Darkest Peru is an independent Peruvian café at 101 Murray Grove in Hoxton. Founded by Peruvian architect Pedro Tello, it brings the country’s coffee, sandwiches and baking traditions into an intimate neighbourhood space. The focused daytime menu is suited to breakfast, lunch or coffee and cake, with recipes shaped by Peru’s Indigenous, Spanish and Asian culinary influences.
The Lomito sandwich takes inspiration from lomo saltado, filling a crisp roll with stir fried beef, onions, tomato, coriander, yellow chilli and soy. Pollada uses marinated pulled chicken, while Chicharron combines slow cooked pork with sweet potato and bright salsa criolla. Salchicha places seasoned pork sausage, scrambled egg and cassava together, and an oyster mushroom Lomito provides a vegan alternative.
Cakes and pastries are made in house, with the precise selection changing according to the day. Five milks cake, orange chiffon, Peruvian chocolate cake and combinations featuring lucuma, chirimoya or guanabana introduce distinctive fruit and cacao flavours. Peruvian corn bread, alfajores, pionono, brownies and savoury beef empanadas broaden the counter selection.
Coffee is sourced from small farms in Peru and served as espresso, Americano, flat white or cappuccino, with the beans changing through the year. Chicha morada made with purple corn offers a traditional cold drink, while limeade, quinoa with apple and seasonal fruit juices provide refreshing alternatives. Lucuma, guanabana and other fruit smoothies complete a concise menu rooted firmly in Peruvian ingredients.
Address: 101 Murray Grove, Hoxton, London N1 7QP, United Kingdom