn wooden booth seating. On top of this the fluted
wall panels, teak-veneer Formica, glossed-over 1950s anaglypta,
red lino floor tiles, period wall heaters, glorious lamp fittings
and pendant lighting, coat-hangers, dark teak detailing make
this a Top
Ten
destination. (The Alpino's plum-patterned plate n' saucer sets
are ceramic perfection). Simon, the Alpino's owner, is a caff-master
of the old school; a gent who knows how to handle the old place
to best effect. NB: For the flaneurs out there, this is a favoured
Iain Sinclair stop-off on his Regent Canal walks. |
