My favourite no-frills Malaysian restaurant and takeaway hidden away in a basement. Expect to queues for up to 30–40min, but well worth the wait.

Being an East London boy at heart I am partial to an occasional fix of café culture. Pellici's has been running since the start of the last century, to which me, my father and my father's fathers have all enjoyed its mix of tasty Italian/London grub and energetic atmosphere. If you're visiting, make sure you drop by, as it will provide a valuable, forever-depleting education into what East London is really all about.

Untitled Bar is modelled on Andy Warhol’s Factory. It is sterile and minimal setting but as more bodies join, things soon warm up.

I grew up around this area - it really is a gem of a place. The interior is so cool, with sort of organised clutter everywhere. They have a little garden and they serve food. Its not the best in the world, but the whole experience there is great.

6a architects transformed the six-storey building at the corner of Redchurch Street into a multidisciplinary space. A shop, a gallery, a restaurant.