One of the most interesting ways to explore the East End is, perhaps predictably, to do it with some food in your mouth. The street food isn’t just delicious but it’s also prepared with the heart and traditions of a dozen different cultures and countries from the Argentinian chicken empanadas to the spicy soups from Thailand, a Sunday at Brick Lane means affordable food, live music and mojitos. Every Sunday, the Brick Lane Market reappears in this tiny street among the Indian restaurants, cafés and local thrift shops. Brick Lane Sunday Marketīrick Lane has always been a place of discovery in East London. Art from local queer artists is regularly featured on the walls and drag shows, pub quizzes and lesbian-nights are common on the Dalston Superstore’s event calendar. The menu is mostly comfort food like sloppy joes (not unlike the sloppy joes you’ll find on the dance floor after 1am) and all-day brunches. Also located on Kingsland Road, it attracts both local and well-known DJs for parties just about every night of the week. One of the biggest gay clubs in East London, the Dalston Superstore is famous for its wild nights.
Located on Kingsland Road, the eclectic space is all about performances, with Saturdays being the favorite, though there are enough mid-week special events to keep the place busy all the time. Prices are affordable and many of their shows and parties are free before midnight, with an entrance of five pounds for late-comers. With a small stage for drag shows and live DJs next to the dance floor, The Glory is a trendy pub for a cold pint or a cheap cocktail. It’s a small venue with a big heart and a busy bar. The Glory is one of those gay places that’s always going to feel a bit like home. Here’s my go-to guide for a gay-friendly weekend out in East London… Top 10 Gay-Friendly Things To Do in East London The Glory
Shoreditch and Hackney in East London have long been the site of London’s alternative cultures, so it’s no surprise to see some of those institutions (and new ones, opening often) with large LGBTQ crowds making this area one of the best for gay and lesbian visitors. And while London’s gay scene is traditionally in Soho, most hipsters have moved further afield to Shoreditch and Hackney. Soho will always have a place in gay London, however as rent prices increase and more locals move out to the fringe neighborhoods, the queer scene has seen a slight revival and resurgence elsewhere in the city.
His replacement has yet to be announced.A longtime working class area, East London is now home to some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. Plush sofas and candlelit tables make for a sophisticated spot to indulge in a classic serve. Sadly, dashing Erik Lorincz, the bar’s 11th head bartender in its history, shook his last cocktails at the bar this week and has hung up his white tux to travel the world in search of cocktail inspiration. With its classic 1920s art-deco interior, suited pianist tinkling the ivories and immaculately presented team of bartenders dressed in pristine white blazers, walking into the American Bar feels like being transported back to a bygone era. The bar’s first notable bartender was Ada ‘Coley’ Coleman, who took the helm in 1903, and was succeeded by Harry Craddock. The inspiration behind Harry Craddock’s 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, which remains a well-respected tome within the drinks world, The American Bar is an institution.Īs transatlantic travel became more popular in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, many American Bars opened throughout London, serving up mixed or ‘American’-style drinks. The iconic American Bar, housed within The Savoy, has been serving up Martinis for more than a century.