East London City Guide

This month, we asked Louisa Tratalos, founder of Colours of Arley, to show us around her East London. Louisa started the brand in 2019, building a world around colour and pieces that feel fun and considered. What began with table linens has grown into a full lifestyle brand, all still made in the UK and designed to last. With 120 colours to choose from to create your perfect stripe, the store really is treasure trove that brings such joy.

Her guide brings together the places she’s loved for years alongside newer openings she’s excited about. We in particular can’t wait to visit the newly opened Tiella and have a browse at Hai and Record28 Books.

Louisa popped over to our studio in Kensington just this week to create a Bust in celebration of her pregnancy with her first child. If you’re interested in creating a bespoke Bust of your own, we host every Wednesday and select weekends so take a look and book your appointment here!

Dalla - Delicious Italian with impeccable decor.

Elliots - For food, we had a big meal here for NYE with friends and it was delicious.

Tiella - Opened this week, in what seems to be a cursed spot, but really hoping it stays because the food was great, and the pub atmosphere is on point.

Colours of Arley - Of course! Come see us for everything striped for your home! We are obsessed with helping people choose their bespoke stripe, one that tells their personal story, so come in and have a good chat.

Brother LDN - Vintage designer clothes always find amazing suits and rare pieces from Issey Miyake to Yohji Yamamoto.

Hai - The prettiest store and beautiful silk products, I love the bags, I have one in lilac.

Record28 Books - Colours of Arley’s shop neighbour, and happens to be my partner. He specialises in rare and out of print photography books, from fashion to cult film to documentary. The stock changes constantly with everything being a one off, and I go in there all the time for design inspiration.

Columbia Road Flower Market - I’m embarrassed to add this to the list because it’s so obvious, but having the shop so near by, I’m reminded on a weekly basis how great it is, but it is on the busy side.

Hackney City Farm - They host Ceramics Classes every week and they are so fun, you can make anything and bring your own wine, me and my sister had a lot of laughs doing this.

Banya Number 1 - I’m missing the Russian baths and having the parenie. I actually had one of these in Russia and it’s just as good in Hoxton.

The Olympic Pool - I swim here and it’s been a life saver in pregnancy, it’s not glamorous by any stretch but it’s an impressive building and I find the scale of it super calming.

Spurstowe Arms - I lived opposite in lockdown and beyond, so I’ve spent a lot of time in there.

The Marksman - Great food and old wood panelling.

The Royal Oak - Just a short way down Columbia road so a solid choice for a drink on the way home from work.

Nkora Coffee - I miss my coffee addiction, but will be getting back to it pronto.

Pomme Bakery - Honestly, I blame them for the majority of my weight gain in pregnancy, but it’s insane. They change the menu everyday and are super experimental, everything is good from the chocolate babka to the leek & black sesame bake, it’s seriously impressive.

Ozone - Best coffee and breakfasts, my favourite is the spiced omelette.

Corner Deli - Fore lunch, super casual, they do a vegetarian curry to take away and we love going for lunch it’s great, and add a paratha.

We’d love to know if you end up at any of Louisa’s recommendations - please do tag us on instagram if you do and find our West London Guide here!