Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Superb French restaurant, with seasonally changing menu, near vibrant Exmouth Market.
32 locals recommend
La Petite Auberge
283-284 Upper StreetSuperb French restaurant, with seasonally changing menu, near vibrant Exmouth Market.
Hard to find tucked away in a small alleyway but exceptional sushi. Turn right before the Zetter and head up past the Modern Pantry.
21 locals recommend
Sushi Tetsu
12 Jerusalem PassageHard to find tucked away in a small alleyway but exceptional sushi. Turn right before the Zetter and head up past the Modern Pantry.
The Union Tavern
45 Woodfield RdOld Victorian gastro pub with good food at reasonable prices.
Cafe Maya
114 Farringdon RoadCheap full English breakfast, a 15 minute walk away (towards Kings Cross)
Excellent if pricey breakfasts and lunches, with great coffee, down the alleyway next to the Foxtons Estate agents. Weekend brunches get busy.
35 locals recommend
J + A Cafe
92A Old StExcellent if pricey breakfasts and lunches, with great coffee, down the alleyway next to the Foxtons Estate agents. Weekend brunches get busy.
Cheap breakfast sandwiches and excellent coffee - perfect for an on the go breakfast - the cakes are great too!
8 locals recommend
Benugo Clerkenwell
116 St John StCheap breakfast sandwiches and excellent coffee - perfect for an on the go breakfast - the cakes are great too!
Staggeringly good home-made cakes in a cute cafe near Holborn.
28 locals recommend
Beauty in Bloomsbury
42 Theobalds RdStaggeringly good home-made cakes in a cute cafe near Holborn.
This is how coffee should be made - slowly & expertly and the guys and girls here really know their stuff.
48 locals recommend
Prufrock Coffee
23-25 Leather LnThis is how coffee should be made - slowly & expertly and the guys and girls here really know their stuff.
Mediterranean food both from Europe and North Africa. Morito next door is slightly cheaper and just as good.
131 locals recommend
Moro
34-36 Exmouth MarketMediterranean food both from Europe and North Africa. Morito next door is slightly cheaper and just as good.
How about eating in the dark....I mean the complete pitch black? Served by blind waiters, this is a unique culinary experience.
27 locals recommend
Dans Le Noir
30-31 Clerkenwell GrnHow about eating in the dark....I mean the complete pitch black? Served by blind waiters, this is a unique culinary experience.
Maira Indian Cuisine
17B Aylesbury StOur local Indian restaurant. Great food, reasonable prices.
Another tricky one to find, just off of Charterhouse Square, but with excellent food and an authentic French atmosphere, often including a live pianist.
10 locals recommend
Le Café du Marché
22 Charterhouse SquareAnother tricky one to find, just off of Charterhouse Square, but with excellent food and an authentic French atmosphere, often including a live pianist.
When excellent, fancy, delicious French food is calling, this place answers. Prices match the quality.
22 locals recommend
Club Gascon - French Michelin Starred Restaurant
57 W SmithfieldWhen excellent, fancy, delicious French food is calling, this place answers. Prices match the quality.
Bar on the ground floor, restaurants on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors, with prices rising as you do. The top floor is one of London's seminal dining experiences - it's got to be steak....
64 locals recommend
Smiths of Smithfield
67-77 Charterhouse StBar on the ground floor, restaurants on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors, with prices rising as you do. The top floor is one of London's seminal dining experiences - it's got to be steak....
Vietnamese soups, salads and sandwiches, great for lunch or a good value dinner.
15 locals recommend
Pho Clerkenwell
86 St John StVietnamese soups, salads and sandwiches, great for lunch or a good value dinner.
Drinks & Nightlife
Traditional British Pub, with live music and good food.
18 locals recommend
The Wilmington Public House and Dining
69 Rosebery AveTraditional British Pub, with live music and good food.
Fantastic cocktails with a roaring open fire in a unique setting of a Victorian House, tucked away in St John Square behind the hotel of the same name.
87 locals recommend
The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell
49-50 St John's SquareFantastic cocktails with a roaring open fire in a unique setting of a Victorian House, tucked away in St John Square behind the hotel of the same name.
One of Shoreditch's most popular cocktail bars, great for a date with excellent cocktails. Go through the wardrobe at the back to find the second hidden bar.....
132 locals recommend
Callooh Callay Bar
65 Rivington StOne of Shoreditch's most popular cocktail bars, great for a date with excellent cocktails. Go through the wardrobe at the back to find the second hidden bar.....
For something completely different, go into the Breakfast Club and ask the hostess if you can speak to the mayor. You'll find yourself in one of the "coolest" bars in the area. Also great for brunch.
21 locals recommend
The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town
12-16 Artillery LnFor something completely different, go into the Breakfast Club and ask the hostess if you can speak to the mayor. You'll find yourself in one of the "coolest" bars in the area. Also great for brunch.
Another less well known bar, reminiscent of a 1920s Speakeasy. Excellent cocktails from the knowledgeable bar staff.
22 locals recommend
London Cocktail Club
63 Worship StreetAnother less well known bar, reminiscent of a 1920s Speakeasy. Excellent cocktails from the knowledgeable bar staff.
If it's early in the week and everywhere else is a bit quiet, there's normally a bit of life in this excellent hotel bar, now owned by Soho House Group. The restaurant is also great.
55 locals recommend
The Hoxton Mix
86-90 Paul StIf it's early in the week and everywhere else is a bit quiet, there's normally a bit of life in this excellent hotel bar, now owned by Soho House Group. The restaurant is also great.
Housed in an 18th century building, this has only been a pub since the 1990s but it feels much older. Bags of charm and great beers.
59 locals recommend
The Jerusalem Tavern
55 Britton StHoused in an 18th century building, this has only been a pub since the 1990s but it feels much older. Bags of charm and great beers.
Everything Else
Mr Chans
21 Clerkenwell RdMoments away with great take away Chinese food. Tel 020 7251 1433
Clothing, crafts, food & drink - the perfect place to pick up a gift for yourself or those back home. Sunday is the main day.
696 locals recommend
Old Spitalfields Market
16 Commercial StClothing, crafts, food & drink - the perfect place to pick up a gift for yourself or those back home. Sunday is the main day.
Great shopping centre, far less crowded than the West End or Westfield, with excellent views of St Pauls and some great restaurants.
86 locals recommend
One New Change
New ChangeGreat shopping centre, far less crowded than the West End or Westfield, with excellent views of St Pauls and some great restaurants.
A Sunday special - this market has to be seen to be believed - it's very crowded (especially if the sun is shining) but a nice place to spend an hour amongst the flowers.
1660 locals recommend
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadA Sunday special - this market has to be seen to be believed - it's very crowded (especially if the sun is shining) but a nice place to spend an hour amongst the flowers.
Smithfield or, to give it its official name, London Central Markets, is the largest wholesale meat market in the UK. Arrive before 7am to see it in full flow. Tours run monthly.
60 locals recommend
Smithfield Market
Grand AvenueSmithfield or, to give it its official name, London Central Markets, is the largest wholesale meat market in the UK. Arrive before 7am to see it in full flow. Tours run monthly.
Sightseeing
In the house where Dickens lived for many years, you can gain a fantastic insight into his life.
93 locals recommend
Charles Dickens Museum
48-49 Doughty StIn the house where Dickens lived for many years, you can gain a fantastic insight into his life.
Arts & Culture
The biggest Arts and Exhibition Centre in Europe is just minutes away. Cinema, theatre, concerts and a great cafe overlooking the peaceful lake. Highly recommended.
509 locals recommend
Barbican Centre
Silk StreetThe biggest Arts and Exhibition Centre in Europe is just minutes away. Cinema, theatre, concerts and a great cafe overlooking the peaceful lake. Highly recommended.