Best & Cool Bars in Leytonstone

"The view from Rafael Viñoly’s Sky Garden, also known as the Walkie-Talkie building, is unlike any other in the city. From here you can survey London’s ever-growing sprawl with the city stretching up to the north, Tower Bridge and the Shard to the south, and Canary Wharf to the east. It’s free to explore the tower’s three stories of landscaped public gardens, but make sure to book in advance."

"Located on floor 36 of the iconic Walkie Talkie, the views from the Darwin Brasserie are pretty striking. Although Fenchurch Restaurant – one of Sky Garden’s other offerings – is higher, the Darwin Brasserie has better views thanks to its position further back from the Sky Garden’s atrium roof. A good option if you want to enjoy the sights without the flocks of camera totting tourists."

"Sky Garden is one of the modern but still equally famous attractions in London. Since its opening in 2015 on the 43rd floor of the "Walkie Talkie" building, the Sky Garden has gained a lot of popularity and has become one of London's best gardens to visit. This attraction serves as a public park for visitors on top of a commercial building."

"Occupying what used to be the headquarters of Christian Dior, Sketch is chic, glamorous and trendy. In the Michelin Guide 2020, it was elevated to the maximum three stars, putting it in an elite group alongside Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester. The Lecture Room & Library, at the top of the Grade II listed building, offers haute-cuisine by the extraordinary chef Pierre Gagnaire in a plush setting of studded ivory leather walls, ornate plasterwork ceilings, and rich furnishings in purple and crimson."

"I don’t think I know anyone who has been to Sketch and not ‘grammed a pic, so it’s no shock that this is one of the best places to take photos in London. Every detail at Sketch has been thought through, so make sure you capture some of them. Of course, you can take a photo in the egg/space ship bathroom, but it’s been done before!"

"Sketch kept popping up (from other sites, friends, IG) but the site doesn’t seem to let me make reservation for one. were you traveling alone, and did you have that issue?"

"Tucked behind the heart of Theatre Land on St Martin’s Court, the red facade of J Sheekey’s fish, shellfish and seasonal game restaurant is nothing short of iconic. Sheekey’s is as famous and as much a part of the West End as the actors and theatregoers who frequent it pre- or post-show and it’s been top of its game for over 100 years. Devour seafood platters or pop in for oysters and a glass of Champagne or head next door to the more casual, but just as loved, J.Sheekey Atlantic Bar."

"J Sheekey, aka “Sheekey’s,” has been a major player on the West End fish and shellfish scene since the 1890s. It is as dependable as it is theatrical, and the exemplary fish pie’s velvety cream sauce over cod, salmon and haddock makes it a comfort-food superstar."

"A jewel of the Covent Garden dining scene, this incredibly smart restaurant was opened by 1890s fishmonger Josef Sheekey on the permission of Lord Salisbury (who wanted somewhere to eat after the theatre)."

"Seafood takes centre-stage at The Hyde Restaurant & Bar, where Executive Chef Christos Siomadis has created a bespoke Mediterranean-inspired menu that's bursting with exciting dishes. Expect innovative plates such as the scallop ceviche with avocado sorbet, which will blow you away."

"The Hyde showcases the very best of sophisticated modern European cuisine, with its menu of classic flavours and unique twists. Dishes like the scallop ceviche with avocado sorbet, or halibut with black ravoli are perfect examples of this innovative fine dining restaurant."

"Patrick Powell’s restaurant sits part-way up Manhattan Gardens in Stratford, at the point where the gravity-defying skyscraper appears to have had a chunk sliced out of it. As delicately balanced as both the building and the rest of Powell’s menus, brunch dishes include Cornish crab with potato latke, pickled fennel and sesame, and cod brandade with poached egg, pickled onion and light-as-a-feather potato chips. For something with a little more oomph, go for the drool-inducing black pudding burger with pickles and shallots – the ultimate fancy hangover food."

"What: Stratford is short on upmarket joints, so restaurant, bar and roof terrace Allegra is a welcome breath of fresh air. Seven floors up, the extensive wrap around terrace is a sleek space featuring an abundance of plants, water features and neutral wooden tones and it’s also something of a sun-trap during the summer months. For the optimal Allegra experience, bag one of the oversized deck chairs and take advantage of Happy Hour (4-6pm) - half a dozen oysters and two glasses of English sparkling wine for £20."

"Sitting on the seventh floor of The Stratford hotel in East London, Allegra has a 50-seat terrace from which to indulge in small plates and snacks and quaff drinks to cool down on balmy evenings. Head inside to the restaurant for a taste of chef Patrick Powell’s British produce-led cooking should the need for a more substantial feed take you. The Stratford, 20 International Way, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, United Kingdom"

"Restaurants Bakeries Dalston. It may be little more than a hole-in-the-wall behind Ridley Road market in Dalston, but Ararat’s Middle Eastern-style flatbreads (they call them ‘naans’) are the stuff of legend and find their way into countless restaurants and shops across town – as well serving the needs of hungry local boozehounds. The action centres around a huge rotating oven and a trestle table where the naans are bagged up (hot ones are wrapped in paper, cold ones come in environmentally friendly plastic bags)."

"This poky bakery on Ridley Road Market does some of the best flatbreads in the whole of London. This is the spot to visit if you’re in the market for a bread that’s wonderfully chewy, easy to tear-and-share, and practically begging to be dragged through a pool of hummus. Affable owner Chaudhry Zafar Iqbal has perfected each and every blistered bread that comes out of Ararat’s intimidating naan oven."

"This tiny operation on Dalston’s thrumming Ridley Road Market serves London’s most outstanding flatbread. Blistered, pillowy, light, soft — the run of adjectives could go on and on — and wrapped with egg, garlic, or finely-minced meat if a quick lunch is needed, nothing else is needed."

"This South Ealing bakery makes amazing Japanese breads, cakes and pastries - if you want to make sure something is going to be in stock, like their sweet azuki bean buns, then order ahead. They also do French baguettes which are the stuff of legend in these parts. More about Tetote Factory"

"One of the city’s best (Japanese) bakeries remains partially open, for pre-booked customers who must call 0208 579 8391 a day ahead."

"If the ladies’, men’s and mixed bathing ponds seem a bit too murky, take your children to the lido, instead. While still brisk, the water here tends to be warmer, and after you tire the children out in the water, roam the heath and find the perfect picnicking spot for the day. The heath has no great playgrounds – though, if you must, there are plenty in neighbouring Hampstead and Highgate – but the glorious park offers endless space for roaming, plenty of wooded areas for discovering natural forts, and space for sport."

"Hampstead Heath offers stunning views over the city, but one could be forgiven for not noticing, as there's an awful lot to do there. If you aren't taking a dip in one of the ponds (there are single and mixed options) or the Parliament Hill Lido, you could be running circuits on the athletics track or visiting the Golders Hill zoo. For sheer childhood pleasure, though, the model boating pond is difficult to top (for God’s sake, don’t try to get in for a swim)."

"Part of what makes Hampstead Heath so special is its wild beauty — check it out in all its rugged glory here. The other part is the stunning views of the capital it boasts, which makes the heath perfect for picnics, as does its proximity to some stellar delis and bakeries. It's also a cracking choice for a weekend ramble — thesetwo take in much of the Heath."

"Until 2007, Londoners had no idea what an affordable spa was, until Spa London opened up its first spa-tique in Bethnal Green. Now there are several all over London, but the favourite must be in Swiss Cottage. Signature body treatments, facials and massages are up for grabs from as little as £30 — rare in this part of town."