Found just a few minutes’ walk from Bethnal Green station, Fugitive Motel is an all-day café and co-working space. The somewhat deceptive name (there are no bedrooms here) is a reference to a song by the band Elbow, and it’s an appropriate choice considering that owners David Burgess and Liam Tolan both used to be in indie bands before deciding to switch to the restaurant trade.
Once inside, you’ll find a large industrial chic space which can only be described as retro American hotel meets hipster East London. The room’s convivial atmosphere is completed by verdant hanging plants, a neon yellow sign which declares ‘find your freedom’ and long booths which are great for groups. In a playful touch, the booths come with motel-style vacancy lights which can be turned on or off depending on whether you’re open to others joining your table.
The menu at Fugitive Motel is very casual (you order at the bar), and is restricted to a selection of sourdough pizzas paired with sides such as triple-cooked chips and salads. From the tempting list of pizzas, we settled on trying The White One – a Bianca sourdough base with fresh charring marks, topped with a rich and creamy mix of oily mushrooms, lightly roasted broccoli and earthy truffle. To bulk out our meal, we enjoyed a portion of shoestring-style courgette fries paired with the sweet heat of sriracha mayonnaise, while a rainbow-coloured bowl of crudités with a red pepper dip helped to offset our overload ordering of carbs.
Fugitive’s drink selection is notable too, as the menu makes a point of mingling softs and alcoholic beverages without any fanfare. Here, craft beers on draft from a range of local east London breweries sit alongside a number of low and no-alcohol beer options, helpfully arranged from no ABV upwards. For non-beer drinkers though, there are a few natural wines, as well as a Spritz and Kickz menu.
Fugitive Motel is a handy spot for a casual dinner or a spot of remote working, and there are some added bonuses too – the street-side terrace is perfect for soaking up some rays on sunnier days, while the in-house shuffleboard could be a welcome distraction should you need a break from your inbox.