Welcome to the first edition of The Layover! Look for us in your inbox every other Sunday, alternating between destination deep dives, essential travel strategies, and BTS stories about building a female-founded startup.
While SoloTrvlr covers the world, we do it from our HQ in Shoreditch, London.
Once the heart of London’s textile and furniture trades, this East London hub became a canvas for street artists, then a launchpad for startups (including ours). Today, it’s a dynamic mix of old and new, gritty and polished, trendy and a little kitschy—with hidden gems at every turn.
Here’s our go-to list of places to eat, drink, recharge, and explore in this funky part of town—plus a map to navigate it like a pro.
Eat & Drink
Smoking Goat—For delicious Thai food, with great bar seating and an inventive drinks list.
The Marksman—A lovely gastropub with a funky wine list on the border of Shoreditch and Hackney. Head for Sunday roast or on a sunny afternoon to make the most of the terrace.
The Umbrella Workshop—Tiny cocktail bar with friendly staff and a changing menu of creative cocktails, tucked away from the hubbub.
Sunny’s Olive Tree—Our go-to for a cheap & delicious lunch on-the-go, this falafel food stall is run by the loveliest guys who never fail to make us smile. They will always give you a freebie falafel ball to try!
Rochelle Canteen—Delivers next-level home cooking out of a former bike shed. Bonus: it’s woman-owned.
Recharge
Awe Nails—Our team’s favorite manicurist is Racquel (she only works weekends).
Cowshed—For beauty treatments, massages, and other self-care treatments. (Plan ahead: They book up pretty far in advance.)
Sauna + Plunge—Sessions are short and easy to fit in for a quick wellness fix.
TriYoga—Join a restorative yoga session or try jivamukti for something different.
Explore
Closeup Cinema—For arthouse movies, cinema history, and coffee-table books in a cozy space. The bar is great for a pre- or post-movie drink.
Brick Lane—For street art, record stores (like Rough Trade East), vintage shops (like Rokit), bookshops, (like LGBTQ+ bookstore and event space; Common Press) as well as a host of Indian & South Asian restaurants (PS: We ALWAYS skip Beigel Bake, despite what the guidebooks say).
Columbia Road Flower Market—Super-cute street with lovely shops, pubs, and cafés (+ Campania restaurant!) It’s home to a famous flower market each Sunday from 8am-3pm. Go early to avoid the crowds.
Bethnal Green—For a taste of real local life, this neighbourhood right next to Shoreditch is home to loads of great pubs (our favourite being the slightly-out-the-way Camel, which serves fantastic pie + mash); excellent eateries (including the iconic E Pellici, beloved by tourists and locals alike; expect a queue Fri–Sun).
Local Tips
Shoreditch sits in Zone 1—east of big-name London sights like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. (Drop "Zone 1/2/3" in conversation, and you’ll sound like a local!)
There are plenty of transportation options, but if you’re coming in via Old Street Underground, come in daylight hours. It’s in the final throngs of construction works (after about 5 years…) and can be quite confusing to navigate, especially in the dark. It’s not unsafe, just overwhelming.
The local work crowd heads to the pub from 4:30pm–on on Thursdays or Fridays (or simply if the sun is gracing us with its presence). It’s standard practice to order your drink at the bar. It’s not unusual to stand at the bar to drink it, too, which can be a great place to strike up a conversation with someone if you’re traveling solo.
Phone theft is one of the most common types of petty crime in London. If you need to have your phone out on the street to get around, keep away from the roadside: the devices are top targets for thieves on bicycles and motorbikes.
Shoreditch is just one slice of London. To experience more of the city like a local, book a consultation with our London Advisor.
Would love to try the falafel and a cocktail at The Umbrella Workshop.