Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Prawn on the Lawn
294 St Paul's Rdthe freshest fish
Euphorium - Highbury
202 Upper Stgood quality bread and cakes
Firezza Pizza - Islington
276 St Paul's Rdbest local pizza delivery
Ottolenghi Islington
287 Upper Stmy favourite restaurant - worth queuing up for
Masala Zone Islington
80 Upper Stinexpensive but good Indian
Wagamama
26-40 Kensington High Sta favourite with the kids
Afghan Kitchen
35 Islington Grnwell, where else but in London are you ever going to eat Afghan?
Gallipoli Cafe & Bistro
119-120 Upper Stgood Turkish
Moro
34-36 Exmouth Markettop Spanish restaurant - book in the evening
The Drapers Arms
44 Barnsbury Stmy favourite gastropub
my favourite pizza delivery company (organic and sourdough pizza) - slow in delivering though
12 locals recommend
Organica Pizza Company
4B Gillespie Rdmy favourite pizza delivery company (organic and sourdough pizza) - slow in delivering though
Though it has since changed hands, much of the original decor of the cafe in Quadrophenia is intact
15 locals recommend
Meat People
4-6 Essex RdThough it has since changed hands, much of the original decor of the cafe in Quadrophenia is intact
my new favourite Italian restaurant in London, handy if you are near Piccadilly during the day
Alloro Restaurant
19 Dover Stmy new favourite Italian restaurant in London, handy if you are near Piccadilly during the day
Akari
196 Essex Rdrecommended to me by a Japanese guest
many of my guests really like this and it is on the way to the tube station
38 locals recommend
Maison d'etre
many of my guests really like this and it is on the way to the tube station
organic pub and restaurant supplied by my favourite organic vegetable producer, Riverford
141 locals recommend
The Duke of Cambridge
30 Saint Peter's Streetorganic pub and restaurant supplied by my favourite organic vegetable producer, Riverford
fabulous inventive Italian food using choice ingredients and at fair prices (though service can be a little slow) - must book
153 locals recommend
Trullo
300-302 St Paul's Rdfabulous inventive Italian food using choice ingredients and at fair prices (though service can be a little slow) - must book
Oldroyd
344 Upper Sttiny restaurant with great food - booking essential
Smokehouse
63-69 Canonbury Rdsmall gastropub with a great vibe
Absolutely fabulous wine shop where you can taste fantastic wines that you have only ever dreamed of and get the most knowledgeable recommendations from the cheerful staff
36 locals recommend
The Sampler
266 Upper StAbsolutely fabulous wine shop where you can taste fantastic wines that you have only ever dreamed of and get the most knowledgeable recommendations from the cheerful staff
Tiny producer of salame, ham and sausages according to traditional recipes in central London! They will sell to you if you knock on the door and smile sweetly
Cobble Lane Cured
25a Cobble LnTiny producer of salame, ham and sausages according to traditional recipes in central London! They will sell to you if you knock on the door and smile sweetly
Amorino Islington
110 Upper Stas chain goes, this is probably the best for ice-cream
Udderlicious Ice Cream
187 Upper StMy favourite ice-cream shop - tubs are great value
Belle Epoque Patisserie
37 Newington Grntraditional French-style desserts
the perfect combination of technology and taste
17 locals recommend
Chin Chin Labs (Chin Chin Ice Cream)
49-50 Camden Lock Plthe perfect combination of technology and taste
Farang
72 Highbury Parkabsolutely fabulous Thai food
Sardine
15 Micawber Stfab food, close to contemporary art galleries
Franco Manca
21 Lordship Lnthe best sourdough pizza
12:51 By Chef James Cochran
107 Upper Stvery innovative food, tiny portions
simply extraordinary Indian food - avoid desserts and taste as much as possible of the rest
6 locals recommend
Cinnamon Bazaar
28 Maiden Lnsimply extraordinary Indian food - avoid desserts and taste as much as possible of the rest
a magical place - an informal garden oasis with many different events and the best pizza ever (only 2 types to choose from though)
178 locals recommend
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
13 Dalston Lna magical place - an informal garden oasis with many different events and the best pizza ever (only 2 types to choose from though)
a lovely understated place for a quiet drink and a bite with friends with a neighbourhood feel
110 locals recommend
Primeur
116 Petherton Rda lovely understated place for a quiet drink and a bite with friends with a neighbourhood feel
Essentials
Planet Organic - Islington
64 Essex Rdlocal organic supermarket
Steve Hatt Fishmongers
88 - 90 Essex Rdthird generation family fishmonger
La Fromagerie
30 Highbury Parkfantastic, but expensive, cheese shop
Paul A Young Fine Chocolates
33 Camden Psgethe best chocolatier in London!
Sainsbury's Local
3-7 W Green Rdthe nearest small supermarket
sizeable supermarket with good selection of high-quality frozen prepared meals from Cook
110 locals recommend
Budgens
199-205 Haverstock Hillsizeable supermarket with good selection of high-quality frozen prepared meals from Cook
GAIL's Bakery Islington
305-307 Upper Stmy favourite bakery chain, now with a shop in Islington
Drinks & Nightlife
Marquess of Anglesey
39 Bow Stthe closest good gastro pub
Redchurch Brewery
15-16 River Waygreat artisanal beer producer
Hope & Anchor
207 Upper Stold rockers
the one and only pub where you can go and listen to operas (shortened with wit and with fantastic singers)
75 locals recommend
King's Head Theatre
115 Upper Stthe one and only pub where you can go and listen to operas (shortened with wit and with fantastic singers)
Shopping
Workshop
my favourite clothes shop
Old Spitalfields Market
16 Commercial Stthe nicest and least touristy street market in London
Sometimes (or maybe often) you just need a new lipstick or face mask - find all the most interesting and innovative brands here (and get your make-up done for free if they are not too busy and you are very nice and look like you want to spend loads - don't be shy to ask for samples but don't overdo it!)
6 locals recommend
Space NK Apothecary
299 Upper StSometimes (or maybe often) you just need a new lipstick or face mask - find all the most interesting and innovative brands here (and get your make-up done for free if they are not too busy and you are very nice and look like you want to spend loads - don't be shy to ask for samples but don't overdo it!)
Just glorious utilitarian homeware in a street with equally trendy shops
31 locals recommend
Labour and Wait
85 Redchurch StJust glorious utilitarian homeware in a street with equally trendy shops
when you really need something special to wear underneath (and have a substantial budget)
Tallulah Lingerie
65 Cross Stwhen you really need something special to wear underneath (and have a substantial budget)
Wallace Sewell
24 Lloyd Baker Stfab textile designers
Truly fabulous scents and knowledgeable staff - all very much worth the steep prices
6 locals recommend
Le Labo
61 Redchurch StTruly fabulous scents and knowledgeable staff - all very much worth the steep prices
Arts & Culture
Lucky Voice Islington
173-174 Upper StIf you really fancy Karaoke, do it in style here
Almeida Theatre
Almeida Streetthe best local theatre
Parasol unit foundation for contemporary art
32 Fitzroy Squarebeautiful contemporary art space
small but perfectly formed collection with interesting exhibitions
67 locals recommend
Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art
39A Canonbury Squaresmall but perfectly formed collection with interesting exhibitions
British Museum
Great Russell Streetthe most interesting collection in the world!
Entertainment & Activities
The Screen on the Green
Upper Streetlook for their special cocktail evenings
Sightseeing
Canonbury Tower
6 Canonbury Plancient building home of Oliver Cromwell and Thomas Bacon
Trafalgar Square (Stop B) station
the official centre point of London