Exploring East London: Street Art Hotspots, Spitalfields Market and Local Coffee Guide

East London is a creative hub featuring an eclectic mix of neighborhoods with distinct characters. While many visitors skip this area, it offers notable street art, coffee shops, and markets.

Street Art and Neighborhoods

The best areas for graffiti and street art are Shoreditch, Brick Lane, and Hackney. Key locations to check include Brick Lane, Fashion Street, Princelet Street, Hanbury Street, New Inn Yard, and Shoreditch High Street. Famous artists who have left work here include Banksy, ROA, Ben Eine, Stik, and Shepard Fairey. Side streets feature diverse subjects ranging from abstract images to creatures like giant octopuses, birds, and aliens.

Coffee Culture

East London has a high concentration of specialized coffee venues:

• Ozone Coffee Roasters is located in a large factory space with an onsite bakery and food menu.

• Palm Vaults in Hackney features Wes Anderson-inspired decor and pastel-colored lattes.

• Paradox Coffee operates from Netil Market in Hackney, serving lattes with high-quality beans.

• Nude Coffee Roasters runs a micro-roastery and coffee school, using ethically sourced beans from small-batch growers.

• Hybrid spaces include Look Mum No Hands (bike store and coffee shop), The Peanut Vendor (furniture and coffee), and Rough Trade East (record albums and coffee).

Spitalfields Market and Food

Spitalfields Market is over 350 years old and contains permanent stores alongside more than 100 market stalls selling food, fresh produce, vintage items, and fashion. Recommended food spots in the area include Brother Marcus for brunch, Gunpowder for curry, and Bubala for Middle Eastern vegetarian food.

Humble Crumble in Spitalfields specializes in apple crumble with various toppings and seasonal offerings. Poppies Fish & Chips, located a few minutes away, serves fish and chips cooked in peanut oil with mushy peas, set in a retro 1940s-to-1950s interior.