The first stretch of our remote year route starts in London. We’re here for three months. Three months is a quarter of our entire year-long trip. That’s a long time.
London is huge. And expensive. It was crucial that we found a place to live here that was affordable, livable and worth three months of our time. For weeks we researched the hundreds of neighborhoods, boroughs and districts of London to decide where we wanted to plant ourselves.
Once we had it narrowed down to a list of areas that fit our taste, it was time to dive into the deep dark world of apartment hunting. Finally, we stumbled across an apartment on Airbnb that was slightly above our price range and in one of the neighborhoods on the list: Shoreditch. At this point we had accepted we were going to go over rent budget in London.
We reached out to the owner asking to book his apartment for two months. Something incredible happened. He responded, said yes, and asked if we wanted to stay for three months for the price of two. Absolutely. Now we had an apartment that was under our budget and in one of our top neighborhoods. We got lucky.
Fast forward to April 27, 2018: We’ve arrived to our home for the next three months. Now what? We’re jet-lagged, soaked from the rain, hungry and totally out of our comfort zone.
Time to wander.
That was the short story about how we found ourselves living in Shoreditch and it has been an incredible first week. This neighborhood is eclectic, trendy and goes to the beat of its’ own drum. Breathtaking graffiti art line the walls of luxury boutique shops. Everywhere you look there are dimly lit, beautifully designed spaces filled to the brim with young locals. Traditional English pubs sit next to Michelin star restaurants. Up-and-coming tech start ups and co-working spaces are tucked behind cobblestone alleyways. The cafes are authentic and the restaurants are international. It’s magical.
It’s not hard to discover gems here, but they’re always worth sharing. Here are five Shoreditch discoveries we made just in our first week. It’s only the beginning.
Leroy
Brick building. Neon sign. Scandinavian modern ambiance. This is a new wine bar and restaurant in Shoreditch and it’s everything you’ve ever wanted. Leroy is a sister restaurant to Michelin-starred Ellroy, so you know good food, incredible wine, and impeccable service run in their blood at Leroy.
If you’re stopping in for some wine and small bites, you can’t go wrong with the quail skewers paired with a light to medium-bodied red and the whipped cod roe and crisps alongside a crisp cold white. One or the other or both will do you justice. We chose both. We got justice.
If you choose to stay for dinner, which we did after we chose to stay for wine and small bites, the Leroy salad is a mountain of fresh, organic mixed greens and shaved goat cheese that will satisfy your need for greens and melt in your mouth. I’ve never had a salad melt in my mouth before Leroy.
It’s not always on the menu, but the mushroom pasta is also to die for – homemade, hearty and light all at once. If you see it grab it.
Grind
Every morning we’ve chosen a new café in the area to try out. Grind in Shoreditch was a recommendation from a barista we came to know and adore in San Francisco. She works at the Philz Coffee Truck on the Marina Green on weekends. When we told her we were moving to Shoreditch, not only did she tell us she was just there visiting, but that her parents live there too! Our friend told us Grind was her favorite café in the area. I mean, she’s a barista at Philz Coffee. Her opinion is invaluable when it comes to this stuff.
Her suggestion did not disappoint. The people that work at Grind are friendly and happy, the cappuccinos leave you feeling buzzed and the yolk of that poached egg on top of that avocado toast runs so smoothly. They also have acai bowls, veggie breakfast burritos, french toast and more. Grind is warm, unique and very photogenic.
If you’re in the mood for a boozy breakfast, they have a ‘coffee bar’ too. It’s literally a bar where they served coffee infused cocktails.
Happiness Forgets
Everyone likes a good night cap and everyone loves a hidden, under-the-radar bar to drink their night cap at. Am I right?
Happiness Forgets is one of these bars. At Hoxton Square, a small park in Shoreditch lined with shops, restaurants and markets, there is a small little bar hidden in a basement under all the commotion. Down some dark and dingy steps in-between two restaurants is where Happiness Forgets lingers.
This candlelit bar was packed when we came here after dinner (it was a recommendation from our waiter at Leroy). It was intimate, warm and local. We opted for the ‘Common Man’ which was a traditional Old Fashioned that was rich, classic and unforgettable.
Columbia Road Flower Market
Every Sunday, rain or shine, local flower vendors take over Columbia Road and host the Columbia Road Flower Market. It’s hard to miss; there are permanent street signs in Shoreditch pointing the way to the flower market.
On our first Sunday, we chose this as our activity. It felt very ‘Sunday’. While we were walking there, the closer we got to our destination the more petals we saw scattered on the ground and the stronger the smell in the air became of flowers.
We turned the corner and this small street lined with shops and pubs was suddenly filled with flowers and people. The vendors were yelling out flower prices, people were holding peonies and giant plants and daisies and there was a live band at the entrance. I picked some peonies and tulips for the apartment.
Boxpark
Around the corner of our apartment is this giant black building that is in the shape of a rectangular box. It’s made up of two stories and two sets of stairs on each end . Floor one holds about 25 tiny local boutiques. They consist of clothing, accessories, home decor, desserts and more. Floor two is an enclosed space with heaters, hanging lights, bars and street food eateries. This, we discovered, is Boxpark.
Boxpark is a tiny ‘mall’ that is home to these modern brands, both local and global. It is an incredibly unique place to eat and shop and has become one of our go-to’s. Live music and other events are hosted here on the weekends. We’re going to one tonight.
Those are the five Shoreditch discoveries we’ve made in our first week here and there are so many more we’re experiencing, writing down and wanting to share. Shoreditch is quickly stealing our hearts, our money and our appetites. Three months will go by in a blink of an eye.