Guidebook for Greater London
Drinks & Nightlife
The Cat & Mutton
76 Broadway MarketGreat beer and always lively in the evenings.
On a sunny day there's nothing better than having a pint outside The Dove.
302 locals recommend
The Dove
24-28 Broadway MarketOn a sunny day there's nothing better than having a pint outside The Dove.
Google says it best: Convivial gay super-pub offering an array of performances, plus a late-night disco scene.
44 locals recommend
The Glory
281 Kingsland RdGoogle says it best: Convivial gay super-pub offering an array of performances, plus a late-night disco scene.
Rooftop/garden bar with a resident dog called Tres (you can find her on Instagram under #trestherooftopdog).
112 locals recommend
Netil360
1 Westgate StRooftop/garden bar with a resident dog called Tres (you can find her on Instagram under #trestherooftopdog).
Food Scene
Arepa & Co - Haggerston
58A De Beauvoir CresGreat food and friendly staff.
It can get extremely busy and frustrating, but the food stalls are great both to grab something and go sit in London Fields as well as buying some produce for the week. (the market is only on Saturdays)
1735 locals recommend
Broadway Market
Broadway MarketIt can get extremely busy and frustrating, but the food stalls are great both to grab something and go sit in London Fields as well as buying some produce for the week. (the market is only on Saturdays)
Toconoco
28 Hertford RdGreat family run Japanese cafe. Udon and bentos for all tastes.
Tonkotsu East
1a Dunston StNice atmosphere, filling ramen!
Cheap and cheerful place to have breakfast, brunch or lunch.
18 locals recommend
Premises Cafe & Bistro
209 Hackney RdCheap and cheerful place to have breakfast, brunch or lunch.
Dalston Superstore
117 Kingsland High StFrom brunch to late night drinks!
Faulkners
426 Kingsland RoadBest fish and chips I've ever had in London.
We take all our non-vegan friends and family here, it's hugely popular (they also have a restaurant in Camden and in Soho)
60 locals recommend
Mildred's
200 Pentonville RdWe take all our non-vegan friends and family here, it's hugely popular (they also have a restaurant in Camden and in Soho)
Casual Thai barbecue place with very few vegetarian options. Tends to get crowded weekdays in the evening.
Smoking Goat Soho
7 Denmark StCasual Thai barbecue place with very few vegetarian options. Tends to get crowded weekdays in the evening.
Small sushi restaurant serving from a conveyor belt next to Covent Garden. I used to eat there all the time when I worked close by.
24 locals recommend
Kulu Kulu Sushi
76 Brewer StSmall sushi restaurant serving from a conveyor belt next to Covent Garden. I used to eat there all the time when I worked close by.
Best udon in London. The restaurant is very small and everyone sits around the bar (hence the name), so there are queues often - don't be put off by it though, it's worth it!
26 locals recommend
Koya Soho
50 Frith StBest udon in London. The restaurant is very small and everyone sits around the bar (hence the name), so there are queues often - don't be put off by it though, it's worth it!
Chinese bar serving great small eats and beer. The decoration is opulent without being overwhelming or tacky.
17 locals recommend
The Duck and Rice
90 Berwick StChinese bar serving great small eats and beer. The decoration is opulent without being overwhelming or tacky.
French cafe/bakery serving some of the best cakes and patisseries in Central London. (Forget about Humming Bird!)
46 locals recommend
Maison Bertaux
28 Greek StFrench cafe/bakery serving some of the best cakes and patisseries in Central London. (Forget about Humming Bird!)
Restaurant at the Ace Hotel serving food all day, really great brunch on weekends.
75 locals recommend
Hoi Polloi
100 Shoreditch High StRestaurant at the Ace Hotel serving food all day, really great brunch on weekends.
The first vegan Ethiopian food restaurant in London. It's been going for 10 years.
15 locals recommend
Andu Café
528 Kingsland RdThe first vegan Ethiopian food restaurant in London. It's been going for 10 years.
Great canal side cafe for breakfast, light lunch or just a coffee on a sunny day.
216 locals recommend
Towpath Café
42 De Beauvoir CresGreat canal side cafe for breakfast, light lunch or just a coffee on a sunny day.
El Ganso Cafe
59 Broadway MarketReally good food and wine, although not the cheapest tapas place.
Good sourdough pizza and chilled atmosphere. It was originally a small business with only a few restaurants, but it was purchased by a big group in 2014, so sadly it has now become a chain.
561 locals recommend
Franco Manca
52 Broadway MarketGood sourdough pizza and chilled atmosphere. It was originally a small business with only a few restaurants, but it was purchased by a big group in 2014, so sadly it has now become a chain.
Community bakery ran by volunteers offering a fantastic selection of breads and pastries.
The bakery also offers training for people recovering from mental health illnesses, which is a cause we care about.
19 locals recommend
Better Health Bakery
13 Stean StCommunity bakery ran by volunteers offering a fantastic selection of breads and pastries.
The bakery also offers training for people recovering from mental health illnesses, which is a cause we care about.
Nice cafe at the back of a plant shop. It has a lovely outdoor area ideal for big groups and families.
23 locals recommend
Green Room Cafe
113 Stoke Newington Church StNice cafe at the back of a plant shop. It has a lovely outdoor area ideal for big groups and families.
Parks & Nature
Very lively in the summer on sunny weekends with people barbecuing, having picnics and drinks.
429 locals recommend
London Fields station
Very lively in the summer on sunny weekends with people barbecuing, having picnics and drinks.
Great for a walk with kids. It is also the venue for several music festivals during the summer.
1666 locals recommend
Pavilion Cafe
Old Ford RoadGreat for a walk with kids. It is also the venue for several music festivals during the summer.
Haggerston Park
Yorkton StreetNice for jog, outdoor games and activities and picnics.
Shoreditch Park
188 New N RdNice for a jog.
The ponds get lively, there's plenty or trails for walking, big old manors and the greenery is a bit more wild. Also fantastic views from Parliament Hill.
1215 locals recommend
Hampstead Heath
The ponds get lively, there's plenty or trails for walking, big old manors and the greenery is a bit more wild. Also fantastic views from Parliament Hill.
Where the locals who live int he surrounding houses or buildings go for a quick walk with their dogs, to play ping pong, take their children to the playground and sunbathe.
10 locals recommend
Stonebridge Gardens
6 Arbutus StWhere the locals who live int he surrounding houses or buildings go for a quick walk with their dogs, to play ping pong, take their children to the playground and sunbathe.
Essentials
Co-op Food - Tower Hamlets - Hackney Road
246-252 Hackney RdFor small groceries needs.
Tesco Express
179 Shoreditch High StDoesn't have a huge selection, but good for basic urgent needs.
Our go to convenience/grocery store. They have a great selection of vegan and vegetarian products, fresh bread and a really friendly staff. Not to mention they are a local independent store!
Green & Fresh London
218 Haggerston RdOur go to convenience/grocery store. They have a great selection of vegan and vegetarian products, fresh bread and a really friendly staff. Not to mention they are a local independent store!
Arts & Culture
The permanent collection is amazing and free entry (like all the museums in London) and it's on the Southbank.
2008 locals recommend
Tate Modern
BanksideThe permanent collection is amazing and free entry (like all the museums in London) and it's on the Southbank.
There's always a good exhibition on and it's an annex to the National Gallery.
353 locals recommend
National Portrait Gallery
Saint Martin's PlaceThere's always a good exhibition on and it's an annex to the National Gallery.
The Royal Court Theatre
50-51 Sloane SquareThere's always a good play on. Always.
Donmar Warehouse
41 Earlham StUsually some great plays on.
There permanent collection is HUGE, but the best thing about the V&A are undoubtedly their temporary exhibitions.
1694 locals recommend
Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell RoadThere permanent collection is HUGE, but the best thing about the V&A are undoubtedly their temporary exhibitions.
The building alone is worth the visit and their temporary exhibitions are great (+ is right next to the V&A and a great place to take children).
1954 locals recommend
Natural History Museum
Cromwell RoadThe building alone is worth the visit and their temporary exhibitions are great (+ is right next to the V&A and a great place to take children).
Entertainment & Activities
If you fancy watching a film, the Picturehouse in Hackney has the most number of screens and it's walking distance.
445 locals recommend
Hackney Picturehouse
270 Mare StIf you fancy watching a film, the Picturehouse in Hackney has the most number of screens and it's walking distance.
It's an iconic building and we should all support our local independent cinemas!
322 locals recommend
Rio Cinema
107 Kingsland High StreetIt's an iconic building and we should all support our local independent cinemas!
Sightseeing
If you want to see the actual market, go on Saturday. William Thatcher's house in Notting Hill (film) is number 280 on Westbourne Park Road and the bookshop is number 13-15 on Blenheim Crescent.
43 locals recommend
Portobello Road
Portobello RoadIf you want to see the actual market, go on Saturday. William Thatcher's house in Notting Hill (film) is number 280 on Westbourne Park Road and the bookshop is number 13-15 on Blenheim Crescent.
On Sundays the road is transformed with beautiful flowers and greenery. No matter the weather, the market is there from 8am to 3pm-ish every Sunday, even Easter.
1660 locals recommend
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadOn Sundays the road is transformed with beautiful flowers and greenery. No matter the weather, the market is there from 8am to 3pm-ish every Sunday, even Easter.