This is a greasy spoon with a difference, and not simply because of its Grade II-listed status. Named after the original Tuscan owner’s wife, E. Pellicci opened in 1900 and remains within the same family today, its title emblazoned in chrome above the door.

Inside, it’s pure 1950s caff: all Formica tables, squeezy red ketchup bottles, and hand-carved wooden panelling. The menu follows suit, with an Italian edge, offering the likes of a full English fry-up and cannelloni (an extra spoonful of Bolognese on top is optional). It’s still presided over by Mama Maria, who was in the kitchen back when the Kray twins would regularly swing by.

Formerly Bethnal Green Town Hall, this Grade II-listed building is a Lo Lik Peng-owned hotel that embraces its heritage (you can still get married in the original walnut-panelled Council Chamber).

The building’s Edwardian proportions are celebrated but there’s also a contemporary sheen: art deco and moulding detailing sits side-by-side with mid-century furniture and a material palette of glass and marble (the latter used in abundance in the petite underground pool). Don’t miss its restaurant Da Terra for Michelin-starred dishes by chef Rafael Cagali.

The hotbed of contemporary art in east London is heavily associated with the Young British Artists movement of the 1990s. Maureen Paley championed a number of them and was one of the first gallerists to set up an international space in Bethnal Green in 1999, showcasing Turner-prize winning artists such as Gillian Wearing and Wolfgang Tillmans. Her namesake gallery is a must for fans of contemporary art today.

Elsewhere, Nicky Verber and Ash L’ange run Herald St, a gallery in a former industrial building on the street of the same name. It offers a place for experimental art and up-and-coming artists. And the new generation of the art world has arrived, too: curator-of-the-moment Antonia Marsh has an outpost of her gallery, Soft Opening (whose original is a shop front inside Piccadilly Circus tube station), on Minerva Street. She challenges the traditional notions of exhibiting art and cites Tracey Emin and Sarah Lucas’ The Shop as inspiration.

Pablo Flack and David Waddington’s much-loved Bistrotheque – a late-night restaurant, bar, and party palace (drag dinners are still, thankfully, a feature) – has been a firm favourite of the fashion set and fellow creatives since the doors opened in 2004.

Set within a whitewashed warehouse on Wadeson Street, its exposed loft interior, contrasted with crisp white tablecloths and silver cutlery, remains in vogue today and the menu – British with a classic French twist – and professional but friendly service are a cut above. Weekend brunch is a popular time to come: order bloody Marys and French toast and listen to Xavier, resident pianist, play everything from 1980s classics to Britney Spears.

If you’re looking for somewhere to get your coffee fix in Bethnal Green, hone in on Holy Shot. With a focus on ethically produced, top-quality coffee, their bold, sweet and nutty signature blend hits the spot. This cosy, relaxed café also offers a concise but well-considered brunch menu, with the maple-drizzled waffles and ‘kimcheese’ toastie particular favourites.

The café combines Antipodean coffee culture, Japanese and Scandi minimalism and East-End hospitality to create a warm, welcoming environment that showcases the staff’s passion for a great cup of coffee. Vegan friendly, with locally sourced produce and plenty of options for non-coffee drinkers too – the red velvet latte is a must-try.

An architecture studio, co-working space, and café rolled into one on Old Bethnal Green Road. Come here for coffees by The Roasting Party and the best breakfast and brunch dishes in the area, such as shakshuka, bacon and eggs on cornbread, plus a delicious selection of pastries and sweet treats – whether you have to work or not.

It’s rare to find a sneaker shop based solely on exclusive and hard-to-find designs for women – but at Pam Pam, they do just that. Whether you’re after the latest Yeezy models or a pair of everyday Vans, there’s something for everyone here.

A jungle-like emporium of house plants on Hackney Road – frequent for everything from housewarming succulents to sculpture-like, scene-setting monstera deliciosas. Every wall, ceiling, and doorway is adorned in green (plus their vase selection is excellent, so it’s a true one-stop-shop). Their projects team offer design solutions for private spaces, including homes and offices, if you require inspiration.

Carefully curated by local maker Skye Corewijn, Klei (pronounced ‘clay’) is a wonderful pottery shop that sells ceramics by local and UK-based makers. Some of London’s top restaurants use tableware from Klei, and it’s a  great place for gifts – for others or for yourself. The shop also regularly hosts exhibitions to explore different concepts and themes, often featuring work by new makers. Open 11am – 6pm, Wednesday to Sunday.

Think of Coupette as a slice of the Left Bank in East London. This dimly lit cocktail bar on Bethnal Green Road turns out cocktails featuring classic French spirits: Calvados, Courvoisier, Cointreau. Start with their signature and much-lauded Champagne piña colada – and stay for the snacks, such as quiche Lorraine and baked camembert.

Although The Kings Arms pub has a rather unassuming exterior, inside it is a craft beer lover’s heaven. The bar boasts a fantastic selection of cask, keg and bottled beer, including rare finds from breweries in the UK and further afield. It attracts a crowd of locals and newcomers who have heard about it on the grapevine, but it still feels like an easy-going place to enjoy a casual drink.

If you’re feeling peckish, you can get Yard Sale Pizza delivered straight to your table from their restaurant just a few streets away.

Young V&A has recently undergone a £13 million renovation, and is the UK’s first national museum designed with and for young people. The brief was to create ‘the most joyful museum in the world’, and the space features three permanent galleries titled Play, Imagine and Design, each targeted at a different age group.

Much-loved items from the museum’s previous incarnation as The Museum of Childhood are still on display, including the doll’s house collection, as well as more contemporary additions such as Pikachu, plus plenty of opportunities for children to learn, play and explore. Young V&A won the Museum of the Year prize in 2024, and makes for an inspiring visit for all ages.

Originally founded in 1884 as a ‘settlement house’ for volunteers providing support to the local community, Oxford House is a key part of Bethnal Green’s history. Visit the community, arts and heritage space to learn about the history of the area and the building, which was used as a bomb shelter for up to 300 people during World War II.

And don’t leave without paying a visit to the bright, airy café overlooking Weaver’s Field Park – a temporary relief from busy city life, with delicious toasties and milkshakes to boot.

Set within a former Soap Works factory in Bethnal Green, this immaculate two-bedroom apartment has been recently modernised by its current owners. Unfolding across 1,300 sq ft, it has generous and light-filled living spaces with soaring ceilings and an open-plan layout. The location is ideal for enjoying the popular restaurants, cafés and green spaces in the local area, including Victoria Park, London Fields and the weekly flower market on Columbia Road.

This exceptional four-bedroom house sits on Tredegar Square, a brilliantly preserved Georgian garden square in Mile End, east London. It was completed in 2013 by RIBA-nominated architect Clear Architects and has been featured in the design press; it was also was part of Open House Festival in 2014.

Formerly a warehouse building, the house is defined by clean, architectural lines and a vast footprint of 2,380 sq ft that provides ample modes for living with this remarkable building. It lies within the Tredegar Square Conservation Area which has a wonderfully quiet, almost countryside-like atmosphere, yet is brilliantly located for Underground connections across London with Mile End just three minutes away.

This voluminous one-bedroom apartment of over 1,100 sq ft sits equidistant from Whitechapel and Stepney Green. Set at garden and the upper ground levels, it opens to bookending front and rear terraces, with the interiors between characterised by soaring ceilings, an eclectic palette of materials and brilliantly executed pops of colour. There is a wealth of popular restaurants, café and green spaces in the local area, with Columbia Road, Victoria Park and Regent’s Canal just beyond.

This garden apartment on Hoxton’s Wenlock Street is part of an exemplary development built by the Swiss architects Jaccaud Zein and RIBA award-winning developers Solidspace. Occupying the ground and first floor of the building, it has a large private garden and a clever split-level arrangement; as a result, its interior spaces are dynamic, interconnected and, care of south-east-facing windows, filled with light. The building sits next to Shepherdess Park Walk and is within easy reach of the Regent’s Canal, which connects to Angel in the west and to Bethnal Green, London Fields and Victoria Park in the east.