Italian classics with a plant-based twist

and a beautiful interior to match!

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A new plant-based restaurant has recently opened on the iconic King’s Road, the neighborhood synonymous with alternative British fashion, music and pop culture movements of the 20th Century from mods and hippies to punks and New Romantics. London-based designers Child Studio drew from these cultural references when creating the space. The inspiration for the design came from the staple of British vernacular mid-century design - the Formica cafes, which first started appearing in London’s West End in the 50s.

Typically established by Italian immigrant families, those coffee bars served simple snacks and drinks in pared-back modernist interiors of laminate surfaces and pastel tones. This was the beginning of the ‘cafe culture’ in London with King’s Road at the epicenter, attracting musicians, photographers and bohemian characters of all styles.

The vibrant space is clad in wall-to-wall candy pink Formica, which continues along counter fronts and across tables tops. The rhythmic pattern is highlighted with cherry wood framing each laminate panel. Other subtle winks to the past include mosaic tiled flooring, cherry wood shelving and neon signage. The cafe is accessorized with the classic mid-century lighting pieces by European designers Poul Henningsen, Jacques Biny and Luigi Massoni.

Credit: Child Studio

‘Humble’ is a fantasy about King’s Road of the time when Vivienne Westwood was setting up her first boutique down the road, The Rolling Stones were hanging out at the notorious ‘Chelsea Drugstore’ and the whole street was buzzing with hippies, punks and fashion kids,’ - Alexey Kostikov and Chieh Huang, founders of Child Studio.

The menu presents a contemporary plant-based perspective on the Italian classics with an expertly curated selection of vegan pizzas.

Pizzas with a cauliflower base include truffle and mushroom, creamy saffron and asparagus, a take on Diavola with meat-free pepperoni and a classic Margherita using vegan mozzarella. A finely milled flour that is more easily digestible is used to create a crispy version of focaccia served ‘by the slice’. Alongside the pizza, Humble salads include potato with a popcorn mayo, beetroot with puffed rice and fruity tropical fennel. Seasonal soups use fresh ingredients for Spring Green and Humble’s take on Miso. Beverages are curated from modern soft drinks, coffee to the Humble Latte - a sumptuous vegetable based pink alternative to coffee or tea-based lattes.

Everything about this place is so attractive and inviting - from it’s amazing interior design to the deliciously vegan menu - that we are already considering a quick trip to London just to check it out!

If you enjoyed this article, you should check our article about Gülmen Interiors’ Coffee Shop and Store.