Though Islington’s Upper St has its merits, the shops, bars and restaurants there don’t have a fraction of Camden Passage’s charm.  Here’s our guide to spending a Saturday afternoon in North London’s answer to Diagon Alley.

(Think you can do better? Add your Camden Passage suggestions to our guide or leave a comment!)

Shopping on Camden Passage

First stop is everyone’s favourite egg yolk yellow cafe, The Breakfast Club! Get a side of 80s nostalgia with your American breakfast, but be sure to get there early – pretty much every hungover Londoner within a mile radius will be heading there for bacon, pancakes and strong coffee too.

If the thought of bacon and maple syrup mingling makes your toes curl, head to Kipferl for Austrian pastries instead. The “affordable, friendly and authentic” restaurant is apparently a haven for homesick Austrians, but the rest of us can still enjoy their schnitzel and sachertorte.

Next up – shopping! Camden Passage is famous for its slightly ramshackle Antiques Market and selection of second hand shops ranging from budget to high-end. If rummaging is your thing, then you could easily while away an hour browsing books, costume jewellery, ceramics and vintage fashion on tables set up on the street. And unlike a lot of second hand shops in this neck of the woods, their wares aren’t insanely priced.

Yarn at Loop

If rifling through racks and cardboard boxes isn’t your ideal shopping experience then don’t worry. Camden Passage is home to beautiful, quirky shops that don’t sell anything you really need, but are wonderful for browsing anyway – like Smug. The small, neat shop sells a mix of vintage and brand new homeware with a modern retro slant. Qypers are particularly fond of the toy monkeys, designer Italian desks and brightly-coloured teaspoons.

Knitting enthusiasts (it’s well trendy, if you didn’t already know) may never want to leave Loop. The yarn shop has two floors dedicated to “notions and needles and artisan yarn”, and run a free monthly SOS clinic if you’re stuck with a particular project.

If all that window shopping has made you peckish, then drop by frae for a virtuous helping of frozen yoghurt. The pared-down decor of the little parlour is as wholesome as the treat it serves (a small pot of which, by the way, contains a scant 83 calories).

Ice cream at Paul A Young

But if frozen yoghurt just won’t cut it (you have been walking all afternoon, after all) then head to Paul A Young for a chocolate fix at a premium. Their brownies rank as some of the best in London and excellent things have also been said about the salted caramel ice cream topped with hot chocolate sauce.

Just be aware that the shop smells so devilishly good that you probably won’t leave without forking out for a few pricey (but worth every penny) handmade truffles.

Shopping on Camden Passage image taken from gareth1953′s flickr photostream