Marathon Restaurant in Islington has been serving Ethiopian cuisine in London since 2004, bringing bold flavours, time-honoured recipes and a warm sense of hospitality to the neighbourhood. The independently run restaurant combines traditional cooking with a modern dining room, creating a setting that works for everything from family meals and group gatherings to date nights and relaxed evenings with friends.
The Marathon Restaurant menu centres around classic Ethiopian dishes shaped by rich spice blends and slow-cooked stews. Signature plates include kitfo, finely minced beef seasoned with spiced butter, alongside special kitfo and lega tibs, crowd pleasing favourites which blend rich spices and tender textures. One of the most popular options is the Mahberawi tasting platter, designed for sharing and featuring dishes such as doro wot, awaze tibs and kitfo served together as a feast-style spread.
Vegetarian cooking also plays a major role throughout the menu, with colourful platters such as the ye tsome beyeaynetu, built around vegetables and legumes sitting comfortably alongside meat and seafood dishes. Elsewhere, guests can order plates such as chicken kebabs, falafel, North African-spiced snapper and minced beef cooked with spinach, cottage cheese and Ethiopian butter. Starters include hummus, mixed salads and baby potatoes designed for sharing around the table. Drinks continue the authentic feel, with imported Ethiopian beers chosen to complement the bold flavours of the cuisine, alongside wine, teas, coffees, wines and soft drinks.
The atmosphere at Marathon becomes livelier at weekends, when live East African music adds energy to the dining room. Guests are welcomed in beneath a bright blue awning, while inside the decor balances a modern, neutral palette with touches of Ethiopian character. Wooden floors, simple tables and chairs and soft lighting create a relaxed setting, while a green feature wall with wooden panelling adds warmth to the space. Traditional Ethiopian artwork displayed across the walls brings colour and personality to the restaurant.