Joy’s Conscious Travel Guide to London

April 4, 2022 • By joy asfar

London dweller Joy Asfar is The Forward Lab’s founder. Here, she lets you in on where to find everything from beautiful vintage glassware to a zero-waste grocer.

Best place to grab a cup of coffee

Bar Italia in Soho. I go there for real Italian espresso and they have these amazing pastries, which I love to have as a treat. It’s open until late and always has such a fun vibe – especially on a football night. It was established in 1949 (so to me, this place is the definition of sustainable!) and it still cares for both original design features and a sense of community.

Favourite vintage shops

One of my favourite places to discover great secondhand and pre-loved designer pieces is Sign Of The Times. I live close by and I try to check it out regularly as you never know what will come up!

A go-to place for vintage homeware or furniture

I love vintage glassware – call it one of my little quirks. There is a great shop at the corner of Westbourne Grove and Portobello. It’s a treasure trove and David, the owner, will guide you through.

Restaurant you always tell your friends to visit

This is a tough question as London has a great culinary scene. One I’ve discovered recently is Silo, a zero-waste restaurant in Hackney Wick. As I dined there, I loved watching the power of creativity at work as they plated up such innovative and thoughtful courses.

Your favourite plant-based eatery

Farmacy on Westbourne Grove. I love their artichoke pizzetta and they have great cocktails if you’re in the mood for one.

A great-zero/refill spots

Liberté Chérie in Notting Hill. It’s at the end of Portobello Road, just before Golborne Road. It’s the cutest place and the staff are great.

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