Matt Bramford (1983)

Say no to tea-bagging and pay a visit to Soho’s best little tea shop.

This unique café (and its sister branch in Camden) is situated in the heart of Soho and celebrates loose-leaf tea; there isn’t a tea bag in sight. A huge selection of loose tea on the counter invites you to try their innovative blends, with imaginative titles such as ‘Walk in The Woods‘ and ‘Chilli Chilli Bang Bang‘.

Yumchaa has a wide selection of black, green, white and Rooibos tea, so pretty much something for everyone. With ample seating upstairs and downstairs, this adorable place is perfect for a pit-stop if your shopping on neighbouring Oxford Street or in the Soho area. I always opt for the ‘Notting Hill‘ despite promising myself I’ll try something different each time.

Each tea is displayed on the counter so make sure you have a sniff around before making that all-important selection; there’s also a good selection of snacks to go with your beverage. Try the gluten-free chocolate cake if that’s your bag; I love the lemon-drizzle cake which is absolutely delicious.

SCP is situated right in the centre of East London’s burgeoning selection of art and design gift shops. Yeah, there’s always been a good selection of crafty type stores that sell unusual items, but SCP is one of my favourites for hot products of a well-designed nature.

There are two stores: one in Notting Hill and this, the flagship shop, on Curtain Road. If I’m not in there salivating over an Eames chair or a Russell Pinch sofa, I’m usually there to pick up an original gift. Stock includes design from around the world; soft furnishings, kitchenware, decorative items, clocks, prints and so much more.

Its spacious, airy store is split over two levels – the first floor is like a design lover’s fantasy with larger items like furniture seductively displayed, whilst downstairs caters more for gift buyers (I tend to stick downstairs, lest I end up leaving with £ 500 side table I certainly don’t need).

They’re the only London stockist of Kiosk products – some of my favourite things – a collection of interesting items from around the world, like motel keyrings, reproduction 1960s bottle openers and other curiosities. They also stock china with unusual illustrations (many by local London designers) as well as one of the best ranges of modern design in London.

Dollar Bar, also known as Dollar – Grills and Martinis, is my first choice if I’m in the Exmouth Market area. It’s essentially a burger bar, but its boudoir interior makes it a little bit more special.

I’d recommend booking a table, and they’ll ask you if you want a table downstairs in the cocktail bar before you eat. Say yes. Down an old wooden staircase lies a real treat – a candle-lit cocktail bar with fewer than ten tables, serving some of the best martinis I’ve had in London. I usually opt for a pear and elderflower martini, but with flavours choices like pomegranate, maple syrup, fig and chocolate, there’s something for everybody.

After cocktails, the upstairs dining room is even more lavish with crystal chandeliers, candle-lit tables and seats adorned with plush red fabrics. The menu is versatile enough to suit everybody’s tastes, but you won’t be disappointed with a mango salsa and Monterey Jack cheese burger with handcut fries. If you’re not a fan of burgers there’s also a surprisingly good selection of seafood.

Visitors to Berlin will have probably seen the Photoautomat phenomenon for themselves, and on a recent trip there I couldn’t wait to have a go in one of these little pieces of history.

I was delighted when I discovered Cargo in Shoreditch was the proud home of London’s first and only Photoautomat booth. I just love these things – as a child, the anticipation and excitement of it all often proved too much, and even now I still find the thrill of joking around in these booths just as exciting. I also think that no technological advancements can compete with the analogue photo booth, from the vintage quality of the prints to the clunks that the booth makes.

As a local I obviously don’t frequent the booth that much, unless I find myself in Cargo after a few drinks with £3 to spare. It’s situated in the garden of this live music venue, so it totally depends on what is happening inside as to whether you’re able to get outside to use the photo booth. Some of the gigs at Cargo are pricey and I wouldn’t recommend you pay the entry fee just to use the booth. But if you do go in, it’s definitely worth it.

Goodnight, Sweetheart was a popular British sitcom, in which the main character Gary Sparrow accidentally time travelled between 1990s London and the same area during the Blitz. The first time I entered The Duke pub, I felt exactly like Gary Sparrow.

Tucked away on the backstreets of Holborn, The Duke is situated in a glorious Art Deco building. Inside, chic booths for two are available, but I prefer the livelier side with old wooden tables and red decor. Downstairs, a hidden room (if open) sparkles with fairy lights and has the atmosphere to transport you right back to the 1940s. If you’re lucky enough, somebody might jump on the piano and play ‘Goodnight, Sweetheart’.

Take no notice of grumpy Londoners on various review sites – the publicans are wonderful and I’ve always had a warm welcome at the Duke. The menu isn’t too shabby either, with traditional dishes served most evenings alongside more experimental offerings. But I don’t go for the food – I go to pretend I’m a time traveller.