For me, spring in London is when it’s at its best – the city has woken from its winter cocoon and the excitement of long nights, picnics in the park and a continuous stream of festivals generates an infectious buzz in the city. Therefore, with the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics set to take centre stage – so will your social life – regardless whether you like the royals or have even seen the Olympics.

To kick-start the celebrations off, the historic Andaz Hotel, next to Liverpool Street station, is running a series of Jubilee Afternoon Tea ceremonies in the exquisite 1901 restaurant until June. Themes include, the Brandy Man and the Empress of India, and pay homage to the Queens of England – and their most famous legacies.

March is dedicated is to Queen Elizabeth I, and aptly named ‘The Virgin Queen’- as she never married. Expect miniature hamburgers and hotdogs, chocolate brownies and peanut brittle to celebrate her American connections, mixed with a quintessential favourite – cream and jam fresh scones. Ensure you save enough room for the cocktail, made with Appleton Estate Rum, mandarin and passion fruit purée, ginger beer – possibly the best I’ve ever had.

If the American theme doesn’t float your monarchist boat, the next few months will have Austrian, Indian and traditional British themes.

To help you feel even more royal, each guest will also go in the draw to win a pair of diamond stud earrings!  God Save the Queen indeed!

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Andaz Hotel | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Sandwiches) | Jubilee Afternoon Tea £ 45
40 Liverpool Street, EC2M 7QN | East
Mon – Sat High Tea 15:00 – 16:30

Mien Tay is my favorite of numerous Vietnamese restaurants on what only could be called the ‘Nam Strip. Okay, it’s not actually called that (by anyone I know) but the essence is there – it’s a small patch of Hanoi in London. Situated on Kingsland Road above Shoreditch, the few-hundred metre stretch has given birth to a multitude of fantastic and often cheap Vietnamese restaurants and cafes.

Mien Tay is minimally decorated and there isn’t any pretentious air about the place. But the constant buzz of waiters rushing past with steaming dishes, weaving through the closely-spaced tables is an inviting site. The food is cheap and you can bring your own alcohol. There isn’t even a corking charge!

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Mien Tay | Restaurants (Vietnamese) | Noodle bowl £ 5.45
122 Kingsland Road, E2 8DP | East | +442077293074
Mon – Thu 12:00 – 15:00 & 17:00 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 15:00 & 17:00 – 23:30, Sun 12:00 – 23:00

Chaat is a tiny Bangladeshi restaurant serving home-cooked food a million miles away from the bland Brick Lane curry houses which attract the crowds despite themselves. Real curry heads know to head out of Brick Lane and into Whitechapel for either Tayyabs or Lahore Kebab House (both of which are fantastic and well worth a visit), but if you fancy something different and something much more intimate Chaat could be the place for you.

Situated on the hippest street in East London, Chaat serves only twenty five dishes; five starters, five mains, five pickles, five ‘moppers’ (bread or rice) and five sides. I went with a group of seven and we simply ordered one of everything. Possibly a bit greedy, but the structure of the menu and the prices make it possible.

The pan-fried Tilapia and the Chaat Channa Salad of chickpeas, spinach, tomato with a mustard and lemon dressing were my favourites. It certainly isn’t the hottest curry I’ve ever had, the spicing is much more subtle and if you need the heat, one of the pickles is Naga Morich which carries a health warning because it is so hot!

Because of the size of Chaat and the location it is possibly wise to book in advance, although we got lucky and didn’t need to. Good food and friendly staff in an uncluttered, unfussy environment, what’s not to like?

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Chaat | Restaurants (Bangladeshi) | Main course € 6.50
36 Redchurch Street,E2 7DP | East | +442077399595
Mon – Sat 18:30 – 23:00

After a trip to Tayyabs, it’s easy to see why the wall is plastered with framed awards and rave reviews. Most Londoners know the best curries are not found on self-proclaimed curry capital Brick Lane, and those in the know believe Tayyabs, within walking distance, is one of the best.

The no frills Pakistani restaurant is always bustling with an English and international crowd, truly reflecting the rich multicultural makeup of London. Tables are set close together to accommodate the steady flow of people and waiters seamlessly weave between them, providing efficient and fast service.

The food is less heavy than most ghee-filled Indian or Pakistani dishes and the delicately flavoured lentil and baby aubergine curry (dhal baingun) is a must. The fresh mango lassis come by the glass or in jugs to share and are a delicious accompaniment to the meal. Powerfully spiced sizzling grilled meats are a specialty. Although they don’t serve alcohol, you are free to bring your own. There is no corking charge.

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Tayyabs | Restaurants (Pakistani/Indian) | Dhal Baingun £ 5.00
83 Fieldgate Street | East | +442072479543
12:00 – 00:00 daily

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.

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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

Broadway Market on a Saturday is a snap shot of what life in Hackney is all about. A true mix of styles and cultures, young and old, traditional and new. It is a microcosm of what living in a truly global city is all about. 

Broadway Market is not a large street yet the market on Saturdays see this street crammed with life. The weekly stalls attract the crowds, but the shops, the pubs, the restaurants and cafes all join in. It is what I want a weekly market to be. Lively, but offering something for everyone. Go for the shopping, stay for the people watching!

The market is primarily a specialist food market where you can get organic meat, fruit and veg alongside fresh fish, cakes, bread, cheese, sausages… but you can also get vintage clothes, furniture, hand made brooches, bike repairs/spares or hit the shops instead of the stalls and get art books at Artwords, fabulous coffee at Climpsons, all your sewing needs at Our Patterned Hand or a proper East End pie and mash at the historic Cooke’s. The choice really is that varied.

Personally, I always make sure I pick up at least one samosa from the Gujarati Rasoi stall as they are simply the best I have ever tasted. But be aware, if you only get one you will have to go back and get another, and at £ 1 each why not?

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Broadway Market | Bars, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Various)
Broadway Market,E8 4PH | East
Sat 09:00 – 17:00

Victoria Park Village (obviously not a real village) is a little leafy secret in East London on the edge of Victoria Park. Consisting of just the two shopping streets, Lauriston Road and Victoria Park Road, this ‘village’ feels somehow different. Perhaps it is the proximity to the park itself (which is Britain’s oldest public park, built in 1842!) or the lack of through traffic, but whatever it is, it is definitely working.

House prices around the village are now sky high and the shops do tend to have an upmarket feel to them, but there is a very varied selection of (mostly) independent shops, pubs and restaurants. 

The Royal Inn On The Park has an excellent selection of draught beers and is packed for the very good Sunday lunch. The Lauriston has DJs and excellent pizzas to go with their beers. The Empress Of India is a fantastic restaurant open for brunch onwards, serving meat from the award-winning Ginger Pig butchers across the road. For fish you can go to Jonathan Norris Fishmonger or if you don’t want to cook it yourself head across to the Fish House for a good old fashioned fish and chips! 

Coffee, cakes and snacks are to be found at Elbows Cafe, the lovely Amandine Café and Loafing; excellent Vietnamese can be had at Namo; Su Sazzagoni has traditional Sardinian food; Bottle Apostle excellent wines; The Deli Downstairs is great for fresh bread, cheese and hand made pies; while Haus makes sure your own home is tastefully decorated and furnished. Lovely.

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Victoria Park Village | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants (Various)
Lauriston Road,E9 7HJ | East
Depending on location

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.

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Bricklane | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Music, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants
Bricklane | East
Markets open Sun, most clothing stores daily.

The Rivington Grill is, in my humble opinion, one of the best restaurants in London for British food.

Some say the menu is a little uninspiring, but then here in Britain we’re not known for our diverse range of food, are we? Despite continually promising myself I’ll try something more outlandish, I tend to go for fish fingers and chips. You can’t beat a classic, can you? A good variety of seafood spices up the menu though.

The restaurant specialises in British classics with a modern twist and they’re big on seasonality – the menu is updated regularly to suit what is naturally available and almost all of the food is sourced here in Britain. Delicious.

The decor isn’t too fussy, and I love the neon art that hangs on the walls. It isn’t usually that busy at lunchtimes, particularly Sundays when I’ve found myself part of the only group in there, but during evenings, particularly Fridays, it is advisable to book. Also, always check out the website for deals, particularly midweek.

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Rivington Bar Grill | Restaurants (British) | Mains from £ 13
28-30 Rivington Street, EC2A 3DZ | East | +442077297053
Bar 08:00 – 23:00 daily | Dinner Mon – Sat 18:00 – 23:00, Sun 18:00 – 22:00

On Kingsland Road in Shoreditch, famed for its Vietnamese cuisine scene, there are two types of restaurant. There’s the cheap, cheerful type with benches and strip lighting (but good food at bargain prices) and then there are the more upmarket ones with a bit more pizazz.

Viet Grill is the latter. While I’m more than happy tucking in to Vietnamese food in (almost) all of these restaurants, Viet Grill is always my first destination if I want more of an experience. Its dark wood interior and hibiscus-print wallpaper makes it stand out aesthetically, but it’s the food and service that attracts me the most.

It’s a great place to go with a bunch of friends (but fine for couples, too) as the menu is better suited to picking a few dishes to share rather than ordering a main each. Spring and summer rolls, both with prawns, are some of my favourites, as is the lotus-stem salad with pork and shrimps, ‘piggy aubergine’ and my absolute favourite – the monkfish – which is cooked on a burner at the table – a real spectacle.

There are lots of dishes suitable for vegetarians, a substantial drinks menu and good desserts, too. The restaurant is split over two floors, but it’s best to book as this is one popular place. Mind the toilets downstairs, though – they’re communal and a bit of a surprise on a first visit!

It’s obviously more expensive than some of the other restaurants here, but you won’t be disappointed.

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Viet Grill | Restaurants (Vietnamese) | per head (average) £ 35
58 Kingsland Road, E28DP | East | +442077396686
Sun 12:00 – 22:30, Mon – Thu 12:00 – 15:00 & 17:30 – 23:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 15:00 & 17:30 – 23:30