Once home to thousands of athletes at the London 2012 games, the East Village in Stratford has been transformed into a slick new residential zone and a pretty exciting destination for drinking and dining with some pretty fantastic independent restaurants and bars to choose from. With its handy location just next door to the massive Westfield Shopping Centre, East Village is a great option for hungry shoppers looking for somewhere a bit more interesting to drink or dine away from the usual chain restaurants whilst East London's hipster crowd seem to have found themselves a new home. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is on its doorstep, home to a variety of big sporting venues as well as beautiful riverside walks and both Stratford International train and DLR stations are just seconds away, making the area easily accessible.

We love finding new and exciting places to drink and dine in London so if you haven't yet discovered East Village get on over and check out these great places for yourself:

Cool, contemporary and stylish yet with a wonderfully laid back ambience, Darkhorse dishes up a Modern European menu with plenty of Spanish and Italian influence. The cocktails are divine as is the wine which can also be purchased to take home.

Santi Ristorante Pizzeria

Smart, modern Italian restaurant serving classic Italian dishes and some pretty fine pizzas. Dine al fresco on the lovely square during the summer and soak up the vibe. The pizza chefs all hail from southern Italy so expect utterly authentic, wonderfully tasting and beautifully presented pizzas!

Neighbourhood

Spacious and inviting, this brilliant bar and all-day dining venue doubles up as a beer shop specialising in craft beer. Tuck into dishes from the robata grill or rotisserie and enjoy a pint or two with friends.

RedYellowBlue

Floor to ceiling windows overlook the square from this fashionable restaurant, bar and digital art space by the Jaguarshoes Collective (Dreambags Jaguarshoes, Hand of Glory, The Old Shoreditch Station). From 4pm daily, ‘Wild Dog' hotdogs, burgers, neon slaws and Superfood Salads are served whilst a classic Jaguarshoes cocktail menu never fails to impress.

Fish House

Following in the footsteps of its older sibling over in Hackney's Victoria Park Village, this cool and contemporary fish and chip shop does it with style. Tuck into some of the best fish and chips around, all made with ethically sourced, fresh and simple ingredients. Fish House is a brilliant option for families, whether taking away to tuck into at home or dining in the smart and stylish yet very laid back restaurant area. Choose from a classic fish and chip takeaway menu where your fish is cooked to order and is as fresh as can be whilst the restaurant menu dishes up a divine choice of seasonal fish and seafood dishes that are certain to impress.

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