Printable View
Chaps
Few days in town in November, an awards bash, having our annual stay at The Langham and have a free night to stay somewhere else and Shoreditch has been mentioned and The Hoxton.
Ideally wanting nice wanders, decent grub and bars, what’s the thoughts or should we been considering any other locations
Cheers all
Pitch
Lots of decent pubs and restaurants in Shoreditch / Hoxton. Some a bit spit and sawdust in a hipster way but still good.
Maybe head the other side of town to Richmond / Chiswick / Kew? better for walking about, nice boozers on the river.
Shoreditch isn't a place I've spent too much time.
It's near Bishopsgate and Spitalfields though and I know that area better.
Fantastic architecture if that's your thing. The odd Hawksmoor church. Have a wander from Liverpool St and stop off at The Gun for a pint.
My wife and I stayed there on Thursday/Friday, went to see Anything Goes (at the Barbican) which was a hoot, had a meal at the Quartier Restaurant.
On the Friday we walked around the Barbican estate and onto the Museum of London, then a walk and wander (saw the Roman Wall) onto Spitafields Market, before getting the train back from Liverpool street.
Lots to see and plenty of drinking and eating all within walking distance of Liverpool Street, we were impressed by the architecture and cleanliness.
A few mins walk and you’ll get a decent ruby on Brick Lane. But, I find the surrounding area around Shoreditch a bit grubby, or soulless as you walk towards the City.
There are so many more nicer places to stay in London.
If you are over 30 you’ll feel old out and about in Shoreditch. Fun on a night out but can’t image staying in a hotel round there.
Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app
Just move half a mile down the road to Farringdon/clerkenwell. Fine dining/cheap dining, history and architecture but not the scuzzy edge you get further east but if you want that you can walk there (via the graveyard at old st roundabout for a history fix)
Stay at zetters or malmaison
Sunday Service at the bass clef Hoxton square…. Banging drum and bass night
You’ll also need a Delorian to take you back 25 years !!!
I like Shoreditch and walking from there along Commercial Road towards Aldgate East. Spitalfields Market is nice to wander round but the whole area (Shoreditch/Spitalfields/Commercial Road) is just one massive food extravaganza - miles better and more unusual than central London or Soho.
There are two cafes on Brick Lane that are famous for their salt beef bagels. I go to one of them every time I'm there - the first time I had one I was given this monster
https://i.imgur.com/pMpZpdg.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shane
Suddenly I feel very, very hungry.
I can recommend this Italian restaurant just off the flower market on Columbia road
https://www.campaniaandjones.com/
Browns?
Actually, maybe not.
I don’t know if street art is your thing, but the area is rich in it, we did a tour a few years ago and it was really interesting.
https://www.shoreditchstreetarttours.co.uk/
Stayed in Shoreditch for 2 nights last month with the wife. Thought it was quite a good location even for us being late 40s.
Breakfast at the Bike Shed was pretty decent, we went to The Gibson one night as the wife had seen their cocktails on social media, but both of us were a bit disappointed to be honest.
The drinks at the Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town were nice though, there’s a password to get in and you enter it via a fridge door.
Obligatory curry down Brick Lane was a must.
We also visited the Sky Garden for a drink and something to eat as it’s only a 15min walk. We preferred Sky Garden to the Shard (could only get in to the Sky Lounge at the shard).
Andy.
Deffo brick lane
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Shoreditch is for kids, but if you just go, take your own nitrous and balloons as they dont like sharing.
it’s also the first port of call for the Essex intelligentsia who like to hop off the train and let their hair down.Quote:
Originally Posted by joe narvey
I have worked and socialised round that part of town for 25 years when it was just The Reliance and a few other dives and a lot of fashion workshops, artists and photographers etc.
Worked in a converted morgue just off Arnold Circus and various other studios stretching back through Old St as far as Greys Inn Rd.
Give it a few more years and Shoreditch will be the next Camden, a place where students, tourists and out of towners go as they have seen something trendy on instagram. that said there are some nice places to eat and drink there, Lyles is one of my favourites but stand by my earlier post if you don’t fancy a blonde squeezed into a min skirt puking on your shoes :-) then head a bit further in and still visit during the day for the market etc but get a bit more refined nightlife elsewhere.
(ignore that if you are in your 20’s-early 30’s)
As said you are falling over yourself for places to drink and eat there now. There's a Hawksmoor, The Breakfast Club is decent, there's a Dishoom. The Bike Shed Motorcycle Club is good. The Box Park is generally ok. Pizza Pilgrims. A curry on Brick Lane is still worth a visit just barter for free drinks to go in. The list goes on.
Tbh we used to do the Bishopsgate to Shoreditch High St A10 tour in the 90s and 00s when there were loads of strippers pubs along that road. Probably only the Rainbow Sports bar, Browns and maybe Ye Olde Axe left now. The latter being the seediest place even then! Never carried so many £1 coins in my life lol.
A favourite Saturday walk of mine is from Liverpool Street up Bishopsgate and then to Spitalfields Market, and then up Fournier Street to Brick Lane (cute tea/cake place on Fournier Street that sells nice ceramics and used to have a girl in the shop I really had the hots for, haven’t seen her there for a couple of years). Up Brick Lane, sometimes stopping off at the North African tea shop, sometimes at the aforementioned bagel outlet, or sometimes foe street food, and ending at one of the many Shoreditch bars for beer.
Frankly the Brick Lane curry experience is hit-and-miss and we get as good if not better from our local curry house in Plumstead.
For me the area is about cheap and cheerful walkabout/food/drinks more than fine dining. You’ll find plenty to keep yourself amused though.
Addendum- the smaller, cosier Boisdale on Bishopsgate is worth a visit.
London Bridge might be an option if you decide Hoxton is a bit too hipster. Nice location, the Shard, Tower Bridge, Borough Market , Shakespeare's Globe, St Pauls are all close.
Sent from my DN2103 using Tapatalk
I'd give Brick Lane a miss. Since they started cracking down on noise limits the atmosphere (and more importantly, curry quality) has deteriorated.
Wapping is great for riverside pubs (about a 25 min walk), Prospect of Whitby, Captain Kidd.
Otherwise, there are some great pubs and restaurants in Shoreditch. If you're a motorbiker, check out the Bike Shed. Some other favourites of mine:
Red Dog Saloon
The Hoxton
Pizza East
Camino
Hawksmoor
Hoxton Grill
I used to work in an office right next to Brick Lane, and we used to eat there fairly frequently. I can't say we ever found anywhere special, or indeed as good as the average local Indian. I have the impression it's a bit like Carnaby Street, in that it trades on its name.
That said, there are probably some really nice restraunts there, if you know which ones they are, but just picking one at random isn't a guarantee of nice food.
When I moved to London in 2000, this was my favourite night out.Quote:
Originally Posted by MrSmith
Not all int he same night, but usually at least 3 or 4 of them: The Reliance, Bricklayers Arms, Artillery Arms, Mother Bar/333, Hoxton Sq (can't remember the name, went down a few steps, bar on the left and could see the street through the back window) and finish up in Charlie Wright's.
I still go back, but Nightjar, LCC, Smokestak and a film at Rich Mix are more my thing these middle aged days.
Can’t really help as I’m sure I wouldn’t recognise the place now! I started my career there in the late 80’s and apart from Browns there was nothing there! Slowly a few bars and restaurants opened - all very edgy and different at the time - but I can’t remember any of their names, all a bit blurry!
My dad lives right next to the Langham though, so if you need any inside info for that area give me a bell!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I never had a good curry on Brick Lane. I lived close, and ate there loads with visitors who wanted to try it, but always struggled to find even an average meal.Quote:
Originally Posted by hogthrob
My guests wanted to eat on Brick Lane more than they wanted a decent curry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shane
[Cough] I think Sir ment Beigel's, not those ghastly Americanised Bagel things in supermarkets...[/Cough]
That said the best of the two is the 24h Beigel Bake with the white sign, I'd recommend it highly
https://bricklanebeigel.co.uk/
For food, there’s Lyle’s, Brat, Oklava, Rochelle Canteen and Leroy all within a few mins of the hotel. Also Blacklock and Gloria nearby. For drinks, Callooh Callay is still good, although it’s been a long time since I was there regularly. I like Shoreditch, but then, I live in E3, so it’s only a No.8 home of a night. It’s definitely changed / still changing. But there’s something for almost everyone. Probably
Not spent much time in town recently to recommend still good bars but in addition to the Beigel Bake above these are good indian grills
Lahore
Tayyebs
Needoo Grill
Some reviews here: https://londonist.com/london/food/be...aurants-london
And if a few pubs moving out of Shoreditch towards the Barbican / Smithfields is of interest then this holds true.
https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...=1#post5785538
As is the bar at Wiltons Music Hall also in the post above if its now open.
Yes, we had a fantastic night there. Probably one of my favourites in the City.Quote:
Originally Posted by draftsmann
Completely..avoid brick Lane for these..its pak food versus bengaliSent from my SM-T510 using TZ-UK mobile appQuote:
Originally Posted by Captain Morgan
Depending on your timing, Andy Hayley ( food critic) is reviewing a place in Shoreditch at the moment.
https://www.andyhayler.com/
If it’s good, you may be able to reserve a table before they get scarce.
Quote:
Originally Posted by joe narvey
Holy crap. I had a look on Google Maps to see where it was (City Road, next to Old Street Roundabout), and hardly recognized the area. I took a virtual ride down Commercial Street, Norton Folgate and Bishopsgate. They have changed massively since I was last there about 2 years ago. It seems that in The City the world didn't stop for Covid.
Would say no for walks, as suggested the Kew area would be better for that.
But for bars and restaurants there’s nowhere better IMO. Try and get a table at Brat.
Lots already recommended - I'd try and find out what room at The Hoxton though, it can be very hit and miss and some rooms are small even when advertised as Doubles/King. Personally I wouldn't stay there. I'd try get in the Mondrian (prices shouldn't be too different) or for a little more Redchurch Townhouse.
Cheers all and some great ideas.
The Mayor and The Gibson look great and the Daffodil Mulligan grub looks very nice
ta again
Pitch
Back from the trip, awards bash and night in Greenwich was a good start on Thursday.
Friday checked into The Hoxton and we loved it, could not fault the room, service and how lovely the staff were. Shoreditch was an amazing wander in the afternoon checking the street art out and diving into some lovely café’s and bars on the way. Friday night the place came alive. We booked a table at Maya for 9 so early evening wander which again was great.
Saturday morning breakfast at The Langham and wonderful stay last night again at this establishment, it really is something else and after several stays now they always come up trumps with a lovely suite.
We dived into Chinatown late last night and went to New Young Cheng on Lisle St. the iced S&S pork was something else and what a lovely bunch, so chatty and friendly.
Cheers again all and we will head back again.
Pitch