In 2016, after we closed the doors of our farm–to–table Indian restaurant in Kelowna, British Columbia, I embarked on a solo, around–the–world trip through 10 different countries. After six gruelling years of restaurant life, the idea was to ditch the itineraries and scout each city like a local. In this case, that involved relying on the insider knowledge of local bartenders, servers or chefs to guide my next meal. It truly changed the way I travel, and now, that tried–and–tested strategy shapes my reservations, no matter where I go.
When I found myself booking a spur–of–the–moment trip back home to London — for the first time since that adventure years ago — it was time to get reacquainted with the city's ever–evolving food and drink scene with the help of some insider recommendations. Here are the spots in and around the East End streets of Shoreditch that industry folks were keen to point me to (and they delivered).
Read more: London's 10 Best Neighbourhood Pubs to Grab a Pint In