My London: Paloma Faith

What was the last show you saw in London?
I went to see La Bohème at the Royal Opera House. My manager bought me a ticket for Christmas because I had never been to an opera. It was a really magical experience. It was kind of posh, but you take that with a pinch of salt and laugh about it.

Which London shops do you rely on?
My three favourite vintage shops are Blackout II in Covent Garden, She's Gotta Have It at Alfies Antiques Market and Beyond Retro in Cheshire Street. I mix and match with high street shops such as Topshop, River Island, New Look and H&M. And I also shop online at eveninglady.co.uk; it has fabulous shoes.

What's the best meal you've had in London?
My friend took me to L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Covent Garden, it was the best food I've ever had. It's really expensive, though. If you want cheap dim sum, Shanghai in Dalston is really good.

What advice would you give a tourist?
The hotspots, if you only have a day, are Brick Lane for the market and the bagel shop, and Magic Wok on Queensway, which is the best Chinese restaurant in London.

What's your earliest London memory?
Going on the swings in Clissold Park in Stoke Newington.

What would be on your tombstone?
I want what Spike Milligan's got: I told you I was ill.'

What are your guilty pleasures?
Swiss chocolate, milkshakes at Ed's Easy Diner and ice cream from Gelato Mio on Pembridge Road. And shoes – I've got far too many.

What would you do as Mayor for the day?
Bring back the Routemasters, because they were a beautiful part of London history. And I wouldn't have the congestion charge, because now only rich people can afford to have a car. I'm quite a proud socialist.

What's your life philosophy?
It's never the end of the world.

What animal would you most like to be?
A panther. They have nice, silky black fur and
not a lot of other animals mess with them.

What was the last album you bought?
Paolo Nutini's Sunny Side Up. I love it.

What would you save from a fire?
If it all went up, I wouldn't care. I'm not very attached to things, I prefer people, experiences and nice restaurants.

What makes you laugh?
Really shit situations make me laugh a lot. And Family Guy, Peep Show, The Office and The Mighty Boosh.

What makes you cry?
Lost love and when I feel disheartened with humanity, when people are manipulative and unkind to each other. Haiti is extremely sad.

What are you up to at the moment?
I'm working on my second album, which is exciting. I'm also on tour so I've been designing sets and working on costumes for my band.

What do you most like wearing?
Ashish clothes, because they're all sequins and sequins are my favourite.

What's the most romantic place in London?
The 606 Club in Chelsea. It's in a downstairs basement and the vibe and music are amazing. I've had some good dates there.

What's your favourite place to hang out?
It was the Black Gardenia, but it got knocked down. There's an amazing little patisserie that's just opened under the bridge in Shoreditch on Kingsland Road; it's my new favourite place. They just do teas and coffees and are open late.

What is your favourite London discovery?
The swimming ponds at Hampstead Heath, at one o'clock in the morning in the rain.

Have you ever stolen anything?
When I was 14 we used to steal stuff from shops.
I only did it a couple of times because I was such a nervous wreck. But everyone at school did it, so you had to do it to be cool.

Where did you last go on holiday?
I went to Rome last year with my boyfriend,because I have relatives there. That's where I'll always go if I want to get away.

Paloma's album Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful? is out now