Field Notes are firsthand travel recommendations for and by our ECT Clubhouse members. Get the lowdown on destinations across the globe from travelers and locals alike. This week, Kayla Doris shares her recommendations for East London. See more in the Clubhouse.

Bakeries, bookshops, markets, parks and more in East London.

I’ve lived here for the last few years and am still always finding new areas and hidden gems. A lot of visitors stick to Shoreditch but if you go a bit further East into the more residential areas, there’s still lots to discover. There aren’t any tubes in East London so you’ll have to use the Overground or the bus which is super easy. I’ve tried to narrow down my favourite places below:

Nature

London Fields/Lido - London Fields is a lovely park in the summer that has food markets nearby and an outdoor lido.

Victoria Park - a huge park in East London that has a food market every Sunday. You’ll find lots of skaters/joggers/walkers around here and it gets super busy in the summer but it’s definitely worth it. There’s a pagoda, a lake with boats that you can hire, a cafe and lots of space to sunbathe if you get good weather. 

Clissold Park - this park is gorgeous in summer. It’s situated in the beautiful area of Stoke Newington and has a river, fountains, an animal area and a coffee shop too. 

West Reservoir Centre (pictured above) - wild swimming in the middle of the city. It’s great in the summer evenings and something different to do to.

Dalston Curve Garden - this is truly a hidden gem. It’s essentially a secret garden hidden behind a busy road in Dalston. You’d never guess it was there but inside they’ve made it into a nature oasis for Londoner’s who don’t have access to their own garden. You can even bring your own food and drink but alcohol has to be bought on site. 

Hackney Wick - an upcoming area that has a growing selection of outdoor dining and bars alongside the canal. 

Bakeries & Coffee Shops

Violet Cakes - the cake shop that made Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake! It’s very small with outdoor seating only, but it’s super cute and the cakes are delicious. The banana bread will be the best you’ve ever had. 

Jolene - there’s a few of these around East London. As well as delicious baked treats and coffee, they do really good sandwiches and have a rotating evening menu too. 

Luminary Bakery - a bakery and social enterprise that creates jobs for and supports women who have experienced poverty and violence. 

Dusty Knuckle Bakery - another hidden gem that you would never spot on your own. Delicious baked goods and bacon sandwiches, plus the outdoor seating area is lovely in the summer. 

Fabrique - a Swedish bakery that does the best cinnamon rolls and really good coffee. 

Mokomade - a small Japanese coffee shop that's nice to sit in and window-watch. The coffee is really good and they do homemade sweets and Japanese food too. 

Food

Padella - the best pasta in London and crazy cheap. Highly recommend the gnocchi and the cacio e pepe. 

Dishoom - you can’t visit London without trying Dishoom breakfast naan rolls. The bacon naan roll with the chilli jam is to die for. 

Bubala - a cosy place that does delicious veggie and vegan Middle Eastern feasts. 

Cottons - there’s lots of Caribbean takeaways in London mainly serving Jamaican food, but if you’re looking for one where you can sit in, Cotton’s does great jerk chicken. 

Broadway Market - food market situated at the bottom of London Fields park. It’s only open on Saturdays where you’ll find street food from a wide range of cuisines plus Vietnamese coffee, fresh coconuts and other small businesses selling homewares. The road itself also has restaurants along it, and a canal nearby that’s nice to walk along after (you can reach Victoria Park via the canal). 

Pubs

You’ll find pubs all over London but these are a couple of my favorites.

Howl at the Moon - an Irish pub in Hoxton. Great vibes, good food and they often have an Irish band in at the weekends. 

Duke of Richmond - a slightly more bougie pub, this one has a cosy vibe and a really good menu. They do a daily happy hour with £5 cocktails too. 

Shops

Colombia Road - pictured above. This is a road of really cute boutiques selling unique gifts and homewares. The road is best known for the Colombia Road Flower Market that takes place every Sunday. It's best to get there early as it gets really packed.

Nook Shop - quirky gift shop in Stoke Newington selling candles, chocolates and lifestyle items from indie brands. 

Haeckel’s - a sustainable skincare shop near London Fields. Great products and they do treatments here too. 

BookBar - technically not East, but it’s not a long walk from Stoke Newington and I really recommend. It’s a book shop by day and a wine bar by night. The owner has created a lovely atmosphere and has a book club and regular events with high-profile authors too. 

Stoke Newington Church Street - if you start at Clissold Park, going down this road you’ll find a load of indie shops and bakeries, plus another great walk at the end through Abney Park Cemetery. 

Other Recs

Black History Walks (pictured above left) - if you're visiting London, I really recommend doing one of these tours. The tour guide is exceptional and you'll be blown away by his knowledge. Plus you'll get to discover parts of London that your guidebook probably won't tell you about. They have tours all over London including East.

The Barbican (pictured above right) - an arts and cultural centre that hosts regular exhibitions. movie screenings, theatre shows and performances. They also have an outdoor area with fountains and a terrace, plus the conservatory (pictured above) that feels like a tropical oasis. 

Follow Kayla!

Website

@kaylajdoris