Eating & Drinking 1. The Canvas Social Enterprise Café where you can draw on the walls 42 Hanbury St, London E1 5JL www.thecanvascafe.org 2. The Water Poet Traditional London Pub with £10 lunch deal on weekdays, inclusive of a drink. 9-11 Folgate St, E1 6BX, www.waterpoet.co.uk 3. The English Restaurant Family owned and run coffee shop and restaurant set in an original Georgian House 52 Brushfield Street, London E1 6AG www.theenglishrestaurant.com 4. Golden Heart Where the Brick Lane creative revolution started. Landlady Sandra was named one of the most influential people in British art. 110 Commercial Street, London E1 6LZ No website 5. 10 Bells Opened in the 1850’s and still retaining its Victorian tiling, has a good selection of craft beers. 84 Commercial Street, London E1 6QG www.tenbells.com 6. Poppies Fish & Chip Shop 6-8 Hanbury Street, London E1 6QR www.poppiesfishandchips.co.uk
7. Brick Lane Brasserie Family run Curry House on Brick Lane 67 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL www.bricklanebrasserie.com
8. Masala Amongst the best curry shops on Brick Lane 88 Brick Lane, London, E1 www.masalabricklane.com
9. Pride of Spitalfields The best local pub in East London 3 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ No website
10. Needoos Highly acclaimed traditional Punjabi food 87 New Road, London E1 1HH www.needoogrill.co.uk
11. The Carpenters Arms Great food and a large selection of beers from around the world 73 Cheshire Street, London E2 6EG www.carpentersarmsfreehouse.com
12. Dark Sugars Chocolate Shop 141 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB www.darksugars.co.uk/
13. Brick Lane Beigels London’s original and best Beigels, the only Jewish businesses surviving on Brick Lane 159 & 155 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB
14. Brick Lane Coffee Hipster Coffee hangout 157 Brick Lane London www.streetcoffee.co.uk
15. Well & Bucket Beautiful beer, extraordinary oysters, splendid sliders and a little secret bar down below. 143 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 7DG www.wellandbucket.com
16. Owl and Pussycat Shoreditch Pub with lively beer garden 34 Redchurch Street, London, E2 7D www.owlandpussycatshoreditch.com
17. Dishoom Bombay Café style restaurant, recently voted best food in the U.K by Yelp. 7 Boundary Street, London E2 7JE www.dishoom.com
18. Book Club Food, drinks, D.J’s and free ping pong! 100-106 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4RH www.wearetbc.com
19. Queen of Hoxton Book Club’s ‘older sister’ great roof terrace and live music nights 1-5 CURTAIN ROAD LONDON EC2A 3JX www.queenofhoxton.com
20. 98 Curtain Road Zebra prints, lavish colourful fittings and Victoriana lend this cocktail bar a fairy tale vibe. 98 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3AA www.ninetyeight-bar-lounge.co.uk
21. Old Blue Last Refurbished East End boozer, with live music venue upstairs, attracting trendy young crowd 38 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3ES www.theoldbluelast.com
22. Bar Kick Spacious bar with table football, hung with flags and memorabilia and showing matches on big screen. Daily happy hour. 127 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JE www.cafekick.co.uk
23. Syd’s Coffee Stall Serving hot drinks since 1918 On the corner of Calvert Avenue and Shoreditch High St.
24. Paper n Cup Not for profit coffee and book shop, supporting the Spitalfields Crypt Trust. 18 Calvert Avenue E2 7JP www.paperandcup.co.uk/
25. Dragon Bar Amazing £5 lunch menu during the day, lively Shoreditch bar by night. 138 - 139, Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JE
26. Shutterbug Cool, intimate bar and creperie serving bespoke pancakes and cocktails, with DJs plus a courtyard. 1 Rivington Place, EC2A www.shutterbug-london.com
27. Bedroom Bar Bohemian, traveller-inspired rooms on 2 floors with live music and DJs on 2 sound systems. 62-68 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY ww.bedroom-bar.co.uk
28. Franco’s Traditional East End Café, serving breakfast lunch and sandwiches 67 Rivington Street Shoreditch
29. Calooh Calay Low-lit Shoreditch bar with Lewis Carroll-themed interior and long menu of innovative cocktails. 65 Rivington St, London EC2A 3AY www.calloohcallaybar.com/welcome
30. Barley Mow Traditional, compact corner pub with bench and stool seating, stripped floors and real ales on tap. 127 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3AU
31. Portside Parlour Candle-lit bar with leather sofas and illustration-covered walls, plus over 50 rums and cocktails. 14 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DU www.portsideparlour.co.uk
32. Red Market (May – October) Street Food market by day, bar and D.J’s in the evening. 1-3 Rivington St. London EC2A 3DT www.redgallerylondon.com
33. Chico Bandito Mexican Restaurant 74 Luke Street London EC2A 4AR www.chicobandito.co.uk
34. Vietnamese Food There is over 10 Vietnamese restaurants on Kingsland Rd, London E8 4AAU. Take your pick!
35. On the Bab Brilliant and affordable Korean restaurant 305 Old Street, London EC1V 9LA www.onthebab.com/
36. Frizzante at Hackney City Farm Hearty Rustic Food by the farm. Hackney City Farm, 1 A Goldsmith's Row, London E2 8QA www.frizzanteltd.co.uk
37. Jaguar Shoes Hipster cafe bar behind glass shopfront of an ex-wholesalers, with candlelit, bare-brick basement. 32-34 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DA www.jaguarshoes.com
38. E. Pellicci Vintage Art Deco workers' cafe offering the full English breakfast and Italian classics since 1900. 332 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0AG
39. Bistroteque Modern European classics in a trendy loft-restaurant with cocktails and stage shows downstairs. 23–27 Wadeson Street. London E2 9DR www.bistrotheque.com | |
Shops & Galleries in East London
1. Whitechapel Gallery Opened in 1901, the first permanent gallery in the East End. 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX www.whitechapelgallery.org
2. Stolen Space Compact art gallery hosting temporary, contemporary underground and urban art exhibitions. 17 Osborn Street, London E1 6TD http://www.stolenspace.com 3, Blitz 2-storey Victorian warehouse for vast vintage fashion, lifestyle and second-hand homeware bazaar. http://www.blitzlondon.co.uk 4. Rough Trade Music emporium in old brewery with a coffee shop, also selling books and hosting in-store gigs. Dray Walk, Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL www.roughtrade.com
5, Backyard Market (weekends) A large variety of local independent traders under one roof. The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL http://www.backyardmarket.co.uk 6. Brick Lane Books Specialists of books about London and the East End. 166 Brick Lane, London E1 6RU http://www.bricklanebookshop.org 7, Spitalfields City Farm Local city farm with events and happenings all year Buxton Street, London E1 5AR http://www.spitalfieldscityfarm.com
8. Graffiti Life Contemporary artist-run gallery 26 Cheshire Street, London E2 6EH http://www.thegraffitilifegallery.co.uk 9, Beach London Gallery focused on design and illustration, selling books and gifts, plus original artworks. 20 Cheshire Street, London E2 6EH http://www.beach.london/
10. Beyond Retro Vintage clothing retailer 110-112 Cheshire Street, London E2 6EJ http://www.beyondretro.com
12. Red Gallery / Alt Ldn H.Q Alternative London Bus and Alternative London pop up Gallery 1-3 Rivington St, EC2A 3DT www.redgallerylondon.com
13. Material Books, magazines and prints. 3 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DT http://www.materialmaterial.com 14, Pure Evil Gallery A showcase of urban artist Pure Evil's work, alongside other street art http://www.pureevilgallery.virb.com 15, Jealous Print studio and gallery specialising in street art and urban contemporary art 2A Luke Street Shoreditch EC2A 4NT http://www.jealousgallery.com 16. Moniker Gallery and organisers of the annual Moniker Art Fair 73 Leonard Street, Shoreditch www.monikerartfair.com 17. Hoxton Gallery Gallery space with regular pop up exhibitions 9 Kingsland Road, London E2 8AA www.hoxtongallery.com 18. Good times Tattoo Rated one of the best studios in the world with top class artists. Owned by Nicole Lowe of London Ink. 147 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3QE www.goodtimestattoo.co.uk 19. Nelly Duff Edition House & Gallery established in 2005, nestled amid the creative heart of London’s East End, on Columbia Road 156 Columbia Road, London E2 7RG www.nellyduff.com | |
Other Stuff we Love TOURS 1. Alternative Berlin The original and best Berlin experiences http://www.alternativeberlin.com/ 2. Alternative Hamburg The love child of Alternative London and Alternative Berlin, how cold it not be amazing?! http://www.alternativehamburg.com/tours.php 3. Alternative Budapest Budapests premium independent tour company, see Budapest like a local. http://www.alternativebudapest.com/ 4. Alternative Prague One of the best independent Alternative Tour providers in Europe http://alternative-prague.com/ 6. Secret Liverpool There's much more to 'the 'Pool' than The Beatles and Liverpool F.C. These guys have got the lowdown. http://www.seecrettours.co.uk/ BLOGS 1. Hookedblog London's longest running and best street art blog. http://www.hookedblog.co.uk/ 2. Street Art News Up to date info from the International street art scene. http://www.streetartnews.net 3. Spitalfields Life 'I am going to write every single day and tell you about life here in Spitalfields at the heart of London' A promise made five years ago, and so far upheld... |