East London - Shoreditch

Just north of the City of London, Shoreditch is a trendy East London district. It all started in the 1990s when the art-set (Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, and gang - aka the YBAs) moved in. Today, it might not be as edgy as it once was, but that doesn't diminish the high quality of eating, drinking, and shopping opportunities in this neighborhood.

BREAKFAST

Fabrique Bakery London

Fabrique is a stone oven bakery with 7 places in Stockholm and this is their first London bakery. You'll find traditionally-made fresh-baked breads and sweets.

“I love the Scandinavian cardamom buns here. They are almost like a donut, so soft and glazed!” - Pastry Chef Claire Ptak of Violet Cakes

Arch 385, Geffrye Street, London E2 8HZ
T: +44.(0)20.7033.0268

Leila’s Shop

Located in Arnold Circus, this is a grocery store, a cafe and coffee house all in one. The shelves are lined with provisions, but many come here for breakfast, which is served all day. Eggs in earthenware, sausages, cheeses, lattes and cappuccinos.

“By far, this is my favorite food shop. Leila excels at finding the most beautiful and interesting food packaging on the most delicious produce. The shop is a gallery of foil-covered unsalted butter, cellophane and gilded paper-wrapped panetonne, huge wooden crates full of vegetables that are still quivering they are so fresh. Cheeses, smoked salmon, cured meats, dried fruits and the best olive oil. The space is cooled in the old-fashioned way, by keeping the lights off and the doors open and has always been used for this purpose.” - Pastry Chef Claire Ptak of Violet Cakes

“Leila’s is a pioneer in the East End. 100% locally sourced and super high quality. She also has a really nice range of products from Portugal. She stocks Portuguese legumes, Portuguese olive oils, cheeses and smoked meats, chorizo. She even sells Portuguese crisps that are really tasty! They are called Dallmar crisps. On top if that, she does some of the most simple and tastiest eggs you can get in her cafe. Fried eggs with sage is great, and the coffee is high quality also.” - Chef Nuno Mendes of Chiltern Firehouse

17 Calvert Avenue, London E2 7JP
T: +44.(0)20.7729.9789

MARKETS

Columbia Road Flower Market

On Sundays, this historic street of tiny shops and galleries come alive for the flower market. It's the one day you can count on every store being open. The shops range from specialty food to stationary to antiques to housewares.

“This is one of my favorite markets to visit on a Sunday. I like to go later because the flowers go on sale and the traders shout very colorful things to attract you to buy flowers. It's the best entertainment. There are amazing shops and galleries that line Columbia Road and you can find some fun trinkets and antiques. Perfect Sunday stroll. After the market it is to Brawn for some natural wine and nose-to-tail eats or a more traditional Sunday roast at the Royal Oak.” - Wine Director Courtney Stebbings of Lyle’s

“The market is quite interesting for flowers and all kinds of stuff. There’re lots of things buzzing around and a lot of little shops are open, like Printers & Stationers for wine. Or I'll go for a drink at Royal Oak, which has a nice atmosphere.” - Chef James Ferguson of the Beagle

Columbia Road, London E2 7RG | T: +44.(0)207.613.0876 | www.columbiaroad.info | Sundays 8am - 3pm

EAT & DRINK AT THE MARKET

Oysters on the street outside Printers & Stationers on market day | Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.

Shop & Wine Bar | Printers & Stationers

This small shop and bar sells a curated selection of hand-picked wines from small and independent estates, mainly French and some are natural or organic. You can hang out to drink and have a plate of cheese and charcuterie.

“It used to be a printers and stationers, hence the name. They sell really amazing wine. It’s a quaint little place you wouldn’t normally come across.” - Chef James Ferguson of the Beagle

21A Ezra Street, London, London Town E2 7RH | T: +44.(0)20.7729.9496 | www.printersandstationers.co.uk

Gastropub | Royal Oak

“Head here after the Flower Market on Columbia Road for a more traditional Sunday roast.” - Wine Director Courtney Stebbings of Lyle’s

“After the Columbia Road Flower Market, I’ll go for a drink here. It has such a nice atmosphere.” - Chef James Ferguson of the Beagle

73 Columbia Road, London E2 7RG | T: +44.(0)20.7729.2220 | www.royaloaklondon.com

European | Brawn

A true celebration of the pig with various European renditions of dishes from Spain and Italy. They also have many picks from the sea, as well as quail, boudin noir, steak tartare and Keen's Cheddar Souffle.

“After the Columbia Road Flower Market, it is to Brawn for some natural wine and nose-to-tail eats.” - Wine Director Courtney Stebbings of Lyle’s

“It’s a niche bistro. It’s where we both started to work in London. We love to go here for a glass or bottle of wine with nibbles. They have this massive wine list and almost everything is natural.” - Florian Tonello & Milena Bucholz formerly of 259 Hackney Road Wine Shop

49 Columbia Road, London E2 7RG | T: +44.(0)20.7729.5692 | www.brawn.co

LUNCH

British | Rochelle Canteen

It’s the restaurant version of a speakeasy. There is no sign out front, so you have to know it is there. It's hidden behind a large brick wall in a former bike shed in the playground of an old school. On nice days, they set up tables on the lawn and offer large straw hats to block the sun. The food is seasonally-driven with the menu changing daily. Lunch only and BYOB.

“When the weather is nice, Rochelle Canteen is my favorite restaurant in London to go for lunch. I love to sit outside and watch the little courtyards, eating the simple and tasty creations of the chefs. It feels like a canteen, all the tables are joined together, and so sometimes you are rubbing shoulders with some very interesting characters from all different industries: arts, music, food. All in all a fantastic lunch value that is also even more special because you can bring your own wine and enjoy it here.” - Chef Nuno Mendes of Chiltern Firehouse

“Sitting outside here on a nice summer day is unbeatable, fresh, simple British ingredients. It's BYO and never fails to put a smile on my face!” - Wine Director Liam Kelleher of Noble Fine Liquor and P. Franco

Rochelle School, Greater Arnold Circus, London E2 7ES | T: +44.(0)20.7729.5677 | www.arnoldandhenderson.com

Sông Quê Café | Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.

Vietnamese | Sông Quê Café

Located in an area where there are many Vietnamese restaurants. Song Que provides an extensive list of dishes from north and south Vietnam and has garnered a loyal following. Nothing to do with the name, but there might be a queue to get in.

“Amazing Vietnamese cheap eats that will help keep you on budget. Pork and lemongrass vermicelli noodles, chili calamari and spring rolls. Throw in a bottle of cheap and cheerful Sauvignon Blanc and you will be rolled out of the restaurant for about £30 for two!” - Wine Director Courtney Stebbings of Lyle’s

134 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DY | T: +44.(0)20.7613.3222 | www.songque.co.uk

SHOPPING

Labour & Wait | Photo Credit: Find. Eat. Drink.

New School / Old School Housewares | Labour & Wait

New school hardware store in an old school setting. From clothing to gardening tools to pencils and stationary, they sell products with both form and function. Someone has invested time to make sure every item is artfully displayed.

"It is a bit like an old-fashioned hardware store, which only sells hardwearing useful products and we always get inspiration from the products they carry." - Designer Dan Black of Black + Blum in London

85 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DJ, United Kingdom
T: +44.(0)20.7729.6253 | www.labourandwait.co.uk

CLASSIC COCKTAILS

Happiness Forgets

Subterranean cocktail bar in Hoxton Square that's become an industry hang-out. Unpretentious and affordable to boot.

“It’s a nice nest for a cocktail.” - Bartender Simone Caporale of Artesian Bar

“An unpretentious small bar in Hoxton Square. Good drinks for very reasonable prices in a great atmosphere.” - Bartender Paul Tvaroh of Lounge Bohemia

“A classic cocktail bar that feels like a lot of the spots in New York City, but done without being pretentious. The guys behind the bar are really caring.” - Bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana of White Lyan

“It’s a bartender’s bar that makes great drinks. Alastair Burgess worked at Pegu Club with Audrey Saunders for years.” - Bartender Tony Conigliaro of 69 Colebrooke Row, Grain Store, and The Zetter Townhouse

8-9 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU | T: +44.(0)20.7613.0325 | www.happinessforgets.com

CREATIVE COCKTAILS

Lounge Bohemia

Subterranean cocktail bar with mod furniture and mad drinks. Barman Paul Tvaroh is creating theater with his unusual and whimsical cocktails. Expect the unexpected - Campari cotton candy is served on top of a vintage Campari soda bottle; Havana Club rum is infused with a Romeo and Julieta #2 cigar, vanilla and orange bitters and poured from a Cuban cigar holder; and a tin of caviar is actually tiny beads of vodka, chocolate and a dark ale. There is a tasting menu available. Call ahead for a reservation.

“Always book ahead of time because otherwise Paul isn’t going to let you in... and don’t wear a suit. I like ordering the Bohemia Breakfast and the Campari and Soda is a beautiful drink too.” - Bartender Alex Kratena of Artesian Bar

“It’s the place to be in East London for creative cocktails.” - Bartender Simone Caporale of Artesian Bar

“Owner and barman Paiul Tvaroh is doing molecular cocktails and his menu changes quite often.” - Bartender Tony Conigliaro of 69 Colebrooke Row, Grain Store, and The Zetter Townhouse

“Paul is brilliant; the space is beautiful; the cocktails are super fun.. I love the Holy Smokes, which is served out of a hollowed-out bible.” - Bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana of White Lyan

1e Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EJ | T: +44.7720.707.000 | www.loungebohemia.com

WINE

Sager + Wilde

A Hackney wine bar with cheese, sandwiches and charcuterie for snacking while you drink sherry, cocktails, beer or one of their twenty-something wines by the glass or from their extensive bottle list.

“They constantly change their wine by the glass and the options are always exciting and tempting. On any given night, you will find industry people on their night off or wine students propped up at the bar, glass in hand and textbook open.” - Wine Director Courtney Stebbings of Lyle’s

“Part of the new wine bars that are popping in London, started by Michael Sager. They really have changed the wine game in London. It’s a beautiful spot in a very strange neighborhood (Hackney) and an experience in exploration. Michael is very geeky about wine and chooses really interesting small producers. They are also serving great food as well, so it’s worth eating here.” - Bartender Alex Kratena of Artesian Bar

“This is an unpretentious wine bar where you drink really serious wines. It’s a small selection of food and a wine list where everything is available and by-the-glass. They’re trying to disband a lot of the stigma around wine. You get an incredible selection that you wouldn’t get a chance to try anywhere else.” - Bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana of White Lyan

193 Hackney Road, London E2 8JL | T: +44.(0)20.8127.7330 | www.sagerandwilde.com

DINNER

Clove Club

Located in the old Shoreditch Town Hall with a few different rooms to dine in. You can sit at the bar in the front room and order both food and drinks or eat in the dining area for a prix fixe menu. There are two options for the menu (one being vegetarian) and you can mix and match from either menu.

“This is one of my favorite new restaurants in a long time. Isaac McHale makes British food with a Nordic approach and lots of hard work. He is tireless and uber-enthusiastic. I love his desserts, even though they sometimes contain wood sorrel.” - Pastry Chef Claire Ptak of Violet Cakes

“There is a real comfort about the place. It’s a fun place, not pretentious and the food is really interesting and well thought out. They are doing a fixed menu, but you can eat snacks at the bar as well. If you go in the main dining room, it’s got a really great vibe, high ceilings, and very simple. They have a crackin’ wine list as well.” - Chef James Lowe of Lyle’s

“I think the Clove Club is very interesting. They have a 45 £ set menu with five or six courses. They do very unique pairings of ingredients, like they use a lot of interesting seaweeds and maybe some sort of Eastern ingredient. I like to see how they match up things.” - Chef James Ferguson of Beagle

Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old Street, London EC1V 9LT | T: +44.(0)20.7729.6496 | thecloveclub.com

Lyle’s

All-day British restaurant by former St. John chef James Lowe. The menu changes daily and features dishes like Oxtail, Dover Sole, Suckling Kid Liver and Ramson Soup with cured pig's cheek and pheasant egg.

Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ | T: +44.(0)20.3011.5911 | www.lyleslondon.com

LATE NIGHT

Nightjar

Enter through an unmarked door, down a dark staircase and into a candle-lit lounge with leather banquettes, live jazz music and cocktails that have earned them many awards and accolades.

"It’s a speakeasy. It’s a small cocktail lounge in the basement with a little live jazz band, amazing crafted cocktails by the bar team. They won the CLASS award in 2011 for Best New Bar. It's a very nice antiquated location. Awesome." - Bartender Richard Woods of Sushi Samba, Duck & Waffle, Sugarcane

Open until 3am on weekends
129 City Road, London EC1V 1JB | T: +44 (0)20.7253.4101
www.barnightjar.com