An Insider Guide To The Most Stylish Spots In East London

‘I’ve lived in London since my early 20s, and I’ve always loved how each different neigbourhood feels like its own city. For the last 10 years, Victoria Park Village in Hackney has been my home and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I have wide, leafy streets, a beautiful and vast park, excellent delis and more than my fair share of neighbourhood restaurants, pubs and bars. It really does feel like living in a village in the middle of London.’

• Campania tucked away on a cobbled road off Columbia Road, this is easily my favourite restaurant in London for a date night. The interiors are super rustic, the staff are always the loveliest and the southern Italian cooking is always delicious. I order the gnudi, the ragu and the tiramisu — plus they make a great negroni.

• Rochelle Canteen in the summer, there’s no better lunch spot than Rochelle Canteen. It’s Margot Henderson’s restaurant in a walled garden in an old school in Shoreditch. Eating its perfectly simple and seasonal dishes under the vines with a glass of rose is one of London’s greatest pleasures.’ ©Patricia Niven

• Popham’s, Victoria Park this stylish bakery just opened at the end of my road in Victoria Park Village and I’m already there far too much, trying to bag one of its suntrap outdoor tables and ordering its marmite and cheesy leek swirl.

• P Franco ‘From the same guys behind Bright and Legs, P Franco is a bottle shop-slash-wine bar in Clapton that’s just the sort of place you want on your doorstep. I go to sample whatever orange wines they have open that night, plus tasty small plates from whichever chef happens to be resident.’

• Hector’s a small but perfectly formed bar in De Beauvoir, you need to get to Hector’s at opening time to get a spot. I like to try different glasses alongside some crisps with jamon and whatever other little snack plates they have on the blackboard that day.’
• The Empress this is my local pub and I love it. More of a restaurant, it has lots of outdoor tables looking out over Lauriston Road and towards Victoria Park, a great wine list and good pub grub.’

• Redchurch Street ‘Just behind Shoreditch House, Redchurch Street is brilliant for shopping. There’s APC, Aesop, Nudie Jeans, Modern Society and Browns. Fuel up at Allpress Coffee first, and stop in at Burra e Salvia for freshly made pasta to take home.’
• Broadway Market ‘Broadway Market is heaving on a Saturday when the market is in full flow, so I prefer to head there during the week or on Sundays. Pick up fresh fish from Fin & Flounder — where they shuck oyster to have on the fly, natural wines from Noble Fine Liquor, books from Donlon, gold hoops from William Cheshire and just have a general wander.’
• Lauriston Road ‘My road leads into Victoria Park and is packed with delicious places. Stop in at The Deli Downstairs for the French cheese counter and snazzy pasta, Bottle Apostle for wine and craft beers and Haus, if you’re in the market for Scandi homewares. You’re then perfectly placed for walk around the park.’
• Regent’s Canal ‘It’s often busy, but taking a walk down the Regent’s Canal will always be something I love to do at the weekend. I either head left from Vicky Park and head to Hackney Wick, or right towards Haggerston, where you can end up all the way in Islington.’

‘I’d recommend looking for an apartment on Plum Guides so you can stay in Victoria Park Village — I’m biased but it’s perfect. If you’re more of a hotel kind of person, the One Hundred Shoreditch has just opened where the Ace used to be.