Daring To Be Different

The Book Club (100-106 Leonard St., Shoreditch; +44-20-7684-8618), a homey place for local creatives, is not your average coffee shop. Despite its nondescript name, the two-story, restored Victorian warehouse is packed with people hosting off-the-cuff meetings or playing ping pong while sipping a steaming cup of the barista's best Volcano coffee. Weekend brunch draws a crowd for porridge or pancakes covered in caramel sauce and fresh fruit, and the savory Full English breakfast. During the week, diners nibble on the signature dish of ham, eggs, and chips, and stick around for the live bands, DJs, speed dating, informative talks, drawing classes, classic video games, and, best of all, creative cocktails.

Don’t miss the Hot Buttered Coconut Rum, made with warm coconut oil, or the Cherry Thomas, the Book Club's take on a classic whisky sour using cherry bitters.

The creative setting alone at The Vaults (Leake Street, Lambeth; +44-20-7401-9603), an alternative contemporary arts complex in the tunnels of Waterloo Station, is worth exploring. Descend into the gallery, found near the famous Leake Street graffiti tunnel, to find works by a fresh lineup of emerging international artists.

Continue through the maze to discover the Vaults Theater, home to unconventional performances on stage, and the Big Mezzo, one of The Vaults' available rental spaces that hosts everything from DJs and dancing to haunted houses.

Feed your curiosity (and your stomach) in the experimental Vaults Kitchen, a curated dining experience where young chefs try out new recipes in a constantly surprising whirl of pop-up restaurants.

Don't let the name fool you: the Old Coffee House (49 Beak St., Soho; +44 20 7437 2197) tavern is exactly what a proper pub should be, with a proud history dating back 500 years, and more than a few good stories to be told around the sturdy dark-wood bar and well-worn booths.

And what the Old Coffee House lacks in caffeinated beverages, they make up for in beer, at least count, featuring 11 different varieties of hop-laden ales on tap from Brodie's Fabulous Beers, brewed using recipes that founder Jamie Brodie originally concocted in his bathtub at home.

Millennial founders Jonny Burt and Joe Kennedy dreamed of owning an art gallery that refused to adhere to industry standards. With Unit London (147-149 Wardour St., Soho; +44-20-7494-2035) the co-founders have built an inclusive and accessible arts space where talented young creators are building their careers, and the gallery’s relaxed atmosphere invites visitors to drop in without an appointment.
Its offbeat origins as a collective bringing together artists, collectors, first-time buyers, and art enthusiasts set Unit London apart from other contemporary galleries on the buzzing Wardour Street, but its bold and daring new works by up-and-coming international talents place it precisely on par.