Guidebook for London
Local Highlights
Closest specialist coffee place to me, really friendly, excellent coffee. Pastries from the Snapery and housemade cakes and cookies (the miso tahini chocolate is the best!)
Old Kent Coffee Supply
Closest specialist coffee place to me, really friendly, excellent coffee. Pastries from the Snapery and housemade cakes and cookies (the miso tahini chocolate is the best!)
Amazing specialist coffee, the best in London. They are from Bermondsey so there are 3 locations, one on Bermondsey St, the Maltby St Roastery and this Tower Bridge location, but there are many across London. If you need a coffee gift the packaging and design is great. Food/Brunch is quite good too.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
WatchHouse Tower Bridge
37 Shad ThamesAmazing specialist coffee, the best in London. They are from Bermondsey so there are 3 locations, one on Bermondsey St, the Maltby St Roastery and this Tower Bridge location, but there are many across London. If you need a coffee gift the packaging and design is great. Food/Brunch is quite good too.
Another coffee shop around the corner from my place. Decorated in vintage wares, with good places to sit inside and outside, laptops ok. Coffee is decent, the lemon rosemary olive oil cake is really nice. It's another good option!
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Crol and Co
77 Dunton RdAnother coffee shop around the corner from my place. Decorated in vintage wares, with good places to sit inside and outside, laptops ok. Coffee is decent, the lemon rosemary olive oil cake is really nice. It's another good option!
Bermondsey Street & Maltby Street locations. Classic French pastries and some weird combos like Brownie-Croissants. Really great flavour, soft tender crumbs with crisp exteriors.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Comptoir Gourmand Bermondsey
96 Bermondsey StBermondsey Street & Maltby Street locations. Classic French pastries and some weird combos like Brownie-Croissants. Really great flavour, soft tender crumbs with crisp exteriors.
Wonderful deli and wine bar, serving salads, charcuterie, platters, cakes and also a stockist for pastries from the amazing Snapery bakery.
35 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
B Street Deli
88 Bermondsey StWonderful deli and wine bar, serving salads, charcuterie, platters, cakes and also a stockist for pastries from the amazing Snapery bakery.
Very good sourdough bread, foccaccia, sandwiches, coffee and pastries. Newly opened flagship kitchen venue in Bermondsey, with other branches in Waterloo/Lower Marsh, Primrose Hill and Pimlico.
Pedlar’s Kitchen
Very good sourdough bread, foccaccia, sandwiches, coffee and pastries. Newly opened flagship kitchen venue in Bermondsey, with other branches in Waterloo/Lower Marsh, Primrose Hill and Pimlico.
An great selection of local food businesses. Coffee roaster and cafe, cheese, patisserie, greengrocer, breweries, street food, and some restaurants and tapas bars underneath the arches. Open Wed-Sunday.
292 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mercado de Maltby Street
Maltby StreetAn great selection of local food businesses. Coffee roaster and cafe, cheese, patisserie, greengrocer, breweries, street food, and some restaurants and tapas bars underneath the arches. Open Wed-Sunday.
Bon Vino Maltby
I think it's the best pizza in London 🍕wonderful Italian wines too
Small plates and wine, great cookery. No reservations so get there and have a drink while you wait.
99 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
40 Maltby Street
40 Maltby StSmall plates and wine, great cookery. No reservations so get there and have a drink while you wait.
I don't know, if you happen to be further south than me in New Cross... On Telegraph Hill which has great views over London.
Dinner for One Hundred
I don't know, if you happen to be further south than me in New Cross... On Telegraph Hill which has great views over London.
No reservations, prepare to queue and it's worth it.
86 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Padella
6 Southwark StNo reservations, prepare to queue and it's worth it.
Legare
Book this cosy Italian in advance.
Cheap Eats
If you want to get real local and need to watch your pennies, El Marsem is one of the many Algerian food joints on Old Kent Road serving great value, tasty food (bourek's, sandwiches, hot food) with a smile. Their baklava is excellent too, really nicely flavoured with rosewater.
El Marsem
If you want to get real local and need to watch your pennies, El Marsem is one of the many Algerian food joints on Old Kent Road serving great value, tasty food (bourek's, sandwiches, hot food) with a smile. Their baklava is excellent too, really nicely flavoured with rosewater.
Another local joint for vegan Ethiopian food, platters of vegetable and lentil stews with sour pancakes called injera. Warm service, nice ambience and tasty good value food.
Addis Vegan Kitchen Gluten-Free Restaurant
Another local joint for vegan Ethiopian food, platters of vegetable and lentil stews with sour pancakes called injera. Warm service, nice ambience and tasty good value food.
Favourite falafel place in London, and it's just a stand in Piccadilly Circus. Not a dry falafel in sight, great flavour - the coriander sauce 👌👌👌
Falafel +
Favourite falafel place in London, and it's just a stand in Piccadilly Circus. Not a dry falafel in sight, great flavour - the coriander sauce 👌👌👌
Legendary, long running crepe stand off Hampstead High St
38 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
La Creperie de Hampstead
77a Hampstead High StLegendary, long running crepe stand off Hampstead High St
Soho. Great gelato, Sicilian, a handful of flavours done to perfection. Not too sweet, creamy, nice finishing touches.
Bilmonte
Soho. Great gelato, Sicilian, a handful of flavours done to perfection. Not too sweet, creamy, nice finishing touches.
Gelupo
7 Archer StSoho. Great gelato, lots of interesting flavours.
Cafes & Bakeries
Covent Garden/Leicester Square & Marylebone. Bit spensive but high quality French/Japanese pastry.
Arôme Bakery
9 Mercer StreetCovent Garden/Leicester Square & Marylebone. Bit spensive but high quality French/Japanese pastry.
Covent Garden/Leicester Square. Everything is excellent, really properly made and satisfying at this wee Swedish bakery. It might be my favourite bakery in London.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bageriet
24 Rose StCovent Garden/Leicester Square. Everything is excellent, really properly made and satisfying at this wee Swedish bakery. It might be my favourite bakery in London.
Good bakery with a few branches East and North London.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Jolene Colebrooke Row
16 Essex RdGood bakery with a few branches East and North London.
Fortitude Bakehouse
35 ColonnadeCentral London/Bloomsbury
Restaurants
The Strand/Embankment. Restaurant with a mid-century style inside a brutalist shell, adjacent to 180 Studios gallery. I love the terrace, warm service, and the dedication to ingredients and Mediterranean cooking. Their bakery next door is superb, definitely top two in London.
Toklas
The Strand/Embankment. Restaurant with a mid-century style inside a brutalist shell, adjacent to 180 Studios gallery. I love the terrace, warm service, and the dedication to ingredients and Mediterranean cooking. Their bakery next door is superb, definitely top two in London.
Hackney Wick. Jaw-droppingly inspiring and inventive restaurant leading the no-waste movement. Check it out.
Silo London
Hackney Wick. Jaw-droppingly inspiring and inventive restaurant leading the no-waste movement. Check it out.
Oxford Circus. Indian restaurant that gets alot of attention due to being featured ion Netflix Chef's Table. I haven't been but I'd probably try this over Dishoom, and if not here, try Punjab in Covent Garden.
Darjeeling Express
Oxford Circus. Indian restaurant that gets alot of attention due to being featured ion Netflix Chef's Table. I haven't been but I'd probably try this over Dishoom, and if not here, try Punjab in Covent Garden.
Kennington. I prefer to eat Korean food at home than out but if I do go out for Korean food, I like it here. 👍
Kuma
Kennington. I prefer to eat Korean food at home than out but if I do go out for Korean food, I like it here. 👍
Arts & Culture
Scene for contemporary music, improvisation, experimental, and art. Serves food, coffee and alcoholic beverages.
203 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cafe OTO
18-22 Ashwin StreetScene for contemporary music, improvisation, experimental, and art. Serves food, coffee and alcoholic beverages.
Contemporary art, photography, and installations with a leaning towards digital and media.
180 Strand, Temple, London WC2R 1EA, Reino Unido
Contemporary art, photography, and installations with a leaning towards digital and media.
A treasure, something different!
183 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo de Sir John Soane
13 Lincoln's Inn FieldsA treasure, something different!
One of the special jazz venues in this area (Dalston), great cocktails, chill, and of course the music!
39 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Servant Jazz Quarters
10A Bradbury StOne of the special jazz venues in this area (Dalston), great cocktails, chill, and of course the music!
Venue for all kinds of creativity leaning on the experimental, technology/research-driven side. Modular synth performances, art installations, hackathons, algo-raves, ambient day long dj sets, talks, audio-visual performances.. That sort of thing. Very lovely and chill garden serving drinks, coffee, and vegan food. Music store on site also.
IKLECTIK
20 Carlisle LnVenue for all kinds of creativity leaning on the experimental, technology/research-driven side. Modular synth performances, art installations, hackathons, algo-raves, ambient day long dj sets, talks, audio-visual performances.. That sort of thing. Very lovely and chill garden serving drinks, coffee, and vegan food. Music store on site also.
Interesting exhibitions - usually they choose a theme and several artists are invited to create works based on the theme, makes for surprising/fascinating/thoughtful exhibit.
61 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hayward Gallery
Belvedere RoadInteresting exhibitions - usually they choose a theme and several artists are invited to create works based on the theme, makes for surprising/fascinating/thoughtful exhibit.
Usually very interesting exhibitions and a yearly changing summer pavillion
240 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Galerías Serpentine
Usually very interesting exhibitions and a yearly changing summer pavillion
Wonderful fashion and design museum in an especially magnificent building. Near other South Kensington museums, restaurants, and shopping.
1694 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo Victoria y Alberto
Cromwell RoadWonderful fashion and design museum in an especially magnificent building. Near other South Kensington museums, restaurants, and shopping.
Too obvious to mention that this is a London must. It is a wonderful architectural space, with a newly built extension opened in 2016, and houses one of the most substantial modern art viewings in the world. There are also views across the river, restaurants, cafes, bookshops to lose lots of time in also. As with all London museums, it's free.
2008 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tate Modern
BanksideToo obvious to mention that this is a London must. It is a wonderful architectural space, with a newly built extension opened in 2016, and houses one of the most substantial modern art viewings in the world. There are also views across the river, restaurants, cafes, bookshops to lose lots of time in also. As with all London museums, it's free.
Parks & Nature
Wonderful view of London, especially nice to watch the moon rise from atop the hill. The neighbourhood is quite posh and has chic shops, cafes, bakeries, and restaurants.
790 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill RoadWonderful view of London, especially nice to watch the moon rise from atop the hill. The neighbourhood is quite posh and has chic shops, cafes, bakeries, and restaurants.
London best park, sprawling and wild, great for walking, views, picnics, and taking advantage of good weather. Swimming holes too.
1215 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hampstead Heath
London best park, sprawling and wild, great for walking, views, picnics, and taking advantage of good weather. Swimming holes too.
Sightseeing
London's flower market - lovely atmosphere, though very busy - I recommend getting there early 8-10 on a Sunday, especially if the crowds get to you. Many shops and eateries to dip into!
1660 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadLondon's flower market - lovely atmosphere, though very busy - I recommend getting there early 8-10 on a Sunday, especially if the crowds get to you. Many shops and eateries to dip into!
Magnificent view of London to rival the view from the Shard or London Eye - best of all, it's free. You must book a ticket a month in advance though through their website. Restaurant/bars at the top as well.
300 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sky Garden
Magnificent view of London to rival the view from the Shard or London Eye - best of all, it's free. You must book a ticket a month in advance though through their website. Restaurant/bars at the top as well.
On a weekend, a nice way to get the feel two neighbourhoods (London Fields/Hackney/Shoreditch and Islington) is to go to Broadway Market and have a look around, then walk down the canal, exiting on Kingsland Road to go towards Shoreditch or continue down to Angel/Islington.
29 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Canal Walk
Canal WalkOn a weekend, a nice way to get the feel two neighbourhoods (London Fields/Hackney/Shoreditch and Islington) is to go to Broadway Market and have a look around, then walk down the canal, exiting on Kingsland Road to go towards Shoreditch or continue down to Angel/Islington.