Guidebook for London
Drinks & Nightlife
The Talbot
109 Mortimer RdGreat food, great staff, great atmosphere. Best local
Great real ales, cool crowd, plenty of boho stuff, no idiots, late opening
37 abantu bendawo batusa
The Duke Of Wellington
119 Balls Pond RdGreat real ales, cool crowd, plenty of boho stuff, no idiots, late opening
Great beer garden, can get noisy though; good for football, though a bit boisterous at times
132 abantu bendawo batusa
The Scolt Head
107A Culford RdGreat beer garden, can get noisy though; good for football, though a bit boisterous at times
Good food the last time I went but has since changed hands so I'm not too sure about it
The Northgate
Good food the last time I went but has since changed hands so I'm not too sure about it
Used to be a bit of a dive, but refurbished and new owners. Quite trendy, not been there long; haven't visited myself. Does football. Lots and lots of stuffed animals and fishes showcased
41 abantu bendawo batusa
The Hunter S
194 Southgate RdUsed to be a bit of a dive, but refurbished and new owners. Quite trendy, not been there long; haven't visited myself. Does football. Lots and lots of stuffed animals and fishes showcased
Good large pub, bordering London Fields, where mobs overspill in summer. Good ales, great to sit on the grass with a rug and watch the cricket (I joke you not!)
162 abantu bendawo batusa
Pub On The Park
19 Martello StreetGood large pub, bordering London Fields, where mobs overspill in summer. Good ales, great to sit on the grass with a rug and watch the cricket (I joke you not!)
Very good hidden gem, great food. Old school-looking booking essential on weekends. Reasonably expensive gastropub
41 abantu bendawo batusa
The Prince Arthur
80-82 Eversholt StVery good hidden gem, great food. Old school-looking booking essential on weekends. Reasonably expensive gastropub
Seasoned groovy pub now with gastropub - cool roots with the best world map in London. Go visit, it's great!
72 abantu bendawo batusa
Prince George
40 Parkholme RdSeasoned groovy pub now with gastropub - cool roots with the best world map in London. Go visit, it's great!
One of my most favourite pubs in London, small, chic, good art, amazing food, lovely people, great ales - perfect to finish off a walk down the canal to Upper Street
19 abantu bendawo batusa
The Charles Lamb Pub
16 Elia StOne of my most favourite pubs in London, small, chic, good art, amazing food, lovely people, great ales - perfect to finish off a walk down the canal to Upper Street
Was great, now a little too Notting ill and full of bankers and lawyers; great outdoors area though
102 abantu bendawo batusa
The Drapers Arms
44 Barnsbury StWas great, now a little too Notting ill and full of bankers and lawyers; great outdoors area though
Cracking small pub, veteran gastropub, very old interiors, all set in the Barnsbury conservation area. Do a crawl, here to Albion to Drapers Arms
129 abantu bendawo batusa
The Crown
144-146 Hatfield RdCracking small pub, veteran gastropub, very old interiors, all set in the Barnsbury conservation area. Do a crawl, here to Albion to Drapers Arms
Eclectic small bar with live music - used to be where musicians stayed for the Jazz bar on the terrace behind. Cool, very cool, and hardly known
39 abantu bendawo batusa
Servant Jazz Quarters
10A Bradbury StEclectic small bar with live music - used to be where musicians stayed for the Jazz bar on the terrace behind. Cool, very cool, and hardly known
the fox public house
372 Kingsland RoadGood real ales, craft beer
Best beers in town, a little hipster-ish, but recommended by the "King of Beers" himself, Pete Brown
90 abantu bendawo batusa
The Jolly Butchers
204 Stoke Newington High StreetBest beers in town, a little hipster-ish, but recommended by the "King of Beers" himself, Pete Brown
Proud East
Beer, brunch, on canal
Passing Clouds
1 Richmond RoadGigs, parties, alternative parties
Good pub, open late, in front of Passing Clouds - nicknamed Shaggerston (need we explain)
108 abantu bendawo batusa
The Haggerston
438 Kingsland RdGood pub, open late, in front of Passing Clouds - nicknamed Shaggerston (need we explain)
Moustache Bar Dalston
58 Stoke Newington RdBijou and hip
Rotorino
434 Kingsland Rdtop italian, trendy
Nightjar
129 City RdTrendy bar/club
The Old Blue Last
38 Great Eastern Stmusic pub
Queen of Hoxton
1 Curtain RdBusy and fun
I-Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
13 Dalston Lnfunky
The Griffin Whetstone
1262 High RdOne of my old haunts, good on Fridays
A Little Of What You Fancy
464 Kingsland RoadGreat cool restaurant, one of our favourites
Super trendy hipster student fun cocktail bar, very weird, almost Japanese - be careful at night though
134 abantu bendawo batusa
Ridley Road Market (Stop P) station
Super trendy hipster student fun cocktail bar, very weird, almost Japanese - be careful at night though
An old Kray Twins pub, now an East End gastropub
80 abantu bendawo batusa
Carpenters Arms The Public Houses
91 Black Lion LnAn old Kray Twins pub, now an East End gastropub
Marksman Public House
254 Hackney RdTop pub
The Royal Oak
73 Columbia RdLovely pub, right next to the flower market
Fifteen
15 Westland PlNeed we say more!
Island Queen
87 Noel RdGreat pub
The Crown
144-146 Hatfield Rdgreat pub and food
Great old boozer with amazing craft and real ales. Old London, where trendies and brickies meet
44 abantu bendawo batusa
The Wenlock Arms
26 Wenlock RdGreat old boozer with amazing craft and real ales. Old London, where trendies and brickies meet
Food Scene
Nearest new bar from what was a n awful dodgy boozer, great real ales and great BBQ food, though a little pricey. More restaurant than bar; booking advised
115 abantu bendawo batusa
Duke's Brew & Que
33 Downham RoadNearest new bar from what was a n awful dodgy boozer, great real ales and great BBQ food, though a little pricey. More restaurant than bar; booking advised
Top Argentinian tapas, great steaks, quite posh/expensive but good deals on brunch, next to the Northgate and the Deli
7 abantu bendawo batusa
De La Panza
105-107 Southgate RdTop Argentinian tapas, great steaks, quite posh/expensive but good deals on brunch, next to the Northgate and the Deli
Great boho coffee haunt, Canadian run, cool hangout, great atmosphere sitting on the towpath. Food good too
216 abantu bendawo batusa
Towpath Café
42 De Beauvoir CresGreat boho coffee haunt, Canadian run, cool hangout, great atmosphere sitting on the towpath. Food good too
Just been redone; was a top uber-sustainable total organic restaurant, not sure now. Was good food and good terrace on canal. Quite expensive
Acorn House
Just been redone; was a top uber-sustainable total organic restaurant, not sure now. Was good food and good terrace on canal. Quite expensive
This is Jamie Oliver's first place, the famous 15 restaurant. The Australian family who stayed loved it - best for brunch if on a budget
17 abantu bendawo batusa
Britannia Leisure Centre
Pitfield StreetThis is Jamie Oliver's first place, the famous 15 restaurant. The Australian family who stayed loved it - best for brunch if on a budget
Ottolenghi Islington
287 Upper StThe guru of vegetarian food, always a queue
Perhaps now the coolest bar in London; mellow bands, coffee beer, huge with the older hipster set. Above is the super Roof Bar
203 abantu bendawo batusa
Cafe OTO
18-22 Ashwin StreetPerhaps now the coolest bar in London; mellow bands, coffee beer, huge with the older hipster set. Above is the super Roof Bar
Vietnamese Canteen-Huong Viet
12-14 Englefield RoadTop Vietnamese food
Top of the range Vietnamese cuisine, surrounded by huge numbers of other Vietnamese eateries, all good, great atmospheres, and mostly quite cheap
59 abantu bendawo batusa
Viet Grill
58 Kingsland RdTop of the range Vietnamese cuisine, surrounded by huge numbers of other Vietnamese eateries, all good, great atmospheres, and mostly quite cheap
Best fish and chips in London, so they say. It is not as good as it was and now expensive, but you can sit on. Old School!
13 abantu bendawo batusa
Faulkners
426 Kingsland RoadBest fish and chips in London, so they say. It is not as good as it was and now expensive, but you can sit on. Old School!
Great Eastern Street
Great Eastern StreetLots of bars restaurants pubs
Great gig venue downstairs, lots of small bars and clubs near here
15 abantu bendawo batusa
Bardens Boudoir
36 Stoke Newington RdGreat gig venue downstairs, lots of small bars and clubs near here
Cirrik 19 Numara Bos
34 Stoke Newington RdOur favourite Turkish
Arepa & Co - Haggerston
58A De Beauvoir CresExcellent Venezuelan food, cafe
Sweet Thursday
95 Southgate Rdgorgeous pizza and wine shop
Tonkotsu East
1a Dunston Sttop trendy noodles
Shoreditch High Street
Shoreditch High StreetHundreds of bars
So many bars and eats and the uber-trendy furniture shop SCP. This road is where Shakespeare's theatres stodd
Curtain Road
Curtain RoadSo many bars and eats and the uber-trendy furniture shop SCP. This road is where Shakespeare's theatres stodd
The Comedy Cafe
100 Shoreditch High StreetComedy club
Powerlunches
446 Kingsland RdNew and cool
Franco Manca
52 Broadway MarketSuperb and cheap pizza in funky Broadway Market
New cafe under the rail arches where you can play many many board games
52 abantu bendawo batusa
Draughts - Hackney
41 Kingsland High StreetNew cafe under the rail arches where you can play many many board games
Great bar, with pop-up restaurants changing the cuisine each month
31 abantu bendawo batusa
TripSpace - Yoga & Dance
339 Acton MewsGreat bar, with pop-up restaurants changing the cuisine each month
Betty's Coffee
510 Kingsland RoadLegendary coffee shop, but legendary for what? I don't know
Pavilion Cafe
Old Ford RoadGreat cafe, a brunch must, right by the boating lake
St. JOHN Restaurant
26 St John Stthe cheaper version of the famous restaurant
St. JOHN Restaurant
26 St John StFabled restaurant - snout to tail dining. Meaty!
Sightseeing
This is the bus stop for the 242 Liverpool ST/St Pauls, 149 London Bridge, 243 Waterloo, 67 Brick Lane/Shoreditch
82 abantu bendawo batusa
Haggerston station
This is the bus stop for the 242 Liverpool ST/St Pauls, 149 London Bridge, 243 Waterloo, 67 Brick Lane/Shoreditch
Hoxton Square
Hoxton SquareUber-tendy square now more chi-chi than boho; great in summer
The epicentre of cool, according to Vogue. I'm not s sure, but if you like looking at pretty people... great eats, great market on Saturday (packed)
167 abantu bendawo batusa
The Albion
10 Thornhill RdThe epicentre of cool, according to Vogue. I'm not s sure, but if you like looking at pretty people... great eats, great market on Saturday (packed)
Broadway Market
Broadway MarketTop organic food market every Saturday
Old Street
Old StreetHundreds of bars etc
Hoxton Square
Hoxton SquareLoads of bars and cool places
Goes from Ilsington all the way to Victoria Park ten south to the Thames in historic Wapping
339 abantu bendawo batusa
Regent's Canal
Goes from Ilsington all the way to Victoria Park ten south to the Thames in historic Wapping
Great Sunday morning vibe, and near Spitalfield and Brick Lane markets
1660 abantu bendawo batusa
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadGreat Sunday morning vibe, and near Spitalfield and Brick Lane markets
Still the meat market, awesome area - soem cool sights, not least Cloth St
60 abantu bendawo batusa
Smithfield Market
Grand AvenueStill the meat market, awesome area - soem cool sights, not least Cloth St
Almost medieval street, two nice medieval boozers and a church where they filmed Four Weddings
Cloth Fair
Cloth FairAlmost medieval street, two nice medieval boozers and a church where they filmed Four Weddings
One of my favourite spaces in London, a Brutalist concrete oasis. And corking arts centre
509 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Centre ye-Barbican
Silk StreetOne of my favourite spaces in London, a Brutalist concrete oasis. And corking arts centre
Arts & Culture
White Cube Bermondsey
Bermondsey StreetAvant garde contemporary art museum, world famous
XOYO
32-37 Cowper Sttop gig venue
White Cube Mason's Yard
25-26 Masons YardSuper cool gallery
333
333 Old StWas a legendary place. Mother Bar upstairs is free
I-Union Chapel
19b Compton TerraceOld church, great acoustic gigs
Essentials
Old East End style market, with good modern bakery, sprinkling of good restaurants, try L. Manze eel pie and mash for total cockney grub
221 abantu bendawo batusa
Hoxton Square
Hoxton SquareOld East End style market, with good modern bakery, sprinkling of good restaurants, try L. Manze eel pie and mash for total cockney grub
Tesco Express
179 Shoreditch High StStore
Fresh & Wild Ltd
32-40 Stoke Newington Church StOrganic healthfood
Entertainment & Activities
Heated outdoor swimming pool; very cool, great for serious swimmers,
590 abantu bendawo batusa
Izitsha zaseLondon
London Fields West SideHeated outdoor swimming pool; very cool, great for serious swimmers,
Pavilion Cafe
Old Ford Roadvoted UK's best park
Splash Playground
Probably London's best playground - won so many awards
I-V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath RoadToy museum, well worth a look - part of the V&A
Shopping
Too many places to mention, boutique shops, good clothes, hundreds of restaurants of all shapes and sizes. A must stroll. Highbury tube at one end, Angel at the other
17 abantu bendawo batusa
Upper St
Too many places to mention, boutique shops, good clothes, hundreds of restaurants of all shapes and sizes. A must stroll. Highbury tube at one end, Angel at the other
Everything here, from amazing international food stalls to vintage shops, art and, of course, vast amounts of curry houses! Top day out!
878 abantu bendawo batusa
Brick Lane
Brick LaneEverything here, from amazing international food stalls to vintage shops, art and, of course, vast amounts of curry houses! Top day out!
Amazing food and clothes markets, tonnes of shops
825 abantu bendawo batusa
Isitolo saseBrick Lane ngoMgqibelo
Brick LaneAmazing food and clothes markets, tonnes of shops
BOXPARK Shoreditch
2-10 Bethnal Green RdFunky and groovy shop in shipping containers
Just walk up here for ethnic market, charity shops, brand new cafes, post-pop-up restaurants, something new and cool opens each week
38 abantu bendawo batusa
Kingsland Road
Kingsland RoadJust walk up here for ethnic market, charity shops, brand new cafes, post-pop-up restaurants, something new and cool opens each week
Princess May Road
Princess May RoadCar boot sales every Saturday and Sunday
Great selections of cafes, bars, shops in a weird almost unique central London village setting
232 abantu bendawo batusa
Stoke Newington Church Street
Stoke Newington Church StreetGreat selections of cafes, bars, shops in a weird almost unique central London village setting
I-Market yase-Old Spitalfields
16 Commercial StGreat stalls, shops, restaurants