Boxpark Shoreditch (Photo: Courtesy of LondonFreelancers.co.uk)
Shoreditch and Old Street are where London’s freelance culture first took shape – and they’re still buzzing. These are five of the area’s best lunch hangouts.
BOXPARK
This renowned chain of pop-up malls set within shipping containers had its origins in Shoreditch, and it remains one of the area’s buzziest lunch spots. Best known for its fashion and lifestyle stores, the unique outdoor retail and entertainment complex is also home to an impressive assortment of eateries and cafes that draw long lines of local office workers, tourists and anyone who happens to be around and gets a sniff of the international aromas emanating from its foodie outlets. Whether it’s burgers, Asian fare or good old fashioned sandwiches that take your fancy, they’ve got you covered.
2-10 Bethnal Green Road
Senza Fondo
A hugely popular Italian-American restaurant, Senza Fondo lives up to its name, which translates to “bottomless”. In a nutshell, all-day diners can order endless portions of lasagne until they can’t manage another bite. It’s a concept designed for the social media age, but the real appeal lies in the atmosphere, with a live pianist working their way through crowd-pleasers, laughter pulsating around the room and a sense that everyone is in on the joke. Bottomless lasagne may not be to everyone’s taste, but the buzzing, anything-goes energy of the place is almost impossible to resist.
1 Rufus Street
Bao Noodle Shop
Shoreditch has a particularly fine reputation for Asian food and among its most popular eateries serving fare from that region is Bao Noodle Shop. The casual restaurant specialises in Taiwanese noodles made with imported speciality flour, along with Fried Chicken, Bao and Bubble Tea. Service is fast, the food is delicious and if you’re a freelancer entertaining a client and things go really well, you can even duck into one of the venue’s private karaoke rooms for a celebratory sing song.
1 Redchurch Street
Schnitzel Heaven
A no-frills spot located on Shoreditch High Street, Schnitzel Heaven is a long-standing favourite for anyone in need of a quick, filling lunch. The menu centres around generously-sized chicken or veil schnitzels served with fries, salad or stuffed into soft bread rolls, all delivered at impressive speed. It’s affordable and reliably satisfying, making it a top-notch choice when you want something hearty without losing half your afternoon.
57 Pitfield Street
Pizza Union
It’s an impressive feat to carve out a niche for yourself as an even-faster-than-average pizza joint, but Pizza Union has done just that. With a huge number of outposts dotted across London, this branch is located on the fringes of Shoreditch – technically in Hoxton, to be precise – where it serves up super speedy Neapolitan-style pizzas that arrive within minutes, making it an ultra-reliable stop for a quick lunch, a pre-train bite or a no-nonsense refuel between meetings.
145 City Road