The Core Kitchen is a small café available to gym members and the general public at vibrant Kensington gym, the Core Collective. Sip a pre-workout smoothie, top up on your protein snacks for the day or grab a hearty brunch with friends.
The community-driven gym is there to make getting fit fun and the décor tells the same story. Bright coloured lights fill the space, making it feel more like a club outing rather than a spinning class. The changing rooms are minimalist but modern with exposed metal piping, large copper-framed round mirrors and industrial pendant light fixtures. These features carry through to the restaurant, contrasting against its minimal urban design with marble tables, copper accents, vintage leather furniture and plenty of greenery.
The Kitchen is open seven days a week and serves up seasonal dishes that are packed with healthy and natural ingredients. Everything on the menu is designed to complement an active lifestyle with its nutritional plusses. You can enjoy a cup of speciality coffee, deli items to take away, breakfasts and homemade smoothies. Whether you need a protein kick with a bag of meaty biltong after an intense session of power yoga or a full post-workout feast, the Core Kitchen has you sorted with its healthy menu.
Choose your salads from the deli, building them up by adding protein or any extras, and be sure to look out for the seasonal specials and smoothies on offer. The smashed avocado and poached eggs on toast is always a popular dish and is topped with a dash of lime, coriander and chilli. Order something sweet with the vegan pancakes which are served with caramelised banana and roasted hazelnut or bite into sourdough toast slathered with almond butter, chia jam and bee pollen.
During the week, Core Kitchen has breakfast specials, including a gluten-free bowl of porridge and coffee or tea from 6.30am until 9.30am. For gym members, nothing motivates you to go to the gym more than a free smoothie, which you can receive after attending 20 classes. Vegans, vegetarians and the gluten-intolerant will walk away smiling as the menu is filled with a number of well-crafted and diet-friendly food items to fill you up. Dogs are also welcome to tag along too.