E Pellicci inter-war style caff*

Do you want a full on bifta breakfast in a 50's caff in East London? E Pellicci's is a time capsule of a cafe. You imagine this is what it felt like to have a brew and fry up in the inter-war years. The interiors are all Art Deco marquetry-panelling and geometric pattern. Find a spot at the cosy Formica tables like we did, sit next to the cockney locals, order a full plate for what is litterally pennies and feel yourself being transported back 50 years.

Inn the Park - Peyton and Byrne

As the London sun is shining, I'm taking my flip flops down to Inn the Park, Peyton and Byrne's eco-friendly restaurant by day, and destination restaurant by night. It's my top place for wkend brunch because it feels so relaxing in this Austrian larch building in the heart of St James's Park. [The wood is untreated so it will weather over time].

I went with the girls on a humid Sunday and we 'self-served' ourselves lattes and Millionnaire's shortbreads and ate them on the grass topped roof terrace, with it's cute green metal patterned tables. The dining room is a more formal option, separated by the kitchen by chunky white marble booths and black leather banquettes. British design hero of the moment Tom Dixon designed the 60's inspired mirrored lights [pressumably to give the caff a 'destination restaurant' glamour for evenings]. This place with it's chairs made of tubular steel and leather pads shows that park grub has moved up in the world of London town.

The Albion at the Boundary

The Albion at the Boundary in Shoreditch used to be an old Victorian lighting factory. Now it's my favorite breakfast place in London. Designed by Terence Conran and his team, you expect it to be a looker and it is. If I owned a caff, this is how I would design it: natural light, open kitchen, bevelled tiles, pendulous factory lights, and modern British retro styling everywhere. My Deco site has a brilliant piece about how to recreate the look with key pieces from the high street, click here to see it. The styling is not wholly original with it's modern retro slant [think Canteen], but it's execution is flawless: Golden Syrup cutlery containers and knitted tea cosies on Brown Betty teapots are nostalgic and at the same time knowingly chic. Elements of the interior made me smile - the stools at the bar are made of tractor seats! And once I'd eaten my eggs I really didn't want to leave. The interior is split into shop [as you enter] and 'caff' with open kitchen at the rear. In the shop, the floor to ceiling shelves are piled high with veg, breads, cupcakes, cordials and golden syrup to take home in your Albion jute bag - exactly the cute, traditional welcome I was looking for.

East Beach Cafe

Hmmmm, I wish all beach-side cafes were as well designed as East Beach Cafe. The tables, half inside and half-outside looking out to sea are just what you want when eating fish and chips. The exterior is layer upon organic layer, fitting neatly with the nature around it. The already weathered exterior with it's slightly rusty shell brings with it a cool new way of expressing faded seaside glamour. And the interior is small but hugs you in with it's rippling ceiling. Thomas Heatherwick is my hero. All cafes should be like this.

Nostalgic styling - M&S cafe at Westfield, London

My cute interior of the week - is the open air cafe at M&S Westfield. You probably would expect such retro-cuteness from a high street giant such as M&S, especially in Europe's largest shopping centre. But there were 50's and 60's touches eveywhere in plastic citrus-bright chairs and the 60's styled round dining tables with super-sweet floral printed 'tablecloths'. The whole area is coccooned by wood panelling just at the right level so you don't feel like your in a food hall, eek. There is no escaping current nostalgic styling - it's everywhere, and we love it.