The Almeida, in Islington, is a small theatre with big influence. It's an intimate place to discover groundbreaking theatre and get up close to some of Britain's leading actors. The cafe/bar across has a constantly-changing tasty menu, relaxed atmosphere and free wifi. Open all day and great place to spend time even if you're not going to catch a production.
Situated on Lewisham Way Meze Mangal cooks up the best Turkish cuisine in South London with its massive charcoal grill situated for all to see, the smells and atmosphere are great. Always busy so make sure to book in advance.
I often stop when passing this artery of city traffic. The dwarfing structure casts shapes and shadows which can easily be missed when speeding in/out of the city.