FOR BREAKFAST

E. Pellicci on Bethnal Green Road was established in the 1900s and it’s a real institution around here. An Italian workers’ café and deli, it’s unpretentious and has a strong family feel. It's perfect if you need a big breakfast before a full day's work, or if you are suffering a little from the night before.

FOR BRUNCH

Bistrotheque is probably my favourite place for brunch. I love to come here on a Sunday to catch up and have a little fun with friends. The space is beautiful, elegant and light, the atmosphere is always vibrant, and the food is great. It's such a great way to start the day.

FOR PINTS

Mother Kelly’s is great for a pint or two. I love trying all the beers from the taps – they always seem to have something different on. There’s a communal feel to the place that makes it great for a sunny afternoon on Paradise Row with friends. A little bit down the road towards Hoxton, you can never really go wrong with The Marksman. The team are friendly, the space is beautiful and it has a corner roof terrace which is really rare in this part of town. The wine list is fantastic. The Royal Oak on Columbia Road is also great a quick pint.

FOR COFFEE

I always need a good cup of coffee en route to Da Terra. My favourite coffee spots have to include Ozone – the team make a delicious cup and are really conscious of their sourcing of the beans. I also love The Beehive. They are such a friendly bunch, the coffee is delicious and – crucially – it's really close to my restaurant, so I go there a lot. 

FOR LUNCH

I love Italian food and one of the best places in the area is a low-key pizzeria called Italina. It's on Cambridge Heath Road, and is great for Italian comfort food, such as spaghetti alle vongole and Napoli-style pizzas.

FOR AN APERITIVO

Ombra is great whatever time of day you visit. There’s a really relaxed energy to it, but there’s something special about sitting outside on a sunny afternoon looking over the canals with a negroni and some snacks. The chef Mitshel Ibrahim is really talented – he cooks really beautiful Venetian plates, such as gnocco fritto with wild boar mortadella; Roman-style fried whole artichokes; and monkfish with pink radicchio.

FOR DINNER

Brawn, which is also on the ever-buzzy Columbia Road, is a real favourite. It's one of those places where you know you will always get a good meal, great wine and cocktails. I love the relaxed vibe – it’s almost like you’re dining at a friend's house. For something a little different, try The Waterhouse Project right next to Oval Space. Gabriel Waterhouse does a hyper-seasonal tasting menu which changes all the time, and the space is impressive.

FOR LATE-NIGHT DRINKS

The Laughing Heart is a real institution and one of my favourite spots. The food is delicious and the wine list is one of the best. I love to go for dinner first and then – if La Cave is open downstairs – a night cap and some music. Owner Charlie Mellor is always around to recommend his favourite bottles. I also love Satan's Whiskers for a night cap – it’s been one of the best bars in London for a long time. This is the sort of bar that bartenders like to go to on their night off – high praise indeed. 

FOR A BIG NIGHT OUT

I don't really go out too late that often, but some of my team like Oval Space and The Pickle Factory for gigs and late-night partying. I like to visit Coupette, which is a French-inspired cocktail bar. It's rare you can get a good cocktail at 1am, but this place hits the mark.

Check out what Rafael himself can do at DaTerra.co.uk