Located above its basement sibling Happiness Forgets (one of London’s best bars), this sweet French bistro overlooks Hoxton Square. Come here to pretend you’re in a leafy Parisian square: either inside amid bare-brick walls and wooden flooring, or outside on the patio. Hipsters give the place a fun buzz, sipping on-point drinks (cocktails, a well-edited wine list, some choice spirits). A concise menu of French-leaning dishes – French onion soup, sole meunière – is offered for lunch and dinner, while snacks such as oysters or croque monsieur are available throughout the day. Our well-balanced starter of beetroot, Bleu d’Auvergne, walnuts and horseradish arrives delicately assembled on toast. To follow, tender duck confit is offset by sweet-onion purée and creamy gratin dauphinois – if you’re having a bad day, this dish will set everything right. For dessert, chocolate mousse is spooned from a big bowl by the waiter. Like its vegetable namesake, Petit Pois is small yet well-rounded: a great addition to the area.