The Alpaca is an independent pub at 84-86 Essex Road in Islington. Established in 2020 with a community minded outlook, it moves from a relaxed local early in the week to a livelier music and late night destination at weekends.
Seasonal local produce guides the kitchen, with burgers, carefully cooked meat and fresh catches from the neighbouring fishmonger. Vegan dishes receive the same attention to flavour, giving mixed groups substantial choices across the menu.
Sharing is built into the dining style, particularly on Sundays when roast platters bring meat or vegetable centrepieces together with traditional accompaniments. Smaller plates and snacks make a shorter visit over drinks equally natural.
Craft beer, wine from specialist merchants, cocktails and alcohol free options create a broad bar selection. The Alpaca works especially well for diners who want serious pub food, friendly service and an energetic neighbourhood atmosphere.
Address: 84-86 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 8LU, England
The Alpaca Menu
Starters & Small Plates
Bread & Butter
Nocellara Olives
Gilda
Cobble Lane Cured Meat
Streaky Bacon & Scallop Roll
Nduja butter
Carlingford Oysters
Happy Hour
4-7pm
Tomato & Anchovy Toast
Nduja Langoustine Tails
Tuna & Avocado Tartar
Corn Ribs
Agave, chilli
King Oyster Mushroom 'Calamari'
Padrons
Maldon salt
Squid & Crayfish Frito
Lemon aioli
1/2 Pint of Shell On Prawns
Thousand island sauce
Clams
Garlic & parsley butter
Mains
Mussels in Cider
Grilled Dover
Shrimp butter
Roasted Octopus
Tuna or Grilled Chicken Caesar
Paella
Prawns & mussels, for 2-3
Vegan Feta, Kale, Apple, Walnut, Pomegranate, Quinoa Salad
Fish Platter
4 oysters, dressed crab, shrimp on prawns, tuna tartar
Classics
Fish & Chips
Tartar, minted mushy peas, curry sauce
Beef Burger
Salad, cheese, burger sauce
Vegan Smashburger
Salad, “cheese”, burger sauce
Sides
Sauteed New Potatoes
Lemon aioli
Rocket & Parmesan Salad
Heritage Tomato & Sumac Salad
Skinny Fries
Rosemary salt
Sunday Snacks / Small Plates
Nocellara olives (vg) OR Homemade focaccia, oil & balsamic (vg)
Bresaola
Caper berries, cornichons
Padron peppers
Maldon sea salt
Roasted red pepper & walnut muhammara dip
Flatbread
Shell-on king prawns
Garlic & chilli butter, focaccia
Panko cod cheeks
Herb & caper sauce
Whipped vegan feta
Heritage tomatoes, rocket, focaccia
Burrata
Wild rocket, fig & chili jam
British Charcuterie platter
Caper berries, cornichons, focaccia, for 2
Sunday Roasts
Served with roast potatoes, carrot, swede, parsnip, savoy cabbage, Yorkshire pudding & gravy.
Free-range Norfolk grain-fed chicken
Cumberland pork stuffing
Roast Irish beef rump
Roast Hampshire pork loin
Butternut squash, mushroom & spinach wellington (v) / Crispy artichoke instead of yorkshire pudding (vg)
Half shoulder of Welsh lamb
Swede mash, greens, cauliflower & leek gratin, serves 2-3 people
Sunday Mains
Linguine
Clams, tomato & basil salsa
Grilled chicken or smoked tofu (vg)
Freekah salad, dukkah, pomegranate
Meat-free burger
Smoked vegan applewood, burger sauce, skinny fries
Beer battered haddock
Triple-cooked chips, pea & mint puree, tartare, curry sauce
Sunday Sides
Swede mash
Cauliflower & leek gratin
Skinny fries
Sunday Desserts
Apple & blackberry vegan crumble
With custard (v) or vegan ice cream (vg) (gf)
Burnt basque cheesecake
Cherry compote
Sticky toffee pudding
Butterscotch sauce, vanilla ice cream
Neal's Yard cheeses
Sourdough crackers, caperberries, red onion marmalade
Vegan ice cream & sorbet
Choc, vanilla, raspberry, passionfruit, lemon, per scoop