Big Chill Bar

Dray Walk off Brick Lane 
Shoreditch, London 
E1 6QL 
Tel: 020 7392 9180

www.bigchill.net

Dray Walk runs beside the Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, with an open area of trestle tables with curries of all varieties served from stands. But go through to the Big Chill bar and you find a bar/café arena with a comfortable lounge  upstairs. The food is really good, generous vegetable ciabattas, fresh fruit, and an indulgent range of pastries to enjoy as you sink into deep leather chairs. There is music and live sets at the weekend when it can get too crowded to bear. Weekdays, it's a great place to chill.

-- Nicholas James