Meet the influencer: Morena Oliveira shares the best places to Instagram in London
Say a big hola to Morena, AKA, @mformorena on Instagram.
Originally from the tiny landlocked nation of Luxembourg, Morena has called London her home for the last eight years and since moving here, 'has never looked back'.
A devoted Shoredite, Morena spends her days dabbling in the world of social media, exploring, eating and drinking her way through London's top notch bars, clubs, and restaurants.
Whilst she joined the social media platform several years ago, the east Londoner admits she's only started perusing it seriously during the last two years.
"It's turned into a creative outlet for me and I’ve met countless incredibly talented people through this platform," she told us.
A talent she is. Expect to see everything from restaurants to coffee shops, hotels to cutesy independent shops gracing her bold and colourful feed.
As part of our Meet the Influencer series, we asked Morena to name some of her favourite spots across the glorious bubble we call London.
From the most secret of book shops to the prettiest interiors, here's London, Morena-style.
Where are your favourite places to Instagram in London?
My feed definitely reflects where I live and work, so you’ll often see the restaurants, cafes and streets of Shoreditch, Clerkenwell and East London featured on my Instagram. I really like the shops on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch, particularly Le Labo Fragrances, and often find myself on Broadway Market at the weekends.
Morty and Bob’s is just around the corner from there, which I can't get enough of. Food-wise, the tacos from Mexican hangout Breddos Tacos are super Instagrammable and I love the plant-covered conservatory at Bourne and Hollingsworth in Clerkenwell. If I manage to get out of bed early on a weekend, I love to get the Breakfast in Bread at The Barge House on the canal (it’s amazing). And for a sweet treat, I often get a vanilla bun from Fabrique Bakery on my way home.
Name your top five Instagrammable restaurants? And tell us why?
I can only name five? Okay, let’s see… I love the interiors at Radio Alice on Hoxton Square – 'gram the big windows and that gorgeous marble counter in front of the huge pizza oven.
Then there’s Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden. With the ceiling covered in white cherry blossoms and the gorgeous fireplace in the back, it's no wonder they call it the most romantic restaurant in the world...
I’m also always in awe at the enormous palm trees in the winter garden of the Landmark London (and the buffet breakfast is to die for).
You can’t have a list of top five Instagrammable restaurants without the one and only Sketch. From the pretty pink gallery to the egg-shaped toilets, this place is every Instagrammer’s dream come true!.
My all time favourite (for the Instagrammable interiors and the absolutely delicious food) is Dishoom in King’s Cross. Nothing beats that lentil daal – and that view down to the bar from the top floor.
What are your thoughts on hashtags?
They’re your best friend, especially when you’re just starting out. They help your content be discovered by other people and Instagrammers who have similar passions and interests than the one you are posting about. Research quality ones and use them wisely.
What’s your go to neighbourhood to Instagram in London, and why?
East London for sure, I love the buzz of Shoreditch, the independent charm of Hackney and all the relaxing canals leading to Broadway Market. There’s nothing quite like visiting Columbia Road Flower Market on a Sunday morning, and stopping off at AIDA in Shoreditch for a coffee in the afternoon.
I also really like parts of West London, although I don’t go there that often. The Artist Residence in Pimlico, Tate Britain around the corner and the House Cafes are all places I like to visit when I head west – you should, too!
If you were an Instagram filter, which one would you be and why?
I like to keep my photos as natural as possible, and try to avoid heavy Instagram filters as much as I can, which is why I prefer the cleaner looking VSCO filters. If we’re talking VSCO filters, I’d be an A6 or an S2, clean and crisp with a touch of vintage.
What tips do you have for all of us novice ‘grammers?
There’s both an art and a consistency to Instagram. Find your visual style and your unique voice. Post what you love, try to stand out and let your personality shine through your photos and captions. However you decide your feed to look and whatever you decide to put out there, you’ve got to post consistently (once a day), edit similarly, engage with your audience, research the latest hashtags and create a mini community around your feed. What’s really helped me is meet up with people who are equally passionate about Instagram, be creative together and feed ideas off each other.
Tell us all the secret spots you like to ‘gram in the city.
Host Cafe and The Wren are two coffee shops in Bank, which I absolutely adore. But they’re not your average coffee shop because they're housed inside churches. There’s something magical about drinking your cup of coffee while looking up at incredibly high ceilings and stained glass windows. The picture below speaks for itself.
There’s a bookshop just off Brick Lane called Libreria, which has a mirrored ceiling and a vast selection of books to choose from. Grab a book and cosy up in one of the reading nooks, the owners won’t mind at all.
The streets behind Spitalfields Market are also a must. They’re often used as film sets, and if you’re lucky you’ll come across the occasional vintage car parked in front of one of the houses too.
Everyone loves taking pictures of coffee. Who does the best cup of java in London?
Sorry. I can't name one. Tap Coffee serves some mean lattes, and there’s a couple of branches in the city so you’ll never go thirsty. Ozone Coffee Roasters in Old Street is one of those coffee shops I keep going back to as well, and there’s Half Cup in King’s Cross, which also has the cutest interiors. For those of you who aren’t too keen on coffee and have more of a sweet tooth, The German Gymnasium (again in King’s Cross) serves the most delicious hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. Go now.
If you were visiting London for the first time ever, where would you go first?
Knowing what I know about London now, I would probably always go back to Covent Garden. Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s loud. Yes, it’s busy. But there is just something about that area that's infectious.
What are your top tips for taking the perfect photo?
Always shoot in soft daylight and avoid direct, harsh sunlight (it makes your photos look yellow). For foodie shots, ask to be seated by a window, and your photos will turn out great with minimal effort. I love top-down shots but you can capture yummy food at an angle too. Thinking about composition and how your photo comes together is key. Make it as asymmetrical as you can, so it catches the eye quickly when people are scrolling through their newsfeed. If shooting houses is your thing, I’d suggest to start with straight-on photos of buildings before you gradually experiment with new angles.
What’s your favourite club/bar in London?
Two places I love are Kensington Roof Gardens (I'm sad it's shut) because of its amazing outside space, and Mr Fogg’s in Mayfair — the cocktails are amazing and I could never get enough of the interior.
What do you love most about living in and taking pictures of London?
What makes London different from anywhere else in the world is that every area is its own village with its own style, personality and character. That's not as pronounced in many other places around the globe. I also love that the city is so full of history and that every building, every corner, and every nook and cranny has a story to tell. Oh, and the food! I’ve travelled all over the world but London definitely has the best foodie scene, hands down.
If there was one place in London you’d tell someone to ‘gram, where would it be?
Rather than suggesting a place itself because there are too many to name, I always tell people to come experience London during Christmas time. The tree at the Natural History Museum, the festive lights on Bond Street and the Christmas decorations all around town make this a truly magical time to visit – and get your camera out to capture it all.