DIY

• Borough Market is as good as it gets - Sharpy has the best meat in town and Arnaud has a certain ability of selling you fantastic wine. Fern Verrow are there from time to time and make vegetables the heavenly experience they should be. Just be patient in the queue.

• If you don't make Borough Market before its busy busy busy (i.e. 11am....) - go to Broadway Market. In fact use it as much as you can as its as perfect as a local market can get and just a short walk along the canal.

Service With A Smile

• Vietnamese heaven is at Viet Huong. Not too many smiles unless you smile first as they are very busy around the weekend. The best local Vietnamese and they get to know your face when you're frequent. If you work at home, pop up for the £6 set lunch.

• A few pints, cocktails and a decent snack at The Talbot

• Good wine and beer with some decent food at The Northgate

• Its all a bit more N1 at The House

• Po-time at Song Que, Their Po is the best around here, even Viet Huong cannot beat their beefy broth.

• Fun to be had at Dreambagsjaguarshoes

• Pru and friends have the right formula at the Hoxton Apprentice. Its good value and friendly.

• Hoxton Square Thai at Yelo

• Posh Kebabs and Cocktails at Shish

• Mezze rocks at The Real Greek