Shoreditch

Sure, it's a boutique, but this beautiful space is also a really great hangout spot. Stop by for a coffee, peruse their selection of small objects and tabletop goods, have a light lunch meeting at one of their gorgeous green marble tables, or stock up on Etre Cecile t-shirts, Pamela Love jewelry, and the shop's own brand linen shirts. With its laid-back vibe, Modern Society has quickly become a fixture on Redchurch Street, one of East London's coolest shopping drags.

From simple alterations to tailor-made bespoke clothing for every day and special occasions, Orhan is known as one of London's best. No project is too large or difficult. One very unique service if your wardrobe is in need of a rehaul is a home-visit alterations service where a tailor will come and spiff up and nip and tuck your entire closet.

If you're trying to get a handle on British cuisine by way of pie and mash, there are two versions to try: mash and liquor. You can tell a good pie (like the ones served here) by the crust: The top should be crispy and the bottom shouldn't be soggy. The meat has been cooked in a sealed pie, so when you open it all up, the juices should come out and mix with the liquor and the vinegar and the white pepper, and a touch of salt—and that's exactly what you'll get at this spot, which has been in town for ages. Locals recommend the mash before a night of drinking, as it lines the stomach. As one friend told us, after pies and mash here, "you can drink like a fish and never get drunk."

This is yet another Terence Conran establishment, where you'll find enticingly-presented ingredients that are both basic and hard-to-come-by. You won't get all your shopping done here, but if you're looking to indulge in a little something special—a fair-trade coffee, a perfectly fudgy brownie, or a focaccia to include with dinner, stop here. There's a café where you can enjoy your buys, or takeaway for a picnic.

Run like an old-fashioned speakeasy, it is easy to miss the black door that marks the entrance (it doesn't help that it's down a flight of dark stairs). Once you’re in, it’s like a true jazz age bar with some stiff, old fashioned drinks. Their super spicy Bloody Mary, which comes with a basket full of fixings so you can customize, is pretty memorable. You’ll often encounter troops of swing dancers ready to dance to the live jazz provided by the bar.

Run by a collective of designers and craftsmen, Luna & Curious brings together a pretty outstanding (and affordable) assortment of home wares, clothing, toys, and curios made by young, predominantly British makers. Every few weeks, they turn a section of the shop over to a new designer to arrange and display their wares however they'd like; it's always pretty inspiring.

Kennedy's takes the English concept of a typical pie and mash shop to another level. Not only do they serve fish & chips, the best being wing of skate and fish with a pickled cucumber, but you can also choose from steak and stilton pies, venison and red wine, and salmon and tarragon pasties.

With stores in Portobello and Shoreditch, this perennial brand has endured the decades with its classic, pared down designs for both sexes. Simple totes and cool bike bags are our picks.

At four locations deep (three of them are in the UK), this casual Italian joint can easily qualify as a chain. Their approach to pizza, however, is very mom-and-pop: all are made in a wood-burning oven, resulting in a chewy, crispy crust that's actually pretty hard to find in London. You can get a table inside the sprawling, industrial-looking dining room, have a quick snack at their bar, or order for takeaway.

With a menu that includes 120 different types of cereal (some of them extremely rare and difficult to source), 30 varieties of milk, plus a selection of Pop Tarts and old-school sodas, this place specializes in nostalgia for children of the '80s and '90s. Created by hilarious Irish identical twin brothers, Gary and Alan Keery, the flashbacks don't stop with Lucky Charms: The café is jam-packed with toys and trinkets like Troll dolls and Power Rangers action figures, and features a facade made of VHS tapes. There are multiple locations in London.