186 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 We’re fans of Yalla Yalla. Its pop-up takes the original concept and plants it in a warehouse in Shoreditch. Food is prepared in a van parked in the corner and there are clusters of benches laid out on rugs. It’s not cosy like the permanent restaurants…
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72 Old Compton Street, Soho, W1D 4UN Now we know why Diane Lane ran away to Tuscany in that movie: to drown her sorrows in olive oil and devour paninis. Clearly, the owners of this Soho resto-shop were aware of this, so they’ve imported everything: chianti is from the official consortium of…
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128-132 Borough High Street, Borough, SE1 1LB The clue is in the name here. The bar bit is obvious: stocked with enough to make cocktails interesting and staffed by personable bartenders prepared to tailor drinks. The screen bit becomes clear as you head for the squashy sofas and spot the…
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132 Lower Marsh, Waterloo, SE1 7AE Hidden at the quieter end of Lower Marsh, this cafe-bar is easy to miss. The red shutter is the only giveaway, and it was only when we got close that we understood the name: there is a vintage Vespa in the window. We found a cosy spot upstairs with an excellent…
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30 Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, SW8 2LG Brunswick House is a glamorous oasis in Vauxhall. Chandeliers and vintage lights hang over mismatched chairs and tables. The menus change frequently, but feature hearty meats like pork neck. There are also plenty of cakes to have with coffee and a beautiful…
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27c Floral Street, Garrick Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 9BJ This sanctuary of modern British cooking lies within a 19th century stained glass factory. In this intimate, arch-filled space we found ourselves praising HB&B’s seasonal offerings: strips of duck bresaola entwined with pickled…
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93 Marylebone High Street, Marylebone, W1U 4RE This drinking spot buzzes during the week and fills up on a Friday night. Book a table though, and you’ll get a smug note on it telling everyone that you planned ahead. There’s no food menu, but there are lots of cocktails, all with botanical…
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397-400 Geffrye Street, Hoxton, E2 8HZ This ain’t no dog – it’s a triple threat: a cafe serving Climpson & Sons coffee; a bar headed by ex-Hix mixmaster Myles Davies serving well-executed cocktails; and a buzzy dining room housed under railway arches – yes, you can hear the Overground…
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407 St John Street, Islington, EC1V 4AB This cafe, opened last year, sits in the dark, glossy Angel Building. As you would expect from Alan Yau, the man behind Wagamama, the space is filled with rows of tables serviced by chatty staff. But unlike Wagamama, Naamyaa is bright and warm, and rather…
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115 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill, W2 4UP The devil is in the detail at El Pirata Detapas, the younger and trendier sister of Mayfair tapas institution El Pirata. We began with a chilled glass of Catalonian cava (the best way to toast a Friday night) before tucking into deliciously light tortilla,…
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