We asked writer, Qyper and Tottenham local Abi to tell us her favourite local spots. She also enjoys playing keyboards, stroking cats, baking cakes and drinking obscene amounts of coffee.

Tottenham’s been no stranger to trouble in the past few decades, and recent events have put it back in the news for all the wrong areas. But those who live in the area know that there’s another Tottenham to be discovered: one that’s teeming with history, culture, green spaces, culinary delights and ever-changing innovation, and often at a price that most Londoners can only dream of. Tottenham can also be a hard area to define, because it’s not only bigger and far more diverse than you might think, but also takes in plenty of smaller neighbourhoods and enclaves, each with their own character and attractions.

Bruce Castle; one of the earliest brick buildings in the UK

If you want to learn about the area’s rich history, Bruce Castle Museum is a fascinating place to start. Believed to be the earliest brick building in the country, the Castle houses Haringey’s oldest artifacts and collections, some dating back as far as Roman times. But the main attraction of this unique 16th Century manor is its architectural beauty, and the landscaped gardens it occupies.

The gardens are open to the public and are particularly beautiful in the early autumn as the leaves turn lovely shades of red. A great time to experience them is on London Open House weekend (17-18 Sep) when visitors can get access to the top of the clock tower which (like all the best towers) has inspired numerous ghostly tales over the years.

Think you’ve already visited all of London’s markets? Chances are you haven’t even heard of Seven Sisters Market which sits behind the Tube station and is unknown even to many locals. Made up of over 50 stalls with a strong Latin American element, the indoor market was recently saved from demolition along with local landmark Wards Corner. Here you’ll find everything from food to beauty products in what feels almost like a gateway to another world.

Believe it or not, but Fatisa used to be a cab driver’s hut

A short walk away, in South Tottenham, you’ll find yourself immersed in another community as the Hasidic Jewish contingent in Stamford Hill has a strong presence here, with a smattering of kosher cafes and other businesses. These include Sharon’s Bakery at Manor House, which serves an array of cakes and pastries alongside savoury snacks that include some interesting veggie options in the interests of avoiding pork.

For fans of authentic Italian food, San Marco on nearby Bruce Grove is a well-kept local secret with a steady stream of devoted diners, many of whom insist that it serves the best Italian food in North London. A family-run restaurant where every dish is made from scratch, San Marco is much loved for its warm and welcoming atmosphere. Other highly-rated restaurants include ultra-affordable veggie haunt Jai Shri Krishna and Fatisa, a Mediterranean restaurant in the somewhat quirky setting of an old cab driver’s hut. Further afield, check out i Borboni on Green Lanes for fresh and tasty Neopolitan food at jaw-droppingly low prices.

Local legends Marmalade also make a fine carrot cake…

At first glance, great coffee is hard to track down in Tottenham but, with a handful of excellent establishments to choose from, you won’t have to travel far for a cappuccino that rivals anything Islington has to offer! Marmalade on Lordship Lane particularly stands out, with wholesome food, delicious carrot cake and almost legendary coffee! Further south in Harringay’s Wightman Road, the newly-opened Cafe Moka is getting great local buzz and is well worth a visit.

For those who like a bit of fresh air with their coffee, Markfield Park in Tottenham Hale is home to the Pistachio’s Cafe; a friendly meeting spot that’s become especially popular with local mums and serves a decent selection of organic food for all ages. The park has recently undergone renovation and is a pleasant gateway to Tottenham Marshes, an area of natural wetland full of wildlife.

The Salisbury’s beautiful Edwardian exterior

Tottenham pubs worth a visit include The Ferry Boat Inn: often seen as a little slice of rural life in Tottenham, with a sizeable beer garden and good selection of food. Its proximity to the Lea Valley riverside makes this pub particularly popular with walkers, but it’s great for anyone seeking to escape from the city.

Just south of Turnpike Lane Station on Harringay’s Green Lanes is The Salisbury, a hugely popular haunt among Tottenham residents who make the trip to enjoy its spacious grandeur, live music and great selection of beers. From here, you’ll have easy access to all of what Green Lanes has to offer, including a wealth of Turkish eateries, independent supermarkets and cafes.

For your shopping needs, Tottenham has all you’re ever likely to need and more, with convenience stores whose prices put most chain supermarkets to shame. Many are Turkish-run, and sell freshly-baked flatbread or pide by the meter for less than a pound a throw. More specialist stores include the Big Green Bookshop in Wood Green; a well-stocked indie bookshop staffed by a friendly team who’ll go all-out to source any book you might be after.

Have we missed anywhere? Leave a comment or add it to our Tottenham guide

We’re giving away dinner for two at the Hoxton Apprentice. Find out how to enter at the bottom of this post.

Thought the Hoxton Apprentice was just like every other restaurant in leafy Hoxton Square? “The Hoxton Apprentice is part of a charity which helps the long-term unemployed get back into work and, in some cases, get into work for the first time,” their executive director John Cruse told us. “We provide them with confidence, practical support and placements in our businesses so they get vocational qualifications.”

Training for Life have five businesses across London so apprentices can train up as anything from a graphic designer to a fitness instructor, and eventually leave to work at mainstream companies. And the restaurant has its own success story – head chef Leon! “Leon was one of our first apprentices, back in 2004, and he left to work at White’s Gentleman’s Club,” says John. “He worked his way up the ranks, then came back as sous, and now head chef, and mentors his own apprentices.”

Want to sample Hoxton Apprentice’s English tapas menu for yourself? One lucky Qyper will win dinner for two. Enter in ONE of the following two ways:

1. Email us on qdl@qype.com with the subject line “Get your Hox off, get your Hox off, honey”

2. Retweet us saying “RT to win dinner for two at @hoxton_app”

Closes Tuesday 6th September at 5pm. Winner needs to be contactable within 24 hours, otherwise it goes to the next name drawn. The prize is not exchangeable for cash or anything other than what’s stated above; them’s the rules, so don’t hate the player, hate the game.

The National History Museum, the British Museum, the Science Museum are all very exciting, wonderful London attractions. And all a little bit… predictable. There are so many little museums around London that need shouting about. So I’m going to shout about them here.

The Fan Museum. The world’s only museum dedicated to the art of fans is in lovely suburban Greenwich. It’s had a little bit of a makeover recently, so it’ll be look lovely when you visit. Even the fancy garden is fan-shaped. And they do a nice cuppa as well.

Old Operating Theatre. Guts and gore and cutting things! Hurrah! I’ll be honest, there’s not much more I want from a little museum.

Dennis Severs House. Weird opening hours, creepy offerings (taxidermy is a heavy feature) and spooky tales at night. If you want more spooky and candle-lit goodness, the Sir John Soanes Museum gets in on that action as well.

The Horniman Museum. No sniggering at the back! Despite the funny name, the Horniman is a cool and quirky museum in Forest Hill. The fat wulrus is popular with Qypers. Rightly so, who doesn’t love a walrus, especially a fat one?

Eltham Palace. Like your Art Deco? There is nowhere in south London more gorgeous than this pile of bricks. Nice gardens too.

Theatre Museum. There’s a few theatre exhibitions in London. This one concentrate on costumes and fancy wardrobe stuff. If you want more ‘exit stage left’, head to the Globe on Southbank. Not just an awesome theatre, but there’s a museum too.

Pollock’s Toy Museum. This one does what it says on the tin, really. But let’s face it – much less scary than the Ragged School Museum. I’m not going anywhere near that.

Flickr image of Dennis Severs House from heatheronhertravels‘s photostream.