Teeny, French cafe with amazing pastries, great coffee and incredible croque-monsieur. Long table in the front and small garden in the back or take away and head to Highbury Fields, which is only a couple of minutes away.  

Natural wine bar and shop in east London with communal table and standing space. 

Inspired by Dave Eggers’ projects in the USA such as the Pirate Store in San Francisco and Superhero store in Brooklyn, The Monster Supplies Store in Hoxton is home to the Ministry of Stories: A volunteer run organization, founded by Nick Hornby, to help young people with creative writing of all kinds through workshops and free mentoring sessions. The store is the “Purveyor of quality goods for monsters of every kind” with fascinating bottles and tins containing everything from eyeballs to Zadie Smith’s short story Mortal Terror.

Good, progressive, solid, forward-thinking place. And run by the warmest, most intelligent and inspiring people to be around. Always a humble, fulfilled visit. And whilst in the area, best to visit next door to Hannah Barry's gallery for more wonderful work.

It's really close to my house and one of my favourite pubs in London! (I even went before it was close to where I lived!) It is London's first cooperatively owned pubs and has lovely events and workshops, exercise classes and great parties, and good beer! It's lovely in the beer garden in the hot summer and equally great in the winter, next to a real fire.