Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

East London: Micro Gude

Jodie Kharas
By

Soho aside, London’s East end holds the reputation as the fastest changing area of the city. A constant flux of new restaurants, bars and concept stores keep the hip crowds coming and the rental prices sky-high. But you already knew that right? Well then read on for the new openings that you couldn’t possibly have kept tabs on…

First you’ll need a suitably stylish place to rest your head. Located on Boundary Street in the heart of Shoreditch, The Boundary restaurant and hotel has 12 spacious guest rooms, each pertaining to a different design movement realized by Terence Conran. The Manual recommends the Mies Van Der Rohe suite for a sharp yet homely take on 20th Century Modernist architecture. The rooftop views are bound to invigorate your morning mood.

Related Videos

Conveniently, the hotel is based on the corner of Redchurch street, a popular hip strip bursting with progressive menswear and sober interior design. Stop by 1980s/90s archivist store Zone 7 Style for one-off menswear and sunglasses and Hostem for a portfoilio of high-end labels including Damir Doma and Adam Kimmel. For beautifully crafted, severest home accessories and hardware, don’t miss Labour and Wait located at the far end of the street. From enamel bowls to balls of twine, this store is notorious for swallowing up customers for hours.

There’s nothing like a little contemporary art to break up a hard day’s shopping. Head to Vyner street off Mare Street in Hackney for a cluster of warehouse galleries including DegreeArt and  Vyner Street Gallery.

One of the current hottest dinner spots is Mr Buckleys on the Hackney Road. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night drinks, this recently opened favourite ticks all the boxes of dining du jour; rough-luxe exposed brick interior, souped-up comfort cuisine such as lobster mac & cheese and blue cheese polenta and a signature take on the bloody mary, in this case a Bloody Madison (watch out for these).

And finally, lets get down to the business of boozing. Though East Londoners favour institutions such as the Cat and Mutton on Broadway Market, The Birdcage on Columbia road for a merry-turned rowdy night, freshly opened faves include the Shoreditch Butchery and Beard to Tail for a meat and whiskey extravaganza. If your night sprawls messily into morning, succumb to the grimey charms of The Dolphin for a party that seems to last all night long…but you didn’t hear that from us.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Your Key West travel guide for enjoying Florida’s more bohemian side
Key West travel guide: Where to stay, what to do, and more
Beach in Key West in early morning.

A chain of islands surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Key West is a world apart from the mainland. The southernmost city in the continental United States, the sun-soaked outpost treats visitors to a seamless blend of nature, nightlife, and history. Of course, it's easy to assume the place is little more than a three-mile-long bar -- and that's not entirely untrue. But, beyond the buzz of Duval Street and the side streets full of endless-happy-hour spots, there's more to see in this island paradise than most visitors ever consider.  The town has famously been home to literary giants including Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Robert Frost, and Elizabeth Bishop. Of course, the tropical outpost was also the longtime home of Jimmy Buffet, who has regularly paid musical homage to Key West in his songs.

Today, locals appreciate the eccentric, the artistic, the bohemian, and celebrate anyone or anything that’s just a little weird. It's typically a bit more laid back than larger, busier Florida mainstays like Miami and Orlando. Here’s a guide to traveling the United States’ southernmost outpost like a proudly off-kilter local.

Read more
Bang Rak, Thailand – lebua at State Tower may be the best hotel in the city
Our review of Hotel lebua, the best luxury hotel in Bangkok
lebua hotel Bangkok.

Bang Rak is one of the most historic districts in Bangkok. Here, along the water at the Saphan-Taksim sky train stop, you’ll find the oldest street in the city — Charoen Krung — along which are a slew of delicious-smelling street food opportunities, jewel, gem, and souvenir shops, the Robinson department store, and a delightful bustle of markets tucked away in the intersecting alleyways. Soaring over it all is the lebua at State Tower, one of the most renowned hotels in Thailand.

In addition to the hotel, a so-called vertical destination, guests have access to a smattering of impressive restaurants, several of which offer magnificent panoramic views of the city from the 68-story building’s rooftop. I recently spent several days exploring lebua and the surrounding neighborhood, and I can say with confidence that it is an essential Thailand travel experience.

Read more
Cabo: Baja’s popular beachfront destination isn’t exactly what you think it is
Get under the radar with the best things to do in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
things to do in cabo san lucas, Mexico Resorts and Condos

We’re hesitant to describe any destination in terms of “tourist versus non-tourist” because it's a silly distinction. But Cabo San Lucas has always been an unabashed tourist-centric town full of all-inclusive, budget beach resorts, never-ending 3-for-1 happy hours at bars (and gas stations and a surprising number of other places), and garish dive bars like Cabo Wabo where tequila is (almost) cheaper than water and the neon daiquiris flow every day from 8 a.m.

However, the city boasts a strange charm that most hardcore Mexican tourist centers lack. So, if none of this is your cup of horchata — if you’re looking to dig a little deeper — here are a few of our favorite places to play, eat, and stay in Baja California’s most well-known waterfront playground.
Know your geography

Read more