The Book Club
100–106 Leonard Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 4XS
This attractive Shoreditch venue combines the functions of café, arts venue and club. Upstairs the spacious lounge area features a long bar and whitewashed brick walls, hung with regularly changing art exhibitions. Ovals are punched in the walls, providing peek holes through which to view your fellow diners and drinkers, while the far corner is devoted to ferocious games of ping pong. Downstairs has more of a clubby feel, but alongside the DJ sets there are regular art classes and poetry readings. Traditional breakfasts are served until noon, and then there’s an appealing menu of salads and bistro food. In the evening they serve up snacks, nachos and fajitas.