A neighbourhood guide to Bethnal Green: from monster fry-ups to the men’s club

Photo and story by Lara Kavanagh, le cool London

It may not be the prettiest stretch in town, but with its friendly local buzz and slightly grimy cool, Bethnal Green is a fine place to hang out, with Brick Lane, Spitalfields and Shoreditch just a short trot away. This list could have been really long, but here is a chiselled-down selection of the area’s top face-stuffing, shopping and prancing spots.

Breakfast: E. Pelicci
32 Bethnal Green Road, E2 0AG

Wonderful café with the best fry-up, chips, cannelloni and broccoli cheese around. Come for a giant feed and loads of cheeky grins.

Museum: V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9PA

Geared to kids but fun for everyone, the museum features a fun-filled exhibition of toys through the ages, from the most basic of dolls to hi-tech gizmos. Entry is free.

Coffee and antiques: Hurwundeki
299 Railway Arches, Cambridge Heath Road, E2 9HA

A bizarre mix of coffee shop and bric-a-brac sale randomly topped off with an antique kids’ playground in the sandy forecourt. It’s an utterly brilliant arm of the oddball Hurwundeki brand, which also includes a boutique on Commercial Street and a salon on Brick Lane.

Market: Columbia Road flower market
Columbia Road, E2

Folks swarm here from all over to snap up cut flowers and plants from the famous Sunday market. It’s crowded, but great fun if you’re in the mood for a slow browse.

Pretty things: Jessie and Buddug's shop
Columbia Road, E2 7RG

Buddug Humphreys and Jessie Chorley’s emporium of quirk, now in its spanking new ground-floor location, hosts a gorgeous mix of tea-cup candles, whimsical accessories and handmade notebooks and cards.

Boozers: The Florist and The Camel
The Florist Arms, 225 Globe Road, E2 0JD
The Camel, 277 Globe Road, E2 0JD

Bethnal Green is great for pubs, but two sure bets for a relaxed pint are Globe Road’s Florist and Camel. Both have had savvy refits in recent years, and each has a good range of beers and a specialised menu - pizzas in one, pies in the other.

Fine dining: Bistrotheque
23-27 Wadeson Street, E2 9DR

Impeccable, largely British-inspired food served in a sleek converted warehouse. If you’re lucky you’ll get live piano accompaniment involving George Michael covers, and other such gems. Great for dinner or a lazy brunch.

Dancing: Bethnal Green Working Men's Club
42-44 Pollard Row, E2 6NB

A freakish amount of fun is always on the menu here, with many a bizarre but joyful themed party. Be sure to check what’s on, as you could be in for a surf pop, retro cinema, go-go dancing, and frisky burlesque or gay rockabilly night.

Sunday roast: The Royal Oak
73 Columbia Road, E2 7RG

It’s worth paying a bit extra for the gob-smackingly good Sunday roast at this atmospheric market-side pub. Choose from fish, meat and vegetarian options, and enjoy them in the beautiful first-floor dining room.