DreamBags JaguarShoes

Dream Bags & Jaguar Shoes As a female, I was drawn unsurprisingly to the name initially; the thought of 'Dream bags' & 'Jaguar Shoes" conjures up some rather exciting imagery. Yet, this bar/restaurant/gallery…hip establishment- whose name has been kept as a homage of sorts to the wholesale shops that had once resided on the premises- has long since been a bag and shoe shop. It's an establishment that epitomises the east London vibe. Situated on Kingsland road (just beyond the myriad of Vietnamese restaurants), its bright, open store front is a welcome respite, not to mention the waft of freshly baked pizza that tantalises the nostrils. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and indeed your trousers to reveal a little ankle (we are in an artsy-hipster-haunt after all) and try one of the alcoholic concoctions. The cocktail list is extensive and the bar staff always seem eager to offer a little advice and banter for those of us in a particularly indecisive mood. The ground floor has a relaxed cafe atmosphere and a precious seat found near the store-front window is an ideal spot for people watching. However, the popularity of this place, especially in the evening, means sharing a table with a few other cool-kids, so be wary of a stray elbow or two making for a more challenging pizza experience. The pizzas alone are worth any inconvenient seating arrangements, though. Freshly baked by Due Sardi; the sardinian chef duo were ranked as one of the top 5 places to eat pizza in London. The candle-lit drinking den in the basement offers an alternative atmosphere to upstairs; a cosier corner for late night drinks, once your eyes adjust to the darkness. I am rather a fan of the upstairs, what with its quirky art installations that change regularly. Despite its obvious art fuelled vibe, along with plethora of beards, red lipstick and rolled up jeans (all of which incites one to believe its one of those hipster hangouts of which most of Shoreditch is now teeming with), it is unpretentious and I have yet to go there and not have a really super time. Daniella