Pitted Olive

Pitted Olive är ett café, restaurang och delikatessbutik på 3 Leigh St, Bloomsbury i London.

Down a quiet street in Bloomsbury you'll find Pitted Olive, a snug Turkish café that has been at the heart of the local community for over a decade. Catering to a mix of local regulars, hungry students, and visitors popping over from the nearby King's Cross St Pancras and Euston stations, the neighbourhood gem is a pristine reflection of its owners' lifelong passion for cooking and warm hospitality.

Walking up to the café, you're greeted by the sight of a Turkish grandmother kneading fresh gözleme in the window display – Pitted Olive claims they're some of the best Turkish flatbreads in town, and we're inclined to agree. Squeeze yourself between the shelves of quality Turkish goods for sale and the tempting counter stacked high with freshly baked flatbreads and filled börek pastries, all the way to the back, where you'll discover a prettily tiled dining area, with a skylight, hanging plants, and painted windows giving the impression you're seated in a serene Mediterranean courtyard.

There's a variety of affordable Turkish plates to choose from for both breakfast and lunch here, including traditional egg dishes like menemen and proper Turkish breakfast spreads in the morning, followed by lunch mains like roast chicken, moussaka, and stuffed peppers. They all come loaded up with dips, vegetables, and other sides, making for a filling and nutritionally complete meal. Add a cup of freshly brewed Turkish tea or coffee, and you're ready to face anything that might come your way.

Daniel Sheppard