Where To Eat, Drink & Dance In East London, By Cocktail Mastermind Mr Lyan
“When I moved to London 20 years ago, people questioned my choice to be in the east, but I found it lively and full of activity,” says Ryan Chetiyawardana – AKA Mr Lyan – one of the city’s most renowned mixologists. “Its forgotten spaces attracted innovative minds. [Most] London landlords wouldn’t take chances on young chefs or bartenders, but here, a community eager for something different thrived.”
In the two decades since, Mr Lyan has become one of London’s most celebrated cocktail masterminds. He opened his first bar, White Lyan, in 2013 – the first bar in the world to use no perishables, including no fruit or ice. Low waste and sustainability have been at the core of every venue he’s worked on since. The innovator has made his mark across London and the globe – however, his heart and soul will always lie in the east of the city, where you’ll find him now at the gorgeous Seed Library, the bar set in an old, moody club space beneath the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel.
“We’ve always tried to create things that play to their sense of place,” says Chetiyawardana. “I like ideas that feel counter to the norm, aiming to offer something for everyone, not just cocktail drinkers. When we opened White Lyan, it became a haven for those who felt ‘other”, attracting a diverse group, from the LGBTQIA+ community to those from the music and fashion worlds. They came because our bar didn’t require conformity to a traditional type. East London, with its multicultural essence, has always supported our unconventional approach, making it a perfect place to celebrate diversity.”
So, who better to share the ultimate food, drink and nightlife guide to East London than the man responsible for some of the best drinks in town? Service95 sat down with Chetiyawardana to get his dusk-till-dawn recommendations…
Where To Go For Breakfast In East London
“It’s so handy because I live in Dalston, where there are lots of great options for the morning – I’m spoilt for choice!”
- Allpress London Roastery & Café – “Great for breakfast and tea, with a garden out front. I live near [the Dalston roastery], so I have a lovely waft of coffee coming through my window when I wake up in the morning.”
- Snackbar – “[The owner] Freddie [Jannssen] and the team have mastered delicious, playful breakfast and light bites.”
- Papo’s Bagels – “Another one of my neighbours, where I visit regularly for a morning meal.”
Where To Go For Light Lunch With A Friend In East London
“There are a couple of new places that have opened and, of course, it’s great to grab some of the more traditional lunches around the area. [In Dalston], we’ve got some great Ethiopian and Turkish cuisine, and if you venture down a little to Hoxton, you’ve got brilliant Vietnamese places. When I was a student, these were the spots where I would catch up with friends over lunch because the value is amazing, and it’s very easy to just wander in.”
- Namo – “A vegan cafe on Kingsland Road.”
- Mangal 2 – “Modern take on traditional Turkish cuisine with a killer set lunch. It’s incredible value and one of my favourite restaurants in town. I think what they’re doing to bridge that older part of the community into the modern is just lovely.”
- Sune – “Good spot for lunch with wine, run by Charlie [Sims] and Honey [Spencer].”
Restaurants For A Special Occasion In East London
- Little Duck The Picklery – “Somewhere to while away the hours – it’s wonderful. Get a couple of glasses of wine if you’re able to have a slightly more indulgent lunch.”
- Silo – “A zero-waste restaurant with innovative and delicious food. What [chef and owner] Doug[las McMaster] is doing is super important. He had the world’s first zero-waste restaurant, and I remember when we were talking, even when he was in Australia back in 2011, he was forging ahead with these kinds of conversations in a period where it just wasn’t happening. When he opened Silo Brighton, he was really starting to cement that and give it a platform. But when he opened in Hackney Wick, it was both a cementing of his background and a progression of his whole way of looking at sustainability in such a forward-thinking manner. The thing that people might dismiss, overlook, or discount is that it is such a powerful message, but it’s so fun and so delicious.”
- Papi – “Small plates and natural wine with a house-party vibe, with a little naughty bar downstairs where you can have cocktails before or after dinner. It’s tucked away under a railway arch. It’s a great use of space and quite unexpected. This is one of those places that couldn’t feel more east London if it tried.”
Mr Lyan’s Favourite Pubs In East London
- The Prince Arthur – “A great traditional pub.”
- The Spurstowe Arms – “Just round the corner from [the Prince Arthur], this is my local and I will always love it.”
- The Scolt Head – “Really tucked away and great in the summer.”
- The Duke Of Richmond – “Excellent food and a good spot for Sunday lunch.”
- The Marksman – “The idea of somewhere that balances still feeling like an east London boozer while being able to have top-quality food is a real power move. To me, going to sit at the bar, getting a pint of Guinness and one of the little barley buns is just 10 out of 10. A little slice of perfection.”
Where To Go For After-Dinner Drinks In East London
“It’s the best bar crawl in London at the moment – work your way up Kingsland Road and you can basically tick [them] off.”
- Three Sheets Dalston –“A real dedicated cocktail bar doing some really fun things.”
- Brilliant Corners – “A live music and vinyl bar.”
- Newcomer Wines – “A great wine bar.”
- Dan’s – “And another great wine bar!”
- 107 Wine Shop & Bar – “For anyone interested in trying some brilliant natural wines.”
Where To Go Dancing In East London
- Night Tales – “A great late-night venue.”
- Ridley Road Market Bar – “Such a fun spot, super relaxed and very east London.”
- Dalston Superstore – “I haven’t been for a long time, but I will always love it. A lively queer bar and club.”
- Fabric – “I know it’s verging towards Central London, but Fabric is an iconic London nightclub.”
- The Pickle Factory – “Great for DJ sets and live music.”
Pia Brynteson is Content Editor at Service95
