Crossrail Place, London E14 5AR

Pergola on the Wharf comes from the same people behind Pergola Paddington, The Prince and more. The decor is super floral, and although the focus is on drinks the menu features plenty of small bites such as truffle arancini and Peruvian chilli chicken skewers.

56 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AH

This Dalston restaurant has a modern take on Japanese and Italian food - resulting in a creative fusion menu that's inspired by both cuisines, while also pushing the envelope. They serve a 13-course Kaiseki menu which changes every five weeks to reflect the seasons, so there's a lot of opportunity for repeat visits.

221 Well St, London E9 6RG

Shankey's is a great neighbourhood restaurant serving up a particularly interesting mix of Irish and Indian-influenced dishes and drinks. Irish-born Eoghan is the cocktail genius behind the Celtic-infused cocktail list while chef Sacha Henry is responsible for a mix of small and sharing plates of Indian food.

177 Morning Ln, London E9 6LH

Head to Morning Lane if you want to see what the lovechild of a Japanese izakaya and British seasonal restaurant looks like. With a charcoal grill being the focus of the kitchen here, there's plenty of great produce being served on sticks. Tables are communal so you'll probably leave having made new friends.