After traveling to London several times over the past five years, I’ve begun to develop favorite spots to explore in the city. On our most recent visit, we ended up selecting staying in both Shoreditch and Holborn, which are home to many amazing local spots for food and drinks. If you’re looking at staying in two different areas while on a trip to London, I would highly recommend these two neighborhoods! They both have an incredibly local, hip feel, and are really easy to access via the tube.

Since I’ve previously shared my favorite spots to stay Shoreditch and Holborn neighborhoods, here are the rest of my recommendations for places to eat and drink in the areas. Even if you’re staying in other parts of London, any of these places listed below are worth a visit!

Shoreditch Area:

• Dishoom Shoreditch: This Indian restaurant is known for having a long wait, but believe me, it’s WORTH IT. The Shoreditch location has an intimate feel even though the restaurant is quite spacious. The eclectic/vintage vibe is carried throughout the space and onto their covered garden patio, which is furnished with soft seating, hanging plants and market lights (I’d recommend a table out here if you can!). The wait is made pleasant with complimentary hot chai tea, and the bar area is the perfect spot to grab a cocktail and appetizer before dinner service. Ordering a range of dishes is highly recommended — and don’t forget the Chicken Tikki Masala, which is England’s national dish! We talked about this meal for the rest of the trip, so don’t miss out on this spot if you want a truly exceptional dinner.

• Radio Alice Pizzeria: Located in Hoxton near Shoreditch, this Italian restaurant serves authentic sourdough pizzas in an old Victorian school space. Their chic decor, framable menus, and vintage seating make this restaurant a delightfully Instagramable spot. If you love authentic Italian pizza, it’s definitely worth a stop, too.

• The Culpeper: This is one of my FAVORITE places in the city to grab a drink. The four story space is home to a pub, restaurant, and hotel, and is located within a historic building in the Whitechapel/Shoreditch area. The spot is incredibly popular among locals, with people spilling out into the street in the warm summer months drinking Aperol spritzes and beer.

• Leman Street Tavern: Another great spot for an evening street cocktail, Leman Street Tavern is just a block away from the Leman Locke Hotel. They have live music on the last Friday of the month, and the space is bustling with locals sipping after-work cocktails.

• Hopscotch: If you’re looking for an intimate, hip eatery in the Shoreditch area, head over to Brick Lane and try out Hopscotch. The small kitchen, which can be seen from the dining area, cooks up small plates inspired by British, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors. Food is meant to be shared and comes out on colorful ceramic plates, and a basement “Drinking Den” is available for late night “proper “cocktails. This is also one of the few spots that seems to be open for late night dining!

Holborn Area:

• Drury Lane Bars and Restaurants: This street in the Holborn/Covent Garden area (close to The Hoxton Holborn) should not be missed! It’s filled with local restaurants and bars without the central London crowds. Hot spots to check out include Jar Kitchen, Barrafina, The Sun Pub, Farmstand, and Drury 188-189.

• Bread Ahead: Looking for a fun bakery in the heart of London? Bread Ahead is located at Seven Dials, and serves up fresh baked sweets and breads. Their filled doughnuts make for the perfect afternoon treat.

• Holborn Whippet: If you’re into craft beer, this public house  in Holborn with an extensive beer menu is a great spot for an afternoon break. Grab a pint and hang out under the awnings outside.

• The Chicken Shop: As I mentioned previously in my post about the Hoxton Holborn, Chicken Shop is an incredible spot for rustic, homestyle food! It’s located below the hotel, but can still be accessed from the street. Don’t forget to get a slice of apple pie afterwards!

Welcome to one of my favorite hotels EVER, the Hoxton Holborn in London! We absolutely adored staying here on the second half of our trip, and would recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable boutique hotel in the city.

The Hoxton’s central location made it extremely accessible (it’s a block from a tube stop), and since its nestled in the hip Holborn neighborhood, it came without the tourist crowds! And if its location wasn’t good enough.. how amazing is its interior?! The hotel has a very urban 70s vibe going on, which I loved (similar to the Ace if you’re familiar with that brand). Since the Hoxton is in a large concrete building, the lobby has exposed concrete walls and white-washed brick, which are complemented by vintage light fixtures and mid-century furniture.  The spacious lobby has several lounge areas that are perfect for taking a break from the city, too. This is where you can also find one of the hotel’s two restaurants, Hubbard and Bell. We grabbed a drink at the bar on our last night there (they truly put the craft in their cocktails), and even ordered dinner to our room for a cozy night in. Their other restaurant, Chicken Shop, is actually located beneath the hotel, and serves up amazing homestyle food (their chicken avo sandwich and apple pie are a must). On the first floor you can also find the cutest nail salon, Cheeky, as well as an AMAZING coffee shop, Holborn Grind — go for their avocado toast if you’re obsessed like me.

As for The Hoxton Holborn’s rooms, I was so pleased at their size. We opted to stay in one of the smaller rooms they offer, and found it to be SO much bigger than our Paris hotel room. When we walked in, they had a “London Chill” music station playing on the radio, which I thought was a perfect touch.  Since it was our wedding anniversary, they had also left us a bottle of champagne and a silver “Let the Good Times Roll” silver balloon on the bed — side note: all hotels should leave balloons when you check-in, it makes you feel really special! The room was beautifully curated, from the pink hashtag pillow on the bed to the wallpaper covered in Charles Dickens’ villains (the author lived in Holborn, and just so happens to be one of my favs). The room was incredibly functional as well, with an armoire that had a pull-out coffee and tea station and the cutest diner-style hotel mugs (traveler tip: buying coffee mugs or something you use on a daily basis from a hotel you love is a great way to keep the spirit of the trip alive at home). They also provided a Holborn neighborhood guide filled with all of the best local spots to eat, drink and shop, which we definitely put to use. One of the best perks of the hotel, however, was their daily breakfast bags. Each day, room service left two paper bags on our front door filled with yogurt, granola, fruit, and fresh orange juice. It was the perfect way to start the day since we could snack while we figured out the rest of the day’s plans!

Above all, The Hoxton Holborn is not only incredibly designed and executed, but it is a wonderful value as well. I don’t think you could find a better option if you’re looking to stay in central London without the crowds. We will definitely be making a return visit next time we’re in the city. If you’re looking to stay in Shoreditch (East London), Amsterdam, or Paris, The Hoxton also has sister hotels there as well!  And good news for those of us on this side of the pond… The Hoxton is opening up a location in the hip neighborhood of Williamsburg in New York this year!