As 'all vinyl' club nights start to become a selling point for promoters and punters alike, it’s quite apt that our latest guest guide to London from the mighty Mylo kicks off with three of the best places in town for vinyl junkies. Add in his favourite places to eat and party, from east London to Soho, and you’ve got a trail to follow around some of the best places in town…
Vinyl Stores
Kristina Records, Stoke Newington High Street, Dalston
This place opened up recently round the corner from Arcola Street where I used to live. They don't have a huge amount of stock but the stuff they have is all great. I hope there are enough local layabouts from the Nest and the Superstore to keep it going!
Rough Trade East, Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, Shoreditch
I really like the Truman Brewery courtyard, some weekends in summer it's like a mini-festival. You can buy a Red Stripe from the old bus or some street food and generally mill about. The Rough Trade shop there is huge and has got loads of good books as well as records, and a wee stage for bands.
Phonica, Poland Street, Soho
Phonica has got to be undisputed as the best dance record shop in London if not the world. I must admit I haven't been in for a while (since I got lazy and started buying wavs online). I used to go every week a few years ago and so did everybody else, it was a right social. The staff are brilliant and probably more influential in their selections than any one DJ - and they're all great DJs as well.
London Clubs
XOYO, Cowper Street, Nr Old Street Roundabout
A lot of cool people like Johnno Burgess from Bugged Out and Coda Agency got together to open this club a couple of years ago. I really like it, I've seen some great live shows there from bands like Connan Mockasin, and some great DJ sets. We held the last two 'EPP' parties there and they were both crazy.
Dalston Superstore, Kingsland High Street, Dalston
When I lived in Dalston a few years ago it was still a bit rotten and I couldn't have imagined a place like this opening up. I like the bar upstairs and the disco in the basement is great.
Fabric, Charterhouse Street, Farringdon
I couldn't leave out the daddy of all London clubs.
Places to Dine
Railroad, Morning Lane, Hackney
My cousin and his girlfriend took us here a few weeks ago, it's been open for a few months quite near where I live but I didn't know anything about it. It's set in an unremittingly bleak stretch of Morning Lane in a little shopfront that used to be a Barber's but it's definitely the best place I've eaten in East London recently. They have kindof odd events there too. When we were there there was a big group of people in the basement standing in the dark listening to NPR radio - only in Hackney.??
Yauatcha, Broadwick Street, Soho
This dim sum restaurant is amazing, everything I've tried there is unbelievably delicious. It's one of the best restaurants I've been to but you don't need a reservation and it's not that expensive. I always run into Erol (Alkan) and his missus here.??
Vietnamese Canteen, Englefield Road, De Beauvoir Town
This restaurant is on the ground floor of a Vietnamese community centre down a residential street where Islington meets Dalston. It's got plastic chairs and formica tables but the food is amazing and it's always rammed with return customers.
Don’t miss Scandalism and Mylo Present Ecstasy, Pleasure and Pain at Scala on Saturday 25th February. Guests include Lindstrom, Aeroplane and Brodinski. For more info, head to: http://www.scala-london.co.uk
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