Brag alert: I’ve just got back from New York. It was AMAZING. Go ahead, die of jealousy. Anyway. Now that awkwardness is out of the way, I can get to the point of this post.
Naturally, a week in the Big Apple was a much-anticipated occasion, so my holiday buddies and I spent a long time before we left compiling recommendations for restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs from various friends and acquaintances. The result was 15 sides of printed A4, stapled together and christened ‘The List’, which we religiously carted around the city for seven days.
This may sound extreme, but thanks to this paper treasure-trove we were never short of a pre-approved place to eat or drink, no matter where we found ourselves. Just wandering around Williamsburg or DUMBO led to repeated exclamations of ‘that’s on the list!’ and ‘I recognise that name, is it on the list?’, and I can honestly say that only one destination of countless was a disappointment (the rooftop bar at 230 5th Avenue – go up and take a photo, but don’t buy a drink; unless badly mixed, overpriced cocktails are your thing), and everything else was a genuine piece of insider knowledge.
Although you can occasionally stumble across something exquisite, as we did with Michelin Guide recommended Uruguayan restaurant Tabaré on our last night, you can’t deny that tips from a savvy local make any new city that bit more accessible. And with my beloved London being a sprawling mecca of fine eateries and watering holes interspersed with more than its fair share of tourist traps, I couldn’t help thinking about the places I might include on a guide for someone visiting my home city for the first time.
If you know me at all you’ll probably be laughing right about now: I totally buzz off giving people recommendations for places to eat, drink and dance – that’s pretty much what this blog is a thinly veiled excuse for. So when you’re quite finished, here they are: six of my consistently favourite places in The Big Smoke.
Brunch: Dreyfus Café
This cute corner café on Clapton Square is the ideal brunch destination for egg lovers: you can order benedict, royale, florentine or leopold (caramelised leek, tarragon and bacon) by the egg/half muffin, meaning that the indecisive among us can mix and match – ingenious! Pancakes and French toast with a variety of toppings are also on offer, as well as healthier options such as muesli and omelettes.
NYC equivalent: Allswell, Williamsburg
Dreyfus Café, 19 Lower Clapton Road, London, E5 0NS
Budget dinner: Dotori
Korean cuisine has been enjoying something of a moment in London recently – you can even buy bulgogi paste in my local Tesco now, but that’s a story for another day. Dotori is one of my long-standing favourite budget eateries in the capital; a Finsbury Park institution where you can stuff yourself silly on bibimbap and made to order sushi for a pittance. My two tips are book in advance, and base your meal around the great value set menu A – just add whatever else you fancy.
NYC equivalent: Mrs Kim’s, Greenpoint
Dotori, 3A Stroud Green Rd, London N4 2DQ
Blow-out dinner: Buen Ayre
If you’ve got something to celebrate, or just want to eat some damn fine meat, check out Broadway Market’s Buen Ayre for an authentic Argentinean dining experience. With the wine list boasting 13 different types of Malbec alone, you’re sure to find something to your taste to wash down your succulent steak, which is always cooked to perfection. Don’t miss their chimichurri.
NYC equivalent: Smith & Wollensky, Midtown
Buen Ayre, 50 Broadway Market, London E8 4QJ
Pub: The Three Compasses
A hidden Dalston gem off the well-trodden path of Kingsland Road, this cosy nook is the perfect place to while away a boozy afternoon, and let’s face it, most of the ensuing evening. Offering a great selection of beers and ciders, a projector for the footie (plus Game of Thrones on Mondays), super-friendly staff and the awesome Original Fry-Up Material boys in the kitchen, the Compasses is your London home away from home.
NYC equivalent: The Gibson, Williamsburg
The Three Compasses, 99 Dalston Lane, London E8 1NH
Friday clubbing: Corsica Studios
Screw Ministry of Sound, Corsica Studios is Elephant & Castle’s number one destination for electronic music enthusiasts. It’s a grimy two-roomer under the arches, delivering top quality house, techno and disco on the finest sound system this side of Fabric’s Room One. Ladies, leave your heels at home – it’s trainers all the way with this one. Advance tickets generally recommended; check out the what’s on here.
NYC equivalent: Output, Williamsburg
Corsica Studios, 4/5 Elephant Rd, London SE17 1LB
Saturday clubbing: The Nest
Saturday nights at The Nest are hosted by Late Night Ltd, who promise (and deliver) body movin’ house and disco in this sweaty, 350-capacity basement club. With entrance never more than £7 and queues rarely longer than 10 minutes, this low commitment night out is perfect for party people after a slice of subterranean rave. Sets from Mighty Mouse and Ben Pistor are particularly worth the journey, as are the ‘oooh’-inducing purple lasers.
NYC equivalent: None. Sadly, two things it seems NYC isn’t too hot on are basement clubs and disco music.
The Nest, 36 Stoke Newington Rd, Dalston, London N16 7XJ
I would apologise for the east-leaning nature of my choices, but I live in Hackney and let’s face it, east is best. So, if you were putting together a list for a friend visiting London, where would you recommend?
Living London 
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