East London neighbourhood of creativity and the birthplace of London “hipsters”, Shoreditch is that kind of place that’s always buzzing. With lively markets, vibrant street art and endless delicious bars and restaurants there’s plenty to discover.
If you’re staying in Shoreditch for a few days, rest your head at one of the many lovely boutique hotels near Shoreditch including the perfectly designed Hoxton Hotel or Courthouse Hotel complete with bowling lanes and a jail-themed cocktail bar.
Where to eat in Shoreditch
Cereal Killer Cafe – This eccentric cafe serves over 120 different types of cereal with various flavoured milks and toppings to create your dream breakfast bowl! Open all day you can get your sugary fix whenever tickles your fancy, their specially created Spaceman cereal bowls are divine.
Beigel Bake – One of the best places to get a bagel in London, this little cafe is open 24 hours a day serving freshly baked bagels crammed full of delicious fillings for bargain prices! Whether you’re after a cheap bite at lunch time, or something to soak up copious numbers of cocktails this is the place to come.
Sagardi Basque Kitchen – A steak restaurant with a difference, these Basque txuleton steaks are matured to perfection and cooked over a wood-fired grill to create that divine melt in the mouth centre and smoky exterior. Pair with a red from their extensive wine list and enjoy some of their yummy starters whilst your steak cooks for a delicious dinner.
Dishoom – Be prepared to queue at Dishoom as their famous Bombay cafe inspired dishes and lack of reservations (for dinner) often result in queues out the door. Less keen on waiting for your meal, stop by for breakfast for an out of this world bacon naan!
Clove Club – Book your tickets well in advance for the Michelin starred Clove Club offering creative dishes inspired by local British ingredients. With dishes changing daily dependent on available fresh produce, your menu will be a surprise on the night, what you can be assured of though is that each dish is well thought out and presented ready to be photographed.
Andina – Part of Martin Morales’ ceviche family, Andina focuses on fresh, colourful dishes inspired by the Peruvian Andes, all that pair perfectly with a pisco sour! Their menu is all small(ish) plates so you can try lots of different dishes, 2-3 per person are recommended, don’t miss out on their famous sea bass ceviche.
Som Saa – Lauded as one of the best Thai restaurants in London, Som Saa certainly packs a punch when it comes to flavours. Pair with some of their sensational cocktails for a great evening.
Pizza Pilgrims – My favourite pizza joint outside of Italy! These delicious Neapolitan pizzas have it all: the fluffy crusts, delicious marinara sauce and a variety of yummy toppings. They also serve a top notch pesto dip for those crusts, and if you can squeeze it in there’s a heavenly Nutella pizza ring waiting for dessert.
Dinerma – If you’re looking for a casual bite to eat, where better than one of the original Street Feast halls offering an incredible selection of food and drink vendors. Tuck into a chimichurri grilled flank steak, or maybe a ‘nduja and honey sourdough pizza. Then face the difficult decision of the wine bar, the craft beer stall or the gin parlour – who knew Friday evening decisions could be so tricky!
Where to drink in Shoreditch
Nightjar – With so many bars in London to try it’s not often that I revisit somewhere, certainly not four times but Nightjar really is that good! This speakeasy serves a bible chock full of creative cocktails, served with flair (some come out on fire!) Live bands perform daily with jazz and swing featuring heavily, and dancing is strongly encouraged.
Alcotraz – A prison themed bar where you are quite literally locked in for 90 minutes. Clad in orange jumpsuits you’re tasked with smuggling your liquor of choice into the penitentiary. During your time as a jailbird 3-4 cocktails await, just be careful to steer clear of the Warden.
Aviary – Aviary offers some of the best views in the area from its envious rooftop position above Finsbury Square. Whilst its kitchen serves solid European cooking, the star of the show is the terrace with sweeping views across the city and beyond. They offer an array of cocktails including the “Take it Sloe” made from oak aged Sloe & Mulberry gin, honey and lemon, well worth a try!
Brewdog – With over 20 beers on tap at any one time, this is the bar for beer lovers. Passionate about craft beer the founders of Brewdog not only sell a wide range of beers, but also brew many varieties themselves. Take some tips from the staff, all well versed in hops, on which beers suit your tastes and you’ll soon find a new fave brew.
Super Lyan – Below the super sustainable restaurant, Cub, discover mind blowing cocktails within this minimalist basement bar. Using lesser known ingredients Mr Lyan’s menu is split by flavour profile meaning it’s super easy to find your perfect cocktail be it fresh or fruity. Service is fantastic, the music is flowing and a good evening is to be had by all.
Bottles Wine Bar – For a top notch glass of vino, Bottles is the place to go. Born from a collaboration between Bottles & Battles and SOOD Family, Bottles brings an awesome collection of Italian wines by the glass (as well as an impressive Cellar collection if you’re feeling flush!), alongside yummy Italian cuisine. With a lovely outdoor lounge area facing onto the market and great, knowledgeable service, it makes the perfect place to stop for a glass of Fruili after a morning of perusing the vintage stalls.
Worship Street Whistling Shop – Head back in time in this Victorian inspired bar and find a little nook to settle in for the night. The cocktails are themed around an atlas taking you on a journey around the globe, although whichever you pick is guaranteed to be cracking in both taste and presentation, one even comes in a glass whale!
What to see & do in Shoreditch
Explore the legendary street art – Shoreditch is renowned for its eccentric and colourful street murals. Hidden on the side streets just off Brick Lane you can find an array of East London’s most famous dynamic and ever changing pieces.
Score a bullseye at Flight Club – This tech-savvy version of darts (without the need for complex mental maths!) is a great spot to hone your aim. Make sure to reserve your oche well in advance as this is a super popular spot, off peak rates on a Sunday are your best bet!
Kick back at Electric Cinema – If you’re bored of the stiff cinema furniture of Vue, this is the place for you with comfy armchairs and a selection of top flicks to enjoy. Settle into your armchair with a cashmere blanket and order a tipple from the waiter to enjoy whilst the film starts rolling.
Meander around the markets – As you walk through Shoreditch, you will feel like every other street has a market on it. Ranging from the edgy vintage affairs of the Old Truman Brewery to the foodie’s delights of Brick Lane there will be something for everyone.
Practice your swing at Junkyard Golf – Having been to many crazy golf courses in London and elsewhere, Junkyard Golf is right up there amongst the best. Tucked underneath the Old Truman Brewery, it offers four different themed courses including a scrapyard challenge and a “movie mash up” – think putting around a disused Only Fools and Horse van! You can book a tee off time in advance or just walk in on the day and grab a pint to go around with!
Learn how to play shuffleboard – Another of London’s activity bars, this is probably a game you’ve never heard of (let alone played) before! Grab the chance to learn something new, hit the boards and shuffle. A game best described as a hybrid between curling and boules, shuffleboard will up your competitive spirit!
Get competitive over a pint with some ping pong – Book a slot at Bounce for some table tennis action with a side of booze. Check out their super high tech Wonderball tables where you’ll feel like you’re inside a computer game during your immersive match.
Many thanks to Hotels.com for hosting us during our day of exploring Shoreditch. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely our own, we wouldn’t recommend something if we didn’t love it!
