Image by Phoebe Ferris-Rotman

During the day people bring their laptops or books and work, read and drink coffee sprawled over one of the many mismatched sofas or lounge chairs. At night tea candles are lit and hot drinks are swapped for alcoholic drinks as people unwind and meet friends in what was once the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane (check the Brick Lane article). In summertime, people swamp to the outside picnic benches and the alleyway, though there is always a lovely cosy feel inside.

The boho and versatile venue opens at a very early 06:00 for breakfast and soups, jacket potatoes and sandwiches are on offer for lunch and dinner. Live music attracts a younger crowd with indie bands on Tuesday and jazz on Wednesday. Bands play in the smaller room at the back on Sunday and a dj spins tunes on Friday and Saturday.

Cocktails made with fresh fruit are available on the weekend and all year round you can grab a burger or corn on the cob from the grill stand outside. Tables and benches outside in front are great for people watching or smoking.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Café 1001 | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Snacks, Restaurants (intern.)
1 Dray walk, 91 Brick Lane | East | +442072479679
Mon – Sat 06:00 – 00:00, Sun 06:00 – 23:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

Image by Phoebe Ferris-Rotman

Brick Lane offers a multitude of choice in terms of bars and nightlife but Casa Blue sticks out, not least because of all the fairy lights and candles glowing from within.

A lacquered wooden panel of peacocks is hung next to a watercolour painting of a naval fleet. 50′s memorabilia is plastered wearily to the wall. While the predominantly red kitsch bric-a-brac decor means your eyes don’t know where to settle, the kooky collection of plastic chandeliers, hanging baubles and blinking strings of light make a unique setting.

Even though the music ranges anywhere from the Beatles to Manu Chau, the tunes are familiar and well-chosen. There are comfy plus sofas and yummy cocktails. Food is also available. While the menu is limited, the house specialty comes in platter form – international mezze for two or more people. For only £5 each, sharing platters come with a selection of hot and cold tapas and you can choose Mediterranean, Indian or Greek cuisine.

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Casa Blue | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Snacks | Cocktail £ 6.00
228 Brick Lane | East
Sun – Thu 12:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 03:00

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Image by Sébastien Cevey / theefer

Oto means ‘noise’ or ‘music’ in Japanese and that is exactly what you get at this amazing, innovative venue.

By day it is a mild-mannered café serving a selection of teas, coffees, organic fruit juices, Devon and Breton cider, wines, Japanese snacks, Sake, Plum Wine and Japanese Whisky but then, when the lights go out and the cafe closes for a couple of house for the soundchecks, Oto turns into the home of the experimental musician and easily fulfills its stated aim of ‘providing a home for creative new music that exists outside of the mainstream’.

Past performers include Yoko Ono, London Improvisors Orchestra, Joe McPhee, Marshall Allen, Matthew Herbert and, amazingly and thrillingly, The Sun Ra Arkestra who consider Cafe Oto to be their spiritual London home. The Wire magazine hold a monthly series of events here, called ‘The Wire Salon’, which consist of talks, panel discussions, film screenings and DJ sets. 

Some of the bigger names mean larger fees, but most gigs are around £10 entrance fee, but check the website first as the venue is small and gigs regularly sell out in advance.

Cafe Oto forms one point of the Dalston Jazz Triangle. The other two points being filled by the jazz daddy The Vortex and the newcomer Servant Jazz Quarters. These three venues are only about 500 yards apart and between them they cover everything from the folky side of jazz (SJQ), to the more traditional approach (Vortex) and into the avant garde (Oto). Jazz has definitely found a home (or three) in E8.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cafe Oto | Coffee & tea, Music, Snacks | Entrance from € 7
18-22 Ashwin Street,E8 3DL | East
Mon – Fri 09:30 – 17:30, Sat – Sun 10:30 – 17:30, gigs from 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

Image by Matt Bramford

Rich Mix, like the Barbican, is one of those art centres that caters for pretty much everybody. It’s my local cinema, but at the same time is a gig venue, bar, café and art gallery – it’s a big red cultural hub.

The building has three cinema screens – two large, one intimate. They screen mainstream movies and anticipated Oscar winners alongside independent releases and archival films. It’s much cheaper than those horrid West End cinemas that charge you a fortune and much nicer, too. The walls are adorned with Timorous Beasties wallpaper – an attraction in themselves, and the actual cinema screens have walls decorated with contemporary geometric patterns that create the illusion, when the lights are low, of Rococo architecture.

As a gig venue, Rich Mix has played host to a huge range of international musicians, from UK-based classical pianists to Bollywood bands. There’s always something on (and I really should start going more myself) and some events are even free. The centre also hosts a rolling schedule of performing arts, comedy, spoken word events and and exhibitions. It’s enough to render you breathless.

The cinema screenings sell out quickly at weekends and on Wednesdays (when there’s the Orange deal on) so I tend to pop by in the day to buy tickets, or book online if I’m feeling frivolous (there’s an added booking fee). When you’ve seen your film, why not pop around the corner for a cocktail in LoungeLover? There’s nothing better.

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Rich Mix | Art & culture, Cinemas, Music, Theaters | Cinema £ 9
35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road E1 6LA | East | +442076137498
14:00 – 00:00 (approx) daily

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Image by Andy Bryant

The area around Liverpool Street Station in East London was once associated with poor slums and the scene of the crime for the Jack the Ripper murders. While the pub Jack’s victims use to drink at still stands, The Ten Bells, the area itself is now very popular with London’s artistic and unusual.

After a short walk from Liverpool Street Station, you’ll come across the Old Spitalfields Markets (105a Commercial Street) which is open every Sunday. Whilst these markets are definitely worth a peak, keep wandering towards Bricklane where you’ll find the Old Truman Brewery (91 Bricklane).

Inside the old brewery, you’ll discover up-and-coming designers selling a unique variety of handbags, clothes and jewellery. There’s also a few vintage clothing stores and chic boutiques dotted around the area, which is a refreshing change from the usual high street entourage of clothing stores.

After a spot of shopping, and a curry at one of Bricklane’s many Bangladeshi restaurants, keep your eye out for warehouse art exhibitions which seem to be popping up all over the place. And last but certainly not least, ensure you have a drink in the beer garden of Vibe Bar, before stumbling across the road to 93 Feet East (150 Bricklane). Whilst this place is sweaty and jammed, it has become an East End institution well known for its eclectic mix of live music and its intimate atmosphere.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bricklane | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants
Bricklane | East
Markets open Sun, most clothing stores daily.

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

Image by Deanna Romano

The Dolphin Pub is the kind of place you feel you have to explain its appeal before admitting to liking it. From the outside, the pub looks like an old man’s watering hole while the interior screams tacky Victorian, if you can imagine such a thing.

However hit this place on a Saturday night for a drink or two and you’ll find yourself there till the early hours, dancing and singing along to handbag house intermittently mixed with karaoke favourites. Yes, the music selection is what keeps the crowd’s infectiously good vibe going, as one minute you’re gyrating to cheesy dance classics and the next someone has taken the microphone and is singing along to the best of the worst karaoke tunes. However, as the crowd is too drunk to notice whether you hit that note, there’s not need to be shy.

If you’re in need of resting your feet, or vocal cords as it may be, there’s a decent sized outdoor terrace where you can eye up the outrageously trendy and alternative types that flock to this pub. Like so much of East London, the most unlikely of places always attracts the heaviest crowds, therefore West End glamour types may not be impressed. However this unpredictably fun pub has the knack of removing inhibitions and class distinctions as the night wears on and the intoxication levels increase.

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The Dolphin Pub | Bars, Music | Pint £ 3.00
165 Mare Street | East | +442089853727
Mon – Thu 16:00 – 02:00, Fri 16:00 – 04:00, Sat 12:00 – 04:00, Sun 12:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London

Image by Lounge Lover

Taxidermy and bric-a-brac aren’t the surroundings I’d usually pick for a cocktail bar, however this place not only pulls it off, it does it in style. Situated in an old meat packing factory, this kitsch establishment is a favourite with the fashion and media world. Even Madonna, the material girl herself had a birthday here.

Its location, down a gritty East London street, combined with the unusual choice of stuffed animals and dolls is a stark contrast to the glamorous clientèle draping off the ornate sofas. All of which creating quite a surreal experience.

The cocktail menu is impressive, as is the care and attention put in to making each drink. The extensive list features titles such as the Moulin Rouge, Kangaroo, Restless Romance and Dr Strangelove; all of which are made with the finest tipples!

Be sure to call ahead and reserve a sofa to make the most of your evening!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Lounge Lover | Bars, Music, Relaxing | Cocktails from £ 8.00
1 Whitby Street | East | +442070121234
Tue – Thu & Sun 18:00 – 00:00, Fri 17:30 – 01:00, Sat 18:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals London