a foodie day in East London

Pophams was the first of its kind when it opened its original outpost in Islington in 2017. It pushes the boundaries of pastry – the Marmite swirl (with Schlossberger cheese, spring onion and sesame seeds) is a revelation. And in the evening its warehouse-style London Fields restaurant is full of diners sharing plates of rich pumpkin cappelletti and ox-cheek cannelloni. The range of homewares is also charming.

Pophams Home blends craft, quality, and a love for British design in its curated collection of homewares. Each piece – whether it’s a hand-carved butter dish, a beeswax bread bag, or a walnut-handled kitchen knife – is a celebration of independent makers. Beyond stylish kitchen essentials, you’ll find Cornish-made pasta, artisanal hot sauces, and locally sourced honeys for the pantry. A spotlight on craftsmanship, it also offers a modern twist on timeless design for those who appreciate the beauty of well-made things.

Claire Ptak was made world-famous thanks to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who chose the Californian implant to bake their wedding cake. Hackney locals have been buying her goodies since 2005 when she first started selling them from a Broadway Market stall. Her shop-café north of London Fields specialises in seasonal bakes such as almond polenta muffins topped with chamomile apricots and peanut-butter cherry cake.

Find the best flatbreads in town at this little stall on Ridley Road Market. Stock up on the blistered and soft naan-like bakes for the freezer, or order one for lunch with cheese, egg or keema-style meat. Simple, affordable and satisfying. 

First, diners have to find the door– the only clue is the word “canteen” on a set of buzzers south of Arnold Circus. Margot Henderson’s restaurant began as a simple spot, dishing up lunch to the creatives working in the converted Victorian-school hub next door. And while the plates are still elegant in their simplicity (anchovy toast, ham with celeriac remoulade), there’s something so magical about the atmosphere on a summer’s evening that it feels as if you’re the only one in on Shoreditch’s worst-kept secret.

This beloved neighbourhood boozer has been a local landmark forever. But since 2015 it’s been in the hands of chef friends Tom Harris and Jon Rotheramand – both St. John alumni –and is packed day and night. The hottest table to book is for Sunday lunch, after a morning shopping for blooms on Columbia Road. The roast is the best around but don’t skip the caraway and black treacle sourdough to start and the brown-butter and honey tart for pudding.

Knowing to ask for a table at this floor-to-ceiling-stacked bottle shop is an insider move. An Italian wine distributor since 2003, owner Luca Dusi introduced a bright blue-fronted store with a back-room wine bar 10 years later. Since then he’s added floral wallpaper behind the shelves and two more hidden drinking dens (in the basement and upstairs). Thoroughly unpretentious, Passione Vino has a sunny community vibe, and just one thing on the drinks list – avoid it if you don’t like wine.

Upstairs through a blink-and-miss-it doorway on Redchurch Street is one of the most exciting restaurants in London. The name comes from an old English term for turbot, so it’s fitting that the flatfish is the star of the show. Inspired by the Basque Country, everything is cooked over a charcoal grill – the smoked potatoes are particularly good, but there aren’t really any misses on the Michelin-starred menu. The London Fields outpost feels marginally cooler. Either way, order the burnt cheesecake for pudding.

Down a quiet mews, around the corner from busy Shoreditch High Street, is a bar that seats 10 at most. This little cocktail joint is from the gang behind the Discount Suit Company and The Sun Tavern, and acts as the experimental testing ground for both. Try a Baklava (made with Irish whiskey, honey, pistachio and orange blossom) and then scoot along to one of its sibling spots for a dance.