Who wants to see landfills replace cities in the near future? Tragically, if we continue the way we’re going that’s what’s likely to happen. We’ll be forced to build houses in rubbish. You think you live in a dump now? In fifty years time you literally might! Which is where Unpackaged comes in. Established in 2007 with the idea of providing people with a different way to buy their groceries, a way that ditched the packaging, the original Islington shop was a huge success. On the back of that success, Unpackaged moved into its current premises in Hackney and added a café and bar to its solution for ethical commerce.
Located in a short parade of appealing businesses – it has Lardo two-doors down – in Hackney Central, the shop utilises a large space big enough for both sides of its business. Down the left you’ll find fruit, vegetables, grains, herbs, spices, cereals, chocolate, wine and even detergent. All these products come loose. Simply fill up with your reusable vessel, pay and come again. The simplicity of it is great.
The other half of the building is given over to the café and bar. A chic, functional space is home to a long bar that serves the produce from the other half of Unpackaged. This is even better, if you’re here to eat and drink, you don’t even need your own container - just use your stomach. We would recommend the root vegetable bubble and squeak with poached eggs and chilli jam for breakfast every time. Alternatively, it has to be the ‘Unpackaged bacon and eggs’, which is a collection of streaky and maple back bacon, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and eggs with toast. Unpackaged also serves a prix fixe lunchtime menu of 2 courses with wine for £12.50 and hosts regular foodie events in the bar in the evenings.
Whether you care about the idea of landfills on your doorstep and chemical factories spewing waste through your window, the absence of packaging can only be a good thing. And filling your own Tupperware with Belgian truffles and consuming plates of bacon and eggs in a charming, industrial café is a pretty neat way of helping out the environment.
