Fika, Brick Lane

Brick Lane may be famed for its Beigal stores, Indian restaurants and Turkish food, but there's a tiny corner that's bringing the Scandinavian cool, thanks to Fika bar and kitchen.

Named after the Swedish term for coffee break, by day it serves up strong coffees and cinnamon rolls, while by night it attracts a mixture of diners and young professionals looking for a peaceful alternative to the raring hipster bars.

The restaurant serves a mixture of nordic dishes, including Elk burgers and the classic Swedish meatballs, plus (surprisingly good!) vegetarian options. There's a good cocktail menu as well, with themed drink names and a unique presentation. All served on a wooden log platter, of course.

Find it at: 161 Brick Lane, E1 6SB

Strongroom, Shoreditch

With the weather being so nice, I've been spending my evenings with friends at pub gardens around East London. 

One of my favourites has to be Strongroom, in the heart of Shoreditch. It draws a good crowd on weekday evenings from the startup offices of Silicon Roundabout (that's Old Street, by the way), but hover in the courtyard for long enough and you should be able to grab a couple of seats, if not a space at a canopied table. 

The drinks might be on the expensive side, if you're not used to London prices (over £5 for a bottle of Kopparberg), but there's a buzzing atmosphere to make up for that, and plenty of space indoors if you're getting chilly. 

On the weekends, the outside bar opens and the courtyard is packed. Expect a queue to enter and tight security. Head over early though, for a quiet drink before a gig at one of Shoreditch's many music venues. 

Find it at: 120 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3SQ